Auckland Freediving Club are committed to providing safe and regular training sessions for depth training. We are fortunate to have a 50m+ lake in our backyard, available for regular summer training sessions. Read below for more information, and remember, NEVER TRAIN ALONE.

The below Lake Depth Plan Document provides information about depth training with the AFC. This document provides information about the Where/When/how much/what to bring and what to expect and also provides some details of the club's approach to depth staging. Depth staging is an initiative that reflects the numbers of divers currently training with the club and places emphasis on increasing awareness of the risks associated with pulmonary barotrauma in freediving.

Depth staging, in a nutshell, works as follows: The club lines are set to maximum depths for each session, according to the rig events posted. There are prerequisites for divers to advance from each level that are based around competently diving and safety diving and align with AIDA International Freediving stages. Everyone starts at the Induction Rig (max 16m) at the beginning of each depth season. Some will advance to other lines straightaway after demonstrating their competence, others may take a while. Each diver advances at their own pace. The Induction lines will have an advanced diver to provide guidance and undertake assessments as required.

Some divers may find themselves held up by equalisation issues, this is not unusual. If equalisation is a problem for you, please let us know as we can run separate equalisation sessions.

Please read the document carefully before coming to the lake and feel free to ask/post questions, this will help make the session productive for everyone.

What to Expect?

Lake Pupuke ranges in depths up to 50m plus, with a summer surface temperature around 20 degrees C and various thermoclines decreasing to 16 or even 12 degrees C the deeper you go. Visibility ranges from 0-5m at the surface, but clears up drastically as you go deeper. For safety, we always dive with a torch. 

There are no changing rooms or toilets at the lake, so come prepared. Check out our Training page for a list of what to bring. 

Divers ready to progress past the Induction lines are required to fill in the Lake Induction Completion form. This form enables each diver to acknowledge the training they have received, confirm that they have passed the Lake Induction requirements, and state they are aware of the risks involved in depth training with AFC.

After you have completed your depth induction and you are diving on a 16m rig, you can perform deeper practice rescues to progress with your depth diving. Record those and any refresher rescues at the start of the depth season in the Lake Progression form. We need to repeat our practice rescues each season.

Book a Lake Induction Below

Lake inductions are run regularly during the warmer October-March season. Contact inductions@aucklandfreediving.co.nz to arrange one for you if no scheduled inductions are listed here.

Check if you have the equipment and skills needed for depth training on our Depth Inductions page before making the booking.