Cross over / Why FCOA
Cross over / Why FCOA
Divehouse in Mabini
CROSS OVER FOR SCUBA DIVERS
For certified Scuba Divers that want to become FCOA FREEDIVERS we often combine FCOA lesson 1 and 2 in one day and FCOA lesson 3 and 4 on the day that follows. In that way it's possible for scuba divers to earn their FCOA FREEDIVER certificate in just 2 days.
CROSS OVER FOR OTHER AGENCY FREEDIVER
If you are already a certified freediver with another agency, then we give credit for your existing skills and experience. In order to cross over and to become an FCOA freediver your coach will assess you. After that he/she will familiarize you with FCOA protocols. You will also have to undergo FCOA lesson 3 "Navigation" since that is a lesson other agencies don't teach. Once you're certified as and FCOA freediver you can continue training to become an FCOA FREEDIVING COACH.
CROSS OVER FOR OTHER AGENCY INSTRUCTORS
If you are already an Instructor with another agency then an FCOA LEAD COACH can do an assessment session with you. After that a practical plan gets made for you to go trough the teaching experiences required to become an FCOA COACH. You would be teaching FCOA lessons under direct supervision of the lead coach un till you can conduct them independently.
WHAT MAKES FCOA UNIQUE?
1 First of all, our Non-swimmer program: We welcome non-swimmers! about 50% of our participants arrive as non-swimmers yet they go home as a beginning swimmers and divers.
2. Our coach training program. Many of our participants of the past now make a living teaching freediving. FCOA functions as a stepping stone for those that like to get in to the business of diving. Check out some cool freediving groups here that started with FCOA
3. Our Sponsored Vipassana inspired 10 day coach training. We run a yearly 10 day coach training at no charge. The training camp includes vegan meals and a place to sleep. Click on MENU for more info.
4. Our Navigation lesson is something special and gets you ready to explore with confidence. The subjects covered in this unique lesson are: - Tidal forcasting - Drift awareness - Triangulation (making a fix) - Compass use and - Time management.
5. Discounted Open Water Scuba Certification course. Once you have completed lesson 1 till 6 and pass the "FCOA mask drill" you will get a discount on your Scuba Course In Puerto Galera Mindoro
6. FCOA is a non-profit organization, our learning materials are publicly available. FCOA coaches are free to charge as they please. But our training & certification app https://fcoa.online is cost free.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF FREEDIVING?
The risks of freediving are very apparent and need little explanation.
"If you dive to long you pass out and drown", beginners have a healthy human fear for this that prevents them from pushing past their limits.
In scuba diving most accidents happen during a beginers first 10 dives because the many risks are invisible and requier study and skill to be managed.
In freediving very little goes wrong during a beginers first 10 dives. Especially if the diver knows nothing at all, he won't argue with his contractions that tell him: "Go up and breath".
It's when freedivers advance and gain confidence that they start exploring there boundaries and pass out. In general, the more they think they know, the closer they dive to their limits.
(as a side note, the deeper you dive the greater the risks, and the greater the benefits of study and guidance, its good to be with someone more experienced who is comfortable with the new depthes you like to achieve)
MOORING LINE INSTALLMENT (a way to reduce anchor damage)
How the secret powers of freedivers can save the reef from anchor damage:
Anchors are destroyers of the reef. The impact of the anchor landing on the reef is only the beginning, after that 50 meter of chain follows and if the wind or current makes the boat turn then any organism within a 50 meter radius is at risk to get crushed by the moving chain.
What can freedivers do to reduce this damage?
As a Freediver your special, you can do thing most boat captains cannot even think off.
CHECK THE ANCHORING AREA
Coordinate with the captain, and find him a sand plate area where the anchor and chain can get deployed with minimum damage.
PLACE MOORING LINES
Offer your captain to place mooring lines at places he frequently anchors. Normally he would need to hire an expensive scuba diver for a job like that.
But what to tie it on? I know, you've been told to not touch the reef, but to tie a mooring line to a strong reef structure is still a thousand times better then to drop an anchor and chain on it. The best knot to use to tie a mooring line is a double eight knot. Other knots have a tendency to come out due to the combined action of shock loading and water movement.
Or if you really want to go low impact then fill up an old oil-drum with concrete and drop it on the sand bottom.
FILM OR REPAIR OLD MOORINGS
Captains prefer to use moorings, it's less work than dropping and raising anchors. And there is no risk of getting the anchor stuck. But they will only use moorings they trust, especially if they leave the boat alone on it. So, if you can film and show a captain the quality of a mooring he might choose to use it.
Other times damaged old mooring lines can get fixed in just a few dives by replacing or bypassing the bad section.
BRING AWARENESS
When you see an anchor damaging corrals film it! Share it with the captain, not to criticize the but in an informative way, maybe that captain has never seen what his anchor causes under water, then mention you gladly spend a dive or two to tie a permanent mooring to help both, the reef and the boat captain.
As a freediver don't forget how special and powerful you are, you can get down to the bottom in minimum time, you don't need expensive scuba gear and you don't need to decompress on the way up. You can do things in a matter of minutes that any scuba diver would take an hour. Your offered assistance will very often be appreciated.
Great power comes with great responsibility!
