Apnea42 Freediving’s extensive courses make it ideal for every skill level. 

The center offers a one-day introductory course for complete beginners and a Level 1 course for serious starters (and up to Level 3 for people looking to acquire advanced skills).

Meanwhile, Level 3 finishers aiming to teach freediving can take the school’s assistant instructor course. 

Learners we interviewed shared that they chose the center due to the credentials of Mark, the founder and primary instructor. 

He has certifications from the Association Internationale pour le Développement de I’Apnée (AIDA) and Scuba Schools International (SSI) and committee membership in the Apnea Association of Singapore.  

Many of the clients also said that the theory videos are easy to follow. Practical instructions during pool and open water days are also detailed, clear, and helpful.

Moreover, their instructors (not just Mark) are friendly, patient, and generous with feedback.  

That said, the introductory class, priced at $180, is a little expensive. (Fees are usually in the $100 to $150 range.)

Also, Apnea42 usually holds its freediving lessons only on weekends.

Pool training sessions, on the other hand, have more slots spread over the weekdays. However, these group sessions only allow divers with at least Level-1 certifications to join.  

Zen Freediving is the best option for people who want to save a little on lesson costs.

The school has one of the cheapest intro courses in Singapore ($98). Moreover, its freediving lesson fees do not exceed $600!

Many of the enrollees we interviewed said that Zen doesn’t charge hidden fees, too. 

Aside from the lower fees, Zen also performs well in customer service.

One client said that he loved how responsive the school was when he missed a session due to an illness. Zen accommodated the schedule change, to his delight.

Another learner shared that Zen’s online booking platform is easy to use. So far, she has booked three courses and has yet to experience any issues.

As for certifications, Zen offers Molchanovs diving certificates. Molchanovs’ education system aims to improve performance and competitiveness, making it perfect for learners looking to join freediving challenges.   

Molchanovs is not as popular as AIDA and SSI, though. And in Singapore, instructors licensed with this system are still few. 

Theory lessons are also online, which some learners may not prefer.

Learners who prefer more than one education system to learn freediving will like Singapore Freediving Academy’s multiple certification offers.

The school has certificates from four international diving agencies, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), Molchanovs, SSI, and Apnea. 

Furthermore, the academy offers courses catering to all skill levels. 

Many beginners shared that the academy’s instructors are patient. 

Those with little confidence in the water were particularly thankful that their teachers gave detailed, easy-to-understand instructions while being fun and reassuring.

However, the freediving school’s Level 1 classes are expensive (rates start at $600). Purchasing your mask and snorkel set from the academy will hike the total fees to $700+.

And while the academy offers multiple certifications, not all lessons are available during the year. For instance, the currently available slots are for SSI courses. 

Blue Reef Scuba is the practical choice if you want a smooth transition from PADI scuba diving lessons to freediving lessons.

Scuba divers from the school who aimed to learn freediving next said they loved the PADI Freediver Touch App, as it allowed them to take the lessons at their pace.

The app contains materials for learning the basics anytime, anywhere, so students wouldn’t worry about class slots running out.

Some who weren’t used to self-learning via the app opted for additional free classroom lessons!

Meanwhile, learners who reached the last two phases (the pool and open water sessions) appreciate that schedules for the practical lessons are available weekly.

However, Blue Reef’s three-phase course is strictly for beginners with no prior freediving experience.  

And while PADI is a renowned certification body, some people may want to earn a different certificate to meet their specific goals.