Instructor ProIndependent instructor
Sofia Almeida
AIDA Freediving Instructor · Azores
5.0(42)Horta, PortugalPortuguese · English · Spanish
- Years teaching
- 9
- Divers certified
- 190
- Logged dives
- 4,300
- Max class size
- 4
I teach small. Two students at a time, four at the absolute most, because the difference between a diver who is comfortable and a diver who is counting the minutes is attention — and you cannot give attention to eight people at once.
Most of my students are nervous beginners or divers who were certified years ago and never felt confident in the water. We fix buoyancy first. Everything else in diving gets easier once you stop fighting the water.
I run courses from my own schedule and through two shops on the island, so if you want a specific boat, site, or week, ask and I will usually make it work.
Credentials
- AIDA (freediving) Freediving Instructor#AIDA-100000 · since 2021
- Molchanovs (freediving) Instructor#MOLC-100001 · since 2021
Specialty ratings
- Adaptive / disabled diver
- Fish Identification
DAN Pro liability, active through Dec 2026EFR Instructor, current CPR and O2 provider
Classes and certifications
Book directly with the instructor. Pricing includes gear, materials, and certification fees.
AIDA (freediving) · Entry level
Open Water Diver
Three days from never having breathed underwater to certified to 60 feet. Pool first, then four dives on the reef.
3 days4 open water divesmax 4
- All gear and rental included
- eLearning materials and certification fee
- Marine park fees and boat
Next dates
- Mar 3
- Mar 10
- Mar 17
- Mar 24
$960$910 member
BookAIDA (freediving) · Continuing education
Advanced Open Water
Five adventure dives including deep and navigation. Unlocks Santa Rosa Wall and Punta Sur.
2 days5 divesmax 4
- Tanks, weights, and boat
- Digital materials
- Certification fee
Next dates
- Mar 6
- Mar 13
- Mar 20
$795$755 member
BookAIDA (freediving) · Continuing education
Rescue Diver + EFR
The course everyone says changed how they dive. Scenario based, physically demanding, genuinely fun.
3 daysScenarios + 2 divesmax 3
- EFR course included
- All rescue equipment
- Certification fees
Next dates
- Mar 9
- Mar 23
$1100$1045 member
BookAIDA (freediving) · Specialty
Enriched Air Nitrox
One evening of theory and an analysis session. No dives required, longer bottom times forever.
1 dayOptional 2 divesmax 4
- Materials and certification
- Analyzer practice
- Nitrox fills during course
Next dates
- Mar 4
- Mar 11
- Mar 18
- Mar 25
$360$340 member
BookAIDA (freediving) · Specialty
Peak Performance Buoyancy
Two dives that fix trim, weighting, and the reason you burn air faster than everyone else on the boat.
1 day2 divesmax 4
- Weight and trim assessment
- Video review
- Certification fee
Next dates
- Mar 5
- Mar 12
- Mar 19
$390$370 member
BookAIDA (freediving) · Specialty
Underwater Photography
Camera provided. Two dives shooting, one session editing, and an honest critique of your shots.
1 day2 divesmax 3
- Camera and housing rental
- Editing session
- Certification fee
Next dates
- Mar 7
- Mar 21
$525$500 member
Book
Where the training happens
The sites used for confined water, certification dives, and specialties.
Dzul HaShore
Confined water and skills, 10–25 ft
Paradise ReefBoat
First open water dives, gentle drift
Palancar GardensBoat
Certification dives 3 and 4
Santa Rosa WallBoat
Deep adventure dive
Villa BlancaShore
Night dives and navigation
We meet at the Dos Tiburones dock downtown unless you are staying south, in which case I will pick you up.
Also teaches inPlaya del Carmen, Tulum cenotes, Isla Mujeres
Rental gear and equipment
What students dive, and what the instructor dives.
What you will dive
Students learn on the same gear I dive. No twenty-year-old rental jackets with sticky inflators — that is where bad habits and bad experiences come from.
- BCDAqua Lung Pro HDSix sizes, XS through XL
- RegulatorScubapro MK17 / C370Serviced every 6 months
- ComputerShearwater PeregrineOne per student, not shared
- ExposureBare 3mm Elastek5mm available Dec–Feb
- Mask and finsAtomic / ScubaproPrescription masks on request
All rental gear is included in course pricing. Bring your own mask if you have one you love.
What the instructor dives
- Backplate and wingHalcyon Eclipse 40
- RegulatorApeks MTX-R
- ComputerShearwater Perdix 2
- CameraOlympus TG-7 with SeaLife strobes
Gear brands are listed so divers can find instructors who teach on equipment they already know.
Dive shop affiliations
Shops this instructor teaches through, and how boat access and tanks are arranged.
Affiliations are confirmed by the dive shop before they show as verified. Self-reported affiliations are labelled until the shop responds.
Student reviews
5.0
42 verified student reviews
I was terrified and she knew itOpen Water Diver
I nearly cancelled twice. Ana spent the first hour in three feet of water letting me get used to breathing before we went anywhere. Certified on day three and I have twelve dives since.
Rebecca H. · Denver, CO · February 2026
Fixed ten years of bad habits in two divesPeak Performance Buoyancy
I have 200 dives and was still overweighted and swimming feet-down. She filmed me, showed me, and rebuilt it. My air consumption dropped by a third.
Jonas P. · Munich, DE · January 2026
Hard course, excellent teacherRescue Diver + EFR
She ran scenarios until we got them right, in Portuguese when I got stuck. Exhausting and the best three days of diving I have done.
Camila R. · São Paulo, BR · December 2025
Questions and policies
Do I book with you or with a dive shop?
With me, directly through World Scuba Network. I arrange the boat, tanks, and marine park fees through whichever shop suits your schedule. You have one point of contact the whole time.
Is rental gear really included?
Yes, for every course. Full kit including a dive computer for each student. The only thing worth bringing is your own mask if you already have one that fits.
How many students will be in my course?
Two is typical. Four is my hard maximum for Open Water and three for Rescue. If a course would put you in a bigger group I will tell you before you book.
What if the port closes or weather cancels a day?
We move to shore diving and skills, or reschedule. If you run out of days before we finish, I issue a referral at no cost so you can complete anywhere in the world.
Can you teach in Spanish or Portuguese?
Yes, both, including all materials and exams.
- Cancellation
- Free up to 72 hours before the course
- Deposit
- 25% to hold your dates
- Weather
- Reschedule or full refund on port closure
- Group size
- Maximum 4 students, 3 for Rescue
- Insurance
- DAN Pro liability, students insured during training
- Medical
- Standard diver medical form, doctor sign-off if needed
Book with Sofia
Ask a question or hold your dates
Usually replies within 2 hours. A 25% deposit holds your place; the balance is due on the first day. Every booking is protected by WSN.