Taipei Freediving RecommendationsYour Guide to Choosing a Certification Venue: 7 Freediving Studios in Taipei Reviewed

Ofucos, located in Longdong Bay, Gongliao, is the only Taipei Freediving venue in the area that offers accommodation, thanks to its unique location.

The venue provides clean, cozy backpacker rooms and comfortable common areas, and it's just a two-minute walk to the water. For divers without their own transportation, Ofucos also offers shuttle services to and from Nangang Exhibition Center Station on the Bannan MRT Line, or Ruifang Train Station.

In addition to popular scuba diving and Taipei Freediving certification courses, Ofucos also offers advanced courses like shore diving, night diving, and divemaster training. The AIDA2 Taipei Freediving course spans three days: half a day for theory, and four half-days for practical sessions, including one pool session and three ocean sessions, all of which can be scheduled on weekends.

In recent years, Ofucos has also expanded its offerings to include various outdoor activities by leveraging local resources, such as snorkeling, SUP paddleboarding, rock climbing, and secret river tracing. They also have a Little Liuqiu outpost, making it convenient to join dive trips closer to that location.

Diversity offers Taipei Freediving courses using the AIDA certification system, with a student-to-instructor ratio of 3:1. Courses are held frequently, and you can also arrange a private group with the venue to set your own schedule. In addition to Taipei, Diversity courses are also available in Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

The first phase typically runs on three weeknights. The first two days consist of 3.5 hours of classroom theory at the Zhonghe studio, followed by a 4-hour pool training session on the third day at the Keqiang Park swimming pool near Zhishan Station. The second phase, open water training, can be completed at the Northeast Coast, Kenting, Xiaoliuqiu, or Green Island.

Diversity also hosts regular group training sessions, where you only pay for venue and equipment fees. If you don't pass the assessment, subsequent retests do not incur additional tuition fees.

Liquid Vision offers Taipei Freediving courses with both PADI and AIDA certification systems.

Its AIDA2 freediving course includes two theory sessions, one pool session, and two open-water training sessions. Classes can be scheduled with an instructor for groups of two or more; solo students must adhere to the monthly course schedule.

Beyond the core curriculum, Liquid Vision also provides group practice sessions. You can discuss your specific weaknesses with an instructor and practice with other students. These are offered as single-session, à la carte options across four categories: equalization practice, pool group practice, independent ocean practice, and ocean training.

DivingMind offers AIDA Taipei Freediving certification courses, ranging from AIDA 2 to AIDA 4, along with instructor training and single-session practice dives. In addition to their Taipei location, they also have a branch in Hengchun.

The AIDA 2 course is a three-day program that includes classroom theory, confined water practice, and open water training. From May to October, open water training takes place in the Northeast Coast, while from November to April, it's held in Hengchun or Taichung's Divecube.

Classes are kept small for personalized instruction: theory and pool sessions have a maximum of eight students per class, and open water sessions are limited to six. For any class with more than four students, an assistant instructor will be present.

After the course, instructors periodically organize pool or open water practice sessions and offer retest opportunities, with students only needing to cover pool admission fees. Post-course equipment rental is available at student-exclusive rates, and they also organize diving trips from time to time.

Heyhey Dive's Taipei Freediving courses use the AIDA certification system, with the AIDA2 course comprising six lessons: two theory classes and four practical sessions in confined and open water.

Theory classes are held at the Heyhey Dive Taipei Freediving studio in Shilin District. They maintain small class sizes, with a maximum of six students per instructor and one assistant, ensuring a student-to-teacher ratio of no more than 4:1.

Pool training takes place at the Qian Gang Swimming Pool in Shilin. Open water training locations vary with the seasons: from May to September, sessions are held in Longdong, and from October to April, they move to DivingCube Hotel in Taichung.

Heyhey Dive offers a robust post-course group practice system, with more than two sessions per week where students only pay the entry fee. They also provide one year of free retesting and regularly organize dive trips, ensuring students don't become "dive orphans" after earning their freediving certification.

Mianjinglian is a team of Taipei Freediving instructors passionate about the ocean, including a former taekwondo athlete and Taiwan's first deaf female freediving instructor.

Their Taipei Freediving courses use the AIDA certification system. The AIDA2 course includes four theory lessons, three pool sessions, and three open-water training sessions, totaling four days to complete the AIDA certification.

Mianjinglian instructors maintain a 1:4 student ratio, ensuring individual progress and safety. Theory and pool sessions are held at Xinzhuang Sports Center, while open-water training locations vary with seasonal weather.

Qianxingzhe Studio is a Taipei Freediving studio with over ten professional instructors. Its Taipei Freediving courses use the SSI certification system, with the SSI Level 1 course lasting two days and including one foundational theory class, three foundational practical sessions, and two deep-water training sessions.

Qianxingzhe Studio maintains a student-to-instructor ratio of approximately 5:1. The first day's theory and practical sessions are held at Wanhua Sports Center, where students first complete basic theory lessons and a test in a multi-purpose classroom, needing to score at least 84 points. Afterward, they move to the pool for practical training, which includes a two-minute static apnea test. If a student doesn't pass the apnea test, they can retest the following day.

The second day's course takes place at the Songshan Sports Center's five-meter pool, focusing on deep-water Taipei Freediving training, including horizontal diving, descent, and rescue techniques.