training as craft

“STOP! Read this before you book your next dive course! I trained with FlowState Divers and I hugely appreciated the clarity and structure of their approach. The sessions are demanding without being overwhelming. You get clear feedback, time to practice and the chance to correct mistakes with consistency. It’s not about perfection on day one, it’s about building habits that make absolute sense and help you move forward in your diving journey. Babett and Peter are two wonderful humans, outstanding divers and mentors. They push you, but always with purpose and they don’t give up until you get it right. It’s a perfect balance of patience, high standards and genuine coaching. The outcome for me was straightforward: better awareness, cleaner movement, calmer decision-making and more confidence with the equipment. It’s training that leaves you with solid fundamentals instead of quick wins. FlowState Divers isn’t for someone looking for a shortcut, but if you want structured training, honest feedback, and real improvement, get yourself booked in and you will not regret it!”

“I decided to fly to Tenerife to take part in the FlowState Divers training modules after being impressed by the instructional scuba diving videos featured in their YouTube channel. Being a very enthusiastic but novice diver, after one week of training, I’m now convinced this is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The training provided is absolutely sensational. It’s quite difficult to put into words how much every aspect of diving has changed for me after completing the first 4 modules of the XBASE program. From gear configuration and assembly, dive planning, diving procedures, correct weighting, trim and buoyancy control, propulsion/finning techniques, proper gear handling, underwater task completion, dive plan execution, diving discipline, the list goes on and on. All these aspects and more were taught diligently and put in practice daily, resulting in a massive overall improvement for me as a diver. While true mastery of all the things covered in this week of training will require regular practice throughout the coming months, I was brought to a level where I can perform everything I learned independently and can confidently go practice and improve in my own time. On top of that, I was also given the option to send over footage of my progress as I practice in the future, to receive further feedback remotely. I should point out that the training is hard, often humbling, and requires an appropriate level of commitment and humility from anyone participating. Despite this, and partly also because of it, it is also extremely fun. Every day began or ended with video review of the previous dives. In these sessions, footage from the dives is reviewed in detail to discuss your current level and progress, and what to tweak/improve in the dives to follow. These sessions are very insightful and definitely helped in identifying my strengths and weaknesses as a diver. As the focus is on improvement, the feedback you receive focuses on the things that need work. You will be told what you are not good at directly and honestly, with no sugar coating. With this, however, come clear instructions and tailor-made mentoring on how to improve. Having myself started with an almost non-existent level of competence for any of the aspects of diving mentioned above, I can confidently say that if the feedback and training are taken seriously and with the appropriate amount of effort, you will see improvements that you didn’t think were possible just days before. Peter and Babett, once again thanks so much for everything you taught me this week. From the first day I arrived I immediately felt how much effort you put into these training modules. Your level of competence, attention to detail, and commitment to helping your applicants improve have made this by far the best scuba diving course I have ever followed. I have never seen or heard of this level of quality in any diving agency or course. I really can’t wait to come back for more training modules next year!”

“My husband and I recently returned from a 10-day training program with Flowstate Divers. For months beforehand, we had been watching their YouTube videos, captivated by their exceptional underwater performance. They moved and stayed in place with such skill - unlike any divers I had seen before. So I was thrilled when I found out it would be Babett who would be training us. We knew the training would be tough. We had exchanged emails in advance, and the challenges of the program were pretty clear. Still, I was not prepared for the reality - this I realized later. Personally, it was far more demanding than I had anticipated—both physically and mentally. The only experience in my life that felt remotely similar was my military service. Each day started early. We had to be ready on time every morning, and the days were intense. Some evenings we returned from training around 7 p.m., others around 5 p.m., exhausted but determined. I never imagined myself carrying gear that weighs more than half my own body weight. Coming from a background of only boat dives, the shore dives in Tenerife felt intimidating. Every new dive site brought a wave of anxiety. One of the most difficult parts of the training for me was the physical task of hauling all that heavy gear from the parking lot to the water. There were steep stairs, uneven rocks, climbs and descents—I truly thought I wouldn’t make it. But each day, I grew stronger. By the final days, I found myself moving confidently with the gear. But the transformation wasn’t just physical. I had personal fears—some phobias—that I needed to confront. Taking off my mask underwater was the hardest. It felt impossible to breathe. But through it all, Babett was endlessly patient. Somehow, simply being near her made me feel safe. Her support meant everything to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor. More than anything, I dreamed of earning the Flowstate T-shirt—not buying it online (not possible anyway) - but truly earning it. I’ll admit, there were moments during the training when I nearly lost hope. But in the end, I can say with full conviction: I earned it through sweat, tears, and perseverance. That shirt now means far more to me than a piece of clothing—it’s a symbol of what I overcame. We don’t look at diving the same way anymore. We’ve come away with countless techniques, insights, and practical advices that we’ll continue to practice and carry with us. Thank you, Babett and Peter, for this unforgettable experience.”

“We just came back from 10 days training with Flowstate and that was quite an adventure, These are very serious people and the approach - can't remember now last time I got replies to my questions in 10-15 minutes over mail even before paying a single dime, Training is meticulously planned to finer details - not rushed like PADI where you do AOW in 2 days, point is to learn. Pace and approach are really personal and calm, exactly what we needed to learn how to perform as opposed to rushed schedule of the diving industry, There isn't a single skill that you won't require during diving, unlike most eLearnings/OW/AOW and so on out there (like all those "specialties" BS) We managed to complete 3 modules in 10 days cause we sucked w/o even realizing it, all the certificates heavily clouded our judgement. As a conclusion I'd like to say that training definitely worth all the time and effort. If like us - you want to know you're safe under water w/o relying on industry proclaimed scuba "masters" - you shall attend Tips: Dive sites are pretty long walk, so if you're used to luxurious boat dives - get in shape to at least be able to walk uphill 50-80m with 25-30kg of weight on your back Holding diving position is tough - so do the superman :)”

“This is my fifth course with Flowstate Divers, and I continue to be impressed by their exceptional training. As a newcomer to scuba diving, I sought the best instruction available. After discovering Flowstate Divers through their YouTube channel and online learning platform, I was convinced they offered unparalleled teaching quality. My first beginner course was so rewarding that I returned with my son for team training, a testament to my confidence in their expertise. Five courses later, they have transformed us into thinking divers. From the ground up, they’ve taught us everything: equipment use, techniques, discipline, situational awareness, emergency response, dive planning, gas management, new dive site analysis, and equipment repair. Their comprehensive approach sets the highest standard in the dive industry. I can’t thank Flowstate Divers enough for their outstanding instruction and dedication.”

