Learn to freedive in Utila
Utila's only dedicated freediving centre. Learn to dive to 70 ft on a single breath.Discover the ocean on your own terms.
Freediving in Utila
One breath, warm Caribbean water, and 30 metres of depth a short boat ride from the dock. That's why people come here to learn. Whether you've never held your breath underwater or you're chasing a personal best, the course you need runs most weeks of the year, with our own instructors.
Freedive Utila
- 3,000+students since 2013
- 5.0 ★Google rating, 166 reviews
- 3:1max students per instructor
- 30 m+depth, minutes from the dock
Central America's only dedicated freediving centre, with courses and crossovers across the major freediving agencies. The instructors drive this school. There's no head office deciding how many students go in the water or how long a course runs; the people teaching you make those calls, and they make them for your dive, not for a schedule. It's why our instructors stay, and why the ones who trained here come back to teach.
Our Team
At Freedive Utila, we understand that the instructor is the most important factor in learning a sport. That's why we prioritize personal development for both our students and instructors. As a young and evolving sport, we take pride in staying at the forefront of freediving development. We encourage and support our instructors to attend competitions, either as competitors or as part of the safety team and international deep weeks, to further their skills and knowledge.
Ninja
The "Boss" - Cindy Mom - Instructor Trainer
Hailing from a small town in Germany, Ninja's journey to freediving began when she quit her job in 2018 to explore the world.
Hailing from a small town in Germany, Ninja's journey to freediving began when she quit her job in 2018 to explore the world. In Honduras, she discovered her love for the water and took her first freediving course in Utila. Immediately captivated by the sport, she stayed on the island for over six months, training and learning.
For Ninja, teaching freediving is immensely rewarding. She cherishes the trust and safety aspects of the sport, always striving to share her passion and knowledge with others.
Join Ninja on a transformative underwater journey, where her professionalism, expertise, and love for freediving will guide you to new depths. Unleash your true potential beneath the surface with Ninja as your instructor.
Chris
Junior Instructor - Boat Captain
Meet Chris, who currently holds the record for the longest Master course duration, 8 months! From Scotland, Chris first learned to freedive at Freedive Utila in 2018, and has been hooked ever since.
Cinderella
Shy - Cute
Meet Cinderella, the enchanting canine resident of the freediving school. This four-legged diva has a rags-to-riches tale that would put fairy tales to shame. Rescued from an animal shelter...
Samba
Misunderstood - Violent - Cute
Meet Samba, don't be fooled by her small size, her diminutive meow, or her adorable spotted belly. This little beast has a larger-than-life personality. Using her ruthless cuteness and her needle-sharp fangs, she keeps the Freedive Utila staff in line and the customers happy.
"Slippery Dick"
Boat
Our trusty boat, the Slippery Dick, is an essential part of our freediving adventures. Named after a species of fish known for its agility and speed, the Slippery Dick is a reliable vessel that will take us to diving locations.
Where are you?
Getting started
Never held your breath underwater on purpose? Start here. The Freediver course is two and a half days: an afternoon of theory, breathing and equalisation, then two days on the line with an instructor following you down every dive, certified to 21 metres. Scuba divers start here too; nothing from scuba carries over except being comfortable in the water.
Beginner
The Freediver course and three nights in a private room on our waterfront property, a short walk from the dock you dive from. Two and a half days from your first breath-hold to 21 metres, with your own room to come back to.
Beginner+
A week on our waterfront property in your own private room, with the Freediver course and three training dives on top. The extra dives are where the course sinks in.
Already have somewhere to stay? Just the course:
Deeper, longer
Certified and wanting more depth than the first course gives? The Advanced course is three days to 40 metres: longer holds, deeper equalisation, rescue skills. Arriving with no certification at all? The Zero to Advanced packages run both courses back to back.
Advanced
The Advanced course and four nights in a private room on our waterfront property. Three days to 40 metres, then a night to sleep on it before you fly.
Advanced+
A week in your own room on our waterfront property, the Advanced course, and three training dives to put the new depth to use.
Zero to Advanced
From nothing to 40 metres in a week: the Freediver and Advanced courses back to back, with seven nights in a private room on our waterfront property between dives.
Zero to Advanced+
Twelve nights in a private room on our waterfront property, both courses, and four training dives in the days between them. The unhurried version of Zero to Advanced.
Already have somewhere to stay? Just the course:
Mastering depth
For those who want to push themselves and master the deep. The Master course is three to six weeks on the line with a plan built around your goals, and it has no fixed start date. Once you've done it, diving with us is free for life.
Master
Six weeks in your own room on our waterfront property, the Master course, and unlimited diving for the whole stay. Once you're a Master here, diving with us is free for life.
Zero to Master
Six weeks from your first breath-hold to Master: all three courses, unlimited diving, and a private room on our waterfront property for the whole block.
Already have somewhere to stay? Just the course:
Teach, and keep others safe
Two courses for people who want to work in the sport. The Instructor course is three to four weeks, for certified Master Freedivers, with an internship teaching real students; instructors who qualify here can teach here. The Depth Competition Safety Freediver course by Vertical Blue is three days and the standard AIDA uses for safety at its own competitions.
Molchanovs and AIDA
Courses and Crossovers
We are proud to be able to offer Molchanovs Wave 1 and 2 and AIDA Certifications 1, 2, and 3, as well as Crossovers.
Full courses have a minimum of 2 students, whereas Crossovers can be done with 1 candidate. All Wave and AIDA Courses are subject to Instructor availability.
