Oahu · Hawaii
The practical details
Last reviewed by Mitch Brown
Oahu is one of the easier places in the world to learn freediving. The water is warm year round, visibility on the south shore is often excellent, and you can go from a hotel in Waikiki to a training site in a few minutes. This page covers the logistics people ask about before booking — where we meet, how sites get chosen, what happens when conditions turn, and which course makes sense if you are only here for a week.
All scheduled courses start near Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, at the Waikiki end of Ala Moana, in Honolulu. It is a sheltered, calm-water lagoon, which makes it a good place for the confined-water parts of a course and a straightforward place for everyone to find.
The exact meeting spot is in your confirmation email. If you are staying in Waikiki, it is usually a short walk or a very short drive. Courses begin at 7:30 AM. AIDA 1 runs until roughly 3:30 PM; AIDA 1+2, AIDA 3 and AIDA 4 run until roughly 2:00 PM each day.
Private training sessions and the Instructor Course are scheduled with you individually rather than at a fixed time.
If you have never held your breath underwater before, the two beginner options both start here in Honolulu. The one-day AIDA 1 course stays entirely in the pool or confined water — no ocean depth diving at all. The two-day AIDA 1+2 course is the one I recommend for most people: day one is theory and confined water, day two moves into open water off the south shore.
Not sure which fits? Compare AIDA 1 and AIDA 2 side by side.
There is no single fixed dive site. On open-water days I pick the location that morning based on swell, wind, current and visibility. Most training happens off the south shore, either from a boat or as a shore entry, depending on conditions and what the group needs.
This is normal for Hawaii. Conditions on this island change by shore and by season — the south shore is usually calmest in winter, while summer south swells can make it lumpy. Choosing the site on the day is what keeps training comfortable rather than a fight against the water.
If conditions are unsafe, I reschedule at no cost to you. I would much rather move a day than run a course in water that makes people tense, because tension is the one thing that reliably ruins a freediving day.
If you are visiting for a short trip, tell me your travel dates when you book so we can build in a buffer. It is worth knowing that a rescheduled ocean day can sometimes be swapped for pool work if your window is tight.
Transportation is not included in any course or session. You make your own way to the meeting point.
There is public parking near Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon and along Ala Moana, but it fills quickly on weekends and holidays, so give yourself extra time. If you are staying in Waikiki, walking or a short rideshare is often simpler than driving. If a course day runs from a different site, I will tell you where to park when I confirm the location.
Most travellers have a fixed window, so here is the honest guidance:
Book the course earlier in your trip rather than the last day. That leaves room to reschedule if the ocean does not cooperate.
Nobody breath-holds alone in any session I run. Every dive has a trained buddy and a plan, classes are small, and depth limits are ceilings rather than targets. If you want the detail, read how beginner courses actually manage risk or how I teach.
Compare all Oahu freediving courses to see setting, experience needed, duration, class size and price side by side. The FAQ covers prerequisites, cancellations, health questions and what to bring. If you are still unsure, email me and I will tell you honestly which course fits your trip.
