Home - FreediveSafe! Hawaii

OCEAN SAFETY • EDUCATION • PREVENTION

Preventing Freediving &
Spearfishing Deaths in Hawaii

Educating, training and community awareness helping to save lives across Hawaii’s waters.

Learn Safety Skills Support Our Mission

59

Lives Lost

2014–2023

3.2K+

Students Trained

Since 2020

3200+

Students Trained

2020

Founded

501(c)(3)

Nonprofit Status

Statewide

Community Impact

OUR MISSION

Our Mission: Every Life Matters

FreediveSafe! Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing freediving and spearfishing deaths in Hawaii through education, training, and community awareness.

Since 2020, we’ve trained over 3,200 students across Hawaii’s schools and communities. We believe every death is preventable with proper training in blackout recovery, buddy systems, and ocean safety awareness.

Free programs for Hawaii’s youth and communities

Certified instructors with real-world experience

Evidence-based safety protocols and techniques

Partnerships with schools, community centers, and ocean organizations

Learn More

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“We were diving and my friend Liam had an LMC. I prayed that I helped him. I thank FreediveSafe because I could save him from drowning.”

North Kohala diver

OUR PROGRAMS

How We Make a Difference

Through education, training, and community engagement, we’re working to eliminate preventable freediving and spearfishing deaths in Hawaii.

Youth Programs

2,700+ students trained

As a Hawaiʻi DOE-approved vendor, we bring freediving and spearfishing safety education to schools, helping students build ocean awareness and learn safety practices that can save lives.

Safe buddy protocol
Distress Recognition & Support
Ocean safety awareness
Emergency Preparedness

Community Program

Monthly sessions

Interactive workshops that help freedivers, spearfishers, and ocean users recognize risks, build safer habits, and support one another in the water.

Buddy system best practices
Risk awareness
Safety Equipment Awareness
Emergency Preparedness

Growing Our Instructor Network

Growing instructor network

Our in-house instructor training program prepares educators and volunteers to deliver FreediveSafe’s Aquatic Safety and Rescue Skills awareness program, helping expand access to life-saving ocean safety education throughout Hawaiʻi.

Program Delivery
Safety Education Methods
Community Engagements
Instructor Resource

Community Event Outreach

Statewide reach

Invite FreediveSafe to your community event, school program, fishing tournament, or water safety event. Our outreach team shares practical ocean safety information, educational resources, and life-saving awareness with attendees of all ages.

Community Events
School Outreach
Tournament outreach
Educational Resources

GET INVOLVED

Join Our Mission

There are many ways to support FreediveSafe! Hawaii and help us prevent ocean-related tragedies in our communities.

Donate

Support our mission to prevent ocean-related deaths. Your donation helps us provide free training to Hawaii’s communities.

Make a Donation

Volunteer

Join our team as a volunteer instructor, event organizer, or community advocate. Help us spread ocean safety awareness.

Become a Volunteer

Shop Merch

Purchase FreediveSafe! merchandise. All proceeds go directly to funding our educational programs.

Visit Shop

Attend Events

Participate in our workshops, training sessions, and community events. Learn life-saving skills firsthand.

View Events

LIFE-SAVING SKILLS

What We Teach

Our curriculum covers critical safety skills that can mean the difference between life and death in the ocean.

Life-Saving Safety Awareness

Our programs focus on the buddy safety awareness, decision-making, and emergency preparedness skills that help prevent ocean tragedies.

The Buddy Safety Framework

The BUDDY Safety Framework serves as the foundation of all FreediveSafe safety programs. FreediveSafe teaches all participants to: 

Watch your buddy. 
Protect the airway. 
Get help.

Risk Assessment

Learn how to assess conditions, create a float plan, use essential safety equipment, and make safer buddy team decisions before entering the water.

Emergency Response

Learn how to recognize emergencies, activate emergency services, and support an effective response while help is on the way.

View All Training Programs

RESOURCES

Ocean Safety Resources

There are many ways to support FreediveSafe! Hawaii and help us prevent ocean-related tragedies in our communities.

Safety Guidelines

Download our Spearfishing Safety Guidelines for Spearfishing Competitions and Invasive Spearfishing Tournaments, featuring recommended safety practices.

Safety Videos

Watch our safety video on hypoxia, shallow water blackout, rescue techniques and proper buddy protocols.

Educational Materials

Access curriculum materials, presentation slides, and teaching resources for instructors.

Partner Organizations

Connect with companies who advocate for spearfishing safety, offer safety resources and support water safety in Hawaii.

ADOPTED BY THE STATE OF HAWAII

Hawaii Water Safety Plan

FreediveSafe is recognized on page 20 of the Hawaii Water Safety Plan, a state-adopted framework guiding efforts to prevent drowning and enhance water safety across Hawaii.

Download Full Report

UPCOMING PROGRAMS