Keep training
Already certified? Come and dive. A Training Dive is up to three hours on the line with our instructors or Master students, $45. A Coaching Session is one to one: a dry briefing about what you're working on, then a water session with your instructor as your safety diver and feedback afterwards, $75. Staying a week? The weekly training package is six dives and seven nights.
Training Dive
Up to three hours on the line with our instructors or Master students. Your dive plan, our buoy and safety.
Coaching Session
One to one with an instructor: a dry briefing about what you're working on, then a water session with your instructor as your safety diver, and feedback afterwards. Video analysis if you want it. For beginners fixing one thing and for experienced divers tuning technique.
Weekly Diving
Six training dives and seven nights in a private room on our waterfront property, for certified freedivers who want a week on the line.
You need a freediving certification to join; not certified yet? Getting started is above.
Reviews
on GoogleAmazing experience at free dive utila! I am someone who loves the ocean and spends almost everyday in the water and this was my first formal introduction to free diving and to say it’s a new obsession would be an under statement. The team is here is knowledgeable, experienced, and patient, with an emphasis on the individual nature of the sport, making the experience catered to you. Ninja, who taught my advanced course, is a competition safety diver and spends thorough time on rescue, safety, and diving within your limits which I believe is a good mark of an instructor. I highly recommend this team.
on GoogleI just finished both the Level 1 and Advanced freediving courses at Freedive Utila and the experience exceeded my expectations in every way. The instruction was excellent — professional, safety-focused, and deeply thoughtful about the mental side of freediving, not just the technical skills. The instructors created an environment that felt supportive and calm while still pushing us to grow. The community around the school was also a highlight. Students and instructors alike share a genuine passion for the ocean and for helping each other progress. It made the whole experience feel welcoming and collaborative rather than competitive. I left not only with new depth milestones, but with a much deeper appreciation for the practice of freediving and the calm it can bring. Highly recommend Freedive Utila to anyone curious about freediving, whether you’re brand new or looking to advance your training. An incredible experience all around. Big thanks to Ninja and Marc for a great experience! 💕🙏
on GoogleThis place changed my life. I went with no expectation but to get more comfortable in the water, and be able to dive down and see marine life when snorkelling/in the ocean. I had no clue that I would make amazing friendships and connections but mostly have instructors that saw through me and saw every thing I was holding in under the water. They are highly skilled, incredibly thorough and well versed in the safety of free diving and want to see you access the magic this sport has to offer -- finding peace in yourself and being present with your life. Every instructor I had went above and beyond and I never imagined I would have become capable of getting to where I did in a short period of time while feeling safe and finding moments of zen in the deep blue. Thank you Ninja, Marc, Alex + Matt... and everyone else for creating such an incredible environment and experience to learn something new, uncomfortable and foreign to me in.
on GoogleI had the honor of doing the AIDA Depth Competition Safety Diver Course with Ninja in December 2024, and it was honestly next level. Her professionalism, depth of knowledge, and ability to organize everything in a flexible yet straightforward way were truly impressive. You can immediately feel the experience she brings from working as safety at the World Championship. I highly recommend Freedive Utila to anyone wanting to learn from people who truly live and breathe the sport. 🌊
on GoogleI highly recommend this place especially for beginners just looking to feel more comfortable and confident whilst in the ocean snorkelling (which was my goal). Ninja (it is pronounced Niña) and Charlie were our instructions and were excellent, great at calming your nerves which in turn will diminish your oxygen consumption. It is very surprising how a two and a half day course will do to improve your level of comfort in the ocean. The course they provide (apnea total) is a great fit for people who are just looking for a stress-free experience as oppose to some other certification with strict requirements, and it dispelled a lot of preconceptions I had about this absolutely beautiful sport.
on GoogleSo many words to say about this place, yet I will try hard to keep it brief. My wife and I took a leap of faith and signed up for the zero to master program along with 6 weeks of lodging here at Freedive Utila. We expected to learn to freedive, and make my wife more comfortable in the Ocean during our time here. Well that happened, and many times over what we even dreamed... on many fronts. The teaching staff here is the most professional and experienced I've seen (in any industry). Hands down. Matt, Ninja, Hugo, and Guy are not only amazingly talented, but down right amazing human beings. Safety is absolutely #1 in everything they do. Not just a cliche like most of us have probably seen. So while we accomplished our freediving goals here, and then some; something else (arguably better) happened. We became part of a very close knit family. Our (Utila Centered) freedive family. So, if you are even slightly curious about freediving... Do NOT hesitate, do not second guess it, and DO take the "plunge"!
on GoogleI spent two fantastic weeks there in a great atmosphere and excellent conditions to deepen my freediving knowledge. Whether it was the fun dives with Charlie or the lessons with the amazing Ninja, everything was perfect! The safety, the advice, the atmosphere, the conditions! Comfortable and quiet accommodation. I'll definitely be back! Thanks again to the whole team for making my dream a reality!
Translated by Google
on GoogleHad an amazing experience here. Hugo, our instructor, was very knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. It couldn’t have been a better for us, who are totally new to diving. We also stayed in the house and it was great. This is coming from someone who is quite particular about cleanliness. We came during slow season so it was just us 2 and 1 other girl so we took one bathroom and she had the other. It was very calm and peaceful. If you get hot easily there are some rooms with A/C. 100% recommend and would love to come back one day for the advanced course.
on GoogleAmazing experience, coaches Alex and Charlie were kind, professional and incredibly knowledgeable and skillful divers. For anyone looking to build their confidence under the water, this is the place. The accommodation is also beautiful, comfortable and right on the water. Highly recommend.
Reviews from Google
Schedule
Tomorrow
21st September
Accommodation
