Is taking a freediving course really worth it ?
Hi freedivers and wannabe freedivers🐳 I keep seeing people with little to no experience seeking out advice about freediving. And people's answer are always the same : Take a course.
Here I want to answer and breakdown this questions for those who consider starting freediving or are just curious about it. Are you curious about freediving but never really tried ? Or can you already dive to 10-20m and feel like you're stuck at this depth ? This applies to you
So let's begin, when not to take a class ?
If you are born with gills🐟, if you are born a marine animal🐬, if you're already an elite freediving athlete 🏆
You don't fall in these categories ? Here's what a course could bring you :
Safety (yours and your buddy)
Freediving has a record for being extremely safe, especially in the past decade. But back in the 90's, after the release of "The Great Blue", people would die by dozens, in the attempt to repeat what they saw on screen. This, all thanks to federation and agencies like AIDA, Molchanov, SSI etc.. that have set high standards for the sport.
You see, freediving is safe only thanks to the right protocols in place : Buddy system, knowledge of the environment, proper relaxation techniques, proper breathing technique, appropriate material, lanyard, recovery breath, access to O2, surface protocol, and a lot of self awareness. A few stats :
Fatality rate Scuba diving ~ 1 to 20/100.000 (depending on region)
Fatality rate Spear fishing ~ 4/100.000
Fatality rate Competitive Freediving ~ 2/100.000
Fatality rate Horse riding ~ 0,5/100.000 h
Fatality rate Skydiving ~0,5/100.000
Fatality rate general aviation (small piston planes) ~ 0,5/100.000 h
Fatality rate recreational freediving : 0
Although numbers can vary depending on the sources, tracked recreational freediving from organized freediving courses show a pristine record of 0 casualties. But when you look at freedivers that never properly learned, like spearfishers, suddenly this becomes one of the most dangerous sport of the list. Anecdote : I was speaking in 2025 with Abdel (multiple world champion PB -119m), that comes from spearfishing, he said "you know, every year when I come back to my hometown, I have to burry a spearfisher friend, and this has been going on since more than 25 years...". This says a lot.
Ask yourself : would you ask for tips to practice skydiving on your free time without guidance ? If no, reach out to a freediving center or local instructor. If yes, reach out to a mental health specialist ^^
While learning freediving in a course you will learn the rescue methods for your buddy. This knowledge is extremely valuable as it makes you a reliable and sought-after buddy to go dive with, and you might find yourself needing the skills to rescue someone (God forbid).
Environment
Do you know the environment you're diving in ? The currents direction? The potentially dangerous species ? The mooring lines points ? The exact depth ? The timing and amplitude of the tide ? The local visibility ?
Freediving is safe but the margin of error is small. If you let yourself be surprised by any of these elements, without having properly learned the safety measures beforehand, you might end up in the funeral chronicles.
Fun
Learning the proper relaxation method in an environment that is safe and guided by a professional you can learn new ways to have more fun underwater.
Have you already hung at depth for say 30s? 1mn ? Did you know you can dive pulling a rope instead of finning ? Have you ever gone down deep using a sled (variable weight), without having to fin ? Do you think Static Breathold is just pure pain (spoiler no, it can be pure bliss)
All of this is incredibly fun, but you will need guidance to unlock it !
Community
Freediving looks like a solitary activity from the outside. But in reality it's a community driven activity made of passionate people, athletes, instructors, eager students, marine biologist, former scuba divers from all around the world! Reaching out to a center or instructor to connect to the local community
Certification
Now that you are part of a growing community, and you've successfully completed a course, you can proudly reach out to other members of the community to go dive with them in tandem. The Certification also allows you to find partners that have the same level. Without any certification or track record, it is unlikely anybody will want to dive with you (for their safety and for your own safety).
What if I don't have access to a local club / instructor or can't afford a course ?
If you don't have access to a local freediving spot, you can travel to one. There are inland spots (lakes, quarries, deep pool, regular pool), or shore spots accessible by a swim or with a boat.
If there really is absolutely nothing around, so be it, keep it in the back of your mind until circumstances align.
If you can't afford a class, ask yourself, is this really the case ? A 1 day freediving discovery course range in the +/- 200$ depending on the location and school. The skills you learn will unlock the freediver in you and might one day safe your life, or the one of your buddy. Is you life worth 200$ ?
But in this world of scarcity, if you find yourself in financial difficulties, you can always reach out to your center / instructor and offer something in exchange of a discount, it might work!
Conclusion
Take a course. Learn how to be responsible of yourself and of others. Learn all the different ways to have fun. Become a sought-out freediver, a reliable buddy and stay safe, nobody wants to see you in the local headlines for recklessness.
