Hi everyone, i’m Matt an instructor at OceanSense Freediving…

I want to share my first experience with freediving and how I actually had two very different introductions to it, experiences that ended up shaping not just my diving, but my life. It’s also why I truly believe that anyone who’s curious about freediving should start with a Try Freediving experience first.

Back in 2018, I’d already been scuba diving and had started noticing these freedivers around. To be honest, I thought they were a bit strange. I remember thinking, why would you not just scuba dive? It didn’t really make sense to me, but curiosity eventually got the better of me and I decided to give it a go while I was in Thailand.

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I duck-dived straight down to about 5 metres, loved it for roughly 10 seconds, and then the urge to breathe hit hard. I panicked, rushed straight back to the surface, and that was it, I’m never doing that again. That experience pretty much confirmed my original thought of why anyone would want to do this, and I didn’t try freediving again for another six months.

Everything changed when a friend introduced me to the basics, how to breathe properly beforehand, how to equalise, how to duck dive, and most importantly, how to relax. We only spent about half an hour on it, but the difference was huge. This time I felt calm, in control, and able to actually enjoy being underwater. I loved it.

Three months later, I took my first freediving course, and from there my passion for freediving just kept growing. Six years on, I now run a freediving business in Sydney, compete as a freediving athlete, and live a completely different, healthier lifestyle. If I’d only relied on that first experience, I probably wouldn’t have stuck with it. Learning the basics properly made all the difference.

That’s exactly why we created our Try Freediving Sydney experience at OceanSense.

If you enjoy snorkelling and spending time in the ocean, chances are you’ve already thought about freediving, even if you didn’t realise it at the time. The Try Freediving Sydney course is designed for people who are curious about freediving in Sydney but aren’t ready to commit to a full course, or who simply want a cheaper, easy way to experience what freediving is all about.

It’s also a great first step if you’re interested in freediving in Sydney and want to learn the foundations properly before going further.

We keep things relaxed and supportive, focusing on real experience rather than information overload. You’ll learn the fundamentals of freediving, breathing, safety, equalisation, and how to use freediving equipment properly before heading into the water to put it all into practice.

During the session, you’ll experience depths of up to 5 metres using constant weight freediving and free immersion, with an instructor right there the whole time. It’s a safe, controlled introduction to freediving in Sydney that still feels like a real adventure.

One of the best things about learning freediving in Sydney is the locations. Gordon’s Bay and Cabbage Tree Bay are perfect for beginners and are packed with marine life. Even on shallow dives, there’s always something to see blue gropers, wobbegong sharks, stingrays, cuttlefish, octopus, and schools of fish. On the right day, you might even spot a weedy sea dragon.

If you’re a snorkeller, this course is a great way to take your ocean skills to the next level. Freediving helps you feel calmer in the water, move more efficiently, and enjoy longer, more relaxed dives – which makes a huge difference when exploring Sydney’s reefs and bays.

The Try Freediving Sydney course isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing depth. It’s about giving yourself the best possible introduction to freediving in Sydney, learning how to dive safely, and seeing if freediving is something you want to keep exploring. No pressure, no big commitment just a really good day in the ocean.

For upcoming dates, check out the course page here.