AIDA 2 Freediving Course Phuket — Level 2 Certification
Build on your AIDA 1 skills and dive deeper — 2–3 days at Kata Beach with SSS Phuket, training to 12-20m depth and 40m dynamic apnea with the island's original freediving school.
- — Max 3 students per instructor
- — Full freediving equipment included
- — Free SSS Phuket t-shirt (3-day course)
What You Need to Know Before Booking AIDA 2
Who Is AIDA 2 For?
AIDA 2 is our most popular certification — here's how to know if it's the right level for you.
Already Hold Your AIDA 1?
This is the natural next step — build on your AIDA 1 skills and progress from pool depths to real open-water certification: 12-20m constant weight and 40m dynamic apnea. Most AIDA 1 graduates take this within a few months.
See Program in Depth →Confident Swimmer, New to Freediving?
Already comfortable in open water — snorkeler, swimmer or spearfisherman? The 3-Day AIDA 2 course (฿9,900) can be your entry point without AIDA 1, provided you pass the Day 1 water-confidence assessment.
See Pricing & Requirements →Ready to Push Past 20m?
Already have solid open-water depth experience up to 20m and want to go further? Most AIDA 2 graduates move on to AIDA 3 for 24m depth and 55m dynamic apnea — check requirements before booking.
See AIDA 3 Course →Already Certified Elsewhere?
Hold a certification with SSI, PADI or Molchanovs already? Compare all four systems and find the right level to cross over into before booking AIDA 2.
Compare Certifications →AIDA 2 Course — Program in Depth
Every AIDA 2 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 2 is the certification most freedivers actually want — real open-water depth training beyond pool basics. Over 2 or 3 days you'll refine equalization, breath-hold, and constant weight (CWT) technique in the pool at Chalong, then apply it on a full-day boat trip to Racha Yai Island, descending on a weighted line to at least 12 meters (the program builds toward 20m). AIDA 1 (or equivalent water confidence) is the normal path in.
Skills refresher and deeper equalization technique (Frenzel), CO2/O2 tolerance tables, static apnea building toward 2 minutes, and dynamic apnea technique work toward 40 meters with fins.
Continued pool training only on the 3-day (฿9,900) option: buoy line and free-immersion technique, depth-specific rescue and safety skills, and timed practice sessions. The 2-day option (฿7,900, for confident swimmers) condenses pool training into Day 1 before heading straight to the boat day.
- 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 — constant weight descent along the line, building toward 20m
- 12:00 PMHot buffet lunch on board, then free time for snorkeling and sunbathing
- 1:00 PMSecond dive — certification depth attempt, constant weight to at least 12m
- 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 2 minutes
- Dynamic apnea: swim 40 meters underwater with fins on a single breath
- Constant weight (CWT): descend and ascend along a weighted line to at least 12 meters depth, with the program progressing to 20 meters
- Equalisation technique: refined Frenzel technique for consistent equalization at depth
- Breathing & relaxation: extended breathe-up routines and CO2/O2 tolerance tables
- Buddy safety: depth-specific rescue skills, recovery breathing, and line/rope safety signals
- Open water application: complete at least 2 open water freediving sessions at Racha Yai
All AIDA 2 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
- Lanyard for depth line safety
- AIDA digital course manual
- Minimum age: 18 years old, or 16–17 with written consent from a parent or legal guardian (AIDA requirement)
- Prerequisite: AIDA 1 certification (or equivalent from another agency) is the normal path in; confident swimmers may enter directly after a Day 1 water-confidence assessment — confirm eligibility before booking
- 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 2 open water sessions — sheltered conditions with a fixed dive line, ideal for building real depth without fighting current.
Racha Yai's bays are naturally sheltered from currents and swell, with visibility regularly reaching 15–20 metres — ideal conditions for building certified depth without fighting the elements.
AIDA 2 introduces diving along a weighted buoy line — your instructor sets the line, spots every dive, and helps you build toward your certification depth of at least 12 metres, with the program progressing to 20 metres safely and gradually.
Expect vibrant hard and soft corals, clownfish, and parrotfish — and with a bit of luck, a turtle gliding past while you're on the line.
See the full hour-by-hour boat day schedule in the Program in Depth section above.
AIDA 2 Pricing & What's Included
Two ways to get certified: a condensed 2-day option for confident swimmers, or the full 3-day course with an extra day of pool training before your Racha Yai open water dives.
- ✔ Day 1: Pool skills refresher (static, dynamic, equalization)
- ✔ Day 2: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip, 2 open water dives to 12-20m
- ✔ Official AIDA 2 Star Certification
- ✔ AIDA digital course manual
- ✔ Complete equipment rental
- ✔ Hotel transfer (Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong)
- ✔ Breakfast & lunch on boat day
- ✖ Requires Day 1 water-confidence assessment or AIDA 1 certification
- ✔ Day 1: Pool skills — equalization, static & dynamic apnea
- ✔ Day 2: Pool skills — buoy line technique, depth-specific safety
- ✔ Day 3: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip, 2 open water dives to 12-20m
- ✔ Official AIDA 2 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 2 Certification
Every AIDA 2 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 AIDA 2 Freedivers Say
"I did a free diving course both Aida 2 and Aida 3 with Ruddy. He is very knowledgeable, calm during the session. The session make me really comfortable during my dives."
"I obtained my freediving certification AIDA 2 with SSS Phuket. I had a great week with my instructor Rudy. He provided valuable tips and tricks to help me pass the exam. He was also very patient with us and very encouraging."
"We came to Phuket for this freedive course AIDA. Ruddy is really very professional, honestly and calm. Thank you Ruddy!"
"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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need AIDA 1 before taking AIDA 2?
What's the difference between AIDA 1 and 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 or 3-day option right for me?
Can I do the course if I struggle to equalise?
What should I bring to the course?
Is freediving safe at AIDA 2 depths?
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 2 Course
