5 Reasons Your Child Should Learn How To Freedive

How breath-hold diving teaches children skills they'll use for life.

By Kristina Zvaritch
Editor Deena Lynch

Photo © Novak family

In the age of TikTok and Instagram, your child can easily scroll past a video of freedivers flying through empty blue water or gliding through schools of glittering fish and become fascinated by it. Maybe they already have, and are asking you when they can learn to freedive. If you’re curious about the safety aspect of freediving, it’s a very valid concern. The good news is that not only is it safe when learned under proper instruction, but it also provides plenty of excellent benefits for your developing child.

Safety and Water Confidence

Freediving champion Alexey Molchanov teaching a child pool freediving

Have you ever been nervous around pools or on beaches, where your curious children are in close proximity to water? The best way to prevent accidents, whether your children are with you on vacation or playing with their friends under someone else’s supervision, is to ensure they know how to swim and are confident and safe in the water. When children learn to freedive, they become genuinely comfortable in aquatic environments, recognize their limits, and become capable swimmers who understand and respect water rather than fear it.

Physical Development

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there are significant health benefits for physically active children. Freediving delivers these in a unique, low-impact way.  Just as freediving builds cardiovascular fitness, strengthens respiratory muscles, increases lung vital capacity and elasticity, and enhances body awareness in adults, it does the same for children! Plus, breath-hold training teaches children to be comfortable with physical sensations that may otherwise feel scary.

Mental and Emotional Skills

There’s a common saying in freediving that it’s only 10% physical—the other 90% is mental. In essence, freediving is fundamentally about staying calm under pressure, and this skill transfers to real life, where we must learn to manage stress and regulate our emotions. When children freedive, they learn to quiet their minds, focus, and build confidence as they master something challenging—essential tools for the future! 

Connection to Nature

A young boy exploring the ocean among a pod of dolphins. Photo © Novak family

Children are naturally curious about animals and new environments, an innate interest that helps them learn empathy and responsibility. When they freedive—moving through a weightless, silent world, whether in the pool or ocean—they create an intimate connection with the underwater environment and develop a deeper appreciation for marine life. It's no secret that our seas desperately need the next generation—adults who are passionate about conservation and the environment.

Discipline Without Pressure

Unlike many competitive youth sports, progression in freediving is inherently individual. Instead of competing with their peers, children learn how to set personal goals while listening to their bodies. This builds intrinsic motivation—rather than focusing on trophies or positions on school teams, they improve because they genuinely want to! Through freediving, they’ll learn that pushing too hard just doesn’t work; the only way forward is through relaxation, preparation, and honest self-assessment.

Ready For Your Child to Discover Freediving?

Freediving is a fun, family-friendly activity. Photo © Novak family

If you’re ready for your child to dive into the freediving world, check out the Molchanovs Junior Freediving Education System! Created by Dr. Olga Lukova, who has over 14 years of experience teaching junior freediving training in Russia, the courses are separated into three age groups: 4–7, 8–11, and 12–15. Very young children begin by learning surface swimming in the pool and becoming comfortable in the water, while older children progress to the full range of freediving disciplines.

Children can either take a Lap course for pool freediving or a Wave course for open water diving, giving parents the ultimate flexibility wherever they are. Many Junior freediving instructors even offer camps, where both parents and children can learn to freedive together, giving vacations an extra dose of magic!

Find a Junior instructor near you or follow @molchanovsjunior on Instagram for inspiration and updates from young freedivers around the world

If this sparked new insight into how freediving can benefit you and your child, there’s more to explore. Subscribe to the Magazine for the latest articles, tips, stories, and competition reporting. 

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Children should participate in breath-hold or freediving activities only under qualified adult supervision and with age-appropriate safety protocols. All activities must follow guidance from a trained professional or certified instructor, and this article is not a substitute for formal training or professional advice.