What a great experience!
I'd done some snorkeling/spearfishing/freediving before so initially I was a bit skeptical about doing a course in freediving and spending the money on it too.
How wrong I was! Honestly from the first session in the classroom my instructor Ven (an absolute legend) proved the money and the time was going to be well spent. The information about the physiology and mechanics of freediving was invaluable and whilst available online, nothing hits it home better than a super informed coach teaching you face to face.
If, like me, you've spent a long time messing around snorkeling and freediving then the main reason why I'd so highly recommend the Freedive Academy Panglao, and in particular a level 1 Freediving course, is safety. I had very little knowledge of the dangers and risks and in the past probably came closer to those dangers than I'd care to admit. Understanding the changes that happen in the body and being mindful of them is the biggest takeaway I've gotten by doing this course.
In the water I felt safe and supported at all times, again shout out to my instructor, Ven, who pushed me to find my limits and safely push past them. By the end of the course I'd dived to 18m and held my breath for 3:49! Both things I had little expectation of achieving at the start.
The spot is beautiful, Napaling Reef is a stunning wall that drops away for 35m and is home to a school of at least a thousand sardines that whirl and dash through the water as you chase them. It can get busy but if you get out early you miss the crowds (mostly)
All in all I had a fantastic time pushing some pretty cool limits in a safe, professional environment, will 1000% be returning to do my Level 2.
:)
