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Same ocean. Different school.
PADI shops are everywhere. Molchanovs is a training system — that is the difference.
Lanka Freediving is a Molchanovs-certified freediving school in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, running Discover, Wave 1, and Wave 2 courses in groups of four, November through April.
If you search “freediving Sri Lanka” you will mostly find PADI. That is not a slight — PADI is the largest dive organisation in the world, and Unawatuna has long-running PADI shops. This page is the honest split so you book the course that matches what you want, not the logo you recognised first.
What is the difference between Molchanovs and PADI freediving in Sri Lanka?
PADI is recreational and easy to find; Molchanovs is a freediving-only athlete-built progression — and Lanka Freediving teaches Molchanovs only.
PADI Freediver is a recreational pathway. It is familiar if you already scuba, easy to find on the south and east coasts, and designed to get you in the water with a standardised syllabus.
Molchanovs is a freediving-only education system built by athletes. The Waves are a progression: breathwork, equalisation, rescue, and depth on a line — closer to how serious freedivers actually train. Certification is digital and recognised worldwide in the Molchanovs network.
We do not teach PADI. If you want PADI, book a PADI shop. If you want small-group Molchanovs coaching in Unawatuna, that is us.
What actually differs in the water?
| Molchanovs (us) | PADI (typical shop) | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Freediving as a sport and skill | Recreational intro, scuba-adjacent |
| Entry course | Wave 1 — 3 days, certification | Freediver — often 2–3 days |
| Try-it session | Discover, half day, €150 | Basic Freediver / try dive |
| Group size here | Maximum 4 | Varies by shop |
| Where we run | Unawatuna, November–April | South in season; some shops move east in monsoon |
Should I book Molchanovs or PADI in Unawatuna?
Book PADI if you already collect PADI cards, you want the most widely recognised recreational logo, or you are on the east coast outside our season.
Book Molchanovs if you care about technique, you might continue to Wave 2 or coaching, or you want a school that only teaches freediving. Read Discover vs Wave 1 vs Wave 2 for depth and time.
Can you mix Molchanovs and PADI certifications later?
Skills transfer more than cards. A solid Wave 1 student is not starting from zero at a PADI shop, and the reverse is also true — but agencies do not automatically cross-certify. If you already hold PADI Freediver and want Wave 2 with us, message us with your card and we will place you honestly.
How much do Molchanovs courses cost in Unawatuna?
Discover is €150, Wave 1 is €350, and Wave 2 is €450. Full numbers and what is included: how much a freediving course costs.