Frequently asked questions

Course prices are listed openly in EUR on the courses page. Compared with many popular dive destinations, Qeshm Island is one of the more affordable places to get an internationally recognized SSI freediving certification — without cutting corners on group size or instruction time.

The Freediver course is the standard entry-level SSI certification and the most cost-effective way to get a recognized freediving certification here. If you're only mildly curious and not ready to commit, the one-day Diving Experience is a cheaper, no-certification way to try it first.

Yes — between the exchange rate and lower cost of living, Iran (and Qeshm Island specifically) tends to be one of the more budget-friendly countries for both freediving and scuba certification when compared to Southeast Asia or the Red Sea, while still following full SSI/CMAS training standards.

Exact comparisons shift with exchange rates, but course pricing here is generally lower than Western Europe, similar to or below Southeast Asian dive hubs, and includes small-group or private instruction rather than large classes.

Warm water most of the year, generally calm conditions, and marine life that rewards a slow, quiet approach — well suited to freediving specifically, not just scuba. Qeshm Island sits right at the mouth of the Gulf.

Diving itself in Iran is calmer and more straightforward than most first-time visitors expect — the water, the sites, and the instruction follow the same international standards you'd find anywhere else. As with travel to any country, it's worth checking current travel advisories for your own nationality before booking, and reaching out directly with any specific questions.

The exact sites used depend on season and conditions on the day — this is covered directly with students when planning open-water sessions, rather than published as a fixed list, since visibility and current change through the year.

SSI (Scuba Schools International) is one of the major international training agencies for freediving and scuba diving, with standardized training and safety requirements and certification recognized worldwide. The Freediver and Advanced Freediver courses here are taught under SSI.

CMAS (the World Underwater Federation) is one of the oldest and most widely recognized international scuba diving federations. The Scuba Diving Master Class here is taught under CMAS.

If you're not sure how comfortable you are in the water, or you're not ready for breath-hold training, Snorkeling is the lowest-commitment starting point. Confident swimmers can go straight to the Freediver course.

In order: Snorkeling (no prerequisite) → Freediver (age 12+, 16–20 hours, open water to 20m) → Advanced Freediver (age 15+, requires Freediver certification plus at least 6 logged sessions, 24–30 hours, open water to 30m) → Performance Freediver (age 18+, requires Advanced Freediver plus 30 logged sessions, 32–40 hours, open water to 40m). Training Techniques is a specialty course that can be taken alongside or after Freediver to sharpen technique.

The Freediving Instructor Training Course requires a minimum age of 18, Advanced Freediver plus Training Techniques certifications (or 100 logged sessions, or a Basic Freediving Instructor rating with 25 issued Basic Freediver certifications), runs 70–85 hours, with a maximum open-water depth of 30m. Message directly for more detail if you're considering the professional track.