Teaching Areas:

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  2 ‘smaller’ classrooms suited for 4 students – but with plenty of space left to accomodate at least 8 students each.
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  1 Instructor Training classroom suited for 10 students build for our SSI Instructor Courses, Molchanovs Instructor Courses and Workshops.
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  We have a bamboo canopy with relax area and deck directly pool-side which we use for our scheduled yoga classes, stretching sessions and occasional pranayama and meditation classes.

Pool Area:

We extended the pool to a two-lane 25-meter pool with a shallow water static area. The pool has comfortable shallow-water sitting areas for the spectators – or for those who just want to chill out in the pool :). From time-to-time we’ll still travel to the 50-meter Olympic pool in Tagbilaran via a 20-minute scooter ride.

Open Air Gym and Exercise Area:

We have a small (but big enough) outdoor gym area which we equipped with several home trainers for apnea cycling and apnea rowing. We added a corner for dumble training and other basic strength training. The outdoor area has a TRX set up, gym and balancing balls, battle ropes and a pull-up bar. This gym is free to use for those joining us for master training or anyone who does a freediving course with us.

Restaurant and Lounge Areas:

Next is the opening of our brand new restaurant ‘The Bottom Plate’ late May, early June. We will be serving (mostly local and organic) strictly vegetarian and vegan meals that not only look spectacular but are each super healthy and perfect for athletes, seekers of depth and adventurers.

Furthermore, we’ll have several shaded outside areas for people to hang out and chill (read; sleep) after their sessions.

9 Large Luxury Bamboo Bungalows:

The first five bamboo sports bungalows are finished and they look incredible. The final four bungalows will be built during the low season of 2020 which will be in our around August. All bamboo bungalows have high-grade heat isolation and are equipped with A/C’s and humidifiers, ventilators, warm water shower, whiteboard for scheduling your training, mini-refrigerator, and each have their own dedicated high-speed fibre internet connection.

The Building, and what’s Next.

And of course, the remainder of the facility is top-notch too. We have a big reception, lounge and shop area, a nice office, showers and locker rooms. Everything that a proper freediving center needs to operate efficiently.

We are working some incredible ideas, but it’s way too early to go public with this 🙂 But when everything is finished – hopefully, by the end of the year, we’ll have the most incredible dive center and much more we could ever hope for.

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  You, our customer gave us the belief we could actually pull this off. You came by the hundreds and loved what we were doing. Thank you for everything! You freaking rock!

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  And big big big thank you to our instructors, staff and interns. With well over 20 staff members world-wide we are a big center but thanks to you we were able to keep the family and personal atmosphere. You are the Freedive Academy Panglao, and we couldn’t be happier with our freediving family! Thank you!

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  And last but not least; the investors. Thank you for the trust you have in our plans, dreams, wishes and goals – it’s truly incredible! We are proud to call you our friends!

* We’ll continue to update this page with the developments of the center. Last page update was in January 2021.

Spectacular Freediving in the Philippines!

With Panglao Island as the Freedive Capital of Asia!

Panglao labelled by many as ‘The Freedive Capital of Asia’ is a beautiful green island. Panglao is connected via two bridges to the larger island Bohol and is located in the Central Visayas Region of South-Central Philippines. It is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines, and that is not for no reason.

The island enjoys a tropical climate all year round. We are based on the Northside of Panglao Island, and because we’re ‘protected’ by the much larger islands Cebu and Bohol, we are often spared from wind, waves and strong current. This makes that we enjoy perfect freediving conditions nearly all year round. And as the only center in the Philippines – pretty much Asia – we can dive without any depth limitations at our fixed dive lines just a short swim from shore.

Panglao is renowned for its beautiful green everywhere! It’s stunning coral reefs and incredible dive spots, it’s white sandy beaches, and numerous hangouts all nature lovers will enjoy. So is Bohol, for example, home of the world-famous nature park the Chocolate Hills known for its extraordinary landscape.

Aside from its natural beauty, Bohol has many historical and cultural riches dating back to the Spanish colonial era. Limestone churches, museums and monuments such as the Blood Compact Shrine are all very impressive and worth visiting.

Panglao hotels and resorts offer high standard accommodations/services, modern amenities, and top-class facilities to their guests. The serenity of the whole island makes Panglao a perfect place for unwinding and relaxation. Whether you’re a budget diver or want to go on a more luxurious freediving vacation. The Freedive Academy Panglao will make your stay an escape to paradise where you can have the best and most comfortable stay you could ever wish for.

But besides the near-perfect diving conditions, the island has become popular with freedivers, because of the many high-quality restaurants and lively nightlife of the island. Whether you like your steaks on a grill, your pasta’s or organic vegan and vegetarian food; Panglao has it all!

