Birth date: May 13 1971

Resides and teaches PFI courses in San Diego, CA

PFI Courses taught through his company: California Freedive Academy (CFA)

My name is Garo Jack Hachigian.  I was born in coastal Road Island and spent most of my summers in the cold waters of New England.  My parents were professors in New York City, my father of statistical mathematics, my mother of German and French comparative literature.

I have, since I can recall, had an insatiable appetite for all knowledge regarding things in the ocean, and the ocean herself.  I can’t remember when I first donned a mask and snorkel  but when my father gave me my first pole spear at the age of 6 my life was changed forever.   It was a wire trident mounted to an old broom handle.  It was crude and basic but with it I learned that I could feed my family and the feeling was deeply satisfying… and delicious!  I spent every day in the ocean hunting and learning, and when the sun went down I would bring my catch home to my mom and dad who would prepare the most wonderful meals from it while I stood by and watched, enthralled.  I continued to spend as much time in and around the water as possible, learning as much as I could by observation and collection, and then at night in bed I would confirm what I had seen by reading and memorizing from the volumes of books I had collected.

My love for cooking grew side by side with my love for the ocean.  I would spend hours in the kitchen asking questions, experimenting, and being a general pest to my grandmother, and by the age of 12 I was cooking full meals from my days catch. Later I would assist my father in writing a cook book of traditional Arminian recipes.

At the age of 17 I began working summers at Newfound Harbor Marine Institute in Big Pine Key Florida, a summer camp designed for children to learn marine biology in a hands on emersion program.  The experience further deepened my love and passion for the ocean and in my off time I would freedive for fish and lobster to feed my fellow workers.

I moved to California at 18 and attended the University of California at Santa Cruz, spending my free time exploring the cold waters of northern California.  Graduating with a degree in science communications I then moved to Japan for nearly two years to study Aikido.  On my return I founded Garoform, a design and manufacturing company dedicated to the production of superior quality furniture and spearguns.

I have spent years honing my diving skills, perfecting my spearguns designs, and studying culinary techniques. Nothing brings me more satisfaction than submerging myself in the world’s oceans, putting myself at risk to bring back the freshest catch, then creating an edible masterpiece from it to feed my close friends and family.   Such action is elemental and timeless.

I have hunted the world’s oceans in pursuit of culinary excellence all the while promoting conservation and sustainability.  Throughout, no matter where my life has taken me, my abiding passion remains the ocean and her many moods

Intermediate Course

 June 26-30 Lake Wazee (near La Crosse, WI)

August 24-26 Lake Wazee (near La Crosse, WI)

Location Info

Classroom and Pool Sessions

La Crosse YMCA, 1140 Main St, La Crosse, WI 54601, Phone: 608-782-9622

Open Water Sessions

Lake Wazee.

We will meet at Wazee Sports Center LLC:

942 Red Iron Rd

Black River Falls, WI

Please note that the extra fees for boat training may apply.

Nearby Hotels/Motels

• Best Western Plus Riverfront Hotel,  1835 Rose St, La Crosse, WI, 608-781-7000  book.bestwestern.com
• Radisson Hotel La Crosse, 200 Second St S, La Crosse, WI, 608-784-6680  radisson.com
• Super 8 La Crosse, 1625 Rose St, La Crosse, WI, 608-781-8880 super8.com

Equipment Requirements

We do not encourage people to purchase a new set of dive gear for this course as we will discuss proper freediving gear at length in class.  Bring whatever you already have, whether it’s Scuba gear, freedive gear, snorkel gear, or backyard swimming pool gear.  You will need the following in one shape or another:

• mask
• fins
• snorkel
• wetsuit (3mm in NC, variable in other locations)
• weight belt/weights

You will also need:

• bathing suit
• towel
• pen

Schedule

The following schedule is subject to change. Any major changes to the final schedule will be emailed, to those who have registered, one to two weeks before the start of the clinic.

DAY 1

8:00am – 2:00pm Classroom Session

Introduction

Registration

Emergency Procedures

Proper Breathing

Techniques

Equipment

Physiology of Freediving

3:00pm – 6:00pm Pool Session

Rescue Skills

Static Apnea

Development

Technique Evaluation.