“The FlowState Divers have an incredibly profound knowledge of diving. They manage to teach theory and practice very clearly and effectively. The tasks that awaits you during the dive are very demanding, but necessary so that you are prepared for any kind of emergency situation. Overall thy want to make you a better and safer diver! You can see and feel with FlowState Divers that it's not just “diving”, they really love the sport and you always feel safe on the dives. As a beginner, I was able to take away an incredible amount of knowledge for my future diving adventures - I couldn't have imagined a better place to gain my first diving experience. So if you have the opportunity to learn from them, do it!”

“This was my second time with FlowState Divers in Tenerife, and once again, it was an absolutely incredible experience! If you’re looking to take your diving skills to the next level and become a confident, experienced diver, this is the place to be. You can immediately feel the expertise and passion that go into every single training session. The courses are truly tailored to each individual, meeting you exactly where you are in your diving journey, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced. What impressed me most was the attention to detail from the Babett & Peter, along with the intensive dives, they provide invaluable tips that you can practice and apply even after the course is over. They go above and beyond to help you grow as a diver. I can highly recommend FlowState Divers and am already looking forward to my next visit! Thank you so much!”

“If you want to get quality training, this is definitely the place for it! The first time I was there it was so amazing that I had to come back again - and I will be back many more times in the future, as their training makes me more and more capable as a diver. The training FlowState Divers provide is tailored to your needs with unmatched attention to detail. If you want personalised, high quality training to become a confident and skilled diver, you should definitely train with them! Every dive gets recorded and analysed afterwards to give you every last bit of information about how to increase your skill levels. This analysis is humbling as well as unbelievably useful. This way of teaching will give you way more direction in your journey of skill improvement. It does take time to teach this way, but FlowState Divers don’t shy away from tailoring information in a way that you can understand how you’re doing and why. It doesn’t matter, what your experience level is, out of this training you will come out as a better, safer and smarter diver. You will not regret a single minute of this top-notch training! Thanks FlowState Divers, until next time!”

“We spent six days at the beginning of August to start the X-Base program. Unfortunately, due to illness, I was only able to dive on two out of the six days, but Babett really went out of her way to teach us as much as possible. Even in that short time, we were able to learn an incredible amount. The training was a real eye-opener, and we learned more during those few days than in all the “standard courses” we’d taken before – combined. Babett has a really great way of sharing her knowledge and helping you become not just a better diver, but one who truly thinks for themselves underwater. We honestly had an amazing time and will definitely be coming back.”

“After more than a year of anticipation, I finally started my training with Flowstate Divers. I had six information-packed and challenging days ahead of me, during which I completed the first three modules from the revised course catalogue. As the new concept was not yet available when I originally booked, I had signed up for the 'old' X-Base course. However, I was able to switch to the new module based version very easily on site. The sequence of the modules can already be found several times in the reviews here. I will refer to the Flowstate Divers website for details, so I won't go into too much detail here. Babett, who was my mentor during this time, introduced me to a different way of diving. The objective of the training is to learn to apply and adapt the skills independently to your own circumstances, which may change, for example, due to new equipment. Another important point is the 'drill' of constantly repeating the skills you have learnt. It is only when these activities become second nature that you have the opportunity to perform other tasks at the same time. But there was also time for the big and small things (even things as big as buses ;-) ), which made the underwater training more pleasant. Many aspects of these basic exercises are also covered in courses offered by well-known diving organisations, but the reasoning behind them usually remains unclear. Furthermore, the skills are only covered very superficially. Babett demonstrated a high level of expertise, dedication and patience in addressing my personal requirements and understanding my level of knowledge. Due to years of ingrained routines, it was sometimes quite challenging to abandon existing methods and learn new procedures. In my opinion, it is definitely worth starting the in-depth training with Flowstate Divers as soon as possible. This can save you a lot of frustration. You can also see the passion and attention to detail in the highly professional videos on their own YouTube channel. The goal here is to convey as much information as possible in a structured manner and to transform diving to a certain extent. Thank you very much for a great and educational time with Flowstate Divers, which I really enjoyed. I'm aiming to complete the rest of the X-Base course modules as soon as possible and visit you again in Tenerife. PS: Please give some extra hugs to the little paws in El Balito.”

“We booked our training with Babbette and Peter after watching their brilliant videos. The approach to diving you see from their videos is what you get in real life - meticulous planning, attention to details and a never ending journey to perfection. Our 3 days with them were challenging, my partner did their xBase training, and I did the Fundamentals workshop and sidemount try dive. It was like a boot camp in the best possible way. We came out of it with a much greater understanding of safety margins, planning, procedures and buoyancy control. We will definitely be returning for further training, and I cannot recommend them enough. If you are contemplating your next steps in your diver training, look no further, book some time with Flowstate, you wont be disappointed!!”

