What Better Place to Change Your Life

Then on a Tropical Island like Panglao

Vincent is Leading all the Freediving Development Programs

We might very well have one most robust professional development programs in the world. Our very own Freedive Academy founder is responsible for the business development of the company and all the freedive instructor training programs.

“Our objective isn’t to get you certified. Our objective is to have you leave here as a knowledgable, highly skilled, and well-trained professional who is ready to take on their new life!”

The team has a hunger for learning and a passion for knowledge. With hard work and a love for the oceans, we build an incredible base for development programs. At the Freedive Academy Panglao, we can teach Molchanovs Instructor courses, all SSI Freedive Instructor levels, almost all Freediving Speciality Instructor courses, all SSI Swim Teacher Levels, all Mermaid Instructor courses, the React Right First Aid and Emergency First Responder Instructor course and all Life Guard Levels. Become a Pro in Panglao, and you’ll have an adventure of a lifetime.

Changing your Lifestyle Has Never Been So Much Fun!

Learning, Developing New Skills and Gaining Experience in a Tropical Paradise!

Maybe you want to do an Instructor Course for the new knowledge. Perhaps you want to do a course to teach your friends how to freedive. Or maybe you are done with your life back home, and are you looking for opportunities to change your lifestyle. There are many, many, many reasons why you could take an instructor course. Regardless of your motivation, when you decide to do a course, you want to do it at a proper development center. Travel to Panglao and train with skilled professionals and very experienced instructor trainers. Because at the Freedive Academy Panglao in Bohol, Philippines, you will find that special place you are looking for.

Being based on Panglao Island offers excellent opportunities for instructor development programs. First, Panglao is a luscious green island covered by palm, coconut and banana trees. Driving around the island on your scooter with shorts and flip-flops almost immediately makes you experience the flip-flop freediver lifestyle. The island has excellent facilities and restaurants and offers cheap but high-quality, long-term stay housing.

Furthermore, the groceries are cheap but very nice. The Filipino people are very friendly, caring and welcoming and arranging and extending a Visa is super easy in the Philippines – much easier than in any other Asian country.

The Freedive Academy is located on the Northside of the island – the beautiful, quiet, green and non-tourist side of the island with year-round near-perfect diving conditions!

The freediving center and facilities are brand-new and top-notch – designed by freedivers for freedivers!

Right in the middle of the academy ground, we have a two-lane 25-meter pool with a shallow water static area and sitting area, making the pool perfect for your instructor courses. It is ideal for the instructor course pool presentations and dynamic and static training. We’ve built you a very nice shaded outside chill-out area with a bamboo canopy. This pool-side terras has wall fans, nice tropical tunes playing on the speakers and a big couch where we regularly have people sleeping on – this is how you know you are at a good freediving center – we have people sleeping everywhere :).We use the same area for our stretching sessions and our gym equipment. Although it’s not too much gym equipment, the rowing and cycling machines, the dumbles, the TRX setup, battle ropes and gym balls make it the perfect environment for your apnea training. Inside the academy, we have the reception with a living room with a seating area, a retail shop, the kitchen and upstairs, and a large and dedicated instructor course classroom specifically designed for the long and intense instructor courses. And each of our classrooms is fully equipped with all the possible presentation tools you might need for your courses and presentations.

We’re located about 300 meters from shore. When we go to the ocean entry via shuttle or scooter, it’s only with a 15-meter swim – we’re literally crossing the famous Napaling shoal of Panglao sardines every day before we reach our first fixed dive lines. We have lines ready for you with depths of -50, -80 and -130 meters for those belonging to the world top. With year-round near-perfect diving conditions, freediving doesn’t get better than this. The water temperature ranges from 26 – 31C, and the visibility is usually around 30 meters and goes up to an easy 40 meters – we even had a few 50-meter days! With excellent year-round diving conditions, we can be very flexible and plan our course schedules wisely. With us, you will get the most out of your course.

This is What it Will Be Like Doing a Freediving Course with Us.

Please note; this video was shot at our first location. We still dive at the same reef but moved about 300 meters down the road to a brand-new and fully equipped dive center with bungalows and our two-lane 25-meter pool.

We run SSI Freediving Instructor Courses almost Every Month!

Because we’re a true Professional Freedive Instructor, Swim Teacher and Mermaid Instructor Development center we can run different Freediving Instructor Courses and Swim Teacher Courses every month. The below SSI programs are available, and we can offer them all as long term programs, including freediving internships with free housing and free staff lunches.

SSI Basic Instructor Course (SSI Scuba Instructor Cross Over)
SSI Instructor Course (Pool, Level 1 and 2)
SSI Level 3 or Specialist Instructor Upgrade
Freedive Instructor Cross Overs

Zero to Hero Freediving Program
Freedive Instructor Internship
Swim Teacher and Freediving Instructor Combo
Mermaid Instructor and Freediving Instructor Combo

You are choosing the Right Agency for your Freedive Instructor Course!

At the Freedive Academy, we teach SSI, AIDA and Molchanovs Freediving Instructor courses. On this page, you can see the differences between the different freediving instructor courses.

In 2015, when we started the dive center in Panglao, we primarily reached the Scuba Schools International systems courses. And starting with the SSI Freediving Courses and system was a great decision – it greatly benefited us as a dive center.

SSI has 50 years of experience teaching scuba courses since 1970 and has been teaching freediving since 2008 via progressive courses for both their recreational and professional levels. SSI is the only agency in the world that conduct its classes via international ISO standards guaranteeing safe practices, standards, and continuous high quality.

As an instructor, dive professional, or, like we were, a starting dive shop, you can count on SSI for support. You will have a global agency backing you up when you have questions. And your students will get their study material via their website or the MySSI mobile app. It was clear from the start that we couldn’t find a better partner than SSI.