DAY 2

8:00am – 10:00pm Pool Session

Pool Training Exercises

Static Apnea Development

11:00pm – 2:00pm Classroom

Physics & Physiology of Freediving

2:00pm – 7:00pm Open Water session

Warm-ups

constant Ballast

Rescue Evaluations

DAY 3

8:00am – 1:00pm Classroom

Physiology of Freediving

Training Programs

2:00pm – 6:00pm Open Water session

Warm-ups

Free Immersion

Rescue Evaluations

Technique Development

DAY 4

8:00am – 12:00pm Open Water Session

Warm-ups

Free Immersion

Rescue Evaluations

Technique Development

1:00pm – 3:00pm Wrap up at local restaurant (optional)

Dates:

June 8-9 Lake Wazee (near La Crosse, WI)

August 24-26 Lake Wazee (near La Crosse, WI)

Contact: lessons@edgefreediving.com Course taught by PFI Instructor Todd Greenberg.

Location Info

Classroom and Pool Sessions

La Crosse YMCA, 1140 Main St, La Crosse, WI 54601 Phone: 608-782-9622

Open Water Sessions

Lake Wazee.

We will meet at Wazee Sports Center LLC: 942 Red Iron Rd, Black River Falls, WI

Please note that the extra fees for boat training may apply.

Nearby Hotels/Motels

• Best Western Plus Riverfront Hotel-1835 Rose St, La Crosse, WI, 608-781-7000  book.bestwestern.com
• Radisson Hotel La Crosse-200 Second St S, La Crosse, WI, 608-784-6680  radisson.com
• Super 8 La Crosse-1625 Rose St, La Crosse, WI, 608-781-8880 super8.com

Equipment Requirements

We do not encourage people to purchase a new set of dive gear for this course as we will discuss proper freediving gear at length in class.  Bring whatever you already have, whether it’s Scuba gear, freedive gear, snorkel gear, or backyard swimming pool gear.  You will need the following in one shape or another:

• mask
• fins
• snorkel
• wetsuit (3mm in NC, variable in other locations)
• weight belt/weights

You will also need:

• bathing suit
• towel
• pen

Schedule

Day 1

8:00am – 2:00pm Classroom

Introduction & Registration

Emergency Procedures

Equipment

Breathing / Proper Ventilations

4:00pm – 6:00pm Pool session (4 hrs)

Rescue Skills

Technique Development

Static and Dynamic Evaluation

Day 2

8am – 12pm Open Water Session

1
2pm – 6pm Open Water Session 2

 This year PFI is taking Deja Blue 4 on the road!  For the first time we will be running the famous competition in Curacao.

This is the perfect location for novice as well as World Class Freedivers from all over to show the world what their Freediving Potential is.  Not only will Freedivers be able to test themselves in all self-powered depth disciplines but the pool disciplines (static, dynamic and dynamic no-fins) will be held in a 50m pool!

Training and Competition Schedule

This competition is open to anyone from anywhere with any experience level.  This has always been the draw to the Deja Blue competitions as you will have first time competitors diving along side National and World Record holders.  The competition has always had a great vibe where everyone is there to enjoy the diving, the people and of course to see what their potential is.  This year will be no exception.  Below is an outline of what you can take part in.

Week 1 Training

When: September 28-October 4, 2013

Click here to register now!  if you register with a deposit by May 31 and you will pay $800 instead of $850.

For those that want to the most out of their time in Curacao we now offer a week of training.  Training will include 5 depth training days (rig, all safety and video review provided), pool training in the 50m pool.

Competition Week

When: October 5-11, 2013

Click here to register now!  if you register with a deposit by May 31 and you will pay $800 instead of $850.

Let the games begin!  This is an AIDA sanctioned competition and National and World Records can be validated (doping tests costs are  to be covered by the athlete).  Deja Blue is unique in that it allows each athlete to choose what discipline they wish to do each day.  You can stick to one the whole way through (maybe you want a record) or compete in each discipline (this is how you win the overall competition).

The competition will kick off on the evening of Oct 4 with the opening ceremonies.  The event wrap-up will include the announcement of the winners.  The top 3 men and top 3 women will be awarded with prize money and medals.  The award ceremony will be followed by a party to celebrate all of the personal best, national and world records that fell!

Accommodations

The closest resort to the competition is Lions Dive & Beach Resort Curaçao (where the competition will take place) offers 24 luxury Lions Apartments. These apartments have been built-in 2008 and feature 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and spacious balconies overlooking the 50 meter infinity pool!  They also have many other amazing rooms within a short walk of the pool and boat.  No need for a rental car if you stay at Lions.  Check out their website for a complete rundown on what is available at this resort.

The resort offers transportation to a local grocery store so you can save money and cook in your apartment.  But there are also 3 bars and restaurants if your prefer someone else to cook for you. You will also have access to the Wellness Club (fitness club) and Spa.

