SURF SURVIVAL
Find comfort in discomfort!
SUPERCHARGE YOUR SURFING PERFORMANCE BY:
- Master Recovery Breathing: Learn how to recover quickly and effectively between sets.
- Understand the Urge to Breathe: Discover what drives your need to breathe and how to manage it.
- Strengthen Breathing Muscles: Boost your power and efficiency with targeted breathing exercises.
- Increase CO2 Tolerance: Stay calm and focused during long hold-downs.
- Activate the Dive Reflex: Unlock this natural advantage to improve your surfing stamina.
- Train Your Nervous System: Switch from fight-or-flight to a calm, rest-and-digest state.
- Implement Daily Routines: Integrate proven habits to boost performance and enjoyment in the surf.
These techniques are designed to help surfers like you breathe better, recover faster, and stay in control-even in challenging conditions.
Ready to level up your surfing?
NEWCASTLE, NSW
About Michaela
The ocean is Michaela's sanctuary and her second home. Originally from Europe, she moved to Australia at 19, where she discovered a deep passion for freediving. Through years of dedication, Michaela has mastered her craft: swimming 200m underwater on a single breath, holding her breath statically for six minutes, and freediving to depths of 50 meters.
On November 17, 2023, Michaela set a Guinness World Record at Charlestown Swim Centre in Newcastle, NSW, by swimming over 2.5 kilometers underwater in one hour. This extraordinary challenge involved completing 101 laps of a 25-meter pool, surfacing for no more than 7 seconds at each end. Picture facing 101 consecutive waves, with just seconds to recover before diving under the next one - a feat requiring exceptional mental focus and physical endurance.
Using the Dynamic No Fins (DNF) technique - an underwater breaststroke requiring no fins - Michaela relied entirely on the synergy of a well-trained mind and body. Remarkably, she held her breath for a total of 42 minutes during the hour-long swim, pushing her body’s CO2 tolerance to its absolute limit.
Michaela brings these same skills to the surf, whether bodyboarding, body surfing, or catching waves on a surf ski. Her expertise in breath control, mental resilience, and efficient movement helps her thrive in the water, no matter the conditions.
We're all equal before a wave.
Laird Hamilton
FIND COMFORT IN DISCOMFORT
Why train in the pool? Because the last place you want to face the challenge of holding your breath with empty lungs is under the biggest wave of your life!
Pool training allows you to safely experience this sensation in a controlled environment. Over time, you'll discover that you can relax and hold your breath much longer than you ever thought possible. Or, if your limits feel closer than expected, you'll leave with a clear action plan to improve your breath-hold, CO2 tolerance, and overall confidence.
Prepare for the ocean by mastering discomfort in the pool - your future self will thank you.
“To sit in silence at the shore, watch the waves and hear the surf, is to appreciate the very breath and heartbeat of the earth.”
Doe Zantamata
AFTER COMPLETING THE COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TRAIN BREATH HOLDING SAFELY, EVEN IN THE WATER
| Minimum Age | 16 |
| Days | 1 |
| Theory & Land exercises | 3 hours |
| Pool Training | 3 hours |
| Min/Max number of participants | 5 - 8 |
BOOK NOW
ENROLMENT & MEDICAL FORMS
Please download and fill in the APNEA INTERNATIONAL ENROLMENT & MEDICAL form before attending the course:
SEND ME AN ENQUIRY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
The Surf Survival course was the perfect introduction to understanding the power of breathing, getting the most out of every breath and staying calm for long periods under the water. It is a breath of fresh air for emerging ocean swimmers looking for real usable tips to reduce anxiety in the surf and develop skills to be more efficient under the water.
Andre Slade, Owner Ocean Fit
I have just done a freediving Stage A course with Michaela and it was an amazing experience! She is passionate and very considerate to everyone's needs so despite the tricky weather we have had a great time.
Petr Lan
Loved doing the course with Micheala, she is extremely professional, patient and approachable! What an asset she is to Australian Freediving!
Irene Lowrencev
It’s amazing how much you can get out of a one day course! Definitely will be lots more confident and calm during big hold downs from now on
I’d strongly recommend it for surfers of all levels who want the confidence and ability to push themselves in bigger waves. Plus it was a really fun day.
Tim Dickson, Manager - Slimes Boardstore
Had an awesome day in Adelaide, amazing instructor, learnt heaps about breath holding techniques and surf survival skills, highly recommend this to anyone who loves the ocean. Thanks so much, Michaela, so glad I came!
David Green
I am so glad to have taken this course with my son because I know he and I will be equipped with this knowledge of safe and disciplined freediving.
As a GP, I know her teaching of physiology and emergencies to be spot on. If you want to freedive well and safely, I highly recommend you take this course and practice, practice practice!
Marie Shieh
I didn't have much to say about her perfect technique and steely determination in the training tables!
William Trubridge
That was an amazing session this morning! Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge, and I know this partnership will not only lead to increased swimming performance, but also to improved physical and mental health benefits for my team. You're amazing! :)
