Level 1 Freediving Course
Whether a competent snorkeler or an informally trained freediver/spearfisherman with years of experience, this freediving course will set you on the right path to improve your breath hold and technique, eliminate bad habits, and show you how to freedive using the most efficient and safe freediving practices.
During these freediving classes students master the fundamentals of the FII education system in an easy-to-learn course format operating between the classroom, pool and open water setting. With a high emphasis on safety and comfort, students master the proper skills to effectively freedive up to depths of 66 feet/20 meters
Kona Freedivers is Hawaii's only official Fii facility. Join us to see why we are so proud to offer the highest level of freediving training avalable.
Book your course with Hawaii's Top Rated Freediving Center
Learn to Freedive with Kona Freedivers
Freediving Students take class picture while holding their breath
Freediving Instruction in the pool
Learn to Freedive with Kona Freedivers
Freediving Class Details
During this course you will use the following equipment:
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Wetsuit
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Fins
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Weight Belt
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Weights
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Mask & Snorkel*
*All equipment is available for rent except mask and snorkel
Student learning materials:
FII Level 1 Freediver manual and workbook. All course materials are provided by the instructor at the beginning of each course
Minimum age requirement:
Participants must be 16 years or older. Minors 16-17 must be accompanied by an adult.
See our Junior Freediver Course for ages 12-15
Course duration:
2-day program. 4 hours of academic classroom work, 3 hours of confined water training, and 2 hours of open water depth training (varies per class).
Students must complete the on-line medical waiver at least 72 hours prior to taking the course. To see a copy click here
Don't see a date that works for you? Ask us about private course options. Private courses can be arranged depending on instructor availability.
Pricing
$395 per diver (not including taxes and fees)
Private Freediving Classes - $1199 to book one diver plus $395 for each additional diver
Free Return Guarantee:
Did you take the course and weren't able to complete it or just want to come back and brush up on your skills?
Join us again for free! (on a standby basis within one year of participating in original course).
Crossover:
If you have taken an equivalent course from another agency we offer a crossover rate recognizing that you have gone through much of the training in your previous course.
Qualifying courses include:
AIDA - 1 Star or 2 Star and up
Apnea Academy - First Level & up
CMAS - 1 Star & 2 Star
NAUI - Freediver is equivalent to FII level 1. Can take level 2
PADI - Basic Freediver & Freediver
PFI - Freediver is equivalent to FII level 1. Can take level 2
SSI - Basic Freediving/Level 1
IANTD
Cancellation Policy: Make changes or cancellations up to 72 hours prior to the class. Within 72 hours prior to the class there is a 50% refund
Freediving Course Requirements
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Student must be comfortable swimming in the ocean
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Student Must be comfortable using a mask and snorkel
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Experience equalizing while snorkeling a plus
"Kona Freedivers is an excellent operation. If I had a question or concern at any point during the 2 days I was there taking the Level 1 course (and 3 awesome dives), it was immediately addressed. Frankly, if I even appeared remotely confused/lost in the process, someone would initiate contact with me and ask if I needed anything. It really felt to me like this place was not only organized and on-point, but it was a close group of really cool people who genuinely care and are totally dedicated to the work they’re doing. The instructors were top-notch, and never did I hesitate or doubt that I was receiving the highest standard of training with the most qualified staff. Thanks again!"
-Rachel Milazzo, Scottsdale, AZ
Freediving Course Details
The Level One Freediving course consists of 3 Parts:
1. Classroom - Learn about the history, safety, physics, physiology, breath practice and gear required to become a well educated and successful Freediver.
2. Confined Water - Practice what you learned in the classroom in a controlled aquatic environment. Kona Freedivers utilizes a pool to teach the techniques necessary to become a more competent and safer diver. Safety, kicking technique and static breath-hold are some of the topics covered here. It's always fun to see students achieving what they had previously thought impossible.
3. Ocean - Kona is one of those places where even on a bad day the ocean is still great for teaching freediving. In the ocean the techniques you learned in the pool will carry through and extend into greater depths. We will take all of the theory and practice and apply it to a real world environment. This is the moment we have all been waiting for. Often students will learn what is holding them back. This session allows the student and the instructor to work towards cementing a student's future diving skills and habits in place.
Post course - It is always best to take the skills and information learned during a course and apply it! Even if you didn't receive your free dive certification you can still work toward becoming a better diver and maintain those skills learned during your freedive lessons. By applying the knowledge from the freediving course you can further enhance your freediving technique and break through barriers. These new abilities will allow you too better experience all of the wonderful ocean we have here on the Big Island . Visit our experiences page for freediving adventure options.
What does it take to get a Freedive Certification?
Freediving Instructors International (Fii) is an agency that has been perfecting it's freedive lessons since 2009. It's standards for certification are some of the highest in freediving. This is because Fii courses require performance. If you are able to perform the skills covered in the course you can pass it. Once you are certified you will see Fii divers are some of the best in the world because Fii freediving classes emphaze technique. Once your technique is dialed you're ready to dive! What better place to freedive than right here in Kona. With some of the best reefs and nicest waters in all of hawaii take your skills to the water. You can book a charter to see some of Hawaii's best reefs.
Kona Freedivers is an Fii approved facility meaning we are the go to place for freediving classes in Hawaii.
What freediving techniques will I learn in this free dive course?
Your instructor will cover topics including body positioning, kicking, hand signals, surface diving, buoyancy compensation, proper breath-up, gear placement, and streamlining.
I recently completed the FII level 1 freediving course with Byron Kay and Chris Funada in Kona. I would Highly recommend this course to anyone interested in freediving, experienced or not. The course was very thorough. In addition to learning the physics and physiology of freediving, there was a strong focus on safety. Both Byron and Chris are excellent divers of course, and they do a great job of teaching their skills. The course was definitely time well spent. Mahalo Byron and Chris!
Dave Sigman, Honaunau Hawaii
After Certification
So you've passed your freediving class and achieved your freediving certification. Now what?
Recommendations for Next Steps:
Kona is tops on the list of the best places to freedive in Hawaii. This means you have plenty of options to explore post free dive certification. You could visit one of the best places to freedive on Big Island or you could join a freediving tour where you can visit some of the most amazing reefs and get up close and personal with some of the ocean's top marine life like whales etc.