I am writing this article in response to some comments I see over the internet with users claiming ‘X’ amount is too expensive. I will break down the average price across the board including but not limited to; where your money is going, what’s included, the expenses of an individual instructor or school & how taxing teaching is on the body and mind.
Average course prices; level 1 & 2
In the table below, I’ve listed around ten to thirteen different schools around Europe and Dahab and have taken into account the price, amount of days along with open and closed water sessions. They all include certification, manuals & equipment. The red text is the average and the orange text below is what I offer (along with two exciting excursions). More details on my course pricing can be found here along with our accommodation packages.
Wave 1 average course price
| Price | Days | Open Water | Closed water |
| 285€ | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 310€ | 2.5 | 2 | 2 |
| 380€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 445€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 385€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 350€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 275€ | 2/2.5 | 2 | 2 |
| 250€ | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 350€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 270€ | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 330€ | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 399€ | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 325€ | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 335€ | 2.4 | 2 | 2 |
| 550€ | 5 | 5 | 2 |
It’s clear that most schools are more inclined on selling shorter courses that lean towards two days. This is simply not enough time to learn the skills needed but I’ll talk about that later in detail. The price for a two day course, on average, is relatively high.
Wave 2 average course price
| Price | Days | Open Water | Closed water |
| 450€ | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 350€ | 2.5 | 4 | 2 |
| 499€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 550€ | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 480€ | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 480€ | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 350€ | 2/2.5 | 4 | 2 |
| 340€ | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 330€ | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 320€ | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 414€ | 3.2 | 2.4 | 2 |
| 550€ | 5 | 5 | 2 |
It’s good to see more open water sessions for level two but there is one problem here (taking into account 4 open water sessions courses). If the course is done over an average of three days, this only means there are two open water sessions on the last day. For some this can be intense and tiring especially after the first two days, and is very likely to hinder performance. Whenever enrolling in a week with me, we make sure to get some rest in between days so the body has time to recover. Exploration is done during sunset hours which leaves plenty of time to rest after the morning session.
In no way do I think three open water sessions is sufficient for Level two. It’s best to avoid these type of courses.
Wave 3 average course price
I will not be getting into the details of this course. It requires a set of new skills such as mouthfill which needs far more time to learn than the average four day course. For this level, I would at least recommend around 11/12 days with rest. Really and truly, this level is for those who aspire to become an instructor. At this level, most freedivers begin to realise that what they really need is coaching.
The expenses of a freediving school
As any other business an instructor or school has it’s expenses, and some might be higher depending on which country the business is set up. Let’s take a look at operational costs; equipment (which is a constant investment when it comes to suits), vehicles, vehicle expenses (fuel, maintenance etc), insurance, certification, rent of premises, water & electricity. In my experience these are the main ones and if it’s a school then you’ve got to add wages on top of that list which is a MAJOR expense.
Let’s talk about taxes
If the business is set up legitimately, then it must be paying some kind of tax. For example, over here in Malta I have to charge an 18% VAT rate on all my services. At the end of the year, after my profit and loss is calculated, I need to pay income tax. Finally, Malta requires a yearly tax of National insurance. Different countries have different rates so you must be taking these things into account.
Now, I would like to give you some advice on how to choose a school or instructor.
How can I choose a freediving school or instructor?
Now, I would like to give you some advice on how to choose a school or instructor.
Reviews
You want to get the most out of your investment, that’s a given. It’s pointless spending the same amount of money over and over and not achieving any results. Check the experience of your instructor / school by looking at their online reviews on Google, TripAdvisor and Instagram channels. See what people say about them!
Course duration
The values of a school / instructor are the most important factor you should be looking for. All instructors know that any level freediver needs time in the water with the correct guidance. There are very few schools (however they are on the increase) which provide longer courses and these are the ones you should be looking out for.
Can an individual complete a Wave 1 or Wave 2 course in three days? Yes of course if they have the right skill set and comfort but 90% need that extra time. Longer courses are more relaxed and they give you time to settle in and work on things without rushing. Even if they manage to finish in three days, why not spend an extra two days mastering your skills? Why not drill your safety and buddying technique? I think you get the point.
You need to spend more time in the water. It’s that simple and it’s a win for everyone.
Conclusion
You can see why schools price the way they do and in my opinion it’s still too cheap, especially if the school is running legitimately. Here are some top tips to look out for:
- See if the school provides the best freediving equipment out there (and not SCUBA)
- Always go for longer form courses where you have time to practice skills in a relaxed manner
- Avoid two day courses and for most cases I would even avoid three days.
- Avoid ’part-time’ instructors who teach courses on the weekends to earn an extra buck. Choose those who work full time and have a passion for passing on knowledge.
- Go into your freedving week with an open mind and forget about the certification. Learn the skills YOU need to learn.
