FII specialty courses are built around core skills applied to specific pursuits. They allow divers to deepen their ability in focused areas from safety and survival to spearfishing, monofin, and freediving photography while continuing to develop within a structured training system.
FII specialty courses are built around core skills applied to specific pursuits. They allow divers to deepen their ability in focused areas from safety and survival to spearfishing, monofin, and freediving photography while continuing to develop within a structured training system.
Spearfishing
The FII Spearfishing course combines freediving skills, hunting techniques, and safety training to help divers become more effective and responsible underwater hunters.
Developed to address the need for real spearfishing safety education, this course helps divers build the knowledge, judgment, and practical skills needed to become safer, more capable, and more well-rounded underwater hunters. It emphasizes spearfishing not only as a technical pursuit, but as a disciplined and selective method of fishing practiced with responsibility and control.
The course manual is one of the most extensive references ever written on the craft of spearfishing.
Throughout the course, participants learn practical knowledge and proven techniques in a comprehensive and accessible format. The curriculum includes:
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Course Duration:
Five hours of classroom instruction, three hours of confined water training and an optional add-on spearfishing day to refine new techniques in the local environment.
Age Requirement:
16 years old or older
Prerequisites:
FII Level 1 Freediver or Junior Freediver Certification or equivalent
Freediving Photography
The FII Freediving Photography course teaches the technical, safety, and compositional skills needed to create compelling underwater images while working effectively in the unique environment of freediving.
This course introduces the unique features of freediving photography and teaches students how to apply strong technical and creative fundamentals in the aquatic environment. It also includes practical instruction in editing, color correction, and composition development.
The course manual serves as a strong ongoing reference for both technical and artistic guidance.
This course brings together the key elements needed to capture strong images as a freediving photographer and provides a system for practicing and improving over time.
Course Duration:
Minimum of four hours of classroom instruction, three hours of open water photography, and two hours of practical instruction in editing.
Age Requirement:
Participants must be at least 12 years old.
Prerequisites:
FII Level 1 Freediver or Junior Freediver Certificate or equivalent
Basic Freediving Safety
The FII Basic Freediving Safety course teaches the essential supervision, safety, and rescue procedures needed for safe participation in recreational freediving and spearfishing.
The course is designed for new divers, spearfishers, parents, spouses, and younger participants who need a clear understanding of basic safety responsibilities, hypoxia risks, supervision, and practical rescue response.
Course Duration:
1-day course with a minimum of 3 hours of academics and 2 hours of confined water training.
Age Requirement:
Participant must be at least 12 years old.
Prerequisites:
Competent swimming skills.
Advanced Freediving Safety
The FII Advanced Freediving Safety course provides the higher-level safety training required for instructors, leaders, event safety staff, and other situations where environment or discipline-specific safety protocols are needed.
The course begins in the classroom and moves into open water for rescue-specific drill training. It is designed for responsible freedivers and spearfishermen who want to strengthen their safety and rescue ability beyond the basics while learning additional protocols used in advanced training, challenging environments, and a range of freediving styles, including competition.
Advanced Freediving Safety is also a required step for candidates entering the FII professional path
Course Duration:
1-day course, including a minimum of 4 hours of academics and 2 hours of open water training.
Age Requirement:
Participants must be at least 16 years old.
Prerequisites:
Minimum FII Level 1 Freediver or FII Junior Freediver (if applicable) or Waterman Survival EXTENDED certification or equivalent
Introduction to Monofin
The Introduction to Monofin Course provides the core foundational techniques for mastering the correct monofin movement.
Beginning with equipment selection, this course takes you through the biomechanics of the monofin technique and targeted stretching before you hit the pool for in-water technique development. With a unique combination of dry land exercises, pool development skills, and video technique review, this rewarding program is recommended for everyone interested in learning the correct techniques for using a monofin for free diving, fitness, or recreation.
Course Duration:
Minimum 1.5 hours combined confined water training, dryland exercises and academics
Age Requirement:
Minimum 12 years or older
Prerequisites:
Competent swimming skills
Waterman Survival
This specialized course develops the training methods, breath-hold conditioning, and response skills needed to handle unexpected breath-hold situations with greater confidence, control, and safety.
The FII Waterman Survival course is designed for watermen and ocean athletes who want to improve composure under stress, strengthen problem-management ability, and build practical safety skills for demanding in-water conditions.
Course Duration:
1-day course, including a minimum of 3 hours of academics and 2 hours of confined water training.
Age Requirement:
Participants must be at least 12 years old.
Prerequisites:
The WMC is designed for all ocean sports enthusiasts with a medium to high level of in-water comfort and at least average swimming skills.
Waterman Survival Extended
The FII Waterman Survival Extended course combines Waterman Survival training with the FII Level 1 Freediver course, giving students both core freediving fundamentals and more advanced open-water safety and conditioning experience in a realistic environme
By incorporating the FII Level 1 Freediver certification course, Waterman Survival Extended gives students both foundational freediving training and a more advanced progression into open-water conditioning and safety drills. After completing the Level 1 components, students continue into more demanding open-water scenarios designed to build control, confidence, and response under stress.
On completion, participants are eligible to receive both FII Waterman Survival and FII Level 1 Freediver certification.
Course Duration:
3-day course, including a minimum of 5 hours of academics, 3 hours of confined water training, and 3 hours of open water training.
Age Requirement:
Participants must be at least 16 years old.
Prerequisites:
This course is designed for experienced watermen in excellent health and fitness who have a medium-high to high level of in-water comfort.