I highly recommend taking training from JTA/Happy Swimmers. I honestly think this is the best CPR…read moretraining I've had. I wasn't sure how it would be without a video/computer based training, but it was stellar. It's the first time I got everything down without having to reference learning materials. We had Jenn as our trainer and I couldn't be happier. I work at a lab and Jenn made the training relatable by speaking our language and referencing things that apply to our industry. It was also very fun! Jenn has an awesome sense of humor. I also had to deal with the staff online to set everything up. They are very professional and respond to inquiries in a timely manner. The website is easy to navigate and sign up was simple. Even though our 2 small groups wasn't an ideal situation for Jenn, he came to us with nothing but smiles, positivity, and aloha. One love.

I highly recommend this training. Jenn made it fun and easy. The reference material is summarized…read moreonto a small card so it will be quick for checking the steps if needed.

Hawaii Heart is an incredible community program that delivers common sense CPR and AED education to…read moreschools state-wide. The students and staff get to connect with clear heart facts, get to practice life saving skills with mentors in a safe environment, and feel empowered to respond and save lives. Kudos to the Hawaii Heart Foundation team for being instrumental in making school communities safer !

Pam Foster and her team are the very best. I also bought an AED from there! certified by them for…read more10 yrs in BLS and ACLS.

A place where they dock and refuel before setting sail again…read more And a place where they train and learn on how to sail the seas. I didn't get a chance to see the whole facility' itself, but was fortunate enough to see the IOSEPA docked here before heading to Moloka'i. Their journey through the island will educated those who are living in the island chain. Great place to look at IF you's are interested in navigating and sailing.

While I have sailed before, this was my first time on a double hulled traditional Hawaiian canoe…read more(wa'a Kailua). As a Native Hawaiian, a teacher, and a student, this experience was and will continue to be very meaningful to me. Members of the Polynesian Voyaging Society gave us basic training through professional development to teach us skills needed to sail as well as ways to integrate these skills into the curriculum. They work with various schools in the state and travel around the world. This was so much fun!

Initially, I enrolled in the DeRose Method classes with the intent of improving my flexibility,…read morewhich would ultimately improve my athletic performance. However, with continued practice, I discovered that this method is unique and different than any other class I had taken. This method combines life concepts and practical techniques all designed to improve your personal awareness and ultimately expand your consciousness. The DeRose Method continuously challenges me in many aspects of my life and I am forever grateful that Gui has introduced this ancient philosophy to Hawaii. Both Gui and TIm's (DeRose Method Hawaii Instructors) enthusiasm, passion and dedication to this practice is demonstrated everyday in class!

Can't express how much this simple and most effective course will proliferate in all fields of your…read morelife! From staying calm under pressure, to breath work, to understanding and listening to your body with and without any air in ya lungs, Deep End Fitness (specially Torrie!) will help people who want to improve, improve, and people who want to take their first steps towards underwater workout, do so. A very welcoming vibe and also not a very hardcore towards ligaments and body impacting workouts, Deep End Fitness is an absolute must. They have a screener class to the first comers, and with time (as with everything) you start to progress and eventually do more and more towards whichever your goal is. Great people, and they have few more location towards Costa Mesa area and SD that have a few experts in the group, all great people. Shoutout to Torrie for being an absolute legend!

Awesome Place! In the heart of honolulu where you can learn and get your workout on! Great Job Sifu…read moreAtto! PPP

