Divas in Dubai

Happy New Year and safe diving!

For the second year running, DeeperBlue.net’s Head of Freediving Education, AIDA Instructor Trainer and Author of ‘One Breath’, Emma Farrell will visit the United Arab Emirates to teach freediving courses from beginner up to instructor with Sara-Lise Haith, DeeperBlue.net’s Head of News, AIDA Instructor and Dubai Ladies Static Champion.

Courses will be running for six weeks in March and April and levels will run from AIDA ** Freediver right up to AIDA Instructor. The courses will be held in Abu Dhabi and on the Indian Ocean at Diver’s Down Diving Centre in Khor Fakkhan.

This is an exclusive opportunity to learn in a stunning location with one of the most experienced instructors in the world. If you fancied entering a freediving competition then there will also be that opportunity on the 13^th March, held in Abu Dhabi. Details of the competition will be advise shortly. Spaces are limited for the courses so book soon!

Course dates and prices are below. To find out about flights, accommodation, the competition, to book a course, or if you have any other questions please contact sara@divasindubai.com and also read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).

We look forward to seeing you in the sun and sand!

Course Schedule

Learn to dive in the richest city in the world
(ref: CNN )

The cartoon cat Garfield would often put the kitten Nermal in a box and ship him to Abu Dhabi. The phrase “Abu Dhabi is where all the cute kittens go” is sometimes used in the comic. In one episode of Garfield and Friends, Garfield himself is sent to Abu Dhabi and he finds it inhabited with dozens of cute kittens that people keep sending there. However, Abu Dhabi in reality is a mystical city wealth, fortune and future. Abu Dhabi sports a wealth of natural islands and estuaries, with dolphins jumping through the canals and private boats cruising past super-luxury sea palaces.

Deeperblue.net’s Head of Freediving Education and AIDA Instructor Trainer Emma Farrell, and Sara-Lise Haith, AIDA Instructor, will be offering AIDA freediving courses from 2 star up to Instructor in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah in March 2008, due to the success of the courses held in Dubai in March 2007.

Theory and pool sessions will be held at the Al Sahel Towers, on the Corniche of Abu Dhabi main island, close to the Emirates Palace Hotel and the Marina Mall. Open water sessions will be held in Abu Dhabi waters and also in Fujairah for the deeper depths. All logistics will be arranged, however it is advisable to rent a car in the United Arab Emirates as there is a lot to see in between course times.

The Emirate’s Gulf coastline is studded with more than 200 islands of various sizes, most of them flat, sandy and uninhabited. Island hopping is a popular activity, and visitors can hire a boat and explore at will.

Abu Dhabi is steeped in a vast terrain dominated by majestic sand dunes and mountainous rock formations, a perfect environment that has bred and attracted adventurous and highly skilled off-road drivers driven by passion about nature, the environment and the unknown. You can book a desert safari, which is a not to be missed experience . A visit to Rub Al Khali, and the Empty Quarter can be arranged in a 4×4 along with lessons (self-drive) you wish, through Off Road Emirates. During the day in this part of the desert its not uncommon to view the wildlife that survives in this harsh environment. Dhabi & Reem Gazelle have been spotted as well as Rueppells fox, Cape hare, Houbarra birds and the rare sightseeing of the White Arabian Oryx.

The waters of the UAE are teaming with fish life, particularly in Fujairah which is the Indian Ocean. Our dives during this time of year are in cool water, approximately 24-26degC, and the air temperatures range from 13degC early morning to 26degC late afternoon. A fleece is recommended for after the dives and a full wetsuit (5mm maximum) including hood and gloves is a must. Sea dives are arranged from Divers Down in Khor Fakkan, and accommodation is available at the Oceanic Hotel or the Khor Fakkan youth hostel at very reasonable rates. You can also charter a boat and sail up the Musandam into Oman for some of the most spectacular diving opportunities in the Middle east, particularly the fjords of the Musandam Peninsula, the region of high mountains and deep waters that span the Straits of Hormuz, where the Indian Ocean joins the Arabian Gulf. Musandam also contains a number of archaeological sites, which have been primary investigated and it is likely that there are other undiscovered sites, say environmentalists. Historical sites such as forts, watch towers, Islamic cemeteries and tombs, provide enough study for archaeologists, several stone cairn tombs of pre-Islamic age have been recently discovered, Rock engravings of similar age were also found. The towering cliffs, precipitous headlands and fjord-like inlets of the Musandam Peninsula are of surpassing beauty unique in all Arabia and well worth the visit.