“I took part in The Essentials of Recreational Diving course in February 2025. The educational Flow State Divers Videos on You Tube attracted my attention because of their very high Level of quality already some time ago. Concerning my diving i am not an absolut beginner any more, but i found myself remaining on a very basal level, doing always the same dives and not really reasonable improving my Skills. Not only for myself but also for my Dive Partner i feel the responsibility to improve my Skills to be able to help him in case of Problems. My expectations regarding the course have been more than fullfilled! I knew that i had major weakpoints in the Basic Skills buoyancy, trim and Overall handling of my Equipment. Throughout the Training we Not only worked intensely and with a logical , systematic and consistent buttom up strategy to adress all These issues, but in Addition to that Babett gave me all the understanding, Tipps an d tricks to empower me to work on - and emprove all These topics together with my diving Partner at Home After the course. Content and sequence of the Training program „ Essential of Rec Diving“ feels just the Right way and the educational - pedagogic Level of Babetts Teaching is at a very high Level and truly remarkabel! Thank you sooo much!! Summing up- doing this Training was a big achievment, we will come again to Train with you and in the meantime we‘ ll try to implement all the things you teached me.”

“Came to Tenerife for a four days of diving with peter, after an assessment dive, we took a step back to go again thru the basics which at first was a tough moment since I did many trainings with well renowned agencies before, he spotted all my problems and did all the adjustments, also peter provided all the tools and with a really pragmatic and honest approach addressing the right fitting with my rig for me, everything thought on a way that I will keep training back home. This was really eyes opening for me, since I was jumping from course to course thinking everything I was doing was right. We went thru: dry suit operation, breathing, weighting, weight distribution and equipment config (balanced rig), finning techniques, 5 basics of UTD, setting up control lines, SMB deployment, V-drill, control ascent and descent. It’s been a great experience diving and training with peter and Babett, what you get is a personal experience training, 1on1, they arrange the pickup to your location everyday so is extremely convenient. IMHO this is for everyone who wants to improve and find an alternative approach, they work under the umbrella of the DIR methodology but also flexible enough to approach different solutions personalized for each diver. I can’t not recommend this training enough, as divers we should be constantly improving our skills and step by step become more conscious and critical thinking divers. Thanks Peter and Babett for being so professional, honest and instructive. Hasta la próxima chicos!”

“I found Peter and Babett after watching their high quality YouTube content. I am a novice diver and I was in awe of the presented skill level. I thought, to start the journey to becoming a skilled, responsible and thinking diver I should get the proper training, so I booked a tailor-made workshop with Peter and Babett. The amount of knowledge I gained in training with them, in conjunction with their relentless ability to find the smallest of things to improve my diving were absolutely on another level. If you are serious about improving your skills and ability under water, Peter and Babett will definitely give you the push that you need. After the training I had with them I finally have the feeling that I learned proper diving which gave me a good base to further hone my skills in this craft. This was definitely only the first time of many to come for proper instruction by Peter and Babett. Thank you for the patience, advice and guidance you gave me. See you soon!”

“Folks, what you are getting there is Champions League! For those who enjoy learning new things and want to develop themselves, they know how much time and money can be saved by having the right people in the circle or stumbling upon them on Youtube :-) From the beginning, I was very impressed by the professionalism and the dedication from Babett und Peter. Their passion for diving was evident and infected me immediately. What impressed me the most was their ability to tailor the diving experience to my abilities. Peter and Babett gave me the confidence to push my limits and fully enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. Furthermore, if you haven't brought along suitable equipment, they provide tips and offer equipment of the highest quality, always in perfect condition. Overall, my experience with Peter and Babett in Tenerife was simply incredible. Their expertise, enthusiasm and kindness made this dive trip unforgettable. I highly recommend them to any diving enthusiast, whether beginner or advanced. I will definitely come back. Thank you very much!”

“Wanting to improve my diving and start to prepare for wreck and cave diving, I stumbled on the FlowState Divers Youtube Channel. Watched all videos, repeatedly, and decided to do the Sidemount Fundamentals with them. Starting off on the first half of day 1 with learning about the setup (harness, wing, cylinders, rigging), I was already convinced that I had made the right choice. Not only was everything patiently instructed, Peter and Babette explained the "why" as well, which gave me a much better understanding of the matter than any other Instructor or agency ever had on any topic. The second part of day 1 was an exploritory dive. Day 2 would turn out to be the most impactful of the 4 days. Having done all previous courses with PADI (up to dive master) and roughly 400 dives, I was somewhat confident and looking forward to "up my game". After reviewing the video footage (done daily), we were getting wet again. Peter had me do basic skills, repeat them and instruct ways to improve. Again and again. At the end of the day, I was slightly broken, exhausted and questioning everything I had ever learned in courses before. Talk about a reality check... I ended up calling it "So you think you can dive?" The following days after that were basically correcting and ironing out 7 years of (bad) diving habits I had built up since my open water course. I learned the propulsion techniques the right way (and finally realised I had been using the wrong fins), increased awareness of my environment and of course the fundamentals of Sidemount. Most importantly, Flowstate Divers prioritises safety above all - Peter instructed and explained this subject in such a way, which had me questioning most of my courses again. He also questioned a lot of the diving I had been doing, especially my willingness to join a dive centre on boat dives, relying solely on the guides for my safety. As part of the course, I was taught how to properly plan a dive. Ashamed to say, for the first time... I know my account of the training doesn't paint a pretty picture of my experience - I was humbled and frustrated after day 2. Definitely not the picture (rainbows and sunshine) the big agencies portray. HOWEVER - it was by far the best course I have ever taken! I feel I have finally had a Gourmet Dive Course, instead of the usual Fast Food Diving with the big agencies... Do I see myself as a Sidemount Diver after these 4 days? NO. Will I continue training the Skills and Drills until I am proficient enough to consider myself one? YES, definitely - Peter and Babette gave me all the knowledge, tools and training I need to improve myself, most importantly they made me realise that I have a lot to improve on. If you want to learn how to dive (any level) the right and the safe way, Flowstate Divers are for you. If you want to improve any skill or learn a new discipline? Same. I can truely recommend them for any course, any level - both Babette and Peter are top notch, passionate instructors, who don't shy away from telling you the truth and making sure you understand your limitations. I surely will be back for more courses and workshops!”

