Instructor Training
Become a Freediving Instructor,
certified by AIDA to teach freediving
anywhere around the world.
certified by AIDA to teach freediving
anywhere around the world.
Highlights of the program
This program is designed for freedivers who are local to the Bay Area. It runs mainly on the weekends, and over a few months rather than 10-14 consecutive days.
- Be comfortable diving to 30m
- Be able to perform a rescue from 20m
AIDA 4 (Assistant Instructor) certification is ideal, but not required. You can complete the program more quickly if you have it. An AIDA 4 crossover assessment is included for those who don't have it.
The time commitments are:
- Sundays, 9am-1pm. This is when the Freedive Studio runs, at which you will complete your depth challenges and do all of your open water teaching practice. Expect to attend 7-10 of these. This is the main time commitment of the program.
- A number of weekdays, 4-5pm (flexible depending on candidates' schedules). This is when we will do all of the online teaching practice, exams and presentations.
- A number of Saturdays, noon-6pm. This is when Beginner Pool classes run, which you will assist at and lead sections of.
- One Wednesday, 6-9pm. This is when the online Beginner Intro class runs which you will shadow.
You will also get homework which you must complete in your own time, like preparing your Special Presentation.
You need the following personal gear:
- Wetsuit (3mm in spring to fall)
- Mask and snorkel
- Bifins
- Dive watch
- Underwater writing slate
Apart from the price of the program, the main additional cost is Freedive Studio membership. You will use your membership to attend advanced Studio sessions, such as Mouthfill and Competition Safety. You can purchase whatever number of classes works best for you. When you attend to assist with teaching these classes won't be counted against your total.
There are no additional costs for AIDA certification or materials - these are all included.
There are no additional costs for AIDA certification or materials - these are all included.
Locations
The Studio is located on the easternmost side of Lake Berryessa.
The Pool is located at the College of Marin in Novato.
The Pool is located at the College of Marin in Novato.
Class Timing
Studio classes run on Sunday mornings.
9am
9am
(optional) Class of the week.
10am
10am
Walk down to the lake, warm up and get changed.
10:30am - 1pm
10:30am - 1pm
Freedive.
2-3pm
2-3pm
Lunch at the Berryessa Gap Winery.
Our Values
Practice at your own pace
Our classes are designed to let you practice and make progress at your own pace. Not every dive has to be deeper than the last.
Safety
We follow worldwide best practices for freediving safety, and buddying & rescue training is a part of every class.
Community
Freediving is a team sport. Community is built into our first rule of safety: never dive alone.
FAQs
Yes. You can't rent gear for these classes. You should own your own gear and be comfortable with it.
You should bring:
- Your basic freediving gear (mask / snorkel / fins).
- A 7mm open cell wetsuit or equivalent.
- Weight belt and 8-12 lbs of weight.
- Swimmers, towel, sunscreen, water, and closed-toed shoes.
You can purchase any freediving gear you need from the Fins and Foam Gear Shop.
Buoys and lanyards are provided. You are welcome to bring your own lanyard if you have one. For safety reasons, you must use the buoys provided.
You must be a certified freediver to join these classes, but you don't need to be diving to any particular depth. Your deepest dive can be 5 meters or 50 meters.
You are welcome to join the Studio if you have a Level 1 Freediver (or higher) certification from any of the biggest agencies - AIDA, FII, Molchanovs, SSI, NAUI or PADI. If you are certified with another agency, please check with us before purchasing.
You can dive up to 30 meters (100 feet), or, after taking additional advanced safety training, up to 60 meters (200 feet).
Yes. You can work towards any level of AIDA certification during these classes, from Level 2 (Intermediate) all the way up to the highest level certifications like Competition Depth Safety, Assistant Instructor and Instructor.
You can see the challenges you need to complete for each level here. It is your responsibility to keep track of the challenges you have left to complete. Once you are ready to complete a challenge, ask one of our instructors to witness you, and we will officially enter it in the AIDA system.
You can see the challenges you need to complete for each level here. It is your responsibility to keep track of the challenges you have left to complete. Once you are ready to complete a challenge, ask one of our instructors to witness you, and we will officially enter it in the AIDA system.
On any particular week, you can only bring one guest, but on different weeks you can bring different guests.
No. Once you are a guest of one member, you are "locked in" to that member and must attend with them.
Class is never cancelled for rain. As freedivers, we are well prepared for water, and freediving is beautiful in the rain! Class is only cancelled when conditions are unsafe to proceed. Such conditions include lightning over the lake or wildfires on the road.
Questions?