Learn freediving in Malta and Gozo

Learn the fundamentals of freediving in just 2 days with our Freediver Course in Malta/Gozo

Beginner Friendly Course

Learn Freediving in Malta and Gozo - Freediver Course picture 1

Duration: 2 days
Sessions: 2 academic + 2 open water
Depth: up to 20m
Level: Beginner
Certification: Apnea Total Freediver (20m)
Location: Malta and Gozo

250 €

INCLUDES:

Course Materials
Freediving Gear
Transportation to/from dive site
Videos & Pictures
Water and Snacks
Freediving Certification (upon successful completion)

Learn Freediving in Malta and Gozo - Freediver Course picture 2

Our 2-day Freediver Course in Malta and Gozo is designed for beginners who want to learn how to freedive safely and confidently to up to 20 meters while working toward an internationally recognized 20m certification, with no additional training sessions required upon successful completion.

This beginner freediving course is also ideal for snorkelers, self-taught freedivers, as well as scuba divers and spearfishers with experience in the water but without formal freediving training. Wherever you are starting from, we will adapt the teaching to your experience, comfort and progression.

This first level course is available in both St. Paul's Bay and San Lawrenz, giving you the opportunity to learn freediving in Malta or Gozo, two of Europe’s top diving destinations. Crystal-clear waters and ideal conditions await you.

Any questions about the Freediver Course?

Freedivers in Malta ready to start their first lesson

WHO IS THE FREEDIVER COURSE FOR?

This beginner freediving course in Malta and Gozo is open to anyone aged 15 or over (11y for the junior version) who wants to learn freediving, regardless of their previous experience in the water.

As our first certification level, this course welcomes participants of all backgrounds. Whether you are completely new to freediving, already comfortable in the water, a snorkeler, scuba diver, spearfisher or self-taught freediver, we adapt the course to your starting point and help you build the right foundations.

WHAT IS THE FREEDIVER COURSE?

The Freediver Course is our 2-day beginner freediving course, designed to teach you the essential skills needed to freedive safely and comfortably to depths of up to 20m. It is the first step towards becoming a certified freediver and provides the foundation for continuing your freediving education.

The morning classroom sessions take place in our freediving center (St. Paul’s Bay/Malta or San Lawrenz/Gozo). You will learn the theory behind freediving through videos, guided explanations and exercises. The aim here is to expand your freediving knowledge, build confidence, and ensure you fully understand the techniques before applying them in the water. You will also learn about the freediving equipment and its use: mask, snorkel, long fins, wetsuit, weight belt, weights and freediving buoy..

The water practices take place directly at sea. We don't stop by the pool. During the open water sessions, you will put theory into practice. We will work on your body position and duck dive, which are essential for a good dive, as well as your finning techniques to move efficiently underwater. You will also learn and apply key skills such as equalization and breathing, while being introduced to different freediving disciplines.

Safety is a key component of this freediving course for beginner, so you will learn and practice safety procedures and buddy teamwork.

Freediver in a black wetsuit and with a yellow freediving weightbelt touching the bottom plate

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN 2 DAYS

Our course lasts 2 days. Each day consists of an academic session in our training centre and an open water session, providing the perfect balance of knowledge and practice without overstimulation or overexertion.

LEARN TO FREEDIVE SAFELY

During the ademic sessions, we will cover essential freediving safety protocols and standards. We will also explain the importance of the buddy system and why you should never freedive alone. Know that your instructor will always dive with you along the line.

In the water, you will practice safety and rescue scenarios.

FREEDIVE WITH EASE AND CONFIDENCE

We will teach you our unique breathing techniques, along with yogic breathing called pranayamas. So you will not only learn to control your body but also your mind underwater, which will help build confidence in your new abilities.

EARN AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FREEDIVING CERTIFICATION

Your instructor will evaluate your progress, technique, and safety awareness throughout this 2-day freediving course. If they determine that you have acquired the necessary skills and follow all safety protocols, you will get the Apnea Total Freediver certification.