“This will be a long review, so please do consider reading it fully, as you might be finding it very insightful. I have come across Flowstate Divers YouTube channel and got hooked to the series of "Master" scuba skill, which I highly recommend to everyone. Just subscribe to the channel, you will get notified on new contents, you won't regret it. When I visited their website, I found out that the team offers workshops to work on improving and honing your basic scuba skills, and that's when I decided I needed to go to Tenerife. Best decision I've ever made (and it's by no means an easy "relocation", as I flew over all the way from New Zealand via Italy). One word about the "booking": you choose a date and get a confirmation from from the team about availability. You don't pay anything beforehand. I've had a lot of back and forth communication with Peter that considering the time difference (13h) was almost instantaneous. We've discussed a lot about my goals and expectations from the workshops and how I "rated" myself as a diver, my current rig and level of experience and so on. This has allowed Peter to tailor a great programme for me to work on progressing myself towards the end goal of being a better diver. On to the dives we go. First and foremost, a word about the gear set-up: Peter and Babett are DIR advocates and you really should not be diving any other configuration. If you have not diving a DIR set up, consider switching to it, as it makes a lot more sense and moreover you will find serious divers in the world using this setup. I personally dove an XDeep Ghost and Tecline regs. The water was at a nice 24C, so I felt super comfortable in the provided 5mm wetsuit, even after 3h of underwater time. Safety and overall comfort could not be overstated: you will be in the best possible hands underwater with Babett and Peter, never for a second will you be left wandering around unsupervised. The guys are now officially part of UTD diving and therefore the TEAM aspect of diving is paramount. The workshop have been extremely proficuous for me when I look back at them and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I feel a better diver after them. Peter will always be straightforward with you: if you're BAD, you will not be sugar told otherwise. This is something I really appreciated, because even if I considered myself a good diver with above average skills in many aspects, Peter has been very clear when he told me my line work sucks, my breathing sucks, my turns suck, but he's also been very encouraging in the other way when he said that my trim was overall good (and I always had the feeling of not having a good trim). During the three days we spent underwater we have worked on correcting all my bad habits and boy there are a lot. A number of them are now muscle memory to me and will take me a long time to correct. On a positive note, never having been able to back kick gave me a clean slate to start from. I can say that in 1h and 30 minutes I went from not being able to go backwards to go back 10 meters or more almost effortlessly. That was a huge win for me, as that was one of things I went to Tenerife for. A word of advice: if you are really critic towards yourself, do not get discouraged if you are having a hard time performing the skills. I found myself getting extremly frustrated. Then Peter said something really clever and also very true: one cannot expect to go from zero to hero in just 3 days: mastering these skills might take hundreds and hundreds of dives. The workshops are designed to bring you to a level where you do understand the basic breakdown of the various skills, the exercise setup and can safely work on them at your own pace to try and learn the skills on your own. Thanks to Peter and Babett, I know what to work on and how to work on it. Kudos to you guys, you're awesome and I will see you in the future no doubt, hopefully with a better set of skills.”

“This is part two of my previous review, where I'm going to focus on the dive scenery in Tenerife. First though, something that did not fit in the previous review. The value you get for the workshop session is immense. One workshop session actually includes two dives (because honestly you can't expect to get much done - I'm not saying anything, much - in just an hour of practice) and considering what you get (from transportation to dedicated 1:1 time with a professional coach, plus all the equipment and the video debriefings after the dives that you get to keep) at the current rate it's pretty much a steal. Peter might not like me for putting it in writing, but I feel obligated to stress out how much in terms of quantity and quality you get. In hindsight, I'd have happily paid even twice as much for the workshops. Enough about that, let's move on to the fun dives.The guys know their spots in and out, let me tell you. Pick up and drop off is complimentary. Again, you also get all the equipment you need (top notch) plus a professional guide who'll show the cool stuff underwater. And you have the option of twinset or sidemount if you're certified for it. Or, like myself, you could do a sidemount tryout and feel miserable going back to your single tank configuration (LOL). There's a lot to see underwater in Tenerife. I've been blessed with a very big angel shark, which is a rare sight. A couple of color changing cuttlefish went by, not at all bothered by our presence. Octopus and rays were also a pleasant sight, and in the recess cracks under rocks there were a giant mooray eel with equally big red bigeye snappers. Barracudas can also be spotted. I will have to go back to see the turtles, but rest assured that the team knows where they hang out (unfortunately the wind picked up before we could go there). Another reason to go diving with FlowState Divers again :) cannot recommend Peter and Babett enough, you guys rock”

“FlowState Divers: The best place to learn sidemount diving I recently completed my sidemount fundamentals training with FlowState Divers, and I had an absolutely amazing experience. The instructors - Peter and Babett were incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and they made sure that I felt comfortable and safe throughout the entire course. The course itself was very well-organized and informative. I learned a lot about the theory of sidemount diving, as well as the practical skills necessary to dive safely and effectively in a sidemount configuration. The instructors were also very patient and encouraging, and they really took the time to make sure that I understood everything. I felt like I was in good hands the entire time, and I knew that I could always ask questions if I needed to. I would highly recommend FlowState Divers to anyone who is interested in learning sidemount diving!”

“Came to Tenerife (March 2024) just to dive with FlowState after watching their high quality Youtube content - and I wasn't disappointed. Pretty quickly you realize this is not your regular dive center and Babett is no regular instructor. Very knowledgeable, professional, patient and fun. She took great care of us during the two days that we dived with her. Such a great feeling to dive with someone that is so passionate about diving and especially dive training. If you are looking to improve your skills, do a workshop with her. 100% you will leave as a better diver. We will definetely be back.”

“After making the fundamental workshop (as AOWD) with Peter and Babett I had the first time the feeling I made a course where I really became a better diver after. I will not speak about their organisation, customer management and communication because that is just beyond any dive Center I experienced so far. I came with things I wanted to improve and that I want to learn and I left with way more. Dive schools should take 50% of the effort and knowledge of flow state divers, then we would have so much better open water divers. I guess flowstate shows us how diving could and should be taught. If you take diving seriously, go with these guys, and if not, go with these guys and then you would like to take diving seriously.”