A complete itinerary for course timings and schedule is being arranged and will be published on www.divasindubai.com during the coming week. Course prices and bookings will be available through Divas in Dubai Prices link. A list of do’s and dont’s for the UAE will also be published and a list of hotels, car rental agencies, tour operators and other points of interest to fill your stay with 7-14 interesting Arabian nights.

To travel to Abu Dhabi from the UK, it is recommended you fly Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi airport. Alternatively, you can fly Emirates or British Airways to Dubai and arrange transportation to Abu Dhabi, which is 1 1/2 hours away. Travel from Europe is fairly easy as Emirates Airlines flies to most major cities and a host of international airlines fly to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

For more information on Abu Dhabi, hotels and tourist information, and course logistics and bookings, and for information on AIDA courses, contact sara@sandspirations.com,

Title: 3 star AIDA Freediving Course
Location: Dubai/Khor Fakkan
Link out: Click here
Description: This course is designed to continue a freediver’s training beyond the level of AIDA ** Freediver. The aim of this course is to help the student freediver develop the skills and knowledge necessary to plan and participate in freediving activities, independently with similarly experienced freedive buddies.
Start Date: 2010-01-10
Start Time: 19:00
End Date: 2010-01-31

Have you ever come across a situation where you wished that you could have assisted, and just stood there feeling helpless?  Have you ever witnessed an accident where someone could have been saved and you did not know what do, or had too much fear to help?

An Emergency First Response Course (EFR) can teach you to overcome those fears and you can learn practical, easy techniques that could save someone’s life in any situation, whether in the office, downtown in the shopping mall, or a loved one at home. You can learn how to perform CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Rescucitation) and also Primary and Secondary Care techniques which will help you to properly handle potentially life-threatening situations, whether you are a diver or non-diver.

EFR is a comprehensive programme composed of two modules that can be taught over 2 days, with fun instructional materials and the use of scenarios making it interesting and easy.*

The cost of each course is 850AED and includes all training and certification. The courses can be conducted anywhere, at your home, in the office or a training centre of your choice.  For information call Sara-Lise on +971-50-4368696 or email diva@divasindubai.com.

*Note, this is not a professional paramedics course and is only designed to provide First Aid assistance only.

Please also note that there a Good Samaritan law in the UAE that protects and holds harmless individuals who are qualified to intercede in a life threatening situation if acting within the scope of their training.  Expats should familiarise themselves with local laws before providing any public assistance.

The 4th Dutch Open Freediving Pool competition has its first Emirian competitor this year, whose dream to freedive was realised just one year and half ago.

Hailing from Abu Dhabi, local businessman Adel Ali Abu Haleeqa, has been dreaming of holding his breath underwater since he was a kid. Adel tells Deeperblue “I had many dreams during my childhood that I was diving in the sea and breathing under water. In one of those dreams, I was standing on the stern of a boat with my eldest sister, just staring into the clear water, wishing I was diving. At her suggestion I jumped into the depths, but continued to breathe…”

It wasn’t until Adel turned 21 that he actually did begin to breathe underwater as a Scuba Diver, however he still felt his dream was not yet fulfilled.

In August 2005, while browsing the internet Adel saw the dives achieved by Patrick Musimu, and was immediately inspired. After much googling he found Deeperblue.com and also a posting in the forum looking for freedivers in Dubai. It was then that Adel met Sara-Lise Haith and commenced the battle to start freediving in the UAE, create awareness of the sport and also introduce courses. Emma Farrell arrived 7 months later, armed with manuals, noseclips, neti pots and a mountain of knowledge, and met with about 20 students, local and international. The Emirates Diving Association provided full support, and freediving in the UAE was underway.

The UAE freediving team, consisting of expatriates and locals, have been training together for almost a year. Adel was informed of the Dutch Apnea Open, which takes place this November in Eindhoven. This is Adel’s chance to win the 1st National Records ever in freediving for the United Arab Emirates, and his team, based in Abu Dhabi, are cheering him on.

Adel has one more month of training, in which he is doing wet and dry statics, yoga, pool training twice a week, and he is also taking swimming lessons using the monofin to improve his technique.  This is the first time an Emirian will take place in an international freediving competition outside of the UAE.

Adel’s supporters in the Emirates await his performance, with baited breath.

