Molchanovs Professional Development
Molchanovs Instructor Courses 2025
Molchanovs Lap 3 / Wave 3 (Master) Instructor Certification
This course is also available for master-level instructors from agencies other than Molchanovs as a “crossover” course.
All instructor levels are also available as “pool only” certifications, called “Lap.”
There are several ways to qualify for this course:
- Hold a W2I certification, be in active teaching status, and fulfill the minimum requirements regarding certifications that you have issued so far.
- If you are a freedive instructor of active status in any agency other than Molchanovs, you may sign up directly for this upgrade course. In the Molchanovs system, you will also be performing and teaching no fins and monofin techniques in the pool and open water. Be prepared to demonstrate these techniques, pass the performance requirements, and teach these disciplines. You will be asked to demonstrate all performance requirements on the L/W3I level, and you will be assessed on teaching skills from the Lap/Wave 3-course level.
- If you are a master instructor (highest instructor level, but not IT) in any other agency, you may cross over directly to the Molchanovs Wave 3 instructor (L/W3I) level. You will join the same theory and in-water sessions, but you will be asked to demonstrate all performance requirements on the L/W3I level, and you will be assessed on teaching skills from the Lap/Wave 3-course level.
Generally: If you hold a qualifying certification from any other agency than Molchanovs and are thus not yet familiar with the Molchanovs manuals and education system: Plan for around 20h to study the Wave 1-3 manuals, and use the corresponding student exams to prepare yourself before taking the W2I Entry Exam. Successful candidates will be allowed to join the online sessions of this upgrade course.
Suppose you hold an active Instructor Trainer certification in any agency besides Molchanovs and would like to become a Molchanovs W3IT. In that case, you can join this IC as an opportunity to fulfill the prerequisite to assist in an entire instructor course. Get in touch with the organizers to discuss details.
Your Instructor Trainer
Oliver Christen-Drew
Oliver Christen-Drew is an industrial psychologist and a renowned figure in the world of freediving, known for his exceptional skills as a Freedive Instructor Trainer and for founding Freedive Flow Indonesia. His deep commitment to advancing freediving education has made a significant impact on the global underwater community.
An expert in the field of developing training and education systems, Oli’s contributions to the Molchanovs Wave System and his authorship of the esteemed AIDA Manuals have earned him recognition as a driving force in the field. He has also served on the PADI Freediver Advisory Board and as Head of Global Education at Molchanovs, where he led the further development of an innovative education system that brought together the best minds in freediving training.
He is currently a member of the global Molchanovs Movement Board.
Session Content
Online Sessions
Together with your IT, you will cover the theory content in online sessions on Zoom. If you have passed your W2I Entry Exam, no further preparation is needed before the Upgrade Course, and you are ready to join! Your IT will share presentation notes with you. During these online sessions, there will be the following assessments:
- classroom teaching skills
- online presentation skills
- dry teaching skills
Video of Confined and Open Water Sessions
After passing all theory requirements, you must provide videos of yourself performing in in-water sessions.
- Teaching assessments
- Technique demonstrations
- Performance requirements
During the water sessions, you must demonstrate that you have mastered the Molchanovs teaching system called FEDOF by teaching all skills for the Wave 3 course.
Performance Requirements
You are encouraged to pass all performance requirements before meeting in person with your IT, either by sending in videos of your performances or by proof of recent competition results (no older than 2 years). Performance requirements are listed on this link:
https://molchanovs.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360049940313.
You have one year from the start of the course to fulfill all requirements.
Agency rules permit two attempts at each performance requirement. Thus, it is wise to be well-prepared before attempting performance requirements. If you fail a performance requirement twice, you must meet the performance requirement at another time to be certified. If you meet all of the pool requirements but not all of the open water requirements, you can be certified as a Lap instructor and as a Wave instructor when you meet the open water requirements.
Available Add-ons
PADI Freediver Instructor Crossover
Candidates who are not already PADI Freediver Instructors can earn their PADI Freediver Instructor certification with the PADI Freediver Instructor Orientation
- Requirements: Half-day orientation
- Fee: $630; (incl. $210 for mandatory PADI teaching materials: Freediver eLearning, Instructor Guide pdf & cue cards (deduct $94 if you already have the PADI Freediver eLearning)
AIDA Instructor Crossover
Successful candidates can attain an AIDA instructor certification.
- Requirements: Half-day orientation
- Fee: $530; (incl. AIDA EOS sing-up & all education materials)
I look forward to working with you on your professional development as a freediving educator. Email me at info@freediveflow.com!