I came to Panglao to visit friends and continue my freediving training, completing one dive with Paulo and six with Thor and Livia (not including a few pool sessions). Hands down, these were some of the best sessions I've ever had.
The conditions in Panglao are incredible. Because deep water is so close to shore, the swell is usually minimal. Just a 30-meter swim puts you right at a 50-meter drop-off, and a bit further out it goes past 70 meters I've been told (well beyond my current limits!).
On my first dive of the week, Paulo gave me super helpful equalisation advice to help me get back into the groove after more than a year away from line diving. In just one day, his calm, reflective feedback helped me relax and progress far further than I expected.
The next 5 dives with Livia and Thor were nothing short of magical. Their focus on relaxation above all else made incorporating their feedback on my technique feel gradual and natural. We systematically worked through small improvements I could make with every dive while keeping every session genuine fun. I never felt rushed and was able to really lean into enjoying the dive, the fish and the reef around while getting better at my dives.
Thanks to Paulo, Livia and Thor, I actually ticked off most of my Wave 3 requirements, far exceeding what I thought I could achieve during my time in Panglao.
