A freediving course isn't a lesson —
it's a credential
Certification changes what you're allowed to do in the water, who you can dive with, and how deep you can safely go. At Freediving NYC it means one thing above all: the official Molchanovs curriculum, taught by Molchanovs-certified instructors, in a Midtown pool.
Level 1 — where every freediver starts
The certification that takes you from curious to qualified: breathing and relaxation technique, fundamental equalization, safe entries, and the buddy system that keeps freediving safe. Certified as a qualified buddy — the door to deeper, supervised diving.
Level 1 details →Level 2 — the progression
Greater depth, sharper technique, advanced equalization — the training that points toward advanced and, eventually, instructor-level freediving. Level 1 certification is the prerequisite.
Level 2 details →What certification actually means
Most of the market can't tell you what a freediving certification costs or covers — the big agencies leave pricing and course detail to local centers, so the answers online are a 2018 article and a forum thread. We're different on principle: a Molchanovs certification is internationally recognized, follows a standardized curriculum, and is taught only by certified instructors. Not an informal "class" — a credential with a standard behind it.
Train privately or in a group
Every course can be completed through private lessons or group lessons — the certification outcome is identical either way. Choose based on how you like to train, not which one gets you certified faster.
Lesson formats →Why the Molchanovs system
Freediving NYC was founded on the official Molchanovs education system — the teaching lineage of the sport's most decorated family, used by freedivers worldwide. Every instructor on our team holds the Molchanovs Lap/Wave 2 instructor certification. You're not learning from a weekend hobbyist; you're learning under the system the sport's leading athletes built.
Meet the team →