Core Courses
The FII core certification courses are the primary foundation to all freediving and breath-hold related activities for all levels.
The core certification courses consist of three main course levels, each building upon the next, to ensure a student’s ability to safely and effectively freedive within each course level’s depth zone. All courses feature a professional, easy to learn format that encompasses academic classroom work, confined water practical training, and open-water depth training. To pass a course level, students must demonstrate a complete mastery of the skills and knowledge taught during each level. Students have 12-months to complete the course at no additional tuition cost under any F.I.I.-certified instructor.
F.I.I. provides a unique standardized education system that guarantees all students will receive F.I.I.'s cutting-edge course content, world-class student materials delivered by a highly trained F.I.I. professional in a safe, structured learning environment.
All of F.I.I.'s core courses have been expertly designed by 13-time world record freediver and F.I.I. founder, Martin Stepanek. Join the thousands of freedivers and spearos worldwide reaping the benefits of this proven freediving training program!
The FII core certification courses are the primary foundation to all freediving and breath-hold related activities for all levels.
The core certification courses consist of three main course levels, each building upon the next, to ensure a student’s ability to safely and effectively freedive within each course level’s depth zone. All courses feature a professional, easy to learn format that encompasses academic classroom work, confined water practical training, and open-water depth training. To pass a course level, students must demonstrate a complete mastery of the skills and knowledge taught during each level. Students have 12-months to complete the course at no additional tuition cost under any F.I.I.-certified instructor.
F.I.I. provides a unique standardized education system that guarantees all students will receive F.I.I.'s cutting-edge course content, world-class student materials delivered by a highly trained F.I.I. professional in a safe, structured learning environment.
All of F.I.I.'s core courses have been expertly designed by 13-time world record freediver and F.I.I. founder, Martin Stepanek. Join the thousands of freedivers and spearos worldwide reaping the benefits of this proven freediving training program!
Level 1 Freediver
Level 1 Freediver
Whether a complete beginner or an informally trained freediver/spearfisherman with years of experience, this course will set you on the right path to eliminate bad habits and show you the most efficient and safe freedive techniques.
During this course students train the fundamentals of the FII education system in an easy-to-learn course format operating between the classroom, pool and open water setting. With a high emphasis on freedive safety training and technique development, students master the proper skills to effectively freedive up to depths of 66 feet/20 meters.
- Level 1 Safety & Problem Management
- Freediving Equipment
- Physics and Physiology for the Level 1 Freediver
- Correct Breathing for Freediving
- Breath-Hold/Static Apnea Technique Development
- Freediving Technique Development
To pass this course level, students must attend all sessions and demonstrate mastery of the F.I.I. Level 1 Freediver skills and knowledge.
Students have 12-months to complete the course at no additional tuition cost under any F.I.I.-certified instructor.
Course Duration:
2-day program. Minimum 4 hours of academic work, 3 hours of confined water training, and 1.5 hours of open water depth training (varies per location and class).
Age Requirement:
Participants must be 16 years or older!
Prerequisites:
Competent swimming skills and comfortable in open water.
Level 1 Freediver POOL ONLY
Level 1 Freediver POOL ONLY
The pool-only course encompasses the academics and confined water components of the F.I.I. Level 1 Freediver course. Participants are invited to attend any future F.I.I. Level 1 Freediver open-water component to attain the full Level 1 Freediver cert.
During this course, key academic information is first explained in a classroom setting and then practiced in a controlled confined water environment.
The training for students consists of safety and problem management, proper freediving gear selection, fundamentals of breathing techniques for freediving, understanding of freediving physics and physiology and how these components affect their technique and performance during freediving activities.
Participants are trained to hold their breath up to 3 minutes and establish the foundation for proper freediving techniques and safety.
Course Duration:
1-day program. Minimum 4 hours of academic work and 3 hours of confined water training (varies per location and class).