Apnea Total certifications are internationally recognized, meaning you can continue your freediving journey anywhere in the world, whether with an Apnea Total school or another freediving center. There are more than 15 freediving certifying agencies worldwide contributing to a global community that allows freedivers to train and dive safely around the world.

Founded in 2003 by passionate freedivers, the Apnea Total Education System was built to embrace every freediver's individuality while providing the knowledge and skills needed to freedive safely and with confidence.

Freediver Course Structure

Day 1

Classroom DAY 1

Introduction to Freediving
Familiarization with equipment
Duck dive techniques
Kicking techniques
Equalization techniques
Breathing techniques
Hydration and Diet
Important points

Water Session DAY 1

Preparation of equipment
Apply breathing techniques
Practice the duck dive
Practice kicking technique
Buoyancy test
Practice freediving disciplines
Freedives on the descent line
Maximum depth of 12 meters

Day 2

Classroom DAY 2

Review of the dives from Day 1
Fine-tuning of breathing
Learn new breathing patterns
Safety regulations
Safety procedures
Rescue techniques
Pranayamas (yogic breathing)
Water session planification

Water Session DAY 2

Warm up dives
Practice of new breathing
Improvements of the technique
Deeper relaxation
Adaptation to the depth
Dive buddy team work
Practice of safety procedures
Maximum depth of 20 meters

Ready to book your Freediver Course? Get in Touch !

six freedivers with the apnea total malta tshirt posing on camera with the blue at the background

WHY LEARN FREEDIVING WITH APNEA TOTAL MALTA?

BUILT ON PASSION, EXPERIENCE & EFFICIENT TEACHING

This beginner freediving course was created by passionate freedivers who wanted to make freediving accessible to everyone. Being a first level course, it was genuily built with beginners in mind, so nothing is fast‑paced or forced. Our teaching is simple, practical and efficient. We introduce skills gradually and respect every freediver's abilities.

A PERSONALIZED APPROACH

You are at the core of our teaching philosophy. Our aim is to help you become the best freediver you can be. We create a calm, fun, non-competitive and supportive environment so that you can feel safe, comfortable, and confident while discovering what you are capable of in the water.

We keep groups small to ensure personalized attention and faster progress.

SUPPORTIVE AND EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS

You will be guided by highly experienced instructors who combine expertise with a deep understanding of individual needs. They will always be by your side when underwater to ensure safety and support throughout your dives.

Arturo, Apnea Total Instructor Trainer and Wave 3 Instructor, brings over 20 years of freediving experience and more than a decade of teaching at all levels, including instructor training.

Reggie, Apnea Total Instructor, AIDA Instructor and safety freediver in competitions, brings strong technical knowledge combined with a supportive and highly empathetic coaching style.

FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTED TO YOU

This freediving course for beginners takes 2 days, which is enough to learn freediving, but it can also be combined into a tailored programme depending on your goals and needs. You can add coaching for additional in water practice, or continue with the Advanced Freediver Course to expand your knowledge and learn to dive deeper. If you are eager to explore wrecks or caves on a single breath, a freediving expedition is the natural next step.

We also adapt to your availability, and schedule all our freediving courses and activities on request on a first come first served basis.

What our students say about their experience!

See all our reviews

    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Felix 
 14 September 2026
 
 
  I had a fantastic 3 days of freediving and spearfishing with Arturo at Apnea Total Gozo. This was my first time trying both, and I had absolutely no prior experience. Arturo is an outstanding teacher, and his passion for the water is infectious. He has a real talent for making the theory interesting and, more importantly, showing you how to apply it in the water. The dry practice and exercises really pay dividends when you’re in the water just an hour later. Spending time in the water with Arturo was an absolute blast, and it was amazing to see how much you can achieve in just a few days, even starting from scratch. Thank you, Arturo, for a great experience and a great time. I hope to be back in Gozo soon!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Dalia Icloud 
 13 September 2026
 