“STOP! Read this before you book your next dive course! I trained with FlowState Divers and I hugely appreciated the clarity and structure of their approach. The sessions are demanding without being overwhelming. You get clear feedback, time to practice and the chance to correct mistakes with consistency. It’s not about perfection on day one, it’s about building habits that make absolute sense and help you move forward in your diving journey. Babett and Peter are two wonderful humans, outstanding divers and mentors. They push you, but always with purpose and they don’t give up until you get it right. It’s a perfect balance of patience, high standards and genuine coaching. The outcome for me was straightforward: better awareness, cleaner movement, calmer decision-making and more confidence with the equipment. It’s training that leaves you with solid fundamentals instead of quick wins. FlowState Divers isn’t for someone looking for a shortcut, but if you want structured training, honest feedback, and real improvement, get yourself booked in and you will not regret it!”

“I decided to fly to Tenerife to take part in the FlowState Divers training modules after being impressed by the instructional scuba diving videos featured in their YouTube channel. Being a very enthusiastic but novice diver, after one week of training, I’m now convinced this is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The training provided is absolutely sensational. It’s quite difficult to put into words how much every aspect of diving has changed for me after completing the first 4 modules of the XBASE program. From gear configuration and assembly, dive planning, diving procedures, correct weighting, trim and buoyancy control, propulsion/finning techniques, proper gear handling, underwater task completion, dive plan execution, diving discipline, the list goes on and on. All these aspects and more were taught diligently and put in practice daily, resulting in a massive overall improvement for me as a diver. While true mastery of all the things covered in this week of training will require regular practice throughout the coming months, I was brought to a level where I can perform everything I learned independently and can confidently go practice and improve in my own time. On top of that, I was also given the option to send over footage of my progress as I practice in the future, to receive further feedback remotely. I should point out that the training is hard, often humbling, and requires an appropriate level of commitment and humility from anyone participating. Despite this, and partly also because of it, it is also extremely fun. Every day began or ended with video review of the previous dives. In these sessions, footage from the dives is reviewed in detail to discuss your current level and progress, and what to tweak/improve in the dives to follow. These sessions are very insightful and definitely helped in identifying my strengths and weaknesses as a diver. As the focus is on improvement, the feedback you receive focuses on the things that need work. You will be told what you are not good at directly and honestly, with no sugar coating. With this, however, come clear instructions and tailor-made mentoring on how to improve. Having myself started with an almost non-existent level of competence for any of the aspects of diving mentioned above, I can confidently say that if the feedback and training are taken seriously and with the appropriate amount of effort, you will see improvements that you didn’t think were possible just days before. Peter and Babett, once again thanks so much for everything you taught me this week. From the first day I arrived I immediately felt how much effort you put into these training modules. Your level of competence, attention to detail, and commitment to helping your applicants improve have made this by far the best scuba diving course I have ever followed. I have never seen or heard of this level of quality in any diving agency or course. I really can’t wait to come back for more training modules next year!”

“My husband and I recently returned from a 10-day training program with Flowstate Divers. For months beforehand, we had been watching their YouTube videos, captivated by their exceptional underwater performance. They moved and stayed in place with such skill - unlike any divers I had seen before. So I was thrilled when I found out it would be Babett who would be training us. We knew the training would be tough. We had exchanged emails in advance, and the challenges of the program were pretty clear. Still, I was not prepared for the reality - this I realized later. Personally, it was far more demanding than I had anticipated—both physically and mentally. The only experience in my life that felt remotely similar was my military service. Each day started early. We had to be ready on time every morning, and the days were intense. Some evenings we returned from training around 7 p.m., others around 5 p.m., exhausted but determined. I never imagined myself carrying gear that weighs more than half my own body weight. Coming from a background of only boat dives, the shore dives in Tenerife felt intimidating. Every new dive site brought a wave of anxiety. One of the most difficult parts of the training for me was the physical task of hauling all that heavy gear from the parking lot to the water. There were steep stairs, uneven rocks, climbs and descents—I truly thought I wouldn’t make it. But each day, I grew stronger. By the final days, I found myself moving confidently with the gear. But the transformation wasn’t just physical. I had personal fears—some phobias—that I needed to confront. Taking off my mask underwater was the hardest. It felt impossible to breathe. But through it all, Babett was endlessly patient. Somehow, simply being near her made me feel safe. Her support meant everything to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor. More than anything, I dreamed of earning the Flowstate T-shirt—not buying it online (not possible anyway) - but truly earning it. I’ll admit, there were moments during the training when I nearly lost hope. But in the end, I can say with full conviction: I earned it through sweat, tears, and perseverance. That shirt now means far more to me than a piece of clothing—it’s a symbol of what I overcame. We don’t look at diving the same way anymore. We’ve come away with countless techniques, insights, and practical advices that we’ll continue to practice and carry with us. Thank you, Babett and Peter, for this unforgettable experience.”

“We just came back from 10 days training with Flowstate and that was quite an adventure, These are very serious people and the approach - can't remember now last time I got replies to my questions in 10-15 minutes over mail even before paying a single dime, Training is meticulously planned to finer details - not rushed like PADI where you do AOW in 2 days, point is to learn. Pace and approach are really personal and calm, exactly what we needed to learn how to perform as opposed to rushed schedule of the diving industry, There isn't a single skill that you won't require during diving, unlike most eLearnings/OW/AOW and so on out there (like all those "specialties" BS) We managed to complete 3 modules in 10 days cause we sucked w/o even realizing it, all the certificates heavily clouded our judgement. As a conclusion I'd like to say that training definitely worth all the time and effort. If like us - you want to know you're safe under water w/o relying on industry proclaimed scuba "masters" - you shall attend Tips: Dive sites are pretty long walk, so if you're used to luxurious boat dives - get in shape to at least be able to walk uphill 50-80m with 25-30kg of weight on your back Holding diving position is tough - so do the superman :)”

“This is my fifth course with Flowstate Divers, and I continue to be impressed by their exceptional training. As a newcomer to scuba diving, I sought the best instruction available. After discovering Flowstate Divers through their YouTube channel and online learning platform, I was convinced they offered unparalleled teaching quality. My first beginner course was so rewarding that I returned with my son for team training, a testament to my confidence in their expertise. Five courses later, they have transformed us into thinking divers. From the ground up, they’ve taught us everything: equipment use, techniques, discipline, situational awareness, emergency response, dive planning, gas management, new dive site analysis, and equipment repair. Their comprehensive approach sets the highest standard in the dive industry. I can’t thank Flowstate Divers enough for their outstanding instruction and dedication.”

