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About FII

FII was the first freediving-only training and education system founded in the United States and remains the only one headquartered here. It has earned an international reputation for high standards in safety, training, and instruction.

FII’s goal has always been to improve the safety and education of freediving in order to support the sport’s growth worldwide. Drawing on years of experience and informed by scientific understanding, FII has identified and standardized the core competencies needed for effective, safe, and enjoyable freediving.

FII instructors are trained in both what to teach and how to teach it. We’ve created an education system that has helped set standards in the industry and gives students a safe, structured, and consistent learning experience.

FII instructors are trained in both what to teach and how to teach it. We’ve created an education system that has helped set standards in the industry and gives students a safe, structured, and consistent learning experience.

diver teaches a beginner in the pool
two smiling divers over water
a team of novice divers in the pool
three smiling divers on the water
boat diver
diving team underwater
diving team at the bottom
diver keeps fins underwater
the diver is swimming

Our Founder

Martin Stepanek

Martin Stepanek in pool

Martin Stepanek is a multiple-time world-record freediver and one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport. His achievements in depth helped establish him as both a world-class athlete and a respected voice in freediving education.

Martin’s work has extended beyond performance into physiology, education, and safety. Through collaboration with leading researchers, he has contributed to a deeper understanding of how pressure, depth, and the human body interact in freediving — helping shape both scientific knowledge and training philosophy within the sport.

Martin Stepanek

Our Core Values

1

Quality and Safety

Safety and quality are inseparable in freediving education. FII instructors are trained to uphold high standards, follow a strict Code of Ethics and Conduct, and put student safety first in every stage of training.

2

Community and Shared Progress

FII was built from a strong community of freedivers and spearfishers. We support that community by encouraging connection, mentorship, buddy systems, and local training networks that help divers continue progressing beyond the course itself.

3

Conservation and Responsibility

We believe freedivers have a responsibility to protect the environments they depend on. FII promotes responsible ocean stewardship, supports sustainable fishing practices within spearfishing education, and encourages respect for the ecosystems that make the sport possible.