Molchanovs Freediving School
Freediving Malta & GozoOne Breath,Endless Blue
Freediving Malta & Gozo, Molchanovs courses and fun dives in Malta. From a one-day Discovery adventure for beginners to full Molchanovs certification — your school for freediving in Gozo.
Why Freediving Malta
A small school on the edge of the deep blue
Freediving Malta is a Molchanovs freediving school based on the coast of Gozo, the small island north of Malta where the Mediterranean turns deep blue within a few fin kicks of the shore. We teach one thing, and we teach it properly: how to move underwater on a single breath, calmly and safely. Every course runs with a maximum of two students per instructor, so you get real coaching instead of a crowd, and every session is shaped around the sea conditions of the day.
You don't need experience, your own equipment or a certain level of fitness to start. Complete beginners join the one-day Discovery experience, where you learn to breathe, relax and take your first dives to 5–10 metres along the line. From there the Molchanovs pathway opens up: Wave 1 certification takes you to 20 metres over three days of theory, breathing and progressive depth training, and Wave 2 adds mouthfill equalization and training towards 30 metres for divers who want to go further.
Everything else is taken care of. We pick you up at the Mġarr ferry terminal in Gozo at 10:00 every morning, drive you to the best site for that day and provide every piece of equipment: mask, fins, wetsuit, weights and the dive line itself. Underwater photos of your dives are included with every course, and certified freedivers can drop in for guided line sessions whenever they are on the islands. Courses run year-round, with the warmest water and the clearest visibility from May through October.
The Molchanovs philosophy
The Molchanovs system was built by Alexey Molchanov, the most decorated competitive freediver in the sport, and it treats depth as the result of good habits rather than a test of willpower. Instead of chasing a number on the line, you learn a repeatable process: a calm breathe-up, an efficient duck dive, relaxed equalization and a controlled turn at depth. Every level of the curriculum has measurable standards for depth, static breath-hold, dynamic distance and rescue, so you always know what you are working towards and what you have actually achieved.
Our freediving courses in Malta follow two parallel tracks. The Wave courses are the open-water pathway, from Wave 1 at 20 m through Wave 2 towards 30 m and beyond, while the Lap courses take the same skills into the pool for static and dynamic training. Theory is delivered through the Molchanovs Dashboard before and after each day on the water, so your time in the sea is spent diving rather than sitting on a wall. Dry training, CO2 and O2 tables, stretching and video review are woven in from the very first course, because breath-hold is a skill you train, not a talent you are born with.
Just as important is what the system says about safety. From Wave 1 onwards you are taught as a buddy: how to weight and set a line, how to run a bottom watch, how to recognise a blackout and how to rescue and recover a diver. Nobody dives alone and nobody moves to the next level until the current one feels easy. That is the culture you join when you learn with Freediving Malta, and it travels with you to every dive site in the world, because Molchanovs certification is recognised globally.
Why train in Malta & Gozo
Malta and Gozo sit on a limestone shelf that falls away steeply a short swim from the shore, which is the single biggest advantage of training here. At sites like the Blue Hole, the Inland Sea and the cliffs around Xwejni, water deep enough for 20 to 30 m line dives is a few fin kicks from the rocks. There is no long boat ride and no dive lost to travelling, so your energy goes into the dive itself rather than the commute to it.
The Mediterranean is also unusually forgiving. Tides are minimal and currents are gentle, visibility often reaches 20 to 30 m, and the sea sits at a comfortable 24 to 26 °C in summer, so a 3–5 mm wetsuit is all you need. When the wind picks up we move to one of the sheltered bays Gozo is known for, which is why a course here rarely loses a day to weather. Between dives there is limestone coastline, caves, seagrass meadows and the occasional curious amberjack or octopus to keep the surface intervals as memorable as the dives.
Geography helps too. Gozo is 14 km by 7 km, so every dive site is 15 to 20 minutes away and we collect you at the Mġarr ferry terminal at 10:00 each morning; from Malta the crossing takes about 25 minutes. That compactness is why so many divers book a single course and end up staying a week of freediving in Malta — one small island, dozens of sites, and an instructor who knows which one will be best on the day.
Our Molchanovs courses
Freediving courses in Malta & Gozo
Discovery
€130 · 1 dayOne-day guided experience for beginners. Learn the basics, practise relaxation and explore the underwater world with a certified instructor.
Explore the Discovery course
Wave 1
€430 · 3 daysThe world's most trusted beginner certification — depth, relaxation and theory over 3 days.
Explore the Wave 1 course
Wave 2
€480 · 4 daysGo deeper: 30 m, mouthfill equalization and advanced breathing over 4 days.
Explore the Wave 2 courseReviews
What divers say
“Top guy! Relaxed instructor, zero ego, safe and confidence inspiring. I did the Wave 1 course over the past few days and couldn't be happier. Octopus, eels, pipe fish, caves... And we saw a seahorse. Thanks dude.”
Terry James Walker
Local Guide · 14 reviews · 8 photos
Google review
“Ivan was an exceptional instructor during my Freediving Wave 1 course. His expertise and guidance were invaluable, leading to my successful certification. What set Ivan apart was not just his teaching skills but also his warm personality”
Paolo
8 reviews
Google review
“I had a great time diving with Ivan! I am Molchanovs Wave 1 and came to Malta to expand my depth experience and maybe get some new PBs (and i did!). I dived with Ivan for 3 days in a row - all great session where I improved my dives every day and got familiar with new techniques and theory. Thank you, Ivan - see you next time!”
