About this course
Train toward AIDA Instructor certification.
Teach freediving as a career. The AIDA Instructor Course is the next step after AIDA 4, and prepares successful candidates to lead AIDA 1, AIDA 2, and AIDA 3 students through their certifications.
This course covers the teaching methodology, lesson planning, equipment management, safety protocols, and rescue procedures required to safely and confidently run your own freediving courses. Candidates will learn how to structure a course, deliver dry theory sessions, lead pool sessions, and supervise open-water training dives at depth.
The AIDA Instructor Course prepares qualified AIDA 4 freedivers for instructor assessment. Candidates must successfully complete all applicable theory, teaching, confined-water, open-water, safety, rescue, and performance requirements before they may receive AIDA Instructor certification.
What you'll learn
- Teaching methodology and student progression
- Lesson planning for dry, pool, and open-water sessions
- Demonstrations of the techniques in each AIDA level
- Safety supervision and rescue procedures
- Course administration and AIDA paperwork
In-water performance requirements
These are the current AIDA standards. You do not need to be able to do them before you arrive — they must be demonstrated during the course.
- Static apnea, 4:00
- Dynamic apnea with bi-fins, at least 90m
- Dynamic apnea without fins (DNF), at least 50m
- Constant Weight bi-fins, 40m / 130 ft
- Free Immersion, 40m / 130 ft
- Constant Weight no fins (CNF), 20m / 65 ft
- Deep rescue from 25m followed immediately by a 50m tow
- Written exams, plus practical teaching, stretching, breathing and dive-site set-up assessments
- A 1,500–2,500 word research paper and a 20-minute presentation
Classroom performance requirements
- Pass the AIDA Instructor written theory exam
- Plan and deliver a sample dry theory lesson
- Plan and deliver a pool session lesson
- Plan and deliver an open water session lesson
Schedule
The AIDA minimum for this course is seven days; in practice it usually runs eight to ten, depending on conditions and how quickly the performance requirements come together. Course days are held near Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki, and start times and the full schedule are arranged with you individually rather than fixed.
Prerequisites
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Hold a current AIDA 4 certification, or complete an AIDA 4 crossover evaluation — a short assessment for divers who certified with another organization or have equivalent freediving experience
- Have completed a course in First Aid with CPR within the last two years
- Be able to speak and read English
Pricing and scheduling for the Instructor Course are arranged on a case-by-case basis. Reach out and we'll plan it together.
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