Freedive Course Cost

Find out about the cost of a freedive course and what to do if you can't afford one.

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Transcripts

Hello future freedivers

Thank you for downloading this episode of the Total Beginner Freedive Podcast brought to you by Octopus Freediving, makers of some of the best freedive accessories on the planet. 

This is episode 9 where we go over the cost of a freedive course and what to do if you can’t afford a course. 

Let’s hear that jingle. 

JINGLE

Generally, a beginner freedive course is about US$300-500 regardless of where you are in the world and I think that price range is pretty much within 1 standard deviation of all the beginner courses globally and if you don’t know statistics that means i reckon only 32% of courses would fall outside of that $300-$500 range. Apologies for getting a bit nerdy. 

And this is for the course itself. You will still need to check with your school or instructor whether it includes certification costs, study materials, equipment rental, transport, accommodation, etc. 

I was pretty lucky with my first course, my course fees included all equipment rental, accommodation and my instructor even picked me up at the ferry pier with a rental scooter. 

So, $300-500, I understand, that’s pricey for a lot of people and absolutely unaffordable for many but if you compare it to a lot of other recreational activities its comparable or even cheaper. 

Like a full course in scuba, surfing or rock climbing lessons. A day out deep sea fishing. A 2-3 hours of golf lessons. 2 hours rental of a wakeboarding boat. A big night at the pub, or a really expensive date. 

Freediving is a practical skill you can use for the rest of your life whether it’s for fun diving or using the techniques to relax or help you fall asleep which I do often. So in my humble opinion its a pretty good investment. 

If you simply can’t afford a course, I would approach an instructor or school or try to barter with them to exchange some work or services you are skilled in.

For example, here in Xiaoliuqiu I taught one student a second level course for free in exchange she helps me out on some courses on the weekends and sometimes helps me with some underwater photography. 

I had one student when I was in the US who really wanted to learn freediving to help him with his spinal cord disease but didn’t have the financial means at the time as he was not working so we agreed on an installment plan. 

I can’t speak for all instructors out there, but part of the reason I love teaching freediving is to help people change their lives for the better much like it did for me, and after 20 years in a soul sucking job it's great to be in a line of work that you can see bring joy to people’s faces. 

So if you can’t afford a course, get creative. All the instructors I know are good-natured people and I’d like to think most would be open to a reasonable offer.  

But I have heard stories of students begging for a discount cuz they can’t afford a course and then show up to the class with $500 carbon fins, don’t be that person. 

Also as an alternative remember that Ted Harty has a free online safety course for freedivers at freedivepodcast.com/podcast - it's just 45 minutes long but jam packed with information that could save you or your buddy’s life. 

And for a limited time I’m offering an one-on-one online theory classes. It’s 1.5 hours long online with me and includes freedive theory lectures and dry skills like breath-holding technique and freediving equalization. It also includes a 100+ page manual and a theory certification from the certifying agency Molchanovs. This is usually US$150 but as my listener you can get it for US$100 at freedivepodcast.com/theory again that’s freedivepodcast.com/theory. If you have any questions regarding this course please email me at ray@freedivenomad.com - and the times I’m available to teach generally are 6am to 9pm Taiwan time which is GMT +8. You won’t be able to freedive after this course but you will have all the knowledge you need for a level 1 course. 

And finally I’d like to talk about meditation, something that should be part of every freediver’s training. 

I started my meditation journey five years ago, I took a course in transcendental meditation which cost around US$1,000 and I learned one very important thing, meditation is really hard. And I don’t think I’m alone there. Mediation is something you have to be very consistent with in order to see the benefits and ya I was able to maintain a practice for weeks or even several months but somehow I find a way to break the habit, it sounds a lot like trying to quit smoking. 

That was until I randomly downloaded the Synchtuition app and within days I was sleeping throughout the night and improved focus during the day, things I was having trouble with and it's so easy to maintain this practice as I just listen to it 20-25 minutes a day, every day because it's so easy. I sometimes just listen to it before my nap. 

Synctuition has over 150,000 5 star reviews, over 4m users and backed by over 100 studies - for a free trial go to freedivepodcast.com/meditate 

And that's it! 

Dive safe and never dive alone!