Freedive Academy Panglao

Taking Freediving Eduction to a Higher Level!

About the Freedive Academy Panglao

The Freedive Academy had its official opening by World Champion and multiple World Record holder Alexey Molchanov on February 8th, 2016 – at that time, we were still operating under the name FREEDIVE+. And since its opening, the center has been rocking the freediving world ever since.

In 2019 we moved to the current location, and the Freedive Academy Panglao was born as we know it today – an incredible freediving facility at an amazing location – only 300 meters from the best freediving spot in Asia and arguably the world.

The Freedive Academy Panglao founder and owner, Vincent, had a clear vision of what he wanted with the professional freediving development center in Panglao, having taught and trained all over the world before landing in the Philippines.

– Our Mission –

We don’t just Teach Freediving. We Create Highly Skilled, Well-Trained, All-Round Technical Freedivers!

At the Freedive Academy Panglao, we all fully enjoy living on our beautiful little island. We love coming to work daily to share our love for breath-hold diving and our passion for the oceans and the underwater world.

It’s our mission to create the best professional freediving development center in the world while maintaining a family atmosphere and a welcoming home for freedivers from absolute beginners to Instructor Trainers and World Champion freedivers!

We are very proud to say that our freedivers can dive and train with any freediver, of any level, in any conditions, and anywhere in the world.

And our instructors can teach at any dive center, small or big, anywhere in the world. We develop highly skilled top-level freedivers and instructors!

If you really want to learn how to freedive or how to teach freediving, the Freedive Academy Panglao is your home.

Meet the management of the Freedive Academy Panglao.

Vincent Sparreboom

Owner, CEO of the Freedive Academy and Apnea Sports Solutions, SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer, SSI Specialty Instructor Trainer, SSI Swim Teacher Trainer, Molchanovs Instructor Trainer, AIDA Instructor Trainer, AIDA Judge & Raid WSF Instructor.

Emily Lin

Emily (Mei Lin)

Owner, CFO of the Freedive Academy and Apnea Sports Solutions and responsible for purchasing, retail & distributions and Manager China Operations, Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor, SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor, SSI Swim Teacher, Mermaid Instructor, and AIDA Judge – and of course, the Boss of the Boss 😉

Edwin Castillon

Course Director and responsible for education and daily operations around the academy, React Right, First Aid, EFR, AED, and O2 Instructor, SSI Level 1 Instructor, SSI Swim Teacher and Speciality Instructor Training Techniques and FIM

The Freedive Academy focuses on three things;

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    Recreational freediving courses, mainly beginner and intermediate courses.
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    Master Training
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    Instructor Training Development

 

Molchanovs, SSI, and AIDA recreational freediving courses:

The Freediving Academy Panglao offers a wide range of freediving courses and many, many freediving specialties. Of course, the most popular are the beginner freediving courses, while we also teach quite a few intermediate and master courses. We have courses starting on almost any day of the week and run them many times a week. Including the master courses – we usually run at least two monthly SSI Level 3, Molchanovs Wave 3, or AIDA 4 courses.

 

Master Training in Panglao:

If you are looking for the best place for your freediving training, Panglao, for sure and without any doubt, has the best conditions possible. It is very easy to get to any depth you want, diving at any time of the day without using a boat, always close to shore, up to 40-meter visibility, and up to 31C water temperature. The out-of-the-water conditions are pretty great, too, with affordable and excellent and affordable long-term stay housing and healthy and good food available all around the island. Whether you want to train by yourself or follow the MASTER+ program, with coaching and guidance from very experienced Instructor Trainers and Master Instructors, the Freedive Academy and Panglao are a true paradise for master freedivers.

 

Instructor Training Development programs:

With Vincent being an SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer, AIDA Instructor Trainer, and Molchanovs Instructor Trainer, the Freedive Academy Panglao runs at least one or two SSI Instructor courses, Molchanovs Instructor courses, or AIDA Instructor Courses each month. Because of this – and our location and high-end facility, the Freedive Academy is very strong in offering different Instructor Training Development programs. With the Freedive Academy Panglao, you can start a freediving Zero to Hero program anytime, apply for a freediving internship, or follow a custom instructor development program.

 

Additionally;

If you want to become a specialty instructor like an SSI Monofin Instructor, SSI Variable Weight Instructor, or any other freediving or ecology specialties, be sure to contact the Freedive Academy, too. And if you want to broaden your market as an instructor, you can also choose to participate in the Swim Teacher courses or Mermaid Instructor courses.

