AIDA 1

About this course

A one-day introduction to freediving.

Spend one day learning breath-hold safety, relaxation, and basic freediving technique in a pool or calm confined-water setting. No previous freediving experience is required.

Freediving means diving on a single breath, without tanks. You will see the sport call this apnea, which simply means holding your breath. This is the gentlest way to start: everything happens in a pool or a sheltered, calm-water site — what freedivers call confined water — so there is no deep open-water diving and no depth requirement at all.

You will practise the two core breath-hold skills. Static apnea is holding your breath while floating face down and staying still. Dynamic apnea is swimming a distance underwater, horizontally, on one breath. You will also learn equalization — the technique for balancing the pressure in your ears as you go underwater — along with the safety and rescue skills every freediver needs.

Completing all of the course requirements earns you an AIDA 1 certification. We work at your pace, and you will never be asked to force a breath hold or practise alone.

If you also want open-water depth training, consider the two-day AIDA 1+2 course.

What's included in this course

• Knowledge development through practical theory lessons
• Pool session: static apnea
• Pool session: dynamic freediving
• Equalization techniques & rescue skills
• Breathing & freediving techniques

Before you book

• Price: $275 per person.
• Daily schedule: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM, one day.
• Class size: maximum 3 students.
• Equipment provided: fins, mask, snorkel and a weight belt.
• Wetsuit: not provided and highly recommended. You can rent one from any scuba shop in Waikiki — arrange it before the morning of your course, not on the day.
• If you do not finish every requirement: booking a course does not guarantee certification. If something is still outstanding at the end, I will tell you exactly what remains and what to practise, and you have one year to complete it. If certification is your goal we stay in touch and keep working on it.

What to bring

Bring the following with you on the day:

• Wetsuit
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Water
• Towel or yoga mat
• Change of clothes
• Notepad
• Slippers or sandals

Prerequisites

• Be 18 years of age or older (16 or 17 years old with parent or guardian consent)
• Be able to swim at least 100m non-stop
• Be able to speak and read English

Next step: the two-day AIDA 1+2 beginner course · Compare all Oahu freediving courses · AIDA 1 vs AIDA 2: which suits you? · Prerequisites and FAQ · How Mitch teaches and approaches safety · Prefer one-on-one? Private training