Photo by Lauren Lancaster, The National Newspaper

The next available course is on 31 October/1st November (2 day course). A minimum of four students is required to run the course. (only 2 spots left!)This course will be held at Divers Down, Khor Fakkan (Sharjah) on the East Coast. The dive centre is based at the Oceanic Hotel.

Course price is 2000DHS and includes training, student manual, boat dives and certification. It does not include equipment. I do have some equipment for rent (mask and long fins sizes 46/47 and 47/48).

To confirm your place on the course and in anticipation of your attendance I require:

1) Your full name

2) Full postal address

3) Contact telephone numbers

Please note that you will be required to provide your own freediving equipment. This should include the following items:

1) Wetsuit with hood, neoprene socks and gloves
2) Long freediving fins and/or monofin
3) Snorkel and low volume mask
4) Rubber weightbelt

If you do not have the equipment above and wish to purchase items then this can be arranged from visiting http://www.deeperblue.net/shopping/ or at Gulf Marine Sports (Abu Dhabi or Dubai). Call Firas 0504467956. You may also find gear at Hayaari, call Wassim Zein http://www.hayaarisub.com/

In addition you will require a Freediving lanyard which is available for rent from me. Please note, that if you have your own lanyard, it must be between 70 and 100 cm long with a non locking carabiner at one end and a one handed quick release shackle at the wrist end. Weight will be provided for you on the course.

I would also like to remind you of my booking and cancellation conditions. If you do not come to the course on the days booked for theory and pool you will be charged 100dhs. I need 48 hours notice prior to cancellation.

If you do not come to the course on the days of the boat dives, you will be charged 200dhs to cover the boat costs. I need 48 hours notice prior to cancellation.

If you can’t make the course and want to swap to a different date I can do this but require 1 week notice before the start of the course otherwise you will incur rescheduling or cancellation charges. If you need to reschedule or cancel then please me know immediately.

Furthermore, no places on the course will be confirmed without a 50% upfront payment to my bank account or to me in cash.

To sign up, I can be contacted on diva@divasindubai.com.

We have long ago surpassed the limits attainable by purely physical excellence and are now venturing into the terra incognita of our mental potential.

Aharon Solomons

Humans have been freediving for longer than we can remember. Since the early years of the 20^th century, freedivers have long wanted to co-exist with marine life and experience the profound connection believed to exist with man and the underwater mammal. Born in the UK, American national Aharon Solomons, current US Masters Record Holder of the Mens Constant Weight, Dynamic Apnea and Free Immersion Disciplines, comes to the Emirates this August 2008 to share his indepth knowledge and experience with local freedivers. Solomons has been involved in military, research, commercial and sports diving education for more than 35 years prior to adopting freediving as his passion. At 69 years old, he is not only one of the world’s most experienced freediving instructors, but also the oldest continuing “masters” level freediver.

He is accompanied by his dive partner Maria-Teresa Solomons (MT), who began freediving in Crete in 1996. She joined one of Aharon’s clinics where she discovered her natural ability. She has trained and worked uniquely in freediving since 1997, and after only five months of diving, was one of only a handful of women who could pass 50 metres on one breath, while six months pregnant. They are based in Mexico in Baja California. They come to us to bring knowledge to the freedivers and spearfishers of the UAE, in the hope that we can all learn and transmit new knowledge and safety to this growing sport.

Aharon and MT are instructors for 4 different freedive training agencies, and MT is about to attempt to another record in the championships in Mexico, to be held on 20^th June at Xibalba. Aharon is attempting to better his Masters records this year, and hoping to hit 60m in the Constant Weight category.

Freedivers have always striven for deeper dives, longer times. Hypoxic training has recently become the focus of attention for many freediving athletes, who are looking for a drug-free and legal way to improve their performance and also to get that vital edge in competition. Divers who have exposed themselves to continuous high levels of hypoxia have evolved greatly and have developed strategies that exploit and explore it more than any other athletic discipline.

Aharon and MT have written a lot of literature about freediving and training techniques. They often receive the same questions from divers; “how can I get deeper?” Their answer is “What’s stopping you?”, and the answer to this is usually specific ‘equalisation’ or concentration.

Further examination however often reveals that this answer is erroneous or actually, incomplete, as the real answer is usually a combination of factors. Tension, and that multi-headed undersea fictitious monster called the Hydra is often the culprit. We often fear things that do not actually exist, and they prevent us from completing the dive we want.