“The FlowState Divers have an incredibly profound knowledge of diving. They manage to teach theory and practice very clearly and effectively. The tasks that awaits you during the dive are very demanding, but necessary so that you are prepared for any kind of emergency situation. Overall thy want to make you a better and safer diver! You can see and feel with FlowState Divers that it's not just “diving”, they really love the sport and you always feel safe on the dives. As a beginner, I was able to take away an incredible amount of knowledge for my future diving adventures - I couldn't have imagined a better place to gain my first diving experience. So if you have the opportunity to learn from them, do it!”

“This was my second time with FlowState Divers in Tenerife, and once again, it was an absolutely incredible experience! If you’re looking to take your diving skills to the next level and become a confident, experienced diver, this is the place to be. You can immediately feel the expertise and passion that go into every single training session. The courses are truly tailored to each individual, meeting you exactly where you are in your diving journey, whether you’re a beginner or more advanced. What impressed me most was the attention to detail from the Babett & Peter, along with the intensive dives, they provide invaluable tips that you can practice and apply even after the course is over. They go above and beyond to help you grow as a diver. I can highly recommend FlowState Divers and am already looking forward to my next visit! Thank you so much!”

“If you want to get quality training, this is definitely the place for it! The first time I was there it was so amazing that I had to come back again - and I will be back many more times in the future, as their training makes me more and more capable as a diver. The training FlowState Divers provide is tailored to your needs with unmatched attention to detail. If you want personalised, high quality training to become a confident and skilled diver, you should definitely train with them! Every dive gets recorded and analysed afterwards to give you every last bit of information about how to increase your skill levels. This analysis is humbling as well as unbelievably useful. This way of teaching will give you way more direction in your journey of skill improvement. It does take time to teach this way, but FlowState Divers don’t shy away from tailoring information in a way that you can understand how you’re doing and why. It doesn’t matter, what your experience level is, out of this training you will come out as a better, safer and smarter diver. You will not regret a single minute of this top-notch training! Thanks FlowState Divers, until next time!”

“We spent six days at the beginning of August to start the X-Base program. Unfortunately, due to illness, I was only able to dive on two out of the six days, but Babett really went out of her way to teach us as much as possible. Even in that short time, we were able to learn an incredible amount. The training was a real eye-opener, and we learned more during those few days than in all the “standard courses” we’d taken before – combined. Babett has a really great way of sharing her knowledge and helping you become not just a better diver, but one who truly thinks for themselves underwater. We honestly had an amazing time and will definitely be coming back.”

“After more than a year of anticipation, I finally started my training with Flowstate Divers. I had six information-packed and challenging days ahead of me, during which I completed the first three modules from the revised course catalogue. As the new concept was not yet available when I originally booked, I had signed up for the 'old' X-Base course. However, I was able to switch to the new module based version very easily on site. The sequence of the modules can already be found several times in the reviews here. I will refer to the Flowstate Divers website for details, so I won't go into too much detail here. Babett, who was my mentor during this time, introduced me to a different way of diving. The objective of the training is to learn to apply and adapt the skills independently to your own circumstances, which may change, for example, due to new equipment. Another important point is the 'drill' of constantly repeating the skills you have learnt. It is only when these activities become second nature that you have the opportunity to perform other tasks at the same time. But there was also time for the big and small things (even things as big as buses ;-) ), which made the underwater training more pleasant. Many aspects of these basic exercises are also covered in courses offered by well-known diving organisations, but the reasoning behind them usually remains unclear. Furthermore, the skills are only covered very superficially. Babett demonstrated a high level of expertise, dedication and patience in addressing my personal requirements and understanding my level of knowledge. Due to years of ingrained routines, it was sometimes quite challenging to abandon existing methods and learn new procedures. In my opinion, it is definitely worth starting the in-depth training with Flowstate Divers as soon as possible. This can save you a lot of frustration. You can also see the passion and attention to detail in the highly professional videos on their own YouTube channel. The goal here is to convey as much information as possible in a structured manner and to transform diving to a certain extent. Thank you very much for a great and educational time with Flowstate Divers, which I really enjoyed. I'm aiming to complete the rest of the X-Base course modules as soon as possible and visit you again in Tenerife. PS: Please give some extra hugs to the little paws in El Balito.”

“We booked our training with Babbette and Peter after watching their brilliant videos. The approach to diving you see from their videos is what you get in real life - meticulous planning, attention to details and a never ending journey to perfection. Our 3 days with them were challenging, my partner did their xBase training, and I did the Fundamentals workshop and sidemount try dive. It was like a boot camp in the best possible way. We came out of it with a much greater understanding of safety margins, planning, procedures and buoyancy control. We will definitely be returning for further training, and I cannot recommend them enough. If you are contemplating your next steps in your diver training, look no further, book some time with Flowstate, you wont be disappointed!!”

