Will I enter the water during this session?

No. This is a dry, land-based workshop; breath-hold practice in water is not part of this session.

Is there an age minimum?

Yes. Participants must be 18 or older to attend.

Do I need prior freediving or scuba experience?

No prior aquatic experience is required; the workshop is designed for beginners and experienced breath-athletes.

What is the refund or cancellation policy?

Exact cancellation terms are provided at booking; contact the operator for specific refund policies and day-of procedures.

Are there safety protocols for breath holds?

Yes. Instructors teach supervised, controlled breath-hold exercises and emphasize never to practice breath holds in water without trained supervision.

How should I prepare beforehand?

Arrive rested, hydrated, avoid heavy meals two hours prior, and bring a mat, water and layered clothing.

Master Breath Control: Flow State & Freediving Dry Workshop in Santa Cruz

On a clear afternoon in Santa Cruz, where the Monterey Bay heaves against rocky headlands and redwood ribs slope down toward the coast, Odyssey Freediving's Flow State & Freediving Workshop: Dry Training teaches a different kind of ocean literacy—one practiced through breath, calm and control rather than fins. Held in Santa Cruz, California, this three‑hour, land-based clinic led by Team USA freedivers Brady Bradshaw and Natalie Bruce with Odyssey Freediving coach Brandon Burke breaks freediving into practical, repeatable skills.

The session opens with a concise primer on freediving physiology and the body's natural dive response, then moves through guided breathwork, nervous-system regulation and techniques to expand respiratory mobility. Participants learn lung expansion and diaphragm mobility drills, safe breath‑hold practices, and mental tools for entering focused flow states. Instructors pair elite competitive experience with coaching cues that translate to everyday performance: lower resting heart rate, steadier recovery, and an ability to manage stress under pressure.

What makes this workshop a standout in Santa Cruz is its setting and teaching lineage. The town's coastal energy—Monterey Bay's upwelling, nearby rocky coves and a surf and diving culture that dates back decades—gives context to dry training that prepares you for the ocean without getting wet. The class focuses on measurable gains you can practice anywhere: posture, breath mechanics, and mental anchoring exercises that benefit freediving, breathwork, yoga and high‑stress professions alike.

This dry workshop is ideal for beginners and experienced breath‑athletes who want a technical, low‑impact session before entering water-based training. It’s also a smart primer for the full two‑day Flow State program. Bring a yoga mat, comfortable clothing, water, and a notebook; the instructors emphasize safety—never practice breath holds in water without supervision.

Beyond technique, the clinic offers a rare chance to work directly with national and continental record holders. Brady Bradshaw and Natalie Bruce bring race‑grade precision; Brandon Burke brings applied teaching that translates elite practice to everyday learners. That combination—elite insight plus grounded coaching—makes this a notable offering on Santa Cruz's outdoor education calendar.

Whether you’re chasing longer static holds, calmer surf sessions, or simply better stress control, this three‑hour dry workshop delivers a compact, evidence-informed pathway to breath control and mental clarity. Exact meeting details are provided after booking; expect a focused group setting, practical drills and takeaways you can use from the nearest reef to your office chair.

After the workshop, many participants stroll to nearby coastal trails or Santa Cruz Wharf to feel the tides they trained for; the region sits beside the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and a mosaic of coastal bluffs and redwood groves that reward curiosity. Odyssey Freediving’s emphasis on safety, measurable skill development, and community coaching makes it a high-value, region-specific learning experience.

About Odyssey Freediving

Odyssey Freediving is a Monterey, California-based freediving and spearfishing school offering structured courses and guided ocean experiences. The school runs multi-day freediving courses — including a two-day Monterey Freediver Course and a three-day Advanced Freediver Course — that combine classroom learning, pool training, and open-ocean sessions to develop depth and safety skills. The Advanced Freediver Course trains students to reach depths up to 100 feet, while private freediver programs include training to depths up to 66 feet under close supervision.

For underwater hunting, Odyssey Freediving offers spearfishing instruction and guided outings. The Monterey Intro to Spearfishing Course is an eight-hour class covering speargun handling, fish identification, and hands-on ocean practice. A Private Spearfishing Course provides one-on-one coaching with the same eight-hour format and a catch-and-cook option. Guided Monterey Hunting Party trips accommodate divers with prior experience, emphasizing small-group site selection, equipment assistance, and on-site fish processing.

Courses frequently include pool practice, open-water sessions, and safety-focused instruction from certified guides and instructors. Several programs note included rental gear for course participants. Group sizes and private options allow tailored instruction for skill level and personal goals.

Located in Monterey, the operation uses local access to Monterey Bay for ocean training and hunting trips. Odyssey Freediving focuses on practical skill development, safety protocols, and authentic underwater experiences for freedivers and spearfishers.

Enrollment options include group courses and private instruction suitable for beginners through advanced students, with emphasis on safety, practical drills, and progressive depth training. Local Monterey Bay conditions are used for realistic ocean practice.