Freedive Instructor course

Step into a career that changes lives—starting with your own.

Unlock the next level of your freediving journey with a professionally recognised, globally respected SSI Instructor qualification—delivered in the heart of the Bay of Islands, where deep, clear water and world-class coaching come together.

This course is more than a certification. It’s a full transformation in how you dive, teach, lead, and show up in the water. Over seven immersive days you’ll develop the technical skills, coaching confidence, watermanship, and professionalism needed to safely guide and inspire freedivers anywhere in the world.

Designed and delivered by Freedive Aotearoa, this training blends science-backed breathwork, controlled stress education, and ocean performance principles with the rigour of the SSI Education System. You’ll learn how to teach with clarity, handle rescue scenarios with confidence, and create powerful learning experiences that genuinely change people.

What Makes This Course Different

• World-class dive sites: Deep, calm, reliable Northland water ideal for Instructor-level depth development.

• Small training groups: Personalised coaching, real feedback, and high instructor-to-student attention.

• Integrated breathwork + recovery: Nervous-system regulation, performance breathing, and stress adaptation built into the program.

• Professional teaching development: Academic, pool, and open-water coaching practice that reflects real SSI course delivery.

• Clear performance benchmarks: Every candidate knows exactly what is required to pass—no ambiguity, no guesswork.

• Supportive learning culture: A connected, team-focused environment where candidates progress together.

• Elite instructional team: Over 25 years of diving, teaching, and commercial experience behind your training—the most experienced freediving educators in New Zealand.

You’ll leave this course not just as a freediver who can go deep—but as a mentor, leader, and safe guide for others. Whether you want to teach full-time, travel the world, or contribute to your local community, this program prepares you for real-world, real-ocean instructing.

If you’re ready to step into a new level of mastery, share your love of the ocean, and build a career that makes an impact, this is where you begin.

Training Options: Intensive or Part-Time

You can complete this Instructor pathway in two different ways, depending on your schedule, experience, and learning style. Both options lead to the exact same SSI certification, teaching qualification, and professional outcome.

1. Intensive Pathway (Fast-Track)

Choose this if you want to complete everything in one focused block.

A full 7-day immersive training week covering all academics, pool and depth sessions, rescue training, teaching presentations, and evaluations. Designed for divers already performing around 25–30 m+ who want a high-performance, fast, and efficient route to Instructor certification.

• Duration: 80 hours

• Price: $2,800 (Instructor Course only)

• OR $3,600 (Advanced Freediver + Instructor Course combined, intensive format)

• Best for: Strong divers, travellers, people taking leave from work, or those who prefer full immersion.

2. Part-Time Modular Pathway (One Weekend Per Month)

Choose this if you want more time, flexibility, and steady progression.

A structured program delivered one weekend per month, including all academic sessions, pool and depth modules, teaching presentations, rescue skills, and full evaluations. This pathway includes additional coaching time, more equalisation support, and natural skill consolidation between weekends.

• Duration: Approx. 120–150 hours

• Price: $2,800 (Instructor Course only)

• OR $3,600 (Advanced Freediver + Instructor Course combined, modular format)

• Includes: Full Advanced Freediver course for those selecting the $3,600 pathway.

• Best for: People with work/family commitments, divers who need more development before depth evaluations, or anyone who prefers spaced learning.

How to Choose

Select the Intensive Pathway if:

• You already dive ~25–30 m+

• You want the fastest route to Instructor certification

• You enjoy full-immersion training environments

Select the Part-Time Pathway if:

• You need flexibility around work and life

• You want deeper mentoring and time to train between modules

• You are still building toward Instructor-level performance

• You want to include the full Advanced Freediver + Instructor progression

Both Pathways Include

• Academic teaching practice

• Pool & confined-water training

• Depth sessions in the Bay of Islands

• Rescue and safety modules

• Open-water teaching presentations

• Professionalism and standards assessments

• Breathwork + recovery integration

• Access to The Freedive Studio during training

• All performance evaluations

• Clear SSI certification requirements and support

Deposit & Enrolment

A  deposit secures your place in your chosen pathway.

Digital learning access and pre-course preparation are released once your place is confirmed.