How is the Freediving in Panglao, and what are the Dive Conditions?!

The freediver travels to Panglao either via a direct flight from Manilla to Panglao International Airport or via Cebu International Airport. From Cebu, it’s a short 20-minute flight or 2-hour ferry, and both options are possible many times a day. It’s a 1-hour flight from Manilla. And then when the freediver arrives in paradise Panglao, checks-in in one of the many budget or deluxe resorts, or visits the center after he found his resort, it’s time for a swim. The Freediving Center is located at only 300 meters from the entry point, reefs and dive lines.

We have fixed dive and surface lines. With a 15 meter swim, we have 50-meter depth. This first ‘shallow’ fixed-line we use for the freediving courses, but we can cater to all deep divers with our 80 and 130-meter lines. And because of the center’s ideal and unique location on the island, we rarely have any current. We are very very very (!) proud to say that we are the ONLY center in the world with a fixed 130-meter buoy – we love our drop-off!! And whether you need a 20, 30, 80 or 120-meter line, with us, you simply tell our guys the time you prefer to go out, they prepare and bring the buoy to the ocean side. With us, you don’t have to worry about the session times of other freedivers.

We don’t need a taxi or pickup truck to get to the ocean side, and with 130 meter fixed lines without much current, year-round water temperatures of around 30°C, most days around 30 and up to 40-meter visibility, and a fantastic house reef, with the rare mantas, dolphins, whales and whale sharks visitors, freediving doesn’t get better than this.

Spectacular Freediving in the Philippines!

With Panglao Island as the Freedive Capital of Asia!

Panglao labelled by many as ‘The Freedive Capital of Asia’ is a beautiful green island. Panglao is connected via two bridges to the larger island Bohol and is located in the Central Visayas Region of South-Central Philippines. It is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines, and that is not for no reason.

The island enjoys a tropical climate all year round. We are based on the Northside of Panglao Island, and because we’re ‘protected’ by the much larger islands Cebu and Bohol, we are often spared from wind, waves and strong current. This makes that we enjoy perfect freediving conditions nearly all year round. And as the only center in the Philippines – pretty much Asia – we can dive without any depth limitations at our fixed dive lines just a short swim from shore.

Panglao is renowned for its beautiful green everywhere! It’s stunning coral reefs and incredible dive spots, it’s white sandy beaches, and numerous hangouts all nature lovers will enjoy. So is Bohol, for example, home of the world-famous nature park the Chocolate Hills known for its extraordinary landscape.

Aside from its natural beauty, Bohol has many historical and cultural riches dating back to the Spanish colonial era. Limestone churches, museums and monuments such as the Blood Compact Shrine are all very impressive and worth visiting.

Panglao hotels and resorts offer high standard accommodations/services, modern amenities, and top-class facilities to their guests. The serenity of the whole island makes Panglao a perfect place for unwinding and relaxation. Whether you’re a budget diver or want to go on a more luxurious freediving vacation. The Freedive Academy Panglao will make your stay an escape to paradise where you can have the best and most comfortable stay you could ever wish for.

But besides the near-perfect diving conditions, the island has become popular with freedivers, because of the many high-quality restaurants and lively nightlife of the island. Whether you like your steaks on a grill, your pasta’s or organic vegan and vegetarian food; Panglao has it all!

How is the Freediving in Panglao, and what are the Dive Conditions?!

The freediver travels to Panglao either via a direct flight from Manilla to Panglao International Airport or via Cebu International Airport. From Cebu, it’s a short 20-minute flight or 2-hour ferry, and both options are possible many times a day. It’s a 1-hour flight from Manilla. And then when the freediver arrives in paradise Panglao, checks-in in one of the many budget or deluxe resorts, or visits the center after he found his resort, it’s time for a swim. The Freediving Center is located at only 300 meters from the entry point, reefs and dive lines.

We have fixed dive and surface lines. With a 15 meter swim, we have 50-meter depth. This first ‘shallow’ fixed-line we use for the freediving courses, but we can cater to all deep divers with our 80 and 130-meter lines. And because of the center’s ideal and unique location on the island, we rarely have any current. We are very very very (!) proud to say that we are the ONLY center in the world with a fixed 130-meter buoy – we love our drop-off!! And whether you need a 20, 30, 80 or 120-meter line, with us, you simply tell our guys the time you prefer to go out, they prepare and bring the buoy to the ocean side. With us, you don’t have to worry about the session times of other freedivers.

We don’t need a taxi or pickup truck to get to the ocean side, and with 130 meter fixed lines without much current, year-round water temperatures of around 30°C, most days around 30 and up to 40-meter visibility, and a fantastic house reef, with the rare mantas, dolphins, whales and whale sharks visitors, freediving doesn’t get better than this.