I learned about Affinity Freediving through Elaine's monthly community freediving meetups. At the…read moretime, I had only just started getting into freediving and was also new to the island, so the meetup was an opportunity to get connected to the freediving community and to make friends. Despite being a beginner, I felt very welcomed to the group and appreciated Elaine's careful attention to our group's safety and comfort. Her experience as a clinician and emphasis on mental health and making freediving as accessible as possible resonated with me, which is why I chose to take my Level 1 course with Affinity Diving. My experience with Affinity Diving exceeded all my expectations. Elaine was patient, receptive to various learning styles and experience levels in our group, and was able to tailor the course to meet everyone's individual needs. Our theory portion of the course was outside on Magic Island which was wonderful compared to a traditional classroom setting, and having the lagoon which meets the criteria for the confined water portion of the course was really nice because it was less cramped than a swimming pool which is more common for other courses. Elaine also provided nearly all the equipment including weight belts, weights, masks, fins, even spare neoprene pants and tops, which not all schools provide. This also gave us a chance to try out gear that we weren't all necessarily in the position to be able to upgrade right away. I passed my exam, but did not pass my skills test at the end of Day 2. Elaine was encouraging and unlike other instructors who leave it up to the student to reschedule make up sessions, Elaine took the initiative to offer times to reschedule to anyone that didn't pass, and encouraged me to continue attending the monthly community free diving meetups. I don't know of any other instructor or dive school who as as invested in their students success as Elaine, and about a month later after additional practice, I was able to come back and complete my final skills test. Affinity Freediving's commitment to inclusivity and community is genuine and I have come away from the course with lots of wonderful memories and new dive buddies. I cannot think of a single negative thing to say and would recommend this course and Elaine as instructor to anyone looking to discover freediving or take their existing skills to the next level. Mahalo! -Jess Chilinski

Elaine's instruction was exceptional! Tailored to my level, patient, and experienced. Def recommend…read morediving with her, Will be back for more!

My short review for the Wave 1 beginner freediving course is: If you're even slightly interested,…read moretake this course! Whether you're beginner or "advanced" but not certified, you won't regret it!! Since there were no other reviews here yet, I decided to also write an in-depth (see what I did there?) one. Now the long review... I'm so glad that I enrolled in the freediver certification course with Honolulu Freedivers. I've been an avid snorkeler for decades, competed in distance freestyle ocean swims, paddling competitions and triathlons--even taught some folks how to swim. I LOVE the ocean, BUT I also love to be able to BREATHE often, whenever I want to, even more. I could dive to pool depth, but needed to pop right back up. So, freediving was always kind of a unicorn. Prior to taking the certification course, holding my breath during the exertion of ocean dives was incredibly hard for me. Despite having good cardio, the urge to breathe while swimming underwater and the desire to surface was overwhelming. I tried watching hours of YouTube "expert" videos on my own. But it didn't really help, and in retrospect I'm lucky to not have accidentally drowned trying some of the stuff I saw. In the two-day, info-packed beginner course (Wave 1), Derek's instruction and his course materials helped me to fully understand my self-inflicted limitations. On the first day, extended my person best static (land) breath hold by a full minute! In the water, I was able to reach AND RELAX FOR A WHILE at a depth I would have thought impossible for me--then on day two, I DOUBLED that distance to earn my certification (20 meters). Derek is ultra-experienced, patient, friendly and puts safety first during dives. His assistant kept an extra set of eyes on us and provided additional instruction/feedback. The pre-dive breathe up and the post-dive recovery were drilled extensively because of their importance. He gave precise, helpful critiques. And, because he limits his class size, everyone had more than enough time and it was fun!! I felt very safe doing all the dives. Some went perfectly, and for the ones where I lapsed on technique, Derek was right there to keep me from making things worse for myself. Then at the surface after recovery he was quick to give corrective instruction for the next dive. Most importantly, I also learned how to confidently deal with dive buddy emergencies: shallow water blackout, loss of motor control, cramps, etc. I now have increased value as a dive buddy for my friends, family and fellow divers because of this class. With what I learned, I might save a life one day, maybe my own. An added bonus is that any diver certified through this class, has an open invitation to attend recurrent Honolulu Freedivers boat dives and weekly pool training, and also becomes a member of an international online community group (Molchanovs) where even more material is accessible. I took the class with two other friends and made a new friend, as a tourist also dropped in to attend. We all agreed it was well worth the investment! Thanks, Derek and V!!

Fantastic first-time Freedive experience; exceeded my expectations! Derek is an amazing freediver…read morewho excels as an instructor. His reputation as a patient and positive teacher is well deserved. He gave me the confidence to go further than I thought possible. Highly recommend! - Will