“I took part in The Essentials of Recreational Diving course in February 2025. The educational Flow State Divers Videos on You Tube attracted my attention because of their very high Level of quality already some time ago. Concerning my diving i am not an absolut beginner any more, but i found myself remaining on a very basal level, doing always the same dives and not really reasonable improving my Skills. Not only for myself but also for my Dive Partner i feel the responsibility to improve my Skills to be able to help him in case of Problems. My expectations regarding the course have been more than fullfilled! I knew that i had major weakpoints in the Basic Skills buoyancy, trim and Overall handling of my Equipment. Throughout the Training we Not only worked intensely and with a logical , systematic and consistent buttom up strategy to adress all These issues, but in Addition to that Babett gave me all the understanding, Tipps an d tricks to empower me to work on - and emprove all These topics together with my diving Partner at Home After the course. Content and sequence of the Training program „ Essential of Rec Diving“ feels just the Right way and the educational - pedagogic Level of Babetts Teaching is at a very high Level and truly remarkabel! Thank you sooo much!! Summing up- doing this Training was a big achievment, we will come again to Train with you and in the meantime we‘ ll try to implement all the things you teached me.”

“Came to Tenerife for a four days of diving with peter, after an assessment dive, we took a step back to go again thru the basics which at first was a tough moment since I did many trainings with well renowned agencies before, he spotted all my problems and did all the adjustments, also peter provided all the tools and with a really pragmatic and honest approach addressing the right fitting with my rig for me, everything thought on a way that I will keep training back home. This was really eyes opening for me, since I was jumping from course to course thinking everything I was doing was right. We went thru: dry suit operation, breathing, weighting, weight distribution and equipment config (balanced rig), finning techniques, 5 basics of UTD, setting up control lines, SMB deployment, V-drill, control ascent and descent. It’s been a great experience diving and training with peter and Babett, what you get is a personal experience training, 1on1, they arrange the pickup to your location everyday so is extremely convenient. IMHO this is for everyone who wants to improve and find an alternative approach, they work under the umbrella of the DIR methodology but also flexible enough to approach different solutions personalized for each diver. I can’t not recommend this training enough, as divers we should be constantly improving our skills and step by step become more conscious and critical thinking divers. Thanks Peter and Babett for being so professional, honest and instructive. Hasta la próxima chicos!”

“I found Peter and Babett after watching their high quality YouTube content. I am a novice diver and I was in awe of the presented skill level. I thought, to start the journey to becoming a skilled, responsible and thinking diver I should get the proper training, so I booked a tailor-made workshop with Peter and Babett. The amount of knowledge I gained in training with them, in conjunction with their relentless ability to find the smallest of things to improve my diving were absolutely on another level. If you are serious about improving your skills and ability under water, Peter and Babett will definitely give you the push that you need. After the training I had with them I finally have the feeling that I learned proper diving which gave me a good base to further hone my skills in this craft. This was definitely only the first time of many to come for proper instruction by Peter and Babett. Thank you for the patience, advice and guidance you gave me. See you soon!”

“Folks, what you are getting there is Champions League! For those who enjoy learning new things and want to develop themselves, they know how much time and money can be saved by having the right people in the circle or stumbling upon them on Youtube :-) From the beginning, I was very impressed by the professionalism and the dedication from Babett und Peter. Their passion for diving was evident and infected me immediately. What impressed me the most was their ability to tailor the diving experience to my abilities. Peter and Babett gave me the confidence to push my limits and fully enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. Furthermore, if you haven't brought along suitable equipment, they provide tips and offer equipment of the highest quality, always in perfect condition. Overall, my experience with Peter and Babett in Tenerife was simply incredible. Their expertise, enthusiasm and kindness made this dive trip unforgettable. I highly recommend them to any diving enthusiast, whether beginner or advanced. I will definitely come back. Thank you very much!”

“Wanting to improve my diving and start to prepare for wreck and cave diving, I stumbled on the FlowState Divers Youtube Channel. Watched all videos, repeatedly, and decided to do the Sidemount Fundamentals with them. Starting off on the first half of day 1 with learning about the setup (harness, wing, cylinders, rigging), I was already convinced that I had made the right choice. Not only was everything patiently instructed, Peter and Babette explained the "why" as well, which gave me a much better understanding of the matter than any other Instructor or agency ever had on any topic. The second part of day 1 was an exploritory dive. Day 2 would turn out to be the most impactful of the 4 days. Having done all previous courses with PADI (up to dive master) and roughly 400 dives, I was somewhat confident and looking forward to "up my game". After reviewing the video footage (done daily), we were getting wet again. Peter had me do basic skills, repeat them and instruct ways to improve. Again and again. At the end of the day, I was slightly broken, exhausted and questioning everything I had ever learned in courses before. Talk about a reality check... I ended up calling it "So you think you can dive?" The following days after that were basically correcting and ironing out 7 years of (bad) diving habits I had built up since my open water course. I learned the propulsion techniques the right way (and finally realised I had been using the wrong fins), increased awareness of my environment and of course the fundamentals of Sidemount. Most importantly, Flowstate Divers prioritises safety above all - Peter instructed and explained this subject in such a way, which had me questioning most of my courses again. He also questioned a lot of the diving I had been doing, especially my willingness to join a dive centre on boat dives, relying solely on the guides for my safety. As part of the course, I was taught how to properly plan a dive. Ashamed to say, for the first time... I know my account of the training doesn't paint a pretty picture of my experience - I was humbled and frustrated after day 2. Definitely not the picture (rainbows and sunshine) the big agencies portray. HOWEVER - it was by far the best course I have ever taken! I feel I have finally had a Gourmet Dive Course, instead of the usual Fast Food Diving with the big agencies... Do I see myself as a Sidemount Diver after these 4 days? NO. Will I continue training the Skills and Drills until I am proficient enough to consider myself one? YES, definitely - Peter and Babette gave me all the knowledge, tools and training I need to improve myself, most importantly they made me realise that I have a lot to improve on. If you want to learn how to dive (any level) the right and the safe way, Flowstate Divers are for you. If you want to improve any skill or learn a new discipline? Same. I can truely recommend them for any course, any level - both Babette and Peter are top notch, passionate instructors, who don't shy away from telling you the truth and making sure you understand your limitations. I surely will be back for more courses and workshops!”