Age Requirement:
Participants must be 16 years or older
Prerequisites:
Competent swimming skills
- Level 1 Safety & Problem Management
- Freediving Equipment
- Physics and Physiology for the Level 1 Freediver
- Correct Breathing for Freediving
- Breath-Hold/Static Apnea Technique Development
- Confined Water Technique Development
Level 2 Freediver
Level 2 Freediver
The F.I.I. Level 2 Freediver Course builds upon the foundation established during the Level 1 Freediver course by teaching students how to effectively use the human body processes to safely and comfortably operate up to depths of 100 feet and more.
The physiology information provided during this course will dispel common myths of the average human’s diving ability and target specific practices to harness their full aquatic potential. The course will also troubleshoot depth-related hurdles such as deep equalization and provide key training techniques to avoid possible injuries applicable to diving within the depth zone of 66 feet/20 meters to 132 feet/40 meters.
This class is a must for all enthusiastic freedivers/spearfishermen wishing to expand their knowledge and advance their comfort level to deeper depths.
- Safety and Problem Management Revision
- Specific Techniques for Triggering and Developing the Mammalian Dive Reflex
- Equalization
- Breathing Exercises and Breathing Technique Development
- Physics and Physiology of the Level 2 Freediver
- Open-Water Freediving Technique Development
- Pool Training Drills to Enhance Depth Comfort
- Self-Evaluation Techniques
Course Duration:
3-day program. Minimum 7 hours academic work, 2.5 hours confined water training and 4.5 hours open water depth training (can vary per location and class).
Age Requirement:
Participants must be 16 years or older
Prerequisites:
FII Level 1 Freediver or FII Junior Freediver (if applicable) or Waterman Survival EXTENDED certification or equivalent
Level 3 Freediver
Level 3 Freediver
The F.I.I. Level 3 Freediver is the “black belt” of freediving. Participants learn how to form their own training programs, troubleshoot problems, and implement advanced techniques and dietary requirements to constantly improve as a freediver.
Students enter this course with a solid technical foundation from the F.I.I. Level 1 Freediver course and they have a full understanding of maximizing their inborn aquatic abilities from the F.I.I. Level 2 Freediver course. This course provides the final piece of the puzzle, allowing participants to take their minds and bodies beyond the average human abilities and target their training toward specific goals, such as week-long spearfishing trips, preparation for a freediving camp, attendance at an international freediving competition, and many other activities.
Course Duration:
This is 4-day program including a minimum of 4 open water sessions, 1 pool session, and 3 classroom sessions (can vary per location and class).
Age Requirement:
Participants must be 16 years or older
Prerequisites:
FII Level 2 Freediver certification or equivalent
- Understanding and Application of Training Principles
- Training Techniques and Skills Specific to Freediving Fitness and Performance
- Dietary Needs of the Freediving Athlete
- Advanced Breathing and Stretching Exercises
- Advanced Freediving Technique Development
- Advanced Safety Techniques for Supervision and Self Rescue (including counter ballast operations)
- Deep Equalization Techniques
Junior Freediver
Junior Freediver
This course sets our new generation of freedivers/spearfishermen on the right and safest path to enjoy this sport. Students build safe habits while advancing their watermanship skills and knowledge by learning how to be a responsible and effective diver.
The academics of this course have been specifically adapted by grade school teaching professionals to be easily digestible and fun. The junior freediver practical curricula offer students games and activities that cleverly integrate fundamental freediving skills and key safety protocols. During this course students are trained to dive to a maximum depth of 50 feet (15 meters). The junior freediver course has a maximum student–instructor ratio of 4:1, providing the safest and most effective learning experience for our new generation of free divers.
This course is a must for your son or daughter to learn the proper freedive safety techniques.
Parents are encouraged to attend with their children.
- Freediving Safety & Problem Management
- Freediving Equipment
- Physics and Physiology for Junior Freediver
- Correct Breathing for Freediving
- Confined Water Technique Development
- Open Water Freediving Technique Development
Course Duration:
2-day program. Minimum 4 hours of academic work, 3 hours of confined water training and 1.5 hours of open-water depth training (varies per location and class).
Age Requirement:
Participants must be 12 years or older
Prerequisites:
Competent swimming skills