Molchanovs Wave 3 Freediving Course Phuket — Master Freediving Certification
For certified Wave 2 freedivers ready to push their depth — 5 days at Chalong pool and Racha Yai island with SSS Phuket, mastering advanced equalization (mouthfill) to reach 34-40m constant weight (bi-fins & free immersion), your first constant no-fins dives to 25-30m, plus buddy and rescue skills from 20m.
- — Max 3 students per instructor
- — Full freediving equipment included
- — Free SSS Phuket t-shirt included
What You Need to Know Before Booking Molchanovs Wave 3
Who Is Molchanovs Wave 3 For?
Molchanovs Wave 3 is our master-level open water certification — here's how to know if it's the right level for you.
Already Hold Your Wave 2?
This is the natural next step — build on your Wave 2 skills and progress to 34-40m constant weight/free immersion, 75m dynamic apnea, and your first constant no-fins dives to 25-30m.
See Program in Depth →Certified Elsewhere at This Level?
Hold an equivalent certification — SSI Level 2, AIDA 3, PADI Advanced Freediver? A crossover evaluation lets you skip straight to Wave 3 without repeating Wave 2. You'll also need a current CPR/First Aid certificate (less than 2 years old) before booking.
Compare Certifications →Ready to Push Past 40m?
Already comfortable at Wave 3 depths and want to go further? Most Wave 3 graduates move on to Wave 4 for competitive-level training — 100m dynamic apnea and 40m+ constant weight — check requirements before booking.
See Wave 4 Course →Not Yet Wave 2 Certified?
Wave 3 requires a Wave 2 certification (or equivalent) as a prerequisite. If you haven't reached that level yet, start with our intermediate open water course first.
See Wave 2 Course →Molchanovs Wave 3 Course — Program in Depth
Every Molchanovs Wave 3 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 3 builds directly on your Wave 2 certification, pushing your depth range from 24-30m to 34-40m while adding advanced equalization and safety skills. Over 5 days you'll cover deep-diving theory and technique in the pool at Chalong, apply it at moderate depth on a local reef day, then certify across two full open water days at Racha Yai Island.
Theory covering freediving physiology, lung measurements, breathing, and failure depth; attention deconcentration technique; static apnea building toward 3 minutes 30 seconds; dynamic apnea (DYNB) technique work toward 75 meters with bi-fins; dynamic no-fins (DNF) work toward 50 meters.
Advanced equalization training — Frenzel combined with mouthfill and reverse packing, both dry and in the pool; Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) diving theory and shallow pool practice; advanced rescue refresher covering blackout rescue simulation and self-rescue skills.
First open-water application of FRC diving and mouthfill equalization at moderate depth; CWTB and free immersion technique refinement along the line; first constant no-fins (CNF) attempts; depth-specific rescue drills — blackout rescue and 20m surface tow — before heading out to Racha Yai for your certification days.
Hotel pickup around 7:30am, breakfast served on the way to Racha Yai. First dive — constant weight descent applying mouthfill equalization, building progressive depth, plus CWTB buddying practice from 20m. Lunch on board, then second dive continuing depth progression and FRC technique refinement.
First dive — final depth build toward 40m. Lunch on board, then second dive — certification depth attempt in CWTB and FIM to at least 34 meters, constant no-fins (CNF) to 25-30m, plus 20m rescue and surface tow skill assessment.
- Static apnea: hold your breath face-down in the pool for at least 3 minutes 30 seconds
- Dynamic apnea (DYNB): swim 75 meters underwater with bi-fins on a single breath
- Dynamic no-fins (DNF): swim 50 meters underwater without fins
- Constant weight with bi-fins (CWTB) & free immersion (FIM): descend and ascend along a weighted line to 34-40 meters depth
- Constant no-fins (CNF): descend and ascend without fins to 25-30 meters
- Buddy safety: CWTB buddying support from 20m, rescue from 20m plus 20m surface tow
- Advanced technique: Frenzel combined with mouthfill and reverse packing equalization, plus Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) dives
All Molchanovs Wave 3 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 days)
- Weight belt, sized to you
- Lanyard for depth line safety
- Molchanovs Wave 3 digital course access
- Minimum age: 18 years old, or 16–17 with written consent from a parent or legal guardian (Molchanovs requirement)
- Prerequisite: Molchanovs Wave 2 certification, or an equivalent level from another agency (SSI Level 2, AIDA 3, PADI Advanced Freediver) via crossover evaluation — confirm eligibility before booking
- Required: current CPR/First Aid certificate, less than 2 years old
- 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 both Racha Yai boat days (Kata, Karon, Chalong, Rawai, Kamala areas)
Your Open Water Days: Racha Yai Island
About an hour by boat from Chalong Pier, Racha Yai's calm, clear bays are where you'll build toward your certification depth across your two Molchanovs Wave 3 boat days — sheltered conditions with a fixed dive line, ideal for pushing past 30m without fighting current. Day 3's moderate-depth session takes place at Kata Reef before you head out to Racha Yai for the deeper certification dives.
Racha Yai's bays are naturally sheltered from currents and swell, with visibility regularly reaching 15–20 metres — ideal conditions for constant weight and free immersion training toward your 34-40m range.
Across two full boat days, your instructor sets the line, spots every dive, and coaches your mouthfill equalization and FRC technique as you build from your Wave 2 depth toward the Wave 3 certification range of 34-40 metres.
Expect vibrant hard and soft corals, clownfish, and parrotfish at Racha Yai — and with a bit of luck, a turtle gliding past while you're on the line.
See the full Day 1–5 schedule in the Program in Depth section above.
Molchanovs Wave 3 Pricing & What's Included
One course, one price — 5 days combining pool training, a moderate-depth open water day at Kata Reef, and two full boat days at Racha Yai, taking you from your Wave 2 range to 34-40m.
- ✔ Day 1: Pool training — deep-diving theory, static & dynamic apnea toward 3:30 / 75m
- ✔ Day 2: Pool training — advanced equalization (mouthfill), FRC theory, advanced rescue
- ✔ Day 3: Kata Reef open water — FRC & mouthfill application, first CNF dives, rescue drills
- ✔ Day 4: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip — depth build dives
- ✔ Day 5: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip — certification dives to 34-40m
- ✔ Official Molchanovs Wave 3 Certification
- ✔ Molchanovs Wave 3 digital course access
- ✔ Complete equipment rental
- ✔ Hotel transfer (Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong)
- ✔ Breakfast & lunch on both boat days
- 🎁 Free SSS Phuket T-shirt included
- ✖ Requires Molchanovs Wave 2 certification (or crossover evaluation) and a current CPR/First Aid certificate
Meet the Team Behind Your Molchanovs Wave 3 Certification
Every Molchanovs Wave 3 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.
Trusted by Freedivers Across Every Molchanovs Level
SSS Phuket's overall rating across all diving, freediving and surf courses — TripAdvisor Hall of Fame status, built over 1,100+ verified guest reviews.
Read all 1,116 reviews on TripAdvisor →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Wave 2 before taking Wave 3?
What's the difference between Wave 2 and Wave 3?
What is the best time of year for freediving in Phuket?
How many students per instructor?
What depth will I reach during the course?
How is the 5-day course structured?
Can I do the course if I struggle to equalise at depth?
What should I bring to the course?
Is freediving safe at Wave 3 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 3 Course
Limited Availability — Contact Us to Book
Molchanovs Wave 3 runs in small groups with a max of 3 students per instructor, so dates depend on current bookings. Message us with your preferred window and we'll confirm the next available start date.
