Discovery
Try freediving at depth or in the pool for your first time.
- Approx. 3 hours of instruction
- Pool/quarry fees covered
- Mask, fin, and weight belt rentals included
- Safely try freediving for your first time
$150 / person
Learn to freedive in Ottawa
Here to make you the best freediver you can be.
Courses and coaching with Molchanovs instructor Jake Lipohar. Pool, quarry and open water, with small groups, all gear included, and safety first.
See the coursesFreediving
Learn to freedive in Ottawa
Depth courses, pool courses, in-water coaching and remote coaching. Whether you are curious, certified or chasing a personal best, there is a place to start.
Lap 1
Learn to freedive in the pool.
- Two evenings of instruction
- Pool fees and learning materials
- Mask, fin, and weight belt rentals included
- Learn safety and rescue procedures
- Begin to master breath control and moving underwater
$300 / person
Wave 1
Learn to freedive to depth.
- Two days of instruction
- Quarry fees and learning materials
- Wetsuit, mask, fin, and weight belt rentals included
- Learn to freedive in the pool and to depth
- Learn safety and rescue procedures for all disciplines
- Begin to master equalization, breath control, and moving underwater
$550 / person
Lap 2 / Wave 2
Go from beginner to intermediate.
- Multiple days of diving
- Quarry fees and learning materials
- Wetsuit, mask, fin, and weight belt rentals included
- Progress your depth to a max of 30 m
- Practice safety and rescue procedures for all disciplines
- Prove your growth with DYNB and DNF in the pool
- Grow your equalization skills for the next phase of your depth progression
Contact for pricing
In-water Coaching
Invest in fixing issues before they become habits.
- Approx. 3 hours of instruction
- Pool/quarry fees covered
- Mask, fin, and weight belt rentals included
- Receive valuable insights and observations on your diving and how to improve
- Video analysis is included
$100 / person
Remote Coaching
Progress while we're apart. Continue your progression whether in the same city or across the globe.
- Approx. 2 video calls per month
- Customized dry, pool, depth, or gym workouts
- Work is targeted at your weakest areas. Let's raise the floor so your baseline is better than before.
$100 / month
What's in a Wave 1 course
A two-day Molchanovs Wave 1 course includes theory lectures, dry skills training, 3 open water sessions, and a separate pool session scheduled around your availability during club nights. The course is $550 all-in, rentals included.
Open water sessions are at Morrison's Quarry, just south of Wakefield, QC, about 30 minutes' drive from downtown Ottawa. You'll need your own transportation (carpooling is encouraged).
Gear is included
Our wetsuits are 5 mm, two-piece, open-cell freediving suits from TruDive in Yamamoto 45 neoprene, in a variety of sizes. We also have Molchanovs fins, masks and snorkels, plus neoprene socks and gloves to keep you as warm as possible.
Payment & cancellation policy
- Full payment is required in advance to reserve your spot, due to the limited number of spots (4 students max) and the limited number of weekends available before winter.
- Cancel more than 30 days before the course: full refund, minus the $50 online registration fee.
- Cancel within 30 days of the course: no refund can be given due to the limited spots.
- Medical emergency: we can work out a fair deal between us.
- If Jake needs to cancel a course, you get a full refund (minus the $50 online registration fee, which applies to future registrations).
Next dates
Upcoming courses
Small groups, 4 students max. Course dates are announced on Instagram (@jake.freedives and @FreediveOttawa) and by email newsletter. Message me to reserve a spot or ask about the next dates.
About Jake
Calm, patient, always curious.
Jake began his freediving journey like so many others, by struggling to reach 10 meters. But he quickly learned there was something special at the bottom of the rope. A little tenacity to learn Frenzel equalization brought him there over the following 3 months, and the peace he found in the ocean was overwhelming.
Two years of dedication later, he's a certified Molchanovs Instructor, training alongside world-class athletes and gaining experience on boats and set-ups worthy of hosting international competitions. He brings a calm and reassuring energy to all his students, and has been described for years as a natural-born teacher. Jake wants your first taste of freediving to be the best possible introduction to the underwater world.
After working at the new Alchemy Freediving Center and training to become an AIDA competition judge and safety diver, Jake is heavily focused on safety and ensuring that strict standards are adhered to.
- Molchanovs Instructor
- AIDA judge & safety diver
- Alchemy Freediving Center
- Based in Ottawa, Canada
Get in touch if you'd like to connect!
Book a call to chatIn the water
Life on the line
Open water, cenotes, pool sessions and training days with Jake.
Is it possible for anyone to try freediving?
Yes! If you can swim 200 m nonstop and your doctor says you have no medical contraindications, then you should definitely try freediving.
I'm not a good swimmer, can I still try freediving?
We recommend that you invest in a few swimming lessons to build your skills and confidence in the water before signing up for the course.
I want to freedive but I have no gear.
In Ottawa, our coach keeps a good stock of wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels and weights for you to use. The price of rental is included in the course fees. If travelling abroad, contact Jake ahead of time to secure gear rentals, either an entire set or just what you need.
Do I need a vehicle to access the quarry for Wave 1 courses?
Yes. Morrison's Quarry is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Ottawa and you must provide your own transportation. Carpooling is encouraged.
What should I bring for lunch?
Lots of foods can make freediving more challenging, but you need to eat to keep your energy up during the day. Sugary juices, crackers, hard boiled eggs, and some light fruits are great. Avoid dairy, heavy proteins, green vegetables, and, surprisingly, bananas!
I'm really tired after my course! How come?
Freediving puts a lot of stress on your body, more specifically your nervous system, which is difficult to gauge when having fun in the water. You're also outside all day long. We recommend lots of water, electrolytes, a good meal, rest, and a good sleep after both days of the course.
I didn't pass my course! What should I do?
No worries! There are lots of different reasons why people don't pass their first course. Listen to what your coach tells you to work on, practice at home, and come back out for an individual or group coaching session to practice more. You have one year to pass the course from when you registered.
When do you announce courses in Ottawa or abroad?
Course dates are typically announced on the @jake.freedives and @FreediveOttawa Instagram accounts. You can also subscribe to the email newsletter.
I want to dive, but I'm not interested in going deep.
You may be more interested in our pool courses! Spread over two nights, they cover all of the same theory but are hosted exclusively in a pool, where you learn to hold your breath for more than 1 minute 30 seconds and swim underwater horizontally for more than 30 meters.
I want to sign up with some friends, is there a discount?
Yes! Get in touch to discuss discounted rates.
I want to learn without a crowd. Do you offer private courses and coaching?
Absolutely. Get in touch to discuss pricing for private courses and training sessions.
My friends and I are in a different city and want to try freediving, will you come visit?
Get in touch to discuss the possibility of having us come out to visit you, either in Canada or elsewhere abroad. We are excited about freediving and will happily travel to meet you there!
Get in touch
Send me a message
Questions about a course, your level, or where to start? To book, message me on WhatsApp or email, send a note here, or grab a time to talk.