Molchanovs Wave 1 Freediving Course Phuket — Beginner Open Water Certification
No experience needed — 2–3 days at Kata Beach with SSS Phuket, combining Lap 1 pool fundamentals with your first open water dives to 12-20m depth using bi-fins and free immersion.
- — Max 3 students per instructor
- — Full freediving equipment included
- — Free SSS Phuket t-shirt (3-day course)
What You Need to Know Before Booking Molchanovs Wave 1
Who Is Molchanovs Wave 1 For?
Molchanovs Wave 1 is the internationally recognized starting point for open water freediving certification — here's how to know if it's the right level for you.
Already Hold Your Lap 1?
This is the natural next step — build on your Lap 1 pool skills and progress to real open-water certification: 12-20m constant weight/free immersion and 30m dynamic apnea. Most Lap 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 Wave 1 course (฿9,900) can be your entry point without Lap 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 Wave 1 graduates move on to Wave 2 for 24-30m depth and 50m dynamic apnea — check requirements before booking.
See Wave 2 Course →Already Certified Elsewhere?
Hold a certification with AIDA, SSI or PADI already? Compare all four systems and find the right level to cross over into before booking Molchanovs Wave 1.
Compare Certifications →Molchanovs Wave 1 Course — Program in Depth
Every Molchanovs Wave 1 course is led by our in-house Molchanovs-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.
Molchanovs Wave 1 is your first real open-water depth certification — beyond pool basics. Over 2 or 3 days you'll refine equalization, breath-hold, and constant weight/free immersion 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). Lap 1 (or equivalent water confidence) is the normal path in.
Skills refresher and equalization technique (Frenzel), CO2/O2 tolerance tables, static apnea building toward 1 minute 30 seconds, and dynamic apnea technique work toward 30 meters with bi-fins.
Continued pool training only on the 3-day (฿9,900) option: 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/free immersion 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/free immersion 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 1 minute 30 seconds
- Dynamic apnea: swim 30 meters underwater with bi-fins on a single breath
- Constant weight with bi-fins (CWTB) & free immersion (FIM): descend and ascend along a weighted line to at least 12 meters depth, with the program progressing to 20 meters
- Equalisation technique: Frenzel technique for consistent equalization at depth
- Breathing & relaxation: extended breathe-up routines and CO2/O2 tolerance tables
- Buddy safety: rescue from 6–10m, recovery breathing, and line/rope safety signals
- Open water application: complete at least 2 open water freediving sessions at Racha Yai
All Molchanovs Wave 1 equipment is included in your course price — nothing extra to rent or buy.
- Low-volume freediving mask
- Long bi-fins
- Snorkel
- Wetsuit (tropical-weight, for pool and boat day)
- Weight belt, sized to you
- Lanyard for depth line safety
- Molchanovs Freediver Touch digital course access
- Minimum age: 16 years old (Molchanovs requirement)
- Prerequisite: Lap 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
- Swim requirement: able to swim 200m unassisted, non-stop, in a pool
- 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 Molchanovs Wave 1 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.
Wave 1 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.
Molchanovs Wave 1 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 Molchanovs Wave 1 Certification
- ✔ Molchanovs Freediver Touch digital course access
- ✔ Complete equipment rental
- ✔ Hotel transfer (Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong)
- ✔ Breakfast & lunch on boat day
- ✖ Requires Day 1 water-confidence assessment or Lap 1 certification
- ✔ Day 1: Pool skills — equalization, static & dynamic apnea
- ✔ Day 2: Pool skills — line and free-immersion technique, depth-specific safety
- ✔ Day 3: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip, 2 open water dives to 12-20m
- ✔ Official Molchanovs Wave 1 Certification
- ✔ Molchanovs Freediver Touch digital course access
- ✔ 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 Molchanovs Wave 1 Certification
Every Molchanovs Wave 1 course is led by a real, named freediving instructor — not a rotating cast of seasonal hires.
Florian
Molchanovs/SSI Dive & Freedive Instructor
English · French
Val
Molchanovs Freediving Instructor
English · Russian
Constantin
AIDA Instructor & AIDA Judge
Freediving
Leonie
AIDA Freediving Instructor
English · German · Spanish
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 Molchanovs level.
What Our Molchanovs Wave 1 Freedivers Say
"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 Lap 1 before taking Wave 1?
What's the difference between Lap 1 and Wave 1?
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 Wave 1 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 Molchanovs Wave 1 Course
