Molchanovs Wave 4 Phuket — Competitive Freediving Certification
For certified Wave 3 freedivers ready to train at competition level — 7 days at Chalong pool and Racha Yai island with SSS Phuket, taught by our selected competition instructors. Push toward 100m dynamic apnea, 50-55m constant weight, and 35m constant no-fins, plus buddy, rescue and surface tow skills from 25-30m.
- — Taught by selected competition instructors
- — Full freediving equipment included
- — Free SSS Phuket t-shirt included
What You Need to Know Before Booking Molchanovs Wave 4
Who Is Molchanovs Wave 4 For?
Molchanovs Wave 4 is our competitive freediving certification — here's how to know if it's the right level for you.
Already Hold Your Wave 3?
This is the natural next step — build on your Wave 3 skills and train toward 50-55m constant weight, 100m dynamic apnea, and 35m constant no-fins at competition standard.
See Program in Depth →Certified Elsewhere at This Level?
Hold an equivalent certification — SSI Level 3, AIDA 4, or PADI Master Freediver? A crossover evaluation lets you skip straight to Wave 4 without repeating Wave 3. You'll also need a current CPR/First Aid certificate (less than 2 years old) before booking.
Compare Certifications →Training Toward Competition?
Wave 4 is the top level of the Molchanovs system — it's built for divers preparing for AIDA and CMAS competition pools and depth events, covering mouthfill control, stage-fright management, and competition training methods.
Explore All Levels →Not Yet Wave 3 Certified?
Wave 4 requires a Wave 3 certification (or equivalent) as a prerequisite. If you haven't reached that level yet, start with our master-level open water course first.
See Wave 3 Course →Molchanovs Wave 4 Course — Program in Depth
Every Molchanovs Wave 4 course is led by our in-house Molchanovs-certified competition instructors, so you get hands-on, personal attention in the pool and on the boat as you train toward competition standard.
Molchanovs Wave 4 builds directly on your Wave 3 certification, pushing your depth range from 34-40m to 50-55m while introducing competition-specific technique and mindset training. Over 7 days you'll cover advanced theory and technique in the pool at Chalong, apply it at moderate depth on a reef day, then train and certify across three full open water days at Racha Yai Island.
Theory covering competition formats and rules (AIDA/CMAS), advanced physiology and failure depth management, mouthfill control theory; static apnea building toward 5 minutes; dynamic apnea (DYNB) technique work toward 100 meters with bi-fins.
Dynamic no-fins (DNF) technique work toward 75 meters; competition pacing and pool training methods; advanced mouthfill and reverse packing refinement, dry and in the pool.
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) diving refinement; pre-competition stage-fright management and mental preparation for announced dives; advanced rescue refresher covering blackout rescue simulation and surface tow technique.
First open-water application of mouthfill equalization and FRC technique at moderate depth; CWTB and free immersion (FIM) refinement along the line; first constant no-fins (CNF) attempts; CWTB buddying practice from 30m; depth-specific rescue drills — 25m rescue and 50m surface tow — before heading out to Racha Yai for your training and 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 30m. Lunch on board, then second dive continuing depth progression and FRC technique refinement.
First dive — depth build toward certification range in CWTB and CWT (monofin). Lunch on board, then second dive — depth attempt in FIM toward 50m, plus constant no-fins (CNF) progression toward 35m.
Competition-style dive day under simulated announced-dive conditions. Certification depth attempt in CWTB or CWT (monofin) to 50-55 meters and FIM to 50 meters, final CNF attempt to 35 meters, plus 25m rescue and 50m surface tow skill assessment.
- Static apnea: hold your breath face-down in the pool for at least 5 minutes
- Dynamic apnea (DYNB): swim 100 meters underwater with bi-fins on a single breath
- Dynamic no-fins (DNF): swim 75 meters underwater without fins
- Constant weight with bi-fins (CWTB) or monofin (CWT): descend and ascend along a weighted line to 50-55 meters depth
- Free immersion (FIM): descend and ascend by pulling the line to 50 meters
- Constant no-fins (CNF): descend and ascend without fins to 35 meters
- Buddy safety: CWTB buddying support from 30m, rescue from 25m plus 50m surface tow
- Competition technique: mouthfill control, pre-competition stage-fright management, and competition training methods
All Molchanovs Wave 4 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 4 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 3 certification, or an equivalent level from another agency (SSI Level 3, AIDA 4, PADI Master 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 all three 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 three Molchanovs Wave 4 boat days — sheltered conditions with a fixed dive line, ideal for competition-style pacing without fighting current. Day 4's moderate-depth session takes place at Kata Reef before you head out to Racha Yai for the deeper training and 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 50-55m range.
Across three full boat days, your instructor sets the line, spots every dive, and coaches your mouthfill equalization and competition pacing as you build from your Wave 3 depth toward the Wave 4 certification range of 50-55 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 1–7 schedule in the Program in Depth section above.
Molchanovs Wave 4 Pricing & What's Included
One course, one price — 7 days combining pool training, a moderate-depth open water day at Kata Reef, and three full boat days at Racha Yai, taking you from your Wave 3 range to 50-55m.
- ✔ Day 1: Pool training — competition theory, mouthfill control, static & dynamic apnea toward 5:00 / 100m
- ✔ Day 2: Pool training — DNF toward 75m, competition pacing, advanced mouthfill refinement
- ✔ Day 3: Pool training — FRC diving, stage-fright management, advanced rescue refresher
- ✔ Day 4: Kata Reef open water — mouthfill & FRC application, first CNF dives, rescue drills
- ✔ Day 5: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip — depth build dives
- ✔ Day 6: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip — depth build toward certification range
- ✔ Day 7: Full-day Racha Yai boat trip — certification dives to 50-55m
- ✔ Official Molchanovs Wave 4 Certification
- ✔ Molchanovs Wave 4 digital course access
- ✔ Complete equipment rental
- ✔ Hotel transfer (Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong)
- ✔ Breakfast & lunch on all three boat days
- 🎁 Free SSS Phuket T-shirt included
- ✖ Requires Molchanovs Wave 3 certification (or crossover evaluation) and a current CPR/First Aid certificate
Meet the Team Behind Your Molchanovs Wave 4 Certification
Every Molchanovs Wave 4 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 3 before taking Wave 4?
What's the difference between Wave 3 and Wave 4?
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 7-day course structured?
Can I do the course if my mouthfill equalisation isn't perfect yet?
What should I bring to the course?
Is freediving safe at Wave 4 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 4 Course
Limited Availability — Contact Us to Book
Molchanovs Wave 4 is taught by only a few selected competition instructors, so dates depend on current bookings. Message us with your preferred window and we'll confirm the next available start date.
