AIDA 1 Freediving Course Phuket — Level 1 Certification
Your first official AIDA certification — 1–2 days at Kata Beach with SSS Phuket, the island's original freediving school and only 4-system training center.
- — Max 3 students per instructor
- — Full freediving equipment included
- — Free SSS Phuket t-shirt (2-day course)
What You Need to Know Before Booking AIDA 1
Who Is AIDA 1 For?
AIDA 1 is our entry-level course — here's how to know if it's the right starting point for you.
Curious to Try Freediving
Never freedived before and just want to see what it feels like? The 1-Day Pool Session (฿5,900) is a low-pressure, no-commitment way to try breath-hold diving in a controlled pool environment — no certification required.
See Pool Session Details →Want a Taste of Open Water
Loved the pool and want more? The 2-Day option (฿7,900) adds a full day trip to Racha Yai, so you experience real open-water freediving in clear tropical water before deciding to go further.
See 2-Day Option →Ready for a Real Certification?
If you already know you want a proper freediving certification, most students should start at AIDA 2, not AIDA 1 — it covers everything AIDA 1 does plus real certified depth. Skip ahead and save time.
See AIDA 2 Course →Already Certified Elsewhere?
Hold a certification with SSI, PADI or Molchanovs already? AIDA 1 isn't for you — compare all four systems and find the right level to cross over into.
Compare Certifications →AIDA 1 Course — Program in Depth
Every AIDA 1 course is led by our in-house AIDA-certified freediving instructors, at a maximum ratio of 3 students per instructor, so you get hands-on, personal attention in the pool and on the boat.
AIDA 1 is your first official freediving certification — a short, structured introduction to breath-hold diving run over 1 or 2 days. You'll start in the pool at our Chalong training base, learning static apnea (breath-holding in place) and dynamic apnea (underwater swimming with fins), before applying those skills in open water on a day trip to Racha Yai island. No prior experience or scuba certification is required — just the ability to swim.
Theory session covering freediving physiology and safety, followed by pool practice: static apnea and dynamic apnea with fins, coached one-on-one by your instructor.
This day is only part of the 2-day (฿7,900) option; the 1-day pool-only option (฿5,900) ends after Day 1.
- 7:30 AMHotel pickup and transfer to Chalong Pier
- 9:00 AMWelcome aboard! Breakfast served on the way to Racha Yai
- 10:00 AMFirst dive
- 12:00 PMHot buffet lunch on board, then free time for snorkeling and sunbathing
- 1:00 PMSecond dive (constant weight)
- 3:00 PMRest and relax — fresh tropical fruit and soft drinks on the way back to Chalong Pier
- 3:30 PMArrive back at Chalong Pier
- 4:00 PMDrop-off at your hotel
- Static apnea: hold your breath face-down in the pool for at least 1 minute 15 seconds
- Dynamic apnea: swim 25 meters underwater with fins on a single breath
- Equalisation technique: Frenzel/Valsalva basics for descending without ear pain
- Breathing & relaxation: pre-dive breathe-up routines to slow your heart rate and conserve oxygen
- Buddy safety: surface protocols, recovery breathing, and safety signals for every dive
- Open water application: complete at least 1 open water freediving session at Racha Yai
All AIDA 1 equipment is included in your course price — nothing extra to rent or buy.
- Low-volume freediving mask
- Long free-diving fins
- Snorkel
- Wetsuit (tropical-weight, for pool and boat day)
- Weight belt, sized to you
- AIDA digital course manual
- Minimum age: 18 years old, or 16–17 with written consent from a parent or legal guardian (AIDA requirement)
- Swimming ability: must be able to swim at least 100 metres non-stop — no scuba or freediving experience needed
- Avoid scuba diving in the 24 hours before your course (residual nitrogen risk)
- Eat a light meal 2–3 hours before pool or boat sessions — don't dive on a full or empty stomach
- Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle
- Hotel pickup is included for the Racha Yai boat day (Kata, Karon, Chalong, Rawai, Kamala areas)
Your Open Water Day: Racha Yai Island
About an hour by boat from Chalong Pier, Racha Yai's calm, clear bays are exactly why we use it for your AIDA 1 open water session — sheltered conditions that let you focus on breathing and technique, not fighting current.
