Hello, future freedivers! To take a freediving course in Taiwan from me, click here for more details.

Freediving is one of the fastest-growing water sports in the world — and in Taiwan, it feels like it's growing even faster.

A lot of that growth comes down to Instagram. Elegant underwater photos pulled a wave of new people in, and more folks are realizing that structured freediving courses actually exist. (I didn't know they existed until four years ago either.)

Taiwan has over 500 certified freediving instructors, but if you need instruction in English, your options shrink fast. Mandarin fluency isn't something you can work around here — freediving theory runs deep (no pun intended), and in-water coaching requires real-time, nuanced feedback. You need an instructor you can actually communicate with.

Most courses run two to four days, so plan accordingly.

Here's where you can learn freediving in English in Taiwan.

For a city of its size, English-language options in Taipei are surprisingly limited — but they exist.

Joanna at Soulfree Freediving teaches PADI courses in the city. Elizabeth at Leve-Leve Freediving is another English-speaking option worth checking out.

I'm based in Xiaoliuqiu, but I travel to Taipei periodically to run the pool sessions — you'd then come down to Xiaoliuqiu for the open water component over a weekend.

Learn Freediving on Xiaoliuqiu

The most popular place to learn freediving in Taiwan — and the easiest outlying island to reach. Xiaoliuqiu has friendly sea turtles in abundance, shore-accessible dive sites (no boat needed), and along with one other area in Taiwan, offers year-round diving conditions.

It's also where you'll find the highest concentration of English-speaking freedive instructors. VD Freediving certifies in both AIDA and Molchanovs, and Salty Mind is another solid option — both are based here and both come with my personal recommendation. And of course, I'm here too, running courses under Freedive Nomad Taiwan.



For more on visiting the island, see my Complete Guide to Xiaoliuqiu. For diving-specific info, check out the Xiaoliuqiu Freedive Guide.

Freediving Divecube (Taichung) – Most Ideal for the Timid



Divecube is a great option, especially if you have any anxiety about open water. Their pool runs 21 meters deep, making it one of the most controlled and beginner-friendly environments you'll find in Taiwan — all the depth you need, none of the ocean variables.

Divecube now has an English-speaking instructor, Ronald — reach him at hotel@divecube.com.tw. I also offer customized courses there if you'd like to work with me directly — just get in touch.

For more, check out my guide to freediving at Divecube or this YouTube video.

Freedive Schools in the Kenting/Hengchun Area



If I didn't love small island life so much, Kenting would probably be home. Along with Xiaoliuqiu, it's one of only two areas in Taiwan with year-round diving conditions.

Unfortunately, as of 2025 the only English-language freediving school in the area has permanently closed. I'm not currently aware of anyone teaching in English here — if that changes, I'll update this post.

Green Island and Orchid Island (Lanyu)



Taiwan's most beautiful diving — but with some real drawbacks to consider.

Winter conditions make diving unsuitable for a good chunk of the year. Getting there is also a genuine commitment: coming from Taipei, you're looking at most of a day traveling each way. Honestly, flying overseas is often easier.

Even during diving season, ferry suspensions are a real issue. When swells pick up, services can get cancelled for several days at a stretch — meaning you could get stranded on the island, or find yourself stuck on the mainland waiting to leave. If you're traveling from overseas with a fixed itinerary, that's a significant risk.

There are also no English-speaking instructors permanently based on either island, though local Taiwanese instructors do run courses there regularly.

I hope this helps narrow down your options for freedive training in Taiwan. If you have questions, drop me a line.

If the Taipei/Xiaoliuqiu package doesn't fit your schedule, I'm flexible — reach me at ray@freedivenomad.com or here.

If you're a school or instructor teaching in English in Taiwan, get in touch and I'll add you to this post.

Dive safe — and never dive alone.



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