Freedive Instructor Course
Description
Step into a career that changes lives — starting with your own.
Freedive Aotearoa's Professional Pathway develops confident, capable, and safe SSI professionals who can assist, teach, and lead freediving programs in New Zealand and worldwide. Based in the heart of the Bay of Islands.
Next intake: 20 April · Bay of Islands
Secure your place with a $500 deposit.
Certification Levels
| Certification | Duration | Price | You Can Teach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Instructor | 8–12 hrs | from $850 | Discover Freediving · Basic Freediver · Try Freediving |
| Assistant Instructor | 45–50 hrs | from $1,800 | Basic Freediver · Try Freediving |
| Freedive Instructor | ~85 hrs | from $2,600 | Full Freediver L1 · Basic · Try Freediving |
Course Formats
7-Day Instructor Fast-Track — $2,800
For divers already performing at ~30m and ready to move directly into instructor-level training.
Includes:
- Performance development to 30m+
- All academic, pool, and open-water sessions
- Teaching presentations & assessments
- Instructor-level rescue, safety, and evaluation practice
- Access to Scandinavian sauna, cold plunge, and recovery facilities
- Pre-course digital learning + onboarding call
Best for: Confident 30m divers · Strong, ready candidates who don't need extensive prerequisite polishing · Those wanting to complete the full ITC in one week
Total training: ~75–85 hours (SSI standard)
Instructor + Advanced Freediver Course — $3,600
For 20m divers who want more time refining technique, equalisation, or completing Advanced/Depth requirements before entering instructor-level training.
Includes:
- Pre-course performance block — depth, equalisation, technique
- Advanced Freediver certification
- Full instructor training week
- Additional coaching: equalisation troubleshooting, breathwork + stretching for freedivers, rescue readiness, teaching confidence
- Full academic, pool, and open-water instructor presentations
- 1:1 development plan
- 2 hours post-course mentoring, feedback, and course setup support
- Access to Scandinavian sauna, cold plunge, and recovery classes
- Digital learning + onboarding call
Best for: Divers not yet fully at 30m · Anyone wanting a more supported pathway · Those who prefer more time to become instructor-ready · Anyone wanting post-course mentoring
Total training: 100+ hours
What's Included Across All Pathways
- SSI Digital Learning + Instructor Manual + pack
- Classroom, pool, and open-water training
- Boat days and full depth-training setup
- Teaching practice and evaluations
- Final exam and professional assessment
- Access to The Freedive Studio — Scandinavian sauna, cold plunge, breathwork, mobility
- Pre-course onboarding call with personal blueprint, breath analysis, training program, goal setting and managing expectations
- Ongoing support during your pathway and after
Fitness Requirements
- 400m swim in ≤ 15 minutes
- 800m snorkel swim in ≤ 15 minutes
- 15-minute tread
Certification Requirements
To qualify as an SSI Freediving Instructor, you must complete:
- Written exam ≥ 90%
- Academic presentation — minimum passing score
- Confined water teaching evaluation
- Open water teaching evaluation
- Professional conduct assessment
- 30m constant weight dive
- 60m dynamic
- 3-minute static
- 15m bounce diving scenarios
→ Book at freediveaotearoa.rezdy.com
Questions? info@freedive.co.nz