Molchanovs Wave 1
3 days · Min 12 m - Max 20 m
Your first certification, and the level where the Wave progression begins.
10,900 THB (~288 €) Molchanovs Wave 1 details
Molchanovs at Orenda
Molchanovs freediving in Koh Tao
The full Wave pathway, taught by an Instructor Trainer from SV Freedom Fargo.
Molchanovs is a progression rather than a set of separate certificates. Each Wave has clear performance requirements in depth, static and dynamic, each one builds on the last, and Dynamic No Fins is part of the syllabus from the very first level. Orenda teaches the whole pathway here in Koh Tao, from Wave 1 through to instructor, with Coach Nikki, a Molchanovs Instructor Trainer.
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Taught by an Instructor Trainer
Coach Nikki is a Molchanovs Instructor Trainer and a former national record holder, coaching freediving worldwide since 2013. The same person teaches your Wave 1 and your instructor course.
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The whole pathway on one island
Wave 1, Wave 2, Wave 3, instructor and crossover all run here, so you do not have to change school to take the next step.
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From our own sailing boat
Courses run from SV Freedom Fargo rather than a shared dive boat, which means small groups and a schedule built around conditions. Shore-based sessions at Tanote Bay are available too.
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The online platform comes with it
Every Molchanovs course includes access to the Molchanovs online training platform, so the learning carries on long after you leave Koh Tao.
The Molchanovs pathway at Orenda
Each level has its own page with the full detail, the requirements and what is included. Prices below are the current Orenda prices.
Molchanovs Wave 2
4 days · Max depth 24 to 30 m
Freefall, deeper relaxation, and the step from your first depths towards 30 metres.
14,900 THB (~393 €) Molchanovs Wave 2 details
Molchanovs Wave 3
6 to 7 days · Min depth 34 m
The semi-professional level, with mouthfill equalization and FRC diving.
18,900 THB (~499 €) Molchanovs Wave 3 details
Molchanovs Instructor (IC)
10 days
Become a Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor and teach the first two levels yourself.
45,000 THB (~1,188 €) Molchanovs Instructor (IC) details
Instructor Crossover
5 to 7 days
Already an instructor with another agency? Cross over in person, here on the island.
25,000 THB (~660 €) Instructor Crossover details
Instructor Crossover Online
10 to 12 contact hours, fully online
The same crossover run remotely, with live contact hours and a twelve-month practical window.
19,000 THB (~502 €) Instructor Crossover Online details
What each Wave asks of you
Every Wave is certified against the same set of figures, in the pool and in open water. Here they are, level by level, so you know what you are working towards before you book.
Minimum age 16 for the Molchanovs Waves. Everyone completes our medical and liability declaration before getting in the water, and you need to be generally fit and able to take part safely.
Wave 1 (Beginner)
- Before you start
- 200 m swim, beginner-friendly
- In the pool
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- Static (STA): about 1:30
- Dynamic bifins (DYNB): 30 m
- No fins (DNF): technique only, not a requirement yet
- In open water
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- Depth, bifins and Free Immersion (CWTB and FIM): 12 to 20 m
- Rescue and buddy skills (CWTB): 6 to 10 m
- You leave with
- Molchanovs Wave 1 (if requirements met)
Wave 2 (Intermediate)
- Before you start
- Certified freediver (Wave 1 / Level 1)
- In the pool
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- Static (STA): about 2:30
- Dynamic bifins (DYNB): 50 m
- No fins (DNF): 35 m
- Monofin (DYNM): technique introduced
- In open water
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- Depth, bifins and Free Immersion (CWTB and FIM): 24 to 30 m
- No fins depth (CNF): 15 m
- Buddy and rescue (CWTB): 10 to 15 m
- You leave with
- Molchanovs Wave 2 (if requirements met)
Wave 3 (Advanced)
- Before you start
- Wave 2 / advanced freediver
- In the pool
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- Static (STA): 3:30 or more
- Dynamic bifins (DYNB): 75 m
- No fins (DNF): 50 m
- In open water
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- Depth, bifins and Free Immersion (CWTB and FIM): 34 to 40 m
- No fins depth (CNF): 25 m
- Buddying: 20 m
- Rescue: 20 m
- Surface tow: 20 m
- You leave with
- Molchanovs Wave 3
We coach you towards these over the course, and the certificate is awarded once you meet them. Dynamic No Fins is taught from Wave 1, even at the level where it is not yet a requirement. The 200 metre swim belongs to Wave 1 alone: there is no separate swim test at Wave 2 or Wave 3, where the entry condition is the certification you already hold.
How the Wave system is structured
Waves are steps, and each one has performance requirements you meet in order to certify. That is the main difference with Apnea Total, where the figures are targets rather than a pass or fail. Neither approach is better than the other. Molchanovs tends to suit divers who like structure, who want study material to come back to, and who see freediving as a long progression rather than a single holiday certificate.
Where a Master course fits
If you want depth rather than a specific Wave, the Master courses run alongside the Wave pathway and can carry the Molchanovs Wave 3 certification as an option, with an additional 1,250 THB for materials and certification fees. The Half Master is 10 water sessions towards 40 metres. The Full Master runs four to five weeks towards 46 metres. Both are worth a conversation before you book, because they are long commitments and the right one depends on how much time you have on the island.
When Wave courses run
We plan around sea conditions rather than a fixed timetable. In practice Level 1 courses run two to three days a week and Level 2 courses three to four days a week. Wave 3 and the instructor courses run on requested dates with a minimum of two students. Send us your travel dates and we will tell you honestly what fits.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I do a Molchanovs course in Koh Tao?
At Orenda. We run the full Wave pathway from SV Freedom Fargo and from shore at Tanote Bay, in small groups, with Coach Nikki, a Molchanovs Instructor Trainer.
Do I need experience to start Wave 1?
No. Wave 1 is a first certification and is beginner friendly. You need to be able to swim 200 metres and be comfortable in the water. Everything else is taught.
How much is a Molchanovs course in Koh Tao?
Wave 1 is 10,900 THB (~288 €) over three days, Wave 2 is 14,900 THB (~393 €) over four days, and Wave 3 is 18,900 THB (~499 €) over six to seven days. The Molchanovs Instructor course is 45,000 THB (~1,188 €) over ten days.
Is the Molchanovs online training platform included?
Yes. Access to the platform comes with every Molchanovs course, and it stays with you after you leave the island.
I certified with another agency. Can I join a Wave course?
Yes. We will look at where you actually are in the water and place you at the right level. If you are already an instructor elsewhere, there is a dedicated crossover, in person or fully online.
Ask about the next Wave course
Tell us your level, your dates and the Wave you are aiming for. If it does not fit in the time you have, we will say so rather than rush you down the line.
- Apnea Total vs Molchanovs
The honest comparison, level by level, if you are still choosing between the two systems.
- All freediving courses and prices
Every course we run, in both systems, on one page.
- Apnea Total in Koh Tao
The other system we teach, with its own levels and its own rhythm.
- Freediving coaching
One-to-one sessions and buddy training between courses.
Book your ocean experience
Small groups. Personal attention. Deep transformation. Boat-based freediving courses and coaching, delivered around Koh Tao.