PADI Freediver Course
Become a PADI Freediver
Explore the ocean like never before - become a PADI Freediver! The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School is a five-star certified PADI Dive Centre and your complete stop for all things diving-related in Cape Town. Join our PADI-certified Dive Instructors on an awesome underwater adventure that will bring you joy for the rest of your life... Take on the PADI Freediver course!
What is the PADI Freediver course?
Freediving is about inward power, discipline and control. If you've always wanted to enter the underwater world quietly, on your own terms, staying as long as your breath allows - then freediving is for you. Taking the PADI Freediver course is your first step toward discovering why freediving is becoming a popular way to explore beneath the waves.
How to take part
The PADI Freediver course at the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School costs R4 560 per person. This includes everything you need for the course – digital theory packs, gear rental, final qualification certification, etc.
Participant information
Age restrictions & swimming ability
To enrol in a PADI Freediver course you must be at least 15 years old. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health. No prior experience with snorkelling, skin diving or freediving is required.
Important medical information
To do this course, you need to be reasonably healthy. You will need to complete a medical questionnaire before being allowed to dive – download it here. Have a look through the questions on Page 1. If you answered YES to questions 3, 5 or 10 OR to any of the questions on page 2, please read and agree to the statement provided by signing and dating it AND take all three pages of this form (Participant Questionnaire and the Physician’s Evaluation Form) to your physician for a medical evaluation. Participation in a diving course requires your physician’s approval.
Flying after diving
Please be advised that you may not do this course and dive if you are planning to fly within 24 hours after diving.
Course information
Course duration
The course takes three days to complete. The days do not need to be consecutive (you have up to six months to complete the course), but we strongly recommend that you complete these days in close succession so that everything is fresh in your mind.
Days typically start at 08h00 in the foyer of the Aquarium, where your dive instructor will meet you, and finish around 16h00.
Did you know?
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organisation.
The Two Oceans Aquarium is a certified PADI Fuve-star Dive Centre. This means we meet all the stringent health, safety and quality requirements as set out by PADI.
Frequently asked questions
- Knowledge development about freediving principles through independent study with PADI Freediver eLearning (or your instructor may conduct class sessions if not available in a language you understand).
- Day 1: Confined/classroom session to learn breath-hold techniques as well as static and dynamic apnea. Goal - static apnea of 90 seconds and dynamic apnea of 25 metres/80 feet.
- Day 2: I&J Oceans Exhibit/pool session.
- Day 3: Open water/ Shore entry session to practice free immersion and constant weight freedives, plus proper buddy procedures. Goal - constant weight freedive of 10 metres/30 feet.
In order to do the Freediver course, you need to be reasonably healthy. In addition to completing the downloadable health questionnaire, you will also need to be relatively fit and able to swim.
Please be advised that you may not do this course and dive if you are planning to fly within 24 hours after the dive.
All you need to bring along is a swimsuit and a reusable water bottle.
We provide everything you will need on the day, including all gear, study materials, and hot showers.
Transport to the shore-entry dive sites is not included.
Please arrive at the Two Oceans Aquarium 15 minutes before your scheduled diving slot. You may report to our Visitor Centre just inside the main entrance and the Dive School team will meet you.
The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School is a certified PADI Five-star Dive Centre and your one-stop shop for all things scuba diving in Cape Town.
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organisation. As a certified PADI Five-star Dive Centre, the Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School meets all the stringent health, safety and quality requirements as set out by PADI.
Please read our terms and conditions and make sure you are eligible to dive before making your dive booking:
In line with recognised diving practice, dives may not occur if divers are to FLY less than 12 hours after the dive time (or 24 hours for the PADI Open Water Diver and PADI Advanced Open Water courses). Please do not book if you are not sure about the exact time of your flight, especially if it is within 24 hours after your dive. This will result in forfeiting the entire dive fee.
For safety reasons, divers must be at least 12 years old to dive in our exhibits.
Divers under 18 must have their indemnity form signed by their legal guardian. If the legal guardian will not be present on the day of the dive, they must request a copy of the indemnity form at the time of booking the dive so that it is signed in advance of the dive.
The Aquarium entrance fee is included in the rate for the diver/s on the day/s of their dive/s.
Cancellation policy
Before cancelling your booking, please note that PADI dive courses are non-refundable. The Two Oceans Aquarium Dive School requests proof of payment as well as a completed booking form to secure your preferred dates.