 
  I had such a great time with my instructor Reggie! She made me feel very safe in the water, after me not having dove in 3 years. We had a really good conversation on relaxation , and practiced my technique again. It was a fantastic experience being in the blue water, freediving with amazing support. Thank you to the team for making it a great experience , really professional and I learnt so much from Reggie about the sport and her journey as well freediving ❤️ thank you!!! I will be back soon
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Leon Zhong 
 12 September 2026
 
 
  I did the 2-day freediving course in ApneaTotal Malta and the half-day expedition in Gozo. I enjoyed both! The intructors Reggie and Arturo are both very patient and informative. They made me feel comfortable in the ocean.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   faustino janeiro 
 11 September 2026
 
 
  100% recommended! I arrived with zero diving experience and am leaving with a new passion. I was lucky enough to have Arturo as our instructor, and that played a huge part in what I’ve taken away from the course! He’s very friendly and approachable, but also very attentive, and he made sure throughout the course that we got the very best out of it. It’s definitely an activity that, if you’ve never tried it before, will change the way you view your holidays. I’d definitely do it again – I’m already thinking about my next trip to Malta so I can do a more advanced course with Arturo.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jennifer M 
 7 September 2026
 
 
  I had an amazing time in my two days of diving with Apnea Total Malta. It was a last minute booking in peak season but they did their best to accommodate me and let me know about an opening to dive. My depth session with Reggie was fantastic - I haven't met anyone who both infectiously update but also super calming. I had wanted to wreck dive for the second day and the team coordinated to make sure it was suitable for me. It was an equally delightful session. Arturo was a wonderful guide who put in extra work counteracting currents to make sure I could be in position for a good view at the bottom. I received videos from both diving days. Both dive sites were a short swim from shore. I highly recommend them for both coaching and fun diving experiences.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Stuart Lafferty 
 6 September 2026
 
 
  Learning to Free dive with Apnea Total in Gozo was a fantastic experience. Four of us signed up for a Discover Freediving course. No-one in the group had done this before so it seemed like the perfect introduction to the sport. Initially there was some nervousness and apprehension, everyone a little uncertain about holding their breath underwater. Our Instructor Arturo, through a combined passion for his sport, professional instruction, and relaxed manner immediately put everyone at ease. The day was split into 2 halves. Firstly the classroom where we learned about the sport and the equipment used. He explained to us physiology and the effects that being submerged has on the body, and breathing and relaxation techniques that we would later employ. The time flew by! The second half of the day was spent in the sea where we were introduced to the practical elements. Everything we did was demonstrated in bite sized chunks, and we slowly built our technique step by step. Everybody in the group progressed at different rates, yet Arturo managed to personalise the training to the individual. No-one felt left behind or pressured to move on before they were ready, and by the end of the day we all had achieved much more than we had expected to. Each of us felt that we had really achieved something. My wife and I (she was one of the four) were free the next day so we combined our Discover training day into the full freediving course. As you would expect the second day built on what we had previously been taught. We developed our breathing and relaxation exercises, and learned about safety and rescue techniques. In the water, the progression continued in a similar manner, as we kept practicing Arturo gave constant feedback, guidance, and encouragement. I can happily announce that we are freedivers! -albeit baby ones. We both had the best two days learning to freedive, and we are certainly going back for more training. The wife has her eye on a mono-fin and a sparkly mermaids tail, and I am going back to build on what I have learned so far. Our friends are also returning to complete the full course. If you’re reading this review weighing up whether or not to give it a try. All I can tell you is that I cannot recommend this school highly enough. Value for money, professionalism, enthusiasm, and top quality instruction they get a 10/10 from us.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   João Banza (PT) 
 6 September 2026
 
 
  I recently completed the Freediving Course with Apnea Total Malta, and my feedback is extremely positive. The course is very well structured. It is an intensive two-day experience and the amount of knowledge gained is enormous. As an Advanced Open Water (PADI AOW) scuba diver with more than 50 dives, I learned a lot of new things that will be useful not only for both sports, but also for improving my respiratory health and breathing techniques in general. Our instructor, Arturo, was excellent. Besides sharing a great deal of knowledge with us, he was always very attentive to the students, both during the theory sessions and in the practical sessions in the sea. He encouraged us to go beyond our perceived “limits”, but always with safety as the absolute priority. Both Apnea Total Malta and Arturo are highly recommended. A big thank you to the whole team for an excellent experience!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Sandra Geordie 
 2 September 2026
 
