Welcome to Salty Souls

You're about to begin more than a freediving course.

You're joining a community of ocean lovers who believe the sea is our greatest teacher.

Before we meet in the water, we've put together everything you'll need to prepare for your adventure.

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Freediving Course Guide

This guide contains everything you'll need before your course begins.

Please take a few minutes to read through this page before arriving. It will answer most questions and help you arrive feeling prepared, confident, and ready for an unforgettable experience.

Shortly before your course begins, we'll create a WhatsApp group with all participants using the phone number you provided when booking your course. This group will be used to share any final updates, meeting reminders, and important information leading up to your first day.

Inside This Guide

✔ What do I gain from freediving education?

✔ Required forms to complete before your course

✔ Meeting locations & arrival times

✔ Course schedule & Itinerary

✔ Equipment rental options & pricing

✔ What to bring

✔ How to pay the remaining course balance

✔ Cancellation policy

✔ Frequently asked questions

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what do i gain from freediving education?

  • ✔ Receive a certification and complete online manual of course content

    ✔ 4:1 Student-to-instructor ratios for attentive learning environments for each student’s individual needs and goals

    ✔ 2 Comprehensive classroom theory sessions

    ✔ 2 Depth and line training sessions

    ✔ 1 Ocean sea safari in the pristine waters of Sea of Cortez

    ✔ Master calming breath control to increase comfort and breath-hold time

    ✔ Practice efficient kicking technique and hydrodynamic body positioning to improve oxygen usage efficiency and energy consumption

    ✔ In depth understanding exploring physiological responses to breathhold and the Mammilian Dive Reflex

    ✔ Confidently learn Safety Diver Procedures and Rescue Protocols

  • ✔ Receive a certification and complete online manual of course content

    ✔ Learn foundational skills for progressing towards deeper depths

    ✔ 3 Student maximum class sizes for attentive learning environments for each student’s individual needs and goals

    ✔ 3 Comprehensive classroom theory sessions

    ✔ 2 Ocean depth and line training sessions to 30m+

    ✔ 1 Static Apnea Clinic to reach breathhold times of 3+ minutes

    ✔ Learn advanced exhale diving techniques for depth adaptation

    ✔ Train and stretch lungs by increasing vital capacity

    ✔ Master new deep dive breathing techniques to increase breath hold control to increase comfort during apnea holds

    ✔ Confidently learn Advance Safety Procedures and Rescue Protocols

Required forms to complete before your course

Please fill out these forms prior to arriving to our first classroom session.

NEW MEMBERS FORM
DIVER MEDICAL FORM
RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM

PLEASE NOTE 

A medical evaluation may be required if you answer “YES” to certain questions.  
Please contact us prior to submitting this form if you have any concerns.

meeting locations & arrival times

classroom & Theory
Salty Souls Freediving HQ

Our classroom sessions will take place at
Salty Souls Freediving HQ

 

shallow diving session
ensenada muertos

Our first water and shallow diving sessions will take place from shore at Ensenada Muertos. It is a 30 min drive from La Ventana and will require a car.

If you do not have a vehicle we can organize car-pooling with our instructors and safeties. The meeting point in the morning will be located at Salty Souls Freediving HQ.

 

depth diving session
playa central, la ventana

For our boat days we will be taking a boat. We will be meeting at the boat ramp at Playa Central on the beach.

 

course schedule & itinerary

  • THEORY 1 | 4:00 - 6:00 pm |
    Meeting Point: Salty Souls Freediving HQ

    • Familiarization with essential freediving equipment

    • Freediving technique - how to move efficiently underwater

    • Equalization techniques

    • Breathing techniques

    • Safety points

    • Preparation of equipment

  • SHALLOW DIVE SESSION | 7:00 am - 12:00pm |
    Meeting Point: Salty Souls Freediving HQ →
    Ensenada Muertos

    • Gear preparation and surface swim to training location

    • Practice of breathing technique in the water

    • Practice efficient kicking technique

    • Practice of body positioning

    • Buoyancy check

    • Freedives on the dive-line to a maximum depth of 10m / 33 ft

    THEORY II | 4:00 - 6:00pm | Salty Souls Freediving HQ

    • Feedback about the freediving session on day 1

    • Fine-tuning the breathing technique for deep dives and equalization exercises

    • Freediving safety diver etiquette

    • Identifying risks and limits

    • Rescue procedures

  • DEPTH DIVE SESSION | 7:00 am - 12:00pm |
    Meeting Point: Playa Central Boat Ramp

    • Warm up dives

    • Practice of new breathing technique

    • Buddy team freedives

    • Safety procedures and rescue practice

    • Freedives on the dive-line to a maximum depth of 20 metres

    • When conditions and time allow, visit local dive site for underwater exploration of corals, tropical fish

equipment rental options & pricing

Don't have your own gear?

