Moana Wāhine — Wāhine-Led Instructor Pathway
Freedive Aotearoa · First call-out Moana Wāhine The pathway from first breath-hold to instructor — designed by wāhine, for wāhine. You said you'd love to be part of this. Here's an easy way in. Apply for the next cohort Message us on WhatsApp Moana Wāhine is a structured pathway through SSI freediving certifications for wāhine who want to teach. Mentorship-led, cohort-based, and designed around the reality of being a woman in the ocean industry. You said you'd love to be part of this An easy way in. So many of you have asked how to help. Here's how it works — we give our time and expertise on the water, you cover your online learning, and you give back to the kaupapa when you can. We give, you give, we all grow. We sponsor — free Your in-water session In-water instruction with our kaiako Our time, skill and years on the ocean We ask You cover your online learning Your SSI online learning & certification A willingness to help when you can A quick medical self-declaration Put your hand up The pathway From first breath to instructor — with mentorship, peer support, and wāhine-led cohorts where it counts. STEP 01 Level 1 → STEP 02 Level 2 → STEP 03 Level 3 → THE GOAL Instructor Who this is for —Wāhine considering teaching freediving —Existing certified divers ready for the instructor pathway —Wāhine working in marine education, schools, or kura What's different —Wāhine-led cohorts at every level —Mentorship from experienced wāhine freediving instructors and trainers —Integration with the Te Wheke Moana schools delivery pathway —Pricing structures that work for working wāhine —Funding pathways via Tū Manawa where applicable How you can help We need everybody — in the water and on the side. Helping doesn't mean you have to be a diver. There's a place here for everyone. Everyone Lend a hand Turn sausages, greet whānau, help keep our rangatahi safe poolside, share the word, or bring your people. Whatever you can give, we'll find a place for it. Bring your people Share the kaupapa Spread the word, bring your whānau and mates, or connect us with your school, club or community. The more hands and hearts, the further this goes. Heck yes 🥽 Want to learn to freedive yourself? Put your hand up. If you'd love to dive too — that's a heck yes from us. Tell us when you sign up and we'll sponsor your session. You'll learn, you'll connect, and you'll be ready to give back to the next crew coming through. Yes — count me in For the right people If this really sparks you — there's a future in it. For some, a first breath-hold turns into something bigger. If the ocean lights you up, there's a real pathway here — and real mahi down the track. Where it can lead →Train up through the freediving certifications →Become an instructor and teach in your own community →Help deliver Te Wheke Moana in schools and kura →Mentor rangatahi and lead local clubs →Paid delivery and career roles as we grow What happens next Two ways in — pick yours. 🥽 Diving with us Get in the water 1Sign up and pay for your spot — once you do, you'll be assigned your online learning. 2Create your free SSI account and choose Freedive Aotearoa as your dive centre. Register with SSI → 3Watch your inbox — your online learning lands there. Work through it before your session. 4We'll be in touch with when and where your session is. 🙌 Helping another way Lend a hand — no cost 1No financial commitment — just fill in the put your hand up form. 2We'll be in touch with what's on and how to get involved. Programmes currently running Tuesdays · Free Kerikeri & Kawakawa Weekly rangatahi sessions on Tuesdays — free, funded by Tū Manawa. Limited spots Kaitaia weekend workshops Pool Freediver certification for wāhine — very limited spots. Cohort dates Cohorts are built when a critical mass is ready. The best way in is to get in touch — let us know where you are in your pathway and we'll work out the timing. $85 commitment We run the first course free of our time. We ask for an $85 commitment — non-refundable — which covers your online SSI certification and online learning. Apply for the next cohort Message us on WhatsApp Part of the bigger picture Te Wheke Moana Moana Wāhine feeds directly into our Ocean-to-Trades schools pathway — marine education for Te Tai Tokerau rangatahi. Explore Te Wheke Moana → Who's behind it A Te Tai Tokerau freediving kaupapa, led by wāhine. Moana Wāhine grew from years of taking wāhine and rangatahi into the moana — and a simple belief: when women teach women, more of us stay in the water for good. It's mentorship-led and community-built, grounded in 25+ years of professional ocean experience and partnership history spanning the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, EMR, the R. Tucker Thompson Trust, and the I Have a Dream Foundation. Safety, certification & accreditation Freedive Aotearoa operates under a WorkSafe-aligned Safety Management System. SSI Instructor Training Centre AdventureMark Certified Qualmark Accredited WorkSafe-aligned Safety Management System Read our safety standards → Apply for the next cohort. Tell us where you are in your pathway and we'll work out the timing with you. [email protected] Message us on WhatsApp 30 Selwyn Road, Paihia, Bay of Islands, Northland, Te Taitokerau © 2026 Freedive Aotearoa #mw-page, #mw-page * { box-sizing:border-box; } #mw-page { --accent:#6cbccf; --sand:#e8d9b0; background:#072430; color:#eef4f5; font-family:'Archivo',system-ui,sans-serif; line-height:1.4; border-radius:8px; overflow:hidden; } #mw-page h1, #mw-page h2, #mw-page h3, #mw-page p { margin:0; } #mw-page a { color:inherit; } #mw-page .mw-btn-accent:hover { background:#8fd2e2; } #mw-page .mw-btn-ghost:hover { border-color:#fff; background:rgba(255,255,255,.06); } #mw-page .mw-link:hover { color:#8fd2e2; } #mw-page .mw-card:hover { border-color:rgba(108,188,207,.5); background:rgba(108,188,207,.06); }