3-Day Freediving Level 1 Course

Nusa Penida is a fine place to learn freediving: warm tropical water, coral, and fish give you something beautiful to focus on while you learn to stay calm without a tank. This three-day Level 1 course moves from classroom theory to pool work and then open water, with most students reaching 15 to 20 meters and holding their breath for more than two minutes by the end.

I like the four-student maximum, which gives your instructor room to watch your technique and confidence closely. I also like that the course supplies the equipment, digital study materials, and certification, so you can try the sport without buying a full kit first. The main consideration is the price: $450 is a serious investment, and lunch, lodging, and private transport are extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Three full training days: Plan on being at the school from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, including a lunch break.
• Small classes: No more than four students are assigned to one instructor, allowing close attention in the water.
• A measured first step: No past freediving experience is required, but you must be able to swim and have moderate physical fitness.
• Pool before ocean: The course includes theory, two confined-water sessions, and three open-water sessions.
• Useful inclusions: Equipment, taxes, digital learning materials, certification, and underwater photos are provided.
• Named instructors: Past courses have been led by instructors including Sabli, Artem, Roberto, Seva, Hamza, Gaston, Gas, Chiara, and others.

What the three-day course is really teaching you

Freediving is not simply swimming downward while holding your breath. The first lesson is learning to relax, move efficiently, and respect the limits of your body. That makes a structured Level 1 course much more useful than trying to copy techniques from a video or testing yourself alone.

You’ll spend three days at Freedive Nusa, at Jl. Ped-Buyuk No. Desa, Ped, on Nusa Penida. The days run from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with a break for lunch. That is a fairly full schedule, so I would treat this as the main activity of your stay rather than something to squeeze between beach visits.

The training combines lessons on land with work in confined water and the sea. This order matters. You first learn what to do and why it matters, then practice in a more controlled setting, and only after that work in open water. It gives you a chance to build calm and control before conditions become less predictable.

The stated end goals are more than two minutes of breath-holding and a depth of 15 to 20 meters, or about 50 to 65 feet, on one breath. Those are typical results for many students, not a promise that every person will reach them. A good course should let you progress at a safe pace, and the small class size helps with that.

Day one: theory, breathing, and getting comfortable

The first day is likely to feel less dramatic than the later ocean sessions, but it may be the most important. You begin with theory and practical instruction on land. This is where you learn the basic principles behind breath-holding, body position, relaxation, and safe practice.

For someone new to water activities, that gentle start is valuable. The course is open to beginners and does not require previous freediving experience. You only need to be able to swim, but you should still expect the activity to require moderate physical fitness.

The school’s instructors have different teaching styles, yet the feedback supplied for the course points to a common approach: clear explanations, patience, encouragement, and sensible challenges. Artem, for example, was praised for looking after each student while still encouraging progress. Roberto helped one beginner move past an initial fear of being underwater without breathing. Those details matter because confidence is part of the skill.

The first confined-water session lets you put the theory into practice without the full demands of the open sea. You can pay attention to your breathing, streamline your body, and learn how to move with less effort. The aim is not to force a record on the first day. It is to make the water feel more familiar and your actions more deliberate.

You should bring enough water and plan to purchase or arrange lunch, since lunch is not included. The daily schedule is long enough that arriving rested and properly fed matters. The supplied information does not specify a lunch venue or menu, so do not assume food is provided at the school.

Day two: two confined-water sessions and steady progress

The second day continues the practical work, with another confined-water session and more instruction. This is where you begin to notice how much technique affects comfort. Small changes in posture, fin movement, and relaxation can make a breath-hold feel less rushed.

The value of having an instructor nearby is clear here. With a maximum of four students per instructor, you are not lost in a large group. Your teacher can watch how you enter the water, how you move, and how you respond when the exercise becomes challenging.

The school has worked with instructors such as Seva, Hamza, Gaston, Gas, and Chiara. The course feedback repeatedly highlights patient instruction, clear theory, supportive coaching, and a relaxed atmosphere. That combination is well suited to a first course. You want enough encouragement to keep progressing, but not so much pressure that you ignore your own limits.

The confined-water work also gives you a practical check on your expectations. You may arrive imagining that freediving is mainly about reaching a particular number. The course instead teaches you to value calm breathing, good form, and safe habits. Depth and breath-hold time then become measures of progress, not the entire purpose of the activity.

One drawback is that a three-day format leaves little room for a missed session. The published cancellation terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Once the course begins, you should be ready to attend all three days.

Day three: open-water sessions around Nusa Penida

The course includes three open-water sessions, which form the clearest connection between the training and the reason many people come to Nusa Penida. Here, you practice below the surface in the sea, with coral and tropical fish around you. The setting gives the final stage a real sense of place rather than making it feel like a generic pool lesson.

You will also have underwater photos of yourself freediving among the marine life. That is a useful extra, especially for a first course. You can take home a record of your progress without needing to arrange your own camera or ask a friend to document the session.

Open water brings more atmosphere, but it also demands more attention. You must listen carefully to your instructor and stay within the limits set for the session. The goal is controlled progress, not proving that you can reach the deepest possible point.

The published course information says most students finish able to reach 15 to 20 meters on a single breath and hold their breath for over two minutes. Those figures are helpful when comparing courses, but they should not become a personal test. Your final depth may depend on comfort, fitness, previous swimming experience, and how quickly you adapt to the technique.

I like that the course uses several ocean sessions rather than treating the sea as a brief final demonstration. Repetition matters. It gives you more than one chance to apply what you learned in a real setting, and it lets you build confidence gradually.

