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

Devin was a great guide: he was well organized and the dives were relaxed, well paced, and really…read moreenjoyable. We saw some great sea life and would definitely book again.

COMPLETE SCAM. WILL NOT PROVIDE CERTIFICATION. READ ALL REVIEWS CAREFULLY!! Devin should not be…read moreallowed to continue operating. We booked a PADI certification course for our family of 4, took the dives, completed everything he asked. He told us he would file our paperwork. 2 YEARS later and he still will not answer our calls, texts, or acknowledge us. PADI has never heard of us or of his shop. We are out the money and have to take another course with someone else or not scuba dive again. Looking at legal options because he should not be allowed to scam others. We're not the only people he has done this to.

I was so nervous about the course. When it was over I walked away with knowledge in gear,…read morebreathing etc. Going in the water didn't feel so overwhelming. Jackie was kind, supportive and very knowledgeable. Amazing!!

I had a great experience with Jackie who I hired for private freediving instruction. She spent…read moreextra time with me on zoom prior to the dive going over Frenzel technique and problems I had with it. She had extra equipment, gave me good tips for renting equipment, picked a good location, knew the area well, and was on time. I trusted her experience in the water, and she was very patient with a novice diver. I would definitely hire her again.

Great dive with Ed! The boat ride was nice and quick to our dive sites and I saw a turtle on each…read moredive! The equipment was set up for us and it was a great experience overall. Thank you so much!

We had semi-private diving (only 4 divers) which was great. Dive guide Faith is so nice, asking for…read moreour experience, caring during the whole time. I had issues with fins underwater and she jumped to help! We also got to see wreck which we didn't expect, which is awesome! We had pineapple for lunch, which was conveniently cut and was so yummy! Only downside is that their new dive computers didn't kick in during safety stop and I didn't see deco time - it was showing total dive time.

Like always had a great time. The team here is always super cool . Loved my dive! Thanks for…read moreanother great experience. Loved our dusk and night dive. You know I will be back!

This is a very large dive company. They have a few dive boats in the harbor, a very well stocked…read morestore with all of your diving needs plus lots of extra goodies! As far as the equipment goes, it's all very nice and well maintained . The crew was the best especially Lindsey our dive guide for our group, patient but thorough. We dove the sea tiger wreck, and "Lindsey's place " off of big pipe. Overall it was one of the best days diving, we couldn't ask for a better day. I highly recommend this dive company.

Gabe and Devin are total sweethearts, amazing guides and teachers, and a complete joy to work with…read more I highly recommend this business and cannot wait to dive with them again. I got my Advanced Open Water certification with them and even while doing epic dives they took time to attentively and patiently help me with fundamentals, buoyancy and trim. I felt totally safe and cared for from start to finish, and they were especially helpful and accommodating getting us scheduled, renting equipment, and giving us full princess treatment. My partner was a professional diver and chose Kaimana specifically because he wanted me to get the best training for my certification.

This was one of the most disappointing dive experiences I've ever had…read more We are relatively new divers and booked this trip looking for a fun, safe, and well-guided experience. What we got instead was poor dive management and a complete lack of professionalism. During the dive, I ran out of air, which is a serious and dangerous situation in scuba diving. The response from the guide was dismissive and poorly handled, which only made the situation worse. The most frustrating part of the entire experience was dealing with Gabe, the owner. He had absolutely no patience and was openly unprofessional, not just with us but in the way he interacted with others as well. There was no concern for how unsafe the situation was, no accountability, and no attempt to make things right. For an activity where safety, trust, and professionalism are critical, this operation fell short on every level. We paid nearly $700 and walked away feeling stressed, unsafe, and completely disappointed. I would strongly caution newer or less experienced divers before booking here. This is not the kind of environment where you feel supported or safe.