It's also the most misunderstood course on the AIDA syllabus. Some students treat it as a stepping stone toward AIDA 2. Others treat it as a complete experience in itself. Both are right, depending on what you're trying to get out of it. This guide walks through what AIDA 1 actually is, what it includes, and how to decide whether to start there or skip to AIDA 2.
What AIDA 1 is
The official name is "AIDA 1 — Introduction to Freediving." Per the current AIDA International standards, it runs over a minimum of 1 day (3 hours total) and includes at least one classroom session and one water session. The prerequisite is the ability to swim 100m non-stop. There's no written exam. There's no formal performance standard like the 2-minute static or 12-meter dive of AIDA 2. The only fixed requirement is one pool or confined-water session covering the basics of freediving safety and technique.
What you learn:
- The basic AIDA breathing cycle — relaxation phase, one full breath, breath hold, recovery breathing
- Introduction to equalization technique (Valsalva and the beginning of Frenzel)
- Finning basics with long-blade fins
- Duck dive technique
- Buddy procedures and surface protocols
- Introduction to safety concepts — LMC, blackout, recovery
- A short underwater swim or shallow descent under supervision
What you don't get:
- Open water training to depth (the max depth in an AIDA 1 course is 10 m, and most students don't go deeper than 5 m)
- The 2-minute static apnea performance
- The 40m dynamic apnea performance
- Rescue scenario practice
- The same volume of theory as AIDA 2 (you get an overview, not the full curriculum)
The AIDA 1 certification doesn't expire, is recognized internationally, but isn't a prerequisite for anything. You can take AIDA 2 directly without ever doing AIDA 1.
Who AIDA 1 is right for
AIDA 1 is the right starting point for three kinds of students.
1. People who aren't sure yet
If you've never freedived and don't know whether you'll love it, hate it, or feel claustrophobic at depth, AIDA 1 lets you find out without committing to a 2.5-day course. Half a day of pool work tells you most of what you need to know about whether you're suited to the sport.
2. People with limited time or budget
AIDA 2 costs $575 at LJFC and takes 2.5–3 days. AIDA 1 costs $200 and is over by lunchtime. If you have a Saturday available and $200 in budget, AIDA 1 is the on-ramp.
3. Younger students or parents testing the waters
Although AIDA 2 has a minimum age of 18 (or 16/17 with parent consent), AIDA 1 is sometimes used as the first formal exposure for teenage students before they're old enough for AIDA 2. We also have parents who take AIDA 1 with their kids to assess fit before signing the whole family up for Camp Garibaldi or AIDA 2.
Who should skip AIDA 1 and go straight to AIDA 2
If any of the following apply, your money is better spent on AIDA 2:
- You've already snorkeled extensively and are comfortable underwater
- You can swim 200m without fins (or 300m with mask/fins/snorkel) and feel relaxed in cold water
- You're confident this is something you want to pursue and aren't using AIDA 1 as a test
- You have a specific application in mind — spearfishing, depth training, planning to dive frequently after the course
- You want a card that opens up Saturday Sessions, gear rentals, and the broader freediving community
For these students, AIDA 1 is genuinely redundant. AIDA 2 includes everything AIDA 1 covers, plus the actual certification that unlocks the rest of the freediving world. If you have the time and budget for AIDA 2, skip the on-ramp.
What an AIDA 1 day at LJFC looks like
LJFC offers AIDA 1 as a half-day course at La Jolla Shores, typically Saturday or Sunday mornings. The day breaks down as follows:
9:00 AM — Beach arrival, brief, gear fitting
30 minutes of introduction. We cover course expectations, gear basics, and what you'll learn in the water. You meet the buddy you'll work with (if you came with someone) or get paired with another student.
9:30 AM — Land theory (~45 minutes)
The minimum required theory: breathing cycle mechanics, basic physiology, safety protocols, what hyperventilation is and why we don't do it, equalization basics, equipment overview.
10:15 AM — Confined water session at the Shores
If conditions allow, we run this in calm shallow ocean at the south end of La Jolla Shores. If conditions don't, we relocate to a pool. The session covers the breathing cycle in practice, static apnea (you'll typically hold your breath for 60–90 seconds), dynamic apnea (a 20-meter underwater swim with fins), and buddy procedures.
12:00 PM — Brief ocean session
This is optional but recommended. A short open-water dive in chest-to-shoulder-deep water, working on equalization, duck dives, and the feeling of being beneath the surface in real ocean conditions. Maximum depth is 5–8 meters — typically less.
1:00 PM — Debrief, certification paperwork, wrap
Your AIDA 1 cert is processed in the EOS system within 24 hours. You leave with a stamped logbook and a clear sense of whether you want to continue to AIDA 2.
What it feels like
The honest description: AIDA 1 is the equivalent of taking a beginner ski lesson before signing up for a week at a mountain. You leave with enough exposure to know whether the sport is for you, basic technique to keep yourself safe in shallow water, and zero illusions that you're now an experienced freediver.
Most students who do AIDA 1 at LJFC end up signing up for AIDA 2 within a few months. A few decide freediving isn't for them and walk away knowing it cost them a Saturday morning and $200, not a full weekend and $575. Both outcomes are good — the point of AIDA 1 is to make the decision possible.
What to bring
If you have your own mask, snorkel, and fins, bring them. If you don't, LJFC provides rentals.
Otherwise:
- Swimsuit or wetsuit (we have 5mm rentals if you don't own one)
- Towel and warm layer for between sessions
- Hydration and a light snack
- Photo ID for certification paperwork
The AIDA Medical Statement and Liability Release are sent to you in advance — complete those before course day.
The cost question
AIDA 1 at LJFC: $200. Half-day course at La Jolla Shores. Includes AIDA 1 certification card, instructor time, mooring line access, rental of group gear (fins, weight belt). Does not include personal gear (mask, snorkel) or the wetsuit rental ($25 add-on if you don't have one).
For context: AIDA 2 group rate is $575 ($800 private). The math is straightforward — if you're confident you want AIDA 2, going straight there saves $200. If you're uncertain, the $200 AIDA 1 is a low-risk way to find out.
The AIDA 1 to AIDA 2 progression
For students who do AIDA 1 first and then move to AIDA 2, the progression typically takes one of three shapes:
- Immediate — sign up for AIDA 2 the following month, before the AIDA 1 skills go cold
- Seasonal — do AIDA 1 in spring, return for AIDA 2 in summer when conditions are warmer
- Delayed — do AIDA 1, take time to practice in pools, return when you're ready
Any of these works. AIDA certifications don't expire. The progression depends on your schedule and how much practice you want between courses. Our 4-week AIDA 2 prep plan works whether you've done AIDA 1 or not — it's the bridge between any starting point and the AIDA 2 standards.
How to book
We run AIDA 1 courses year-round, scheduled around weather and conditions. Use the course inquiry form to request dates. Most months we have 2–4 AIDA 1 courses available on weekends.
If you'd rather take AIDA 1 and AIDA 2 back-to-back in a single visit — common for students coming in from out of town — let us know in the inquiry. We can structure a 3-day weekend that covers AIDA 1 + 2 with appropriate rest between sessions.
Sources and further reading
- AIDA International AIDA 1 course standards (verified June 2026)
- AIDA 1 Manual v2.0 (2025) — provided to all enrolled students
- LJFC: AIDA Levels Explained — overview of all AIDA certification levels
- LJFC: 4-Week AIDA 2 Prep Plan — for after AIDA 1
- LJFC: AIDA 2 Course Guide — full guide to the AIDA 2 certification
- LJFC: Beginner's Guide to Freediving in La Jolla — the context for first-time divers in San Diego