Panglao is a fantastic tropical island with near-perfect in-water and out-of-the-water freediving conditions, and we’d love to welcome you here on our incredible island!

 

BUT! The Best is Yet to Come! Our Team! Our Family!

The best thing about the Freedive Academy is not the dive center in Panglao, our location, the high level of freediving education, or even Panglao Island. The best thing about the academy is our team! The Freedive Academy Panglao family will make your visit to Bohol and freediving in the Philippines fun, deep, and unforgettable!

 

We are very proud to introduce, in no particular order, our Freedive Academy Panglao family!

Charles Muller

Charles Muller

SSI Master Instructor, Raid Master Instructor & Molchanovs Wave 3 Master Instructor

Alianie Silos-Gapio

Alianie Silos-Gapio

Management Assistant and Receptionist

Jackielou Gapio

Jackielou Gapio

Receptionist

Rhea Evangelista

Rhea Evangelista

Customer Support & Sales Representative

Igor Klimovitsky

Igor Klimovitsky

Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor & SSI Level 2 Instructor, Speciality Instructor Training Techniques and FIM

Gieralyn Ybañez

Gie Ybanez

Online Business Manager

Airis Jumaran Putong

Airis Jumaran Putong

Receptionist

Bob Reus

Bob Reus

Mobile App Developer and Software Engineer, Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor & SSI Level 2 Instructor

Rea Spoerri

Rea Spoerri

Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor & AIDA Freediving Instructor

Diophy B. Patcho

Diophy B. Patcho

Videographer and Social Media Manager

Aileen Abrea Ibabao

Aileen Abrea Ibabao

Housekeeping

Elaiza Estoque

Elaiza Estoque

Receptionist

Malani Muller

Malani Muller

Writer/Blogger, SSI Swim Teacher & SSI Mermaid Instructor

Mike Richardson

Mike Richardson

Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor

Moises Tingson

Moises Tingson

Technician & Maintenance

Kailah Calingasan Sanidad

Kailah Sanidad

Photographer

Lito Limosnero

Driver

Alaiza Silos

Alaiza Silos

Receptionist

Samantha van Rossum-Gough

Samantha van Rossum-Gough

Support and distribution the Netherlands office

Ryan Navidad

Technician & Maintenance

Remie Loquias

Remie Loquias

Receptionist

Chrystal

Intern

Gina

Intern

Owen

Intern

You don’t have to believe us. Just read what our many guests had to say about the Freedive Academy Panglao family.

On the testimonial page, you can find even more testimonials. Below are random ones. If you refresh the page, you’ll see five new ones.

Cyrus Dastoor

Safety, Highly Qualified Staff, and Location, Location, Location.

Can’t recommend this place any more.

They have the single best location for freediving in Bohol (and perhaps Asia).

Highly professional and courteous staff, easily contactable and always willing to help…

Great for ALL levels of freediving – 10meters to 100+

Şahika Ercümen – World Record Holder

The Freedive Academy was much more than an amazing freediving center. It was like a family. It was my first time in the Philippines and after my first training with Freedive Academy, I already started to plan my second visit and after 1 month I am now coming back to this beautiful centre. We only swim 20-30 meters from the shore to train, water is warm and calm most of the time and everybody is full of positive energy. What can I ask more? It is definitely one of my favourite destinations. I am so grateful to the Freedive Academy Panglao family. See you soon.

Gloria Jiayin Tsai

I recommend everyone to train at the Freedive Academy Panglao. It was the best decision we made in the Philippines. The dive site drop off is stunning, sardine storm at my arms reach, buoy line ready to connect at any moment when you feel like jumping into the water, helpful staff….lovely training buddies. No boat, no waiting. Just jump in, and you are ready to train. My partner and I loved it so much and will come back again, definitely. Muah!

David Cabrera

Nice spot! Calm waters and good buddies. It feels like home. Many thanks for all and see you soon 😉

Scott Lambert

Freediving in paradise

If I could give Freedive Academy Panglao more than 5 stars, then I would. This place is magical. It offers freediving students the perfect blend of high calibre instructors, a warm and friendly atmosphere, and an absolutely unforgettable diving location. It does not matter if you are a beginner or a deep diver, this place has something for everyone, and the dive spot is a mere 2 minute swim from shore. In other words, no boat required!

I was lucky enough to complete my SSI freediving level 1 and 2 under my instructor, Kim, whose knowledge, experience, patience, and encouragement I am truly grateful for. I could not have asked for a better introduction to the depth (and breath) of freediving and am already planning my next course at the Academy 🙂