To reserve your room or apartment please contact Lions Resort and let them know you are with Deja Blue.  Contact Mandy-Rae if you are interested in being put in contact with other competitors about sharing rooms. Email mandy-rae@performancefreediving.com

The Diving

Deja Blue will be partnering with Ocean Encounters for the open water depth training.  The boats for training and competition days will leave from Lions Resort so if you are staying there it is just a short walk to the boats.  It can’t get any more convenient.

Media and Video Coverage

This competition will have almost live updates on Twitter, Facebook and email with daily results being posted at the end of each day once performances are ratified by the AIDA judges.  Press releases will be sent out before during and after the competition and once again Goh Iromoto and his video team will be creating competition videos daily!  Videos will be posted on VIMEO and YouTube as well as Performance Freediving’s website.

Any media interested in covering this event should contact PFI via email.

Intermediate Freediver in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas

Details coming soon.

Contact Information:

Intermediate Freediver in Georgetown, Exuma, Bahamas

Info coming soon

 Contact Information

Intermediate Freediver Course in Long Island Bahamas

Where to Stay

Here are a few places we recommend for accommodations:

Ellen’s Inn

Winter Haven

Ellen’s Inn is a bit cheaper than Winter Haven.  There are several other places to stay on the island but these two get good reviews and are not too far from the Blue Hole.  We can pair you up with a roommate to make it more economical if you are interested.

Flights

You will need to fly to Dead Man’s Cay Airport as opposed to Stella Maris on Long Island.  You will probably have to fly through Nassau and connect on a puddle jumper to Dead Man’s.  There are no direct flights at this time from the US to Long Island.  All flights connect in Nassau, but not for long.  Airlines that fly into Dead Man’s are

Southern Air

Pineapple Air

Bahamas Air

Tentative Training Schedule

We will be training at Dean’s Blue Hole once a day for seven days which means you will have 7 ocean sessions total.  We will train other disciplines on certain evenings but not every day.  Sessions will include direct supervision, coaching and filming by an Evolve Instructor and video review at the end of each day.

Tentative Intermediate Schedule

Contact Information

Welcome to your Freediving and Spearfishing shop in Coconut Grove, Florida near downtown Miami.

We offer bi-monthly Freediver courses, weekly training, spearfishing trips, equipment rental, and quality gear for all levels of freedivers and spearfishers.

What is Freediving? Freediving is simply breath-hold diving. In Freediving you learn to calm the body and control the mind to increase your breath-hold, dive deeper, and stay longer.

At Vortex Freediving we serve freedivers and all levels of spearfishers, from introducing the sport to beginners to providing high-end equipment for advanced spearos. We understand the spearfishers deep respect for our marine world and we share their code of ethics by introducing the sport in a responsible manner with an emphasis on wise use and conservation.

We are eager to assist you and welcome you to stop by our store to learn more about our courses and find the equipment you need.

Dive safe and fish responsibly!

Contact: Ricardo Paris at ricardo@vortexfreediving.com

Website: www.vortexfreediving.com

PFI Freediver

 

Learn to freedive to a maximum depth of 66 feet (20 meters).

This program teaches fundamental Freediving techniques for comfortable enjoyment in the aquatic world to depths of up to 20m / 66ft. You will also practice Static Apnea to help develop your breath-holding abilities and in-water comfort.

Is this course for you?
You’re new to Freediving or typically dive in the shallows. You want to increase your breath-hold and your ability to dive deeper and stay longer. You aren’t familiar with Freediving safety. If so then this is the course for you!

The PFI Freediver course covers the following:

• Safety and buddy procedures
• Recommendations for snorkeling and freediving gear
• Proper breathing for freediving
• Techniques for snorkeling and freediving
• Confined water & open water skill development

The Freediver course is held over 2 1/2 days.  Typically classroom sessions are held Firday nights at Vortex Freediving, pool sessions are at Jose Marti pool, and the boat for the blue water sessions departs from Dinner Key.  Schedules are flexible and can be adapted for each group.

Prerequisites

• Swimming or snorkeling experience
• Good health and fitness
• 12 years of age with guardian permission
• Must own or purchase Mask, Snorkel, Fins
• Must own or purchase or rent exposure protection (wetsuit or rash guard)

Cost: $345.00 US and includes the following:

• Personalized instruction from highly trained and accomplished PFI Instructors
• 1 instructor/assistant: 5 student divers’ ratio
• Pool and classroom sessions
• Open water instruction (boat fees are an additional charge where applicable)
• Certification card
• Membership to the PFI Yahoo Forum – a great source to Freediving information!
• Boat fees are additional

Find and register for your course now!

Schedule

The Safe Buddy course consists of one knowledge development session (1-hour long) followed by a 2-hour pool session. There is no open water training in this course.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for the Safe Buddy program except good health (please take a look at the PFI medical form for any contradictions).