Frequently Asked Questions

Freediving is the art of diving underwater on a single breath. It combines relaxation, proper breathing technique, and mental focus to explore the ocean without scuba equipment. Our courses teach you safe practices from your very first session.

No prior experience is needed. Our Discovery Freediving course is designed for complete beginners. You only need to be comfortable in water and able to swim 200 meters. We provide all equipment and start with basic techniques on land before entering the water.

We offer internationally recognized certifications from Molchanovs (Wave 1, Wave 2, Wave 3), AIDA (AIDA 2, AIDA 3, AIDA 4), and SSI (Level 1, Level 2). We also provide CMAS certifications. All certifications are valid worldwide at any freediving center.

Our courses take place in Plakias, southern Crete, Greece. Our main dive spot is Schinaria Beach, offering 30m depth accessible directly from shore on an organized beach where family and friends can relax while divers train. We also use Omprosgialos and Iliggas Beach as additional dive sites. The area offers crystal-clear Mediterranean waters with excellent visibility, calm conditions, and water temperatures of 20-27 degrees Celsius from May through October.

Our courses start from EUR 160 per person for a Discovery Freediving session. Molchanovs Wave 1 certification starts from EUR 390, and Wave 2 from EUR 440. Training sessions are available from EUR 70. All prices include professional instruction.

All certification courses include theoretical instruction, practical water sessions, full equipment (mask, fins, wetsuit, weight belt), safety supervision, and certification upon completion. Small groups of maximum 4 students ensure personalized attention. Training and coaching sessions do not include equipment; rental is available separately.

Yes! For depths beyond our shore-accessible 30m site at Schinaria Beach, we offer boat-based sessions reaching up to 50 meters. These are available for intermediate and advanced freedivers with appropriate certification. Boat sessions are subject to weather and sea conditions, and require advance booking.

Freedive Crete offers two session types in Plakias: Training - facilitated freediving sessions for certified divers (Level 2 and above) at EUR 70 per shore session (up to 30m) or EUR 90 per boat session (30-50m) - and Coaching, a personalized session of around 4 hours with supervised dives, video recording with feedback, and dry training, at EUR 120 per session, open to Level 1 divers and non-divers. Book both together and save 20%.

Beginner students (Wave 1/SSI Level 1) typically reach 10-20 meters after 2-3 days of training. Intermediate courses (Wave 2/SSI Level 2) progress to 20-30 meters over 3-4 days. Advanced programs focus on 30-40+ meter dives with specialized equalization and safety techniques. All depth progression follows your individual comfort and safety limits.

Yes, all Freedive Crete certifications are internationally recognized. We issue Molchanovs and SSI certification cards that are valid at any freediving center worldwide. Your digital certification is available immediately after course completion, with physical cards shipped within 2-3 weeks.

Training sessions run with a maximum of 4 divers per instructor, which means focused feedback and steady safety supervision. Coaching sessions are limited to a maximum of 2 people at EUR 120 per session, ideal for rapid progress or working on a specific technique.

Yes, freediving is completely safe for beginners when taught by certified instructors. Freedive Crete maintains a maximum 1:4 instructor-to-student ratio and follows Molchanovs safety protocols. All courses in Plakias start with land-based breathing exercises before water sessions, and we provide constant supervision during every dive.

Most beginners achieve 2-3 minute breath-holds and dive to 10-15 meters depth within a 2-3 day Wave 1 course. The Molchanovs Wave 1 certification at Freedive Crete takes 2-3 days, while SSI Level 1 requires 2 days. Advanced skills like 20+ meter dives and 4+ minute static apnea develop over 4-8 weeks of regular training.

You must be comfortable in water and able to swim 200 meters continuously. No scuba diving or freediving experience is required for beginner courses. All students complete a medical questionnaire before training, and anyone with respiratory or cardiac conditions should consult a physician beforehand.

May through October offers the best freediving conditions in Plakias, Crete. Water temperatures range from 20°C in May to 27°C in August. June through September provides optimal conditions with 25-27°C water, 20+ meter visibility, and calm seas. Our peak season is July-August, so book early for these months.

You only need to bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Freedive Crete provides all specialized equipment for certification courses, including long-blade freediving fins, low-volume masks, 5mm wetsuits, weight belts, buoys, and lanyards. All equipment is professional-grade and properly sanitized between uses. For training and coaching sessions, equipment rental is available separately.

No prior spearfishing experience is required for beginner sessions in Plakias. You should be comfortable swimming and holding your breath for 30-60 seconds. Freedive Crete provides complete instruction covering speargun safety, fish identification, and sustainable spearfishing technique. We recommend basic freediving skills (Wave 1 or equivalent) for better results.

Yes. Anyone spearfishing in Greek waters must hold their own valid recreational fishing license. We can guide you through the online registration. The license costs approximately EUR 30 annually and requires a valid passport. We recommend registering 1-2 weeks before your session.

Southern Crete's waters host Mediterranean species including dentex, sea bream (sargos, tsipoura), grouper (rofos), amberjack (magiatiko), and octopus. Summer months (June-September) offer the best variety. Minimum size limits apply: 24cm for sea bream, 45cm for grouper, 60cm for amberjack. We follow sustainable practices and avoid protected species.

Freedive Crete provides professional spearfishing equipment including pneumatic or band spearguns (75-90cm), low-volume masks, long-blade fins, 5mm wetsuits, weight belts, floatlines, buoys, and gear bags. All spearguns are serviced before each season. You only need to bring swimwear and towel.

Yes. For divers with the right level and conditions, we offer boat-based sessions with deeper options up to 50 meters. This requires advance planning, weather checks, and instructor approval for safety.