Esben Gejl
1 review
Google review
“Amazing experience with Ivan. I was looking for freediving vibes again and I definitely found it and more in Malta thanks to Ivan. Super kind and skilled freediving instructor, I learnt a lot with him. I would definitely recommend anyone”
Arthur Vandermeir
6 reviews
Google review
“I did Wave 1 here and it was super good! Ivan is a very kind and chill instructor, and I really appreciated his understanding of the psychology behind freediving”
Linas Zigmantas
8 reviews
a week ago
Google review
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Freediving Malta · Gozo
Our partner
Freediving Malta is proud to teach the Molchanovs Wave education system — the world's most trusted freediving education, used by everyone from first-time divers to world-record holders.
Useful information
Freediving Malta & Gozo — Molchanovs courses and fun dives
Freediving courses in Malta & Gozo
Discover the ultimate freediving experience in Malta, where crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life await. Freediving Malta & Gozo offers Molchanovs courses and fun dives in Malta, and our team of experienced instructors will guide you through every step of freediving, ensuring a safe and enriching learning journey. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced freediver, our instructor will assess your abilities and adapt the training program to suit your individual needs.
Our approach is based on the freediving principles of Molchanovs education: Wave 1, Wave 2 and Wave 3 open water courses, and Lap 1, Lap 2 and Lap 3 pool courses. We help people discover the beauty of freediving in Malta's Mediterranean sea — from a one-day Discovery experience for complete beginners to full certification and guided fun dives on the line.
How your day with us looks
Here is how a day with us works: we meet at the Mġarr ferry terminal in Gozo at 10:00 AM, drive you to the best site for that day's conditions, and run the session with small groups — a maximum of 2 students per instructor on certification courses. Each day starts with theory and dry training (breathing, relaxation, stretching), moves into 3–4 hours of supervised water time on the line, and ends with drop-off back at Mġarr. Underwater photos of every dive are included at no extra cost, and all you need to bring is swimwear and a towel.
Who can join, and what does it cost
Who can join? Almost anyone. Complete beginners start with the one-day Discovery experience (€130, no experience needed); anyone over 16 who can swim 200 m can earn the Wave 1 certification (€430, 3 days); certified divers progress to Wave 2 (€480, 4 days, mouthfill and 30 m). Already certified? Join our guided line training sessions for €70 per session to build depth, technique and confidence. All equipment — masks, snorkels, fins, wetsuits, weights and the dive line — is provided, and the sea around Gozo is warm and calm from May through October, with courses running year-round whenever conditions allow.
Marine life and dive sites in Malta & Gozo
Malta's underwater world is a treasure trove of marine biodiversity. From colorful reefs to fascinating shipwrecks, each dive site offers a unique glimpse into the vibrant marine life that calls these waters home. Encounter octopuses, sea turtles and an array of fish, with excellent visibility that makes it a perfect location for underwater photography. Explore renowned dive sites such as the Blue Hole, the Inland Sea and the Santa Maria Caves — each site offers a unique underwater adventure.
Health and mindset benefits
Freediving not only enhances your physical fitness but also promotes mental clarity and relaxation. Experience improved lung capacity, cardiovascular strength and muscle tone, a heightened sense of mental clarity through breath control, less stress in the tranquil underwater environment, and the self-confidence that comes from mastering new skills — all while joining a community of like-minded people and gaining a deeper appreciation for marine life and ocean conservation.
Book your freediving course in Malta
Book your freediving course in Malta today — message us on WhatsApp with your preferred dates. Try the one-day Discovery experience (€130), earn your Wave 1 certification (€430) or push to 30 m with Wave 2 (€480). Freediving Malta & Gozo: one breath, endless blue.
Good to know
Safety, equipment and what to expect
Safety is the foundation of every session
Safety is the foundation of everything we do at Freediving Malta & Gozo. Every session runs with a properly weighted line, a large buoy and a trained buddy system, and your instructor never counts more students than they can supervise at once. Depth is always progressed gradually — you move to the next level only when the current one feels easy — and every dive is announced to the buoy, protected by a rescue-trained bottom watch and followed by full recovery breathing on the surface. This is the same protocol used in Molchanovs courses worldwide, adapted to the conditions of each day in Gozo.
What equipment is included
All the equipment you need is included with every course and session: a low-volume freediving mask, a long-blade fin set, a wetsuit matched to the season (usually 3–5 mm from May to October), a weight belt configured for your body, a lanyard for deeper dives and the competition-grade dive line itself. If you own gear you're welcome to bring it — we'll check the fit and fine-tune the weights with you. Beginner tip: don't buy equipment before your first course. Trying different masks and fins during your Discovery day is the best way to learn what actually suits you before spending a cent.
A day on the water in Gozo
No two days in the sea are the same, and that's part of the appeal. On calm mornings the surface is glass and the drop-off shimmers beneath you; on windier days we choose one of the sheltered bays and lagoons Gozo is famous for. Between dives you'll warm up on the buoy, talk technique with your instructor and often share the line with a curious salema school or a passing amberjack. Many guests tell us the surface intervals — floating in the blue, talking about breath and fear and technique — are as memorable as the dives themselves.
Practical details and how to join
Practicalities are simple. We pick you up at the Mġarr ferry terminal in Gozo at 10:00 AM every day, so joining from Malta is an easy ferry ride away. Sessions run from complete beginners on the Discovery day to advanced freedivers on guided line training, and everything in between. Questions about your lungs, your ears, your fitness or your fear of depth? Message us on WhatsApp — you'll get an honest answer from the instructor who will actually be in the water with you, usually within the hour.
Useful resources beyond our site
Want to read further? Our training follows the Molchanovs education system — the Wave and Lap curriculum we teach — where you can browse the full course philosophy and global community. For planning your trip, the Visit Malta and Visit Gozo official sites cover ferries, accommodation and everything else the islands offer above the waterline. Together with what you'll find here, they give you everything you need to plan a freediving trip to Malta and Gozo.