freediving is

for everybody

Our mission is to empower individuals to explore the underwater world with confidence and safety through exceptional freediving training.  We are dedicated to providing top-quality education, fostering a deep respect for the underwater world, and creating a safe, supportive community for freedivers of all levels.  By combining expert instruction with a deep passion for the sport, we aim to inspire a lifelong connection with the water and promote sustainable freediving practices.

TANNER PEDERSEN
OWNER / LEAD INSTRUCTOR

  • My journey with freediving started with a complete overhaul of my life.  At the time, I was working a 9-5 sales job making great money, but my life did not feel fulfilled.  I was constantly struggling with anxiety, depression, and addiction.  My mind was always racing and there was nothing I could do to quiet it, until I put my head underwater for the first time.  When I took my first freediving course with Kenzie, I was seeking a way to connect with a deeper part of myself.  Immediately, I was enamored with the peace and stillness that I found myself in during my first few dives of my level 1 course.  It was then that I knew I was right where I needed to be, and I felt whole for the first time.  Upon returning home to NC after the course, I quit my job and told my friends and family that I was leaving to move to Florida to start a new life; an underwater life.  From there I burnt through all of my savings, working up to become an instructor and learning all I could about freediving. Freediving challenged me to become healthier outside of the water so that I could perform better in it.  I grappled with my mental health and addiction, facing it head on, so that I could grow to be a better diver and the best instructor I could be.  Freediving was my saving grace; it helped me accept myself, get sober, and fulfilled my life in a way I never knew I was searching for.  I found that not only was freediving opening doors no other sport had before, but that there was a certain “enlightenment through apnea” approach that I could embody with each dive. 


KENZIE MILCAREK
OPERATIONS

  • My love for nature and water started in the mountains of Pennsylvania, on the Youghiogheny River, taking my first whitewater rafting trip when I was just a toddler.  Even though my family and I moved away, we always lived super close to a body of water.  Over time I found that being outside, on or near the water, was my escape, my happy place; whether it was on the beach listening to the waves, or in a kayak exploring the rivers and lakes, I always found peace with the water.  However, swimming had always made me nervous, and after spending several years working in the whitewater industry, those nerves grew into a healthy fear and respect for the water.  That is, until my first trip to Florida with Tanner, when we discovered the springs and freediving.  It was like fitting the final piece of a puzzle and seeing the big picture.  That peace I had always found before became something so much deeper, powerful, and more freeing than I had ever previously felt.  Deciding to let go of everything back home and chasing the freediving dream was one of the easiest decisions I had ever made.  

At Depth Wish Freediving, we are dedicated to providing unparalleled freediving instruction that stands out from the rest. Our approach goes beyond the standard curriculum by integrating advanced breathing and mindfulness techniques that are uniquely designed and custom tailored to enhance your freediving experience.

We don’t stop at just teaching the basics. At Depth Wish, we offer a holistic training experience that includes comprehensive dry training knowledge, empowering you to build and refine your freediving skills even when you're away from the water. This ensures that your progress continues beyond the confines of our sessions.

We conduct all our open water training in the stunning Florida springs, renowned for their ideal conditions. The absence of currents, lack of boat fees, and crystal-clear visibility make the springs the perfect setting for learning and practicing freediving. This pristine environment allows you to focus on your skills in a safe and comfortable setting, ensuring that your freediving journey starts off on the right foot.

Join us at Depth Wish Freediving, where we combine expert instruction with a passion for the sport, offering you an exceptional freediving education that prepares you for unforgettable underwater adventures.

If you have any other questions, thoughts, or inquiries, check out our FAQ page! If you can’t find your answers there, feel free to contacts us. We are happy to help in any way we can!

WORDS FROM YOUR INSTRUCTOR

“Freediving is an experience unlike any other on the planet. Learning to freedive with Depth Wish isn’t about numbers.  It doesn’t matter how deep you can go or how long you can hold your breath.  It’s all about the moment.  The moment that everything blurs into one beautiful experience; you become one with the water, the universe, your body, and your mind. Freediving is all about being with yourself and listening to your body.   It forces us to be present and at one with ourselves.  Once we find that peace within ourselves, we become one with the most powerful force; Mother Nature.  I love teaching freediving for the simple reason that I get to show people what they are truly capable of and how well adapted the human body is to pressure and the underwater world. 

Join us at Depth Wish to discover the exhilarating and liberating peace of freediving.”
- Tanner Pedersen