“This will be a long review, so please do consider reading it fully, as you might be finding it very insightful. I have come across Flowstate Divers YouTube channel and got hooked to the series of "Master" scuba skill, which I highly recommend to everyone. Just subscribe to the channel, you will get notified on new contents, you won't regret it. When I visited their website, I found out that the team offers workshops to work on improving and honing your basic scuba skills, and that's when I decided I needed to go to Tenerife. Best decision I've ever made (and it's by no means an easy "relocation", as I flew over all the way from New Zealand via Italy). One word about the "booking": you choose a date and get a confirmation from from the team about availability. You don't pay anything beforehand. I've had a lot of back and forth communication with Peter that considering the time difference (13h) was almost instantaneous. We've discussed a lot about my goals and expectations from the workshops and how I "rated" myself as a diver, my current rig and level of experience and so on. This has allowed Peter to tailor a great programme for me to work on progressing myself towards the end goal of being a better diver. On to the dives we go. First and foremost, a word about the gear set-up: Peter and Babett are DIR advocates and you really should not be diving any other configuration. If you have not diving a DIR set up, consider switching to it, as it makes a lot more sense and moreover you will find serious divers in the world using this setup. I personally dove an XDeep Ghost and Tecline regs. The water was at a nice 24C, so I felt super comfortable in the provided 5mm wetsuit, even after 3h of underwater time. Safety and overall comfort could not be overstated: you will be in the best possible hands underwater with Babett and Peter, never for a second will you be left wandering around unsupervised. The guys are now officially part of UTD diving and therefore the TEAM aspect of diving is paramount. The workshop have been extremely proficuous for me when I look back at them and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I feel a better diver after them. Peter will always be straightforward with you: if you're BAD, you will not be sugar told otherwise. This is something I really appreciated, because even if I considered myself a good diver with above average skills in many aspects, Peter has been very clear when he told me my line work sucks, my breathing sucks, my turns suck, but he's also been very encouraging in the other way when he said that my trim was overall good (and I always had the feeling of not having a good trim). During the three days we spent underwater we have worked on correcting all my bad habits and boy there are a lot. A number of them are now muscle memory to me and will take me a long time to correct. On a positive note, never having been able to back kick gave me a clean slate to start from. I can say that in 1h and 30 minutes I went from not being able to go backwards to go back 10 meters or more almost effortlessly. That was a huge win for me, as that was one of things I went to Tenerife for. A word of advice: if you are really critic towards yourself, do not get discouraged if you are having a hard time performing the skills. I found myself getting extremly frustrated. Then Peter said something really clever and also very true: one cannot expect to go from zero to hero in just 3 days: mastering these skills might take hundreds and hundreds of dives. The workshops are designed to bring you to a level where you do understand the basic breakdown of the various skills, the exercise setup and can safely work on them at your own pace to try and learn the skills on your own. Thanks to Peter and Babett, I know what to work on and how to work on it. Kudos to you guys, you're awesome and I will see you in the future no doubt, hopefully with a better set of skills.”

“This is part two of my previous review, where I'm going to focus on the dive scenery in Tenerife. First though, something that did not fit in the previous review. The value you get for the workshop session is immense. One workshop session actually includes two dives (because honestly you can't expect to get much done - I'm not saying anything, much - in just an hour of practice) and considering what you get (from transportation to dedicated 1:1 time with a professional coach, plus all the equipment and the video debriefings after the dives that you get to keep) at the current rate it's pretty much a steal. Peter might not like me for putting it in writing, but I feel obligated to stress out how much in terms of quantity and quality you get. In hindsight, I'd have happily paid even twice as much for the workshops. Enough about that, let's move on to the fun dives.The guys know their spots in and out, let me tell you. Pick up and drop off is complimentary. Again, you also get all the equipment you need (top notch) plus a professional guide who'll show the cool stuff underwater. And you have the option of twinset or sidemount if you're certified for it. Or, like myself, you could do a sidemount tryout and feel miserable going back to your single tank configuration (LOL). There's a lot to see underwater in Tenerife. I've been blessed with a very big angel shark, which is a rare sight. A couple of color changing cuttlefish went by, not at all bothered by our presence. Octopus and rays were also a pleasant sight, and in the recess cracks under rocks there were a giant mooray eel with equally big red bigeye snappers. Barracudas can also be spotted. I will have to go back to see the turtles, but rest assured that the team knows where they hang out (unfortunately the wind picked up before we could go there). Another reason to go diving with FlowState Divers again :) cannot recommend Peter and Babett enough, you guys rock”

“FlowState Divers: The best place to learn sidemount diving I recently completed my sidemount fundamentals training with FlowState Divers, and I had an absolutely amazing experience. The instructors - Peter and Babett were incredibly knowledgeable and professional, and they made sure that I felt comfortable and safe throughout the entire course. The course itself was very well-organized and informative. I learned a lot about the theory of sidemount diving, as well as the practical skills necessary to dive safely and effectively in a sidemount configuration. The instructors were also very patient and encouraging, and they really took the time to make sure that I understood everything. I felt like I was in good hands the entire time, and I knew that I could always ask questions if I needed to. I would highly recommend FlowState Divers to anyone who is interested in learning sidemount diving!”

“Came to Tenerife (March 2024) just to dive with FlowState after watching their high quality Youtube content - and I wasn't disappointed. Pretty quickly you realize this is not your regular dive center and Babett is no regular instructor. Very knowledgeable, professional, patient and fun. She took great care of us during the two days that we dived with her. Such a great feeling to dive with someone that is so passionate about diving and especially dive training. If you are looking to improve your skills, do a workshop with her. 100% you will leave as a better diver. We will definetely be back.”

“After making the fundamental workshop (as AOWD) with Peter and Babett I had the first time the feeling I made a course where I really became a better diver after. I will not speak about their organisation, customer management and communication because that is just beyond any dive Center I experienced so far. I came with things I wanted to improve and that I want to learn and I left with way more. Dive schools should take 50% of the effort and knowledge of flow state divers, then we would have so much better open water divers. I guess flowstate shows us how diving could and should be taught. If you take diving seriously, go with these guys, and if not, go with these guys and then you would like to take diving seriously.”