No problem! We offer rental equipment for students who need it. Please ensure your provide what rental equipment you will need in the New Members Form so we can have everything prepared for your course.

Daily Rental Rates (prices in mxp)

Wetsuit — $150 MXN/day

Long Blade Freediving Fins — $250 MXN/day

Weight Belt — $150 MXN/day

We kindly ask that all rental equipment is treated with care. Any equipment that is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond normal wear and tear will be charged at its full replacement value.

what to bring

Theory Sessions

Please bring the following to your classroom session:

✔ Your attention and curiosity

✔ A reusable water bottle

✔ A notebook and pen (optional, if you'd like to take notes)

✔ Proof of your course payment, or be prepared to pay your remaining balance on site

Diving & water sessions

Please bring the following with you each day on the water:

✔ Swimsuit & Freediving gear (mask, snorkel, wetsuit, weightbelt)

✔ Towel and Reef-safe sunscreen

✔ Reusable water bottle

✔ Hat & sunglasses

✔ Snacks for the boat (if not otherwise specified)

how to pay the remaining balance

Thank you for securing your spot with your $2,000 MXN course deposit.

The remaining balance due before or at the start of your course is $4,500 MXN, for a total course price of $6,500 MXN (equipment rental is not included).

Option 1: Wise or PayPal

You may pay your remaining balance in advance via Wise or PayPal.

Please note:

  • A 5% processing fee applies to all online payments.

  • When sending your payment through Wise, please select MXN (Mexican Pesos) as the receiving currency.

Pay using wise
pay using paypal

Option 2: Credit Card (On Site)

Credit card payments are accepted in person.

Please note that a 16% IVA (Mexican sales tax) will be added to all credit card transactions.

Option 3: Cash (Recommended)

Cash payments in Mexican Pesos (MXP) are welcome and are the simplest way to settle your remaining balance.

Please note:

  • La Ventana has very few ATMs, and they often charge high withdrawal fees.

  • We recommend withdrawing cash before arriving in La Ventana whenever possible.

  • If needed, we can stop at an ATM on the way to the shallow dive site.

For reference, we generally accept USD cash using an exchange rate of 16.5 MXN per 1 USD.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

cancellation policy

  • The Sea of Cortez is one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, and one of the things that makes our courses unique is the opportunity to experience this incredible environment while learning to freedive.

    Depending on the season and ocean conditions, you may encounter Dolphins, Humpback whales (seasonal), Orcas (rare but possible), Sea turtles, Sea lions, Whale sharks (seasonal), Mobula rays (seasonal)

  • Our beginner course certifies students to a maximum depth of 20 metres, although everyone's progress is different. The focus is on developing safe techniques, confidence, and proper skills rather than reaching a specific depth.

  • We are an Apnea Total school and you will receive an Apnea Total “Freediver Certification” which is equivalent to AIDA 2 or Wave 1.

  • For the best learning experience, we recommend using long blade freediving fins. Rental fins are available if needed.

  • This is one of the most common concerns for new students. We'll teach you several equalization techniques and work with you individually throughout the course. Everyone learns at a different pace, and there's no pressure to reach a certain depth.

  • Water temperatures in the Sea of Cortez vary throughout the year:

    • December – March: 20–23°C (68–73°F)

    • April – June: 22–26°C (72–79°F)

    • July – October: 27–31°C (81–88°F)

    • November: 24–27°C (75–81°F)

    Most students are comfortable in:

    • Winter (December–March): 5 mm wetsuit

    • Spring & Fall: 3–5 mm wetsuit

    • Summer: 2–3 mm wetsuit, or simply a swimsuit if you're comfortable in warmer water.

    If you're unsure what wetsuit thickness is best for your visit, we're happy to help you choose the right rental before your course begins.