Racha Yai's bays are naturally sheltered from currents and swell, with visibility regularly reaching 15–20 metres — ideal conditions for your first breath-hold dives in open water.
AIDA 1 has no minimum depth requirement — your instructor keeps both dives shallow and fully guided, deep enough to feel like a real open water dive, shallow enough to stay relaxed.
Expect vibrant hard and soft corals, clownfish, and parrotfish — and with a bit of luck, a turtle gliding past while you're on your breath-hold.
See the full hour-by-hour boat day schedule in the Program in Depth section above.
AIDA 1 Pricing & What's Included
Two ways to start: a low-cost pool trial, or the full 2-day course that ends in your official AIDA 1 certification.
- ✔ 4 hours pool training (Chalong)
- ✔ Static & dynamic apnea instruction
- ✔ AIDA-certified instructor, max 3 students
- ✔ Complete equipment rental
- ✖ No AIDA 1 certification (requires open water day)
- ✖ No Racha Yai boat trip
- ✔ Day 1: Pool training (static & dynamic apnea)
- ✔ Day 2: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip, 2 open water dives
- ✔ Official AIDA 1 Star Certification
- ✔ AIDA digital course manual
- ✔ Complete equipment rental
- ✔ Hotel transfer (Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong)
- ✔ Breakfast & lunch on boat day
- 🎁 Free SSS Phuket T-shirt included
Meet the Team Behind Your AIDA 1 Certification
Every AIDA 1 course is led by a real, named freediving instructor — not a rotating cast of seasonal hires.
Constantin
AIDA Instructor & AIDA Judge
Freediving
Leonie
AIDA Freediving Instructor
English · German · Spanish
Florian
Molchanovs/SSI Dive & Freedive Instructor
English · French
Val
Molchanovs Freediving Instructor
English · Russian
See Our Pool & Racha Yai Training in Action
Real photos from our Chalong pool and Racha Yai boat days — the same facilities used across every AIDA level.
What Our Freedivers Say
"Very professionally supervised throughout by Ruddy, whose instructing was superb and ensured that I achieved over 2 mins 30 static apnea — having begun at only 1 minute."
"Me and my girlfriend tried this as first time divers and it was really beyond our expectations. Instructor Lung was so patient and literally held our hands underwater. Overall 10/10."
"I had a very good experience doing my AIDA 1 Freediving Course. Rudy was very thorough with his instruction and moved at a good pace that I was able to follow and absorb what he was teaching."
"We saw a huge variety of beautiful fish, moray eels, and the absolute highlight was spotting a turtle. It truly was one of the best days of our lives."
"My instructor Pomme was amazing and highly recommended. The water was clear and we saw a lot of coral and marine life. If and when I come back to Phuket, I will be doing this trip again."
"Quality of instructors was superb. There was one instructor for every two or three students. Convenient hotel pickup, well-planned logistics. No prior dive experience needed."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need AIDA 1 before taking AIDA 2?
What is the best time of year for freediving in Phuket?
How many students per instructor?
What depth will I reach during the course?
Is the 2-day option right for me?
Can I do the course if I struggle to equalise?
What should I bring to the course?
Is freediving dangerous for beginners?
Can I do the course alone, or do I need a buddy?
What happens if I don't pass the assessment?
Do you offer private courses?
What's the water temperature like in Phuket?
Find Us at Kata Beach
- Address: 184/1 Koktanod Road, Kata Beach, Phuket 83100
- Hours: Open 8am–8pm, daily
- WhatsApp: +66 895 869 920
- Email: info@sssphuket.com
- WeChat: sssphuketjean · Telegram: +66 90 176 673
- ✔ Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your course starts — course fee refunded in full. Online certification materials are non-refundable once issued
- ✔ TripAdvisor Hall of Fame since 2014 · 2025 Viator Experience Award
- ✔ Questions before booking? WhatsApp us — replies within a few hours, 8am–8pm daily
Reserve Your AIDA 1 Course