Why the four-person limit changes the experience

A maximum of four students per instructor is one of the strongest features here. Freediving requires close attention, and the instructor needs to know where each person is, how they are moving, and how they are coping with the exercise.

In a larger class, you might spend more time waiting for your turn or receive less individual feedback. With four students, the course can feel more like personal coaching while still giving you the social benefit of learning alongside other beginners.

That small group does not remove the need for personal responsibility. You still need to follow instructions, speak up if you feel uncomfortable, and avoid treating another student’s progress as a target for your own. The best result is a calm, repeatable technique that you can continue practicing later.

The course feedback gives useful examples of what this can look like. Sabli was praised for clear instruction and good equipment. Artem was described as considerate while still pushing students in the right direction. Seva was noted for being patient, kind, funny, and attentive to safety. Those qualities are more important to a beginner than a flashy promise of extreme depth.

Equipment, certification, and the $450 price

The $450 price includes the use of freediving equipment, all fees and taxes, digital learning materials, and freediving certification. Underwater photos are also part of the experience described, giving the package an appealing personal souvenir.

You do not need to buy special equipment before arriving. That keeps the initial cost more reasonable for anyone who is curious about freediving but is not yet sure it will become a long-term hobby. It also means you can learn with the gear selected and supplied by the school.

The price is still not low. You must pay separately for accommodation, lunch, and private transportation. The meeting point is at Freedive Nusa in Ped, and the activity ends there each day, so you need to arrange your own way to and from the school.

I would judge the value by asking what you want from the trip. If you want a casual one-hour introduction, three days and $450 may feel excessive. If you want a proper foundation, close instructor attention, several pool and ocean sessions, equipment, certification, and photos, the package is easier to justify.

The certification may be especially useful if you plan to continue with later courses. It gives you a formal starting point rather than leaving you with a single recreational session and a few general tips.

Who will enjoy this course most

This course is a good match for you if you can swim, have moderate physical fitness, and want a careful introduction to breath-hold activity. It also suits people who feel nervous at first. The progression from theory to confined water to open water gives you time to adjust.

You do not need to arrive with a background in scuba, snorkeling, or freediving. The course description specifically welcomes first-time participants, and the instructor feedback suggests that beginners receive plenty of support.

It is less suitable if you want a flexible holiday activity with no fixed schedule. You will be committed to three days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It may also be a poor fit if you dislike structured instruction or are hoping to spend most of your Nusa Penida stay sightseeing.

The course has a maximum of four students, but the supplied information does not state a minimum age, medical clearance policy, or details for people with particular health conditions. If any of those points apply to you, ask the provider before booking rather than guessing.

Practical planning for Nusa Penida

Your main planning task is getting to the meeting point each morning. Private transport is not included, and the school is located in Ped. Accommodation is also your responsibility, so choose a base that makes the daily journey manageable.

The listed operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday, for the stated booking period. The confirmation is sent at the time of booking, which should give you the exact meeting details for your date.

A mobile ticket makes the booking simple. Still, save the confirmation on your phone and arrive ready for a full day in the water. Since lunch is excluded, plan ahead instead of assuming you will have time to find food at the last minute.

The course includes all the essential freediving equipment, so you can avoid filling your luggage with specialist gear. You may still want your normal personal items for a day around the water, but the provided information does not specify a full packing list.

The atmosphere and teaching style

The strongest pattern in the course feedback is not a single attraction or technical claim. It is the human side of the instruction. Students singled out staff members by name, including Sabli, Artem, Roberto, Seva, Hamza, Gaston, Gas, and Chiara, for being patient, encouraging, clear, and supportive.

That matters because freediving can feel strange at first. One beginner described being afraid of being underwater without breathing, then gradually becoming comfortable. A good instructor helps you replace panic with routine, and routine is what makes the activity safer and more enjoyable.

The course also seems to balance fun with challenge. You are encouraged to improve, but the supplied experiences repeatedly point to instructors caring for each student rather than simply pushing everyone toward the same result.

Should you book the Nusa Penida Level 1 course?

Book it if you want a serious first step into freediving, prefer small classes, and can commit three full days. The combination of confined-water training, three open-water sessions, equipment, certification, digital materials, and underwater photos gives you more substance than a quick tryout.

Think twice if $450 stretches your budget, or if accommodation, meals, and transport make the total cost uncomfortable. You should also avoid booking on impulse if you are not a confident swimmer or cannot set aside the entire schedule.

For the right person, this is a focused way to connect with the water around Nusa Penida while learning a skill you can continue practicing. Go with realistic goals, listen closely to your instructor, and treat the 15 to 20-meter figure as a possible milestone, not a requirement.

FAQ

Where does the freediving course take place?

The course takes place at Freedive Nusa, located at Jl. Ped-Buyuk No. Desa, Ped, Kec. Nusa Penida, Nusa Penida, Bali 80771, Indonesia.

How long is the course?

The course lasts approximately three days. Each day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including a break for lunch.

Do I need previous freediving experience?

No. Previous experience is not required. You must be able to swim and should have a moderate level of physical fitness.

How many students are in each group?

The activity has a maximum of four students per instructor.

What training sessions are included?

The course includes theory and practical land sessions, two confined-water sessions, and three open-water sessions.

What depth and breath-hold can I expect to reach?

Most students can reach 15 to 20 meters on one breath and hold their breath for more than two minutes by the end of the course. These are typical outcomes, not guaranteed results.

Is equipment included?

Yes. The use of freediving equipment is included, along with all fees and taxes, digital learning materials, and freediving certification.

Are accommodation, transport, and lunch included?

No. Private transportation, accommodation, and lunch are not included. The activity begins and ends at the Freedive Nusa meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.