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 Apnea Dynamics Inc. and the Freedive Academy, SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer, SSI Specialty Instructor Trainer, SSI Swim Teacher Trainer, Molchanovs Instructor Trainer, AIDA Instructor Trainer, AIDA Judge & Raid WSF Instructor.
Emily (Mei Lin)
Owner and General Manager of Apnea Dynamics Inc. and the Freedive Academy, 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 Instructor and Judge – and of course, the Boss of the Boss 😉
Edwin Castillon
Freedive Academy Course Director and responsible for education and daily operations around the academy, SSI Advanced and AIDA Freediving Instructor, React Right, First Aid, EFR, AED, and O2 Instructor, SSI Swim Teacher and Speciality Instructor Training Techniques and FIM.
The Freedive Academy focuses on three things;
Recreational freediving courses, mainly beginner and intermediate courses.
Master Training
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!
Scott Atkinson
SSI Performance Freediving Instructor, Molchanovs Wave 3 Master Instructor & AIDA Instructor
Alianie Silos-Gapio
Management Assistant and Receptionist
Ven Lopez
Operations Manager
Rhea Mae E. Evangelista
Customer Service and Sales Support Manager
Aileen Abrea Ibabao
Housekeeping
Gieralyn Ybañez
Online Business Manager
Moises Tingson
Technician & Maintenance
Remie Loquias
Receptionist
Ryan Navidad
Technician & Maintenance
Diophy B. Patcho
Videographer and Social Media Manager
Misha Seguros
Customer Service Representative
Catherine Mante
Receptionist
Ramar Acuna
Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor
Jomari Andales
SSI Freediving Instructor & Certified Life Guard
Abegail Sajol
AI and Business Development Specialist
Kailah Sanidad
Photographer and Social Media Manager
Lito Limosnero
Driver
Alaiza Silos
Receptionist
Jessa Amog
Receptionist
Drew Torres
Watersports & Freediving Guide
Villa Salang
Receptionist
Jennyvee T. Baguio
Receptionist
Olga Krasa
Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor
Liza Dalapo
Receptionist
Amelia
Intern
Evan
Intern
Poorva
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.
Alexey Molchanov – World Champion CWT & CNF and 16x WR holder
I like it here a lot! Super nice conditions for deep diving, very friendly people and super professional instructors – after I taught them :p I will definitely come back for more adventures!
Vincent Mathieu – World Champion Static
You cannot say anything less about the Freedive Academy Panglao than that it’s a simply magical environment. With the perfect training conditions – visibility of 30m and a similar 30 degrees Celsius at the moment – in a calm sea, you have all you need to progress from 5 to 95m of depth.
I certified 9 minutes + static in the swimming pool at the Academy. I recommend training by the colours of the sunset or during the evening with the mood lights on and the stars shining down.
And what to say about the drop-off… You would believe it was made especially for freedivers. Lying down on the 25-meter curbed edge you can admire the corals from underneath, spectacular colour changes and incredible species that will delight both biology amateurs and underwater photographers. Did I already mention the family of sardines who form an essential element of the ecosystem at this part of the drop-off? Not to be missed are the hunting fish and the hungry needlefish around.
If you want a great freedive centre, this is the place to go ;-)!
Thanks to Vincent, and Sebastian for their kindness and hospitality. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
Kristine Tecson
Competent instructors and a fun basic freediving course!
As a beginner, I was a bit terrified of freediving. I had worries before I even started the course and panicked when we finally had to go into the open water.
But thanks to our reliable and (very) supportive instructor, Kuya Edwin, we enjoyed every minute and had fun during our basic freediving course, despite the slightly choppy waters!
My friends and I were complete newbies to freediving. But after just a day of learning breathing techniques and realising just how capable the human body really is, we were able to go into the open water, apply what we learned, and had a blast in the process.
It was amazing how Freedive Academy Panglao encourages you to challenge your understanding of your limitations and break that mould you put yourself into. The initial discomfort that the unknown brings slowly turns into something wonderful that you take with you forever.
My friends and I are already planning to return soon and get our SS1 Level 1 training. We’re excitedly talking about bringing new friends in and sharing the experience with them.
We are particularly grateful for Kuya Edwin! We couldn’t have asked for a better instructor to introduce us to this amazing sport. I personally felt safe from start to finish, and I wonder now why I was so scared in the first place.
To those of you who, like me, had hesitations and fears about freediving, I encourage you to give freediving with Freedive Academy Panglao a try. They’ll help you to open your eyes to the beauty of the ocean depths and make the process very enjoyable, too!
David Cabrera
Nice spot! Calm waters and good buddies. It feels like home. Many thanks for all and see you soon 😉
Evren Orhon – Coach of the Turkish National Freediving Team
I came to train to with the Freedive Academy Panglao in December 2015 and stayed there for four months. The strongest part of the Freedive Academy is its location. You don’t need a boat to go diving. The depth is just right next to you!! The club’s location is so good that in four months I only had two non-diveable days. The pool next to the club building offers great static opportunity, even at night time. The staff is so helpful not only in the water but on anything you need about your stay or moving around. The Freedive Academy Panglao is a must-visit point for all freedivers. The only concern is you can get hooked and may not like your next freediving destination as much.
AVAILABLE NOW! The Brand-New Freedive Academy Mobile Training App!
All the Freedive Academy's Expertise, Now in Your Pocket!
The Apnea Assistant, Your Personal Breathwork Coach!
The Apnea Assistant is Hands-Down, the Most Complete Freediving App Currently Available!
Can't make it to Panglao to train with us in person? No problem! Our team has poured their passion and expertise into creating an incredible app that brings the Freediving Academy experience to you, wherever you are.
The Apnea Assistant is completely free to use, with no premiums or annoying ads. It's packed with everything you need to improve your breath-hold, refine your technique, and deepen your freediving journey – from customizable training tables and guided breathing exercises to a detailed training log that tracks your progress. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned freediver, the Apnea Assistant will help you take your training to the next level.
Download it today and start training like a pro!
Disclaimer: The Freediving App provides tools and guidance for freediving training but should not be used as a substitute for professional instruction. Learning freediving involves essential safety practices and breathing techniques best taught in a supervised environment. We always recommend taking an intro or beginner freediving course with a certified instructor before utilizing the app.
We made an in-depth comparison of why we believe the Apnea Assistant is the best freediving app out there.