 
  So glad I booked a course with these guys. The most patient instructor in the world, really well set up, always felt safe. I had a brilliant two days and look forward to continuing my free diving journey ☺️
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jens Kock 
 31 August 2026
 
 
  Es hat unglaublich Spaß gemacht. Danke Reggie, für die kompetene Einweisung und für das sichere Gefühl, welches du uns jederzeit vermittelt hast. Auch toll ist es, im Nachhinein Bilder und Videos von den Unterwasser-Einheiten zu haben. Klare Empfehlung!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Gabriel Soriano 
 30 August 2026
 
 
  Una experiencia de 10. Arturo no solo es un gran instructor de apnea, también consigue transmitirte mucha calma y confianza. Gracias a él he podido superar miedos, sentirme más seguro en el agua y disfrutar muchísimo de la experiencia. Se nota que le apasiona lo que hace. Totalmente recomendable.
  
 
 
  
 
 
   Trustindex rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 534 reviews

Freediving in Malta and Gozo as a beginner

Malta/Gozo is one of the most beginner-friendly places in Europe to experience freediving for the first time. Beginners feel at ease from the get go thanks to calm, warm and crystal-clear water, as well as year-round sunshine.

Diving conditions around Malta and Gozo are very similar and excellent on both islands, so beginners can choose either one. Freediving in Malta offers a wide variety of sites, including many wrecks to explore. Freediving in Gozo delivers more dramatic underwater landscapes.

Whether you choose our beginner freediving course in Malta or our beginner freediving course in Gozo, you can expect expert guidance, local knowledge, and complete support throughout your experience.

FAQ Freediver Course

I can't hold my breath long, how can I free dive?

You don't need to be able to hold your breath for a long time before taking a freediving course. Freediving is not about simply holding your breath for as long as possible. You will learn breathing, relaxation and equalization techniques that help you become more comfortable and efficient in the water.

Your instructor will guide you progressively and work within your individual limits. The focus is on learning to freedive safely and comfortably, not on forcing longer breath-holds.

Are 2 days enough to learn freediving?

Apnea Total has been teaching freediving successfully for over 20 years throughout the world, thanks to an educational system created by apneists for apneists and whose instructors follow a long and demanding training.

The Freediver Course is designed over two days to teach the core skills of freediving, including breathing techniques, safety and buddy procedures, equalisation, body positioning, and line diving practice. Students can learn and practice these skills effectively within this timeframe.

It is important however to separate learning to freedive from earning a certification. Certification is granted after your instructor confirms you can perform the skills safely and confidently, ensuring every certified student can freedive responsibly with a buddy. The vast majority of our students successfully achieve certification, making this an encouraging and achievable first step into freediving.

Do I automatically get certified?

No, certification is not automatic. Your Freediver certification is granted only after your instructor has assessed your skills and confirmed you can freedive efficiently, confidently and safely. This ensures you have mastered the essential techniques and safety procedures needed to enjoy freediving confidently with a buddy.

If more practice is needed before certification, additional session can be arranged to help you reach the required level.

Do you need prior experience to take the FD course?

The Freediver Course is a beginner freediving course, so no previous freediving experience is required. You don't need to be a strong swimmer either, but you must be able to swim independently.

The course is also suitable for people who already have experience in the water but have never received formal freediving training, including snorkelers, scuba divers, spearfishers and self-taught freedivers.

Whatever your background, you will progress at your own pace and our instructors will adapt the training to your individual needs.

Prerequisites for the FD

How can I book a Freediver Course?

The Freediver Course is our most popular course. We schedule it on request, 1st come 1st served. To book your spot, fill in the form below or send us you request by e-mail, WhatsApp, Messenger or Telegram. You can also pass by and we will provide you with all the information you need. Once we agree on dates, a non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your booking.