Frequently Asked Questions

No. AIDA 1 and AIDA 1+2 are both designed for people who have never freedived before.

What you need differs by course. AIDA 1 takes place entirely in a pool or calm confined water, so you do not need any open-water experience at all — you just need to swim 100m without stopping. AIDA 1+2 adds a day of open-water diving, so you should be comfortable being in the ocean, and you need to swim 200m without fins or 300m with a mask, fins and snorkel.

The advanced courses (AIDA 3, AIDA 4, Instructor) require the previous level's certification, or a crossover evaluation if you certified with a different agency.

You do not need any previous breath-hold training before the course. AIDA 1 has no breath-hold performance requirement.

To earn the AIDA 2 certification included in the two-day beginner course, you will work toward a supervised two-minute static breath hold, along with the other course requirements. We build up gradually, and you will never be asked to force a breath hold or practise alone.

No. The maximum depth is a training limit, not a target every student must reach. For AIDA 2 certification, the required depth is 12m / 40 ft.

The course may include training at appropriate depths up to 20m / 65 ft, depending on your comfort, skills, safety, and the ocean conditions. You will never be pushed deeper than you are ready to go.

You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be a comfortable swimmer. AIDA 1 requires the ability to swim 100m without stopping. AIDA 1+2 requires 200m without fins or 300m with a mask, fins, and snorkel.

Course days include swimming, breath-hold exercises, time in the water, and repeated open-water dives, with instruction and rest between exercises. If you have concerns about your fitness or swimming ability, contact me before booking.

That is very common, especially for beginners. We can slow down, stay shallower, and work on your technique before trying more depth.

You should never force equalization or continue diving with pressure or pain in your ears or sinuses. If you cannot equalize comfortably during the course, you may need additional practice before completing the open-water depth requirement.

Booking and attending a course does not automatically guarantee certification. If you do not complete every requirement during the scheduled course, I will explain what remains and give you clear feedback on what to practise. You will have one year to complete the remaining requirements.

If certification is your goal, we will stay in touch and continue working together remotely on your training and progress.

Before participating, you will need to review the required health information and complete any course forms provided during booking.

Some health conditions, recent illnesses or injuries, and medications may make freediving unsuitable or require clearance from a medical professional. If you have any concerns, contact me before the course and speak with a qualified medical professional familiar with diving.

Fins, mask, snorkel and a weight belt are provided on every course. For most in-water sessions, bring a wetsuit, reef-safe sunscreen, water, a towel or yoga mat, a change of clothes, a notepad, and slippers or sandals.

A wetsuit is not provided and is highly recommended. The Creative Photo Session requires a full wetsuit. If you need to rent one, arrange the rental before the morning of your booking rather than on the day.

All classes start near Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki, Oahu. The exact meeting spot is included in the confirmation email you'll get when you book.

The Creative Photo Session is the exception — it runs at a location chosen for conditions on the day, either from a boat on the South Shore or as a shore dive, and I confirm the meeting point with you the evening before or that morning.

Scheduled courses begin at 7:30 AM near Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki unless your confirmation specifically states otherwise. AIDA 1 runs until about 3:30 PM; AIDA 1+2, AIDA 3 and AIDA 4 run until about 2:00 PM each day.

Private Training Sessions and the Instructor Course are scheduled with you individually rather than at a fixed start time.

If you cancel at least 7 days before your booking, you receive a 50% refund. Within 7 days of the booking, cancellations are non-refundable.

If weather or ocean conditions are unsafe, I will always reach out to reschedule at no cost to you. If you need to change a booking, message me as early as you can and I will do my best to accommodate.

Full terms are also shown at checkout.

Yes. Any of the AIDA courses can be run privately for individuals or small groups. I also offer 2-hour Private Training Sessions for divers who want focused, one-on-one coaching on a specific skill, most often depth diving. Other breath-hold disciplines are available on request.

Reach out by email and we'll work out the schedule and pricing.

Every course and training session includes one to two professional underwater photos of you, taken by me during the dive. They're a free bonus on top of your training.

If you want more, the 2-hour Creative Photo Session is a dedicated underwater photoshoot with 10 fully edited images delivered digitally at full resolution, normally within one to two weeks.

No. Booking and attending a course does not automatically guarantee certification. AIDA certification is awarded only after the student successfully completes all applicable theory, water, safety, rescue, and performance requirements for the level.

The current AIDA 2 certification depth requirement is 12m / 40 ft. The course may include training at appropriate depths up to a maximum of 20m / 65 ft, depending on safety, conditions, comfort, demonstrated skills, and individual progression.

Yes. AIDA International is one of the largest and most widely recognized freediving organizations in the world. Your certification will be honored at freediving schools and dive operations globally.

Yes. Participants must hold AIDA 2 certification, or the equivalent from another recognised freediving organisation. A full wetsuit is required.

If you are not sure whether your certification qualifies, send me a photo of your card before booking and I'll confirm.