Technique and relaxation form a large part of becoming a freediver. With those two factors in check, the depth will come. Gliding is one of the secrets of deep diving and needs practice to reap the benefits of its by-product, which are energy and O2 conservation. Flexibility is also a key factor, and Aharon and MT incorporate pranayamas and some yoga education into their courses, teaching freedivers how to maximize their physique and improve it for better performance, together with specific warm-up procedures, partner work, and dive line procedures.

Jaques Mayol used yoga techniques in freedive training but there was never clear exposition by him of what exactly he found to be most useful nor of what practice he constructed with it. Since Aharon/MT began teaching in 1995, it has been one of the main training regimens and over the course of the years and through trial and error and a lot of experimentation they have evolved what they consider to be a superior practice specifically for the freediver. It is only this year in fact that the APNEA ACADEMY is publishing a book on yoga for Freedivers. They are students of Pattabhi Jois, the founder of the Ashtanga Yoga system and one of the main three founders of Hatha yoga; and of Venkatesh, who is well established for his wealth of knowledge on Pranayama. Therefore Yoga is a strong note in their freedive training and we include it as part of our daily regimen in the courses .

Divers have to train themselves to be mentally strong, and not be distracted by anything surrounding them during a dive. The environmental distractions of current, cold, poor visibility, waves, etc. and the fears of blacking out, being short of breath on ascent and during a competition focusing so hard on the depth to be attained that one leaves the first equalization too late and makes an inelegant return to the surface. If a diver does not train himself to be strong mentally he can be distracted by anything- a fogging mask, or the inability to hold correct orientation on the surface due to the waves and current being a strong opponent. Simple things like forgetting to stretch, water in the snorkel or excessive water movement, are all factors that play on a divers mind and have to be put away in the recesses of the mind

.

Aharon writes that freediving should be a pleasure, and not something you drive in yourself to achieve. He correctly states that some of the most profound progress can come when we are totally involved in play. Isn’t that true in the workplace as well?

Some of you maybe thinking, gosh that’s an old man to be doing that at his age!

Aharon’s response to that is; Age actually doesn’t have a lot to do with it, but time does. One of the plusses about age is that one has had time to watch an awful lot of stories and experiences unfold. With regard to age, he realises that there might not be that many more opportunities for him. He still, however, entertains the hope that at some time in his sixties he will exceed his age in depth, but certainly had not planned to do this in his first competition in 1993, when he was 52. he obtained a depth of 57 metres.

Six years later, Aharon’s records (December 2007), at the US Masters, stand at the following:

Constant weight 50 metres

Free Immersion 52 metres

Dynamic Apnea 100 metres

Aharon and MT specialise in personal training for freedivers. I know one person personally who went from 35 metres to 58 metres in just a week’s training with them. They have in-depth knowledge of the physiological and psychological blockages that freedivers may have and are able to work through those, teaching discipline with words of encouragement, and combining that with a profound knowledge and experience. They have personally trained many of the successful competition freedivers up to record holding status, for example, Sam Still (UK National Champion and former World Record Holder in Static Apnea), Haaico Aldering (former all-round Dutch champion), Bevan Dewar (former South African Constant Weight Record Holder), Emma Farrell (AIDA Instructor Trainer), and they are currently are training two current World Record Holders with the aim of reaching new depths in the near future. (Their names are withheld for confidentiality reasons).

They believe that a good freediving instructor is a keen observer and a good communicator, whose function is to discover each student’s personal freedive objective. Students are taught as individuals with individual needs and personalities, and not as a group. They have a course syllabus, but each attention to the student is tailor-made.

Only a maximum of 4 students per course is accepted as training is personal and one-on-one. The courses are 5 days long and process are built slowly and systematically. They formulate a plan of progress with the student and leave him with the ability to progress systematically and safely on his/her own. Certification card collecting is not on Aharon and MT’s agenda, rather they encourage an exchange and development of knowledge and skill, combined with personalized training based on a motto “Assess, Plan, Act”. They develop qualities of self-confidence, the ability to concentrate and relax, and the ability to “deal with Murphy”. (Aharon’s words). The depth, experience and knowledge come with time, training, and discipline, and cannot be learnt in just one week of freediving.

Aharon’s background and training imposes discipline and in-depth training, with the ability to bring out the best in a diver. Freediving is a passion that he shares with all who come to him, and promises that we will learn to think, train and freedive for ourselves quickly. As he says – “he is a mean old Daddy”.

We welcome Aharon and MT to the UAE and look forward sharing the depths of our beautiful Arabian Gulf with them.

For information on Aharon and MT Solomons contact Sara-Lise Haith at diva@divasindubai.com.