Wave 1

Wave 1 is the most comprehensive introductory freediving course there is. As such, this beginner course will appeal to the freediving enthusiast looking to build a strong foundation both in terms of freediving knowledge and freediving skills.

This course will also interest non-certified freedivers and spearfishers as it will not only strengthen their existing skills but will also give them access to Base Training, Molchanovs' online training platform.

To enroll in this course, you need to be healthy and be able to swim 200m unassisted.

The objective of Wave 1 is to make you a knowledgeable, safe, efficient, and autonomous free diver who can free dive safely and comfortably to a maximum depth of 20m.

During this beginner freediver course, you will learn to understand what happens to your body while freediving and how it adapts to being underwater; how to relax and prepare your mind; how to be properly weighted; how to kick, pull on the rope, hold your breath, equalize, minimize your energy, and so much more.

By the end of the course, you should be able to hold your breath for more than 1:30mIn (static), dive safely between 12 and 20 meters, and provide rescue to your buddy. You should also understand the concepts of pressure, buoyancy, and equalization, the role of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body and the effects of breath-holds, the mammalian dive reflex, the danger of hyperventilation, the reasons behind recovery breathing, how to avoid traumas, the safety procedures, etc.

Wave 1 is a hybrid course that combines an online course with in-person training. When you enroll in the course, your Molchanovs Instructor will send you online access to the Molchanovs Dashboard platform where you will find the course materials. You can study the Wave 1 education materials on your own, at your own pace, and without any external pressure. Once confident you have understand the content, you are to take the relevant theory exam online.

Your first in-person session with your freediving instructor is called Dry Skill session. During this session, the instructor will review the key points, assess your knowledge and answer any questions you may have. We will also ensure that the freediving techniques learned are applied correctly.

Following this skill and knowledge assessment, we will put the theory into practice through 2 confined water sessions and 3 open water sessions. During the pool sessions, we will mainly focus on relaxation and technique: finning, body position, turns, etc. and the buddy system. We will introduce you to 3 pool freediving disciplines: Dynamic, Dynamic No Fins and Static. We will also practice some of these training elements in the sea, to which we will add duck diving, equalization techniques, and rescue scenarios. The open water training will allow you to discover 2 other disciplines: Free Immersion and Constant Weight.

Upon successfully passing the practical training, you will be certified as a Molchanovs Wave 1 Freediver and have access to the weekly training programs offered by the best freediving trainers and Freediving Champions, among which Alexey Molchanov himself. The passing requirements are:

• 1mn 30s breath-hold (Static)
•  30 meters distance (Dynamic)
• Constant Weight & Free Immersion 12-20m
• Constant Weight Buddying 6-10m
• Rescue from 6-10m