Freedive Studio
Freedive every Sunday morning at beautiful Lake Berryessa in the heart of California wine country.
Our weekly sessions are designed for everyone from certified beginners to expert freedivers. Build upon what you learned in your Beginner Class, or deepen your practice at your own pace.
Our weekly sessions are designed for everyone from certified beginners to expert freedivers. Build upon what you learned in your Beginner Class, or deepen your practice at your own pace.
Join for the first time
If you haven't attended the Studio before, first sign up for an Intro class (an AIDA 2 level class that covers topics like buoy management, safety at the surface and safety at depth), and then continue on to regular sessions.
Intro + 3
Intro Class plus 3 additional classes.
For certified freedivers joining the Studio for the first time.
For certified freedivers joining the Studio for the first time.
$249
Intro + 5
Intro Class plus 5 additional classes.
For certified freedivers joining the Studio for the first time.
For certified freedivers joining the Studio for the first time.
$299
Intro + 10
Intro Class plus 10 additional classes.
For certified freedivers joining the Studio for the first time.
For certified freedivers joining the Studio for the first time.
$399
Questions? Check out our FAQ or ask us anything.
Freediving Judges and Instructors are welcome to attend the Studio at no charge. Thank you for helping to build the freediving community!
Additional Benefits
Bring a friend
Every class comes with a free guest pass. Bring a (certified) friend.
Work towards AIDA certifications
Make progress towards and obtain AIDA certifications like Open Water (2*), Competition Safety, Assistant Instructor and Instructor.
Join pool classes
If you have just completed the Beginner Class, and would like some extra time to practice in the pool before coming to the lake, you can use your classes at the pool too.
Train for spearfishing trips
Practice effortless entries, long freefalls and extended bottom time under expert supervision. Practice waiting patiently 60-100 feet deep for wahoo, mahi mahi and tuna to approach.
Location
The Studio takes place on the easternmost side of Lake Berryessa, very close to the dam.
You can find it on Google Maps by searching "Freedive Studio - Lake Berryessa".
Afterwards we usually have lunch at the Berryessa Gap Winery, which is 15 minutes east down the road.
You can find it on Google Maps by searching "Freedive Studio - Lake Berryessa".
Afterwards we usually have lunch at the Berryessa Gap Winery, which is 15 minutes east down the road.
Timing
The Studio runs on Sunday mornings.
9am
9am
(sometimes) 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.
2025 Schedule
... and then there will be a break over winter, before resuming in spring of 2026.
Located 15 minutes down the road from the lake, the Berryessa Gap winery is the perfect place for post-freedive food and drinks. Food trucks and live music complement their delicious wines.
See the Studio in action
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.
Freediving Judges and Instructors are welcome to attend the Studio at no charge. Thank you for helping to build the freediving community!
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?