PFI Basic Freediver
Why train with us?
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Low student to instructor ratios : 3 or 4 students per instructor both in the pool and ocean
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Our retail store is located downtown.
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Diving courses available all year-round. Private courses available.
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We teach children 10 years and older.
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Passionate team of Instructors and Divemasters who love to teach.
PFI Basic Freediver Course | Beginner Freediving Training in Vancouver
Start your breath-hold adventure with our PFI Basic Freediver Course at Diving Sports Canada in Vancouver. This beginner-friendly freediving course teaches essential breath-hold techniques, water confidence, and safety skills in both pool and ocean environments. Whether you're new to freediving or want to build a solid foundation for ocean diving up to 10 meters depth, this course offers comprehensive training with expert instructors in a safe, supportive setting.
No prior snorkeling or diving experience is required — perfect for anyone eager to explore freediving in Vancouver’s stunning coastal waters.
What’s Included:
- PFI Basic Freediver course material with eLearning access
- 1 evening classroom session covering orientation, safety, and theory
- 2 full days of confined water (pool) freediving training
- 1 full day of open water freediving training in the ocean (max depth 10m)
- Transportation provided between pool and ocean training sites
- Certification fees upon successful course completion
- All basic rental equipment from our freediver wetsuit package
- Digital PFI Basic Freediver certification (physical card available at extra cost)
What’s Not Included:
- Personal mask, snorkel, neoprene socks, and neoprene gloves — must be owned by the student
- Additional pool or ocean sessions if required (see private training rates)
Prerequisites:
- Minimum age: 16 years old (parent/guardian permission required if under 18)
- Ability to swim 200 meters continuously without fins or flotation aids
- Ability to tread water or float for 10 minutes without aids
- Completed diver medical form — Download here
- Completed eLearning before course start date
- All prerequisites must be met before training starts (rescheduling may be required if not met) — see our course cancellation policy
Equipment Rental:
All basic freediving gear from our wetsuit rental package is included in the course. Students must provide their own personal mask, snorkel, neoprene socks, and gloves, which are required and must be purchased prior to the course.
Transportation:
We provide transportation from our Vancouver shop to the pool and ocean training locations in our 7-passenger shop van. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may also arrange to meet directly at the training sites.
Cancellation Policy:
Please review our full cancellation and rescheduling policy before booking: → View Our Policy
Join our passionate freediving community and start your breath-hold journey today with Diving Sports Canada — Vancouver’s trusted freediving school.
PFI Basic Freediver Course in Vancouver
Master Breath-Hold and Safety Skills
Join our PFI Basic Freediver Course in Vancouver at Diving Sports Canada to develop essential freediving skills including breath-hold techniques, safety, and equipment handling. Training takes place at Lord Byng Pool and in open water, perfect for beginners seeking safe, structured freediving education.
Skills
Some of the skills a student will be able to perform at the end of the PFI Basic Freediver course are:
- Safety skills as a buddy
- Perform a 1:00 minute static breathhold in the pool with opportunity to increase to maximum capacity
- Dive with proper technique to a max of 10 meters constant weight and free immersion with proper recovery breathing, minimum depth of 5 meters
To earn PFI Basic Freediver certification, students must be able to:
- Demonstrate adequate safe buddy skills, showing how to perform a rescue to PFI standards
- Perform a minimum 1:00 min static breath hold in the pool with the opportunity to increase to maximum capacity to 2:30 min
- Dive using proper technique to at least 5 m/16 ft with constant weight and free immersion using the PFI method of entrance and exit with proper recovery breathing, Watermanship and stamina
- Prepare freediving equipment without instructor assistance
- Proper entry procedure (select best local option)
- 200 m/655 ft continuous swim without fins, snorkel, wetsuit, or flotation
- Minimum of ten-minute tread/float
- 25 m/82 ft no-mask snorkel swim without surfacing
- Snorkel blast clearing
- Recovery breathing and coaching
- Minimum of four consecutive static breath-holds with no hypoxic symptoms achieving at least 1:00 min
- Recovery breathing and coaching for buddy, Open water
- Recovery breathing and coaching (hook breathing)
- Six target constant ballast dives reaching minimum 5m/16ft
- Four free immersion dives to a minimum depth of 5m/16ft
- Emergency rescue and problem management (rescue scenarios)
- Managing an LMC and blackout on surface and an underwater blackout
- Self-emergency skills such as a mask flood and ascent, and weight belt
Why Choose Diving Sports Canada?
We provide more than just a course — we offer a community of passionate divers. Our classes are tailored to your learning pace, with experienced instructors who ensure you master each skill before moving forward. We adapt our schedule to your needs, offering additional pool or ocean sessions if required. By training with us, you’re investing in your long-term safety, skill, and enjoyment in the water.
Commitment to Safety and Enjoyment
At Diving Sports, we believe in making sure all our students receive the highest quality instruction and customer service. We schedule courses with enough classes for most students to master knowledge and skills, then tailor the schedule to fit individual needs. Our instructors provide honest progress feedback. Additional pool or ocean dives may be scheduled to ensure full preparedness for certification. Join a passionate and inclusive diving community eager to support your journey.
Location and Contact
Diving Sports Canada
4578 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3R5
Phone: (604) 694-1886
Email: customerservice@divingsports.com
