Freediving Course in Thailand: Where to Learn, Levels & Costs

Featured image: Kyle Taylør, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Choose your island for a freediving course in Thailand

Your island decides the water, the season and how much travel you add to a 2-day course. Koh Tao and Phuket have the most schools. Bangkok suits pool-only training when you have no time to reach the coast. Each island below has its own guide.

Course levels explained

Thai schools teach under several agencies, including PADI Freediver, AIDA and Molchanovs. Level names differ, so compare what you actually learn rather than the label. Most ladders run in three steps. First comes a pool-only intro, then an entry certification, then advanced courses with deeper open water.

• Pool-only intro: Koh Tao's Funky Turtle runs a Basic Freediver course split over 2 days, with static and dynamic apnea sessions in a pool.
• Entry certification: PADI Freediver adds eLearning, confined water and open water. Its goals are a 90-second static hold, a 25 m dynamic swim and a 10 m constant weight dive.
• Advanced: Phuket's Apnea Life lists a 2-day Beginner course and a 3-day Advanced course under the Molchanovs system, with a maximum of 4 students.

What a first course involves

Expect theory first, covering physiology, pressure, equalization exercises and safety rules. Pool sessions follow, one for static breath-hold and one for dynamic swimming. Funky Turtle starts day 1 at 12 pm with theory and an exam. The first pool session begins at 4 pm and includes a 300 m swim in fins. Day 2 starts at 8 am. Funky Turtle states a 1:30 static hold and 25 m dynamic in fins as its pass standard, plus a minimum age of 12. Students need confident swimming skills and good health. Equipment is included there: low-volume mask, long fins, short wetsuit and a weight system. Our AIDA course guide covers that system's levels in detail.

Costs and how long to plan

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Funky Turtle lists its Basic Freediver course at ฿2,500 to ฿3,500. Ocean Sound on Koh Tao and Apnea Life in Phuket do not publish prices on their course pages, so message them for a quote. Plan 2 days for a pool intro or entry course and 3 days for an advanced course. Add accommodation and ferry fares on top. Add a spare day if you want buffer for weather.

Getting there and when to go

Koh Tao and Koh Phangan need a ferry or a night boat. Lomprayah, Seatran and Songserm are the operators Koh Tao guides list. Timetables change, so read each operator's site before you book a course start date. Phuket has its own airport, and Bangkok needs no boat at all. Gulf and Andaman coasts have different weather windows. Check the Thai Meteorological Department forecast for your island before you commit to open-water days. Book the course early if you have a fixed departure.

Safety, medical and who should skip

Never freedive alone. A certified Basic freediver may train with a safety buddy, and that buddy rule applies at every level. Complete the school's medical questionnaire honestly. Follow your agency's or DAN's guidance on flying after diving before you book a flight home.

• Skip if you cannot swim confidently.
• Skip if you cannot equalize your ears, or if a doctor has advised against diving.
• Skip the full certification if you have under 2 days; take a pool intro instead.
• Skip open-water levels if you want depth before you have done a pool course.

How to pick a school

Use this checklist when you compare schools. Ask for answers in writing, and compare the same level at each school.

• Student ratio: Apnea Life caps courses at 4 students.
• Agency: PADI, AIDA or Molchanovs, and which level you receive.
• Open-water depth: PADI Freediver targets 10 m.
• Water type: pool, ocean or both.
• Equipment: mask, fins, wetsuit and weights included or rented.
• Cancellation and weather policy for open-water days.