Change your Lifestyle! Move to a Tropical Island!

At the Freedive Academy Panglao, we offer many possibilities to become a pro-freediver. We provide different instructor courses at all levels. We can offer them as a package with training and housing included. You can start a Zero to Hero program at any time. Or you can join our Freediving Instructor Internship, where you immediately gain experience working as a Freediving Instructor.

You’ll surely love what Panglao offers regardless of which package you choose!

Fill in the form today; check the possibilities. Usually, you’ll have an answer within hours.

The SSI Freediving Instructor Course!

Do you want to become a Professional? Then your Training Starts Here!

The people who want to change their lifestyle or gain more knowledge about freediving start with this course. This is the 10-day SSI FITC or SSI Freediving Instructor Training Course! It’s one extensive course suited for the three different entry-level instructor levels.

If you start this course, for example, after your Level 2 freediving course, you can become an SSI Level 1 Freediving Instructor. If you have finished your SSI Level 3 freediving course, you can become an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor. We aim to make everyone an SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor – being able to teach more freediving courses will give you greater flexibility as an instructor or future shop owner. But if you start after your Level 2 freediving course or have difficulty with some of the skills requirements, you can first focus on becoming an SSI Level 1 Freediving Instructor. Again, it’s the same course; you can even switch levels at the beginning of the course. And then later on, when you have a bit more experience, you can easily upgrade from SSI Level 1 Freediving Instructor to SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor.

We often organise these courses in Panglao. Candidates must have a valid CPR, AED, First Aid and Oxygen Provider certificate. The candidate must complete the Instructor Training record with the statement of understanding, a liability release and an SSI Dive Professional Agreement before the course too. Furthermore, the student must have a medical statement not older than one year signed off by a physician. The First Aid course and the medical can all be done in Panglao but must be completed before the course. And of course, lastly, the candidate has to have a minimum age of 18.

We Teach in one Freedive Instructor Course 3 Different Instructor Levels.

Below is an overview of the different levels, prerequisites and what you must do to qualify for a certain level.

SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor

The SSI Level 2 Freediving Instructor can teach Try Freediving, Basic Freediving, Pool Freediving and Level 1 and 2 Freediving.

Prerequisites: The candidate must have 100 logged dives, completed the Level 3 Freediving program, have a First Aid Certificate (no older than 2 years), and must hold the speciality certification for Free Immersion and Training Technique.

Duration: 12 days

Performance & Course Completion Requirements:

Constant Weight Bi Fins (CWTB): 40mtr. or 3 x 25mtr. with 1-minute rest
Dynamic Bi Fins (DYNB): 85mtr.
Static Breath-Hold: 4:00min.
20mtr. Standby Rescue (1min. Rescue Hang)

20mtr. BO Rescue (50mtr. tow incl. Rescue Breaths)
5x 20mtr. (1min. surface interval)
400mtr. Swim: In less than 10min.
800mtr. Swim with Equipment: In less than 15min.

* All skills need to be demonstrated with instructor level quality.

Price without package discount per person: $1350

Please note that before starting the SSI FITC, you will need to pay SSI for the first year annual and registration fee. Additional one-time fees with SSI are the Freedive Instructor Kit Level 1, the SSI Level 2 Upgrade Kit, and the mandatory wet slates (in-water writing board).

The total additional fee that you need to pay to SSI directly will be around $350. In the following years, your annual fee to stay active will be about $100.

SSI Level 1 Freediving Instructor

The SSI Level 1 Instructor can teach Try Freediving, Basic Freediving, Pool Freediving and Level 1 Freediving.

Prerequisites: The candidate must have 100 logged dives, have completed the Freediving Level 2 program, have a First Aid Certificate (no older than two years), and hold the speciality certification for Free Immersion and Training Technique.

Duration: 12 days

Performance & Course Completion Requirements:

Constant Weight Bi Fins (CWTB): 30mtr.
Dynamic Bi Fins (DYNB): 50mtr.
Static Breath-Hold: 2:30min.
Standby Rescue (1min. Rescue Hang): 15mtr.

BO Rescue (50mtr. tow incl. Rescue Breaths): 15mtr.
5x 15mtr. (1min. surface interval)
400mtr. Swim: In less than 10min.
800mtr. Swim with Equipment: In less than 15min.

* All skills need to be demonstrated with instructor level quality.

Price without package discount per person: $1350

Please note that before starting the SSI FITC, you will need to pay SSI for the first year annual and registration fee. Additional one-time fees with SSI are the Freedive Instructor Kit Level 1 and the mandatory wet slates (in-water writing board).

The total additional fee that you need to pay to SSI directly will be around $300. In the following years, your annual fee to stay active will be about $100.

Please Note: We can certify you as an SSI Pool Freediving Instructor, but in reality, we never do this. As an SSI Level 1 or Level 2 Instructor, you can also teach the pool courses, and since we have a fantastic dive spot, we always certify the candidates as Level 1 or 2 Freediving Instructors.

SSI Pool Freediving Instructor

The SSI Pool Instructor can teach Try Freediving, Basic Freediving and Pool Freediving.

Prerequisites: The candidate must have 50 logged dives, and completed the Freediving Level 1 program, have a First Aid Certificate (no older than 2 years), and must hold the speciality certification Training Techniques.

Duration: 10 days

Performance & Course Completion Requirements:

Dynamic Bi Fins (DYNB): 50mtr.
Dynamic No Fins (DNF): 25mtr.

Static Breath-Hold: 2:30min.
DYN Rlack Out Rescue: 2 - 4mtr.

* All skills need to be demonstrated with instructor level quality.

Price without package discount per person: $1350

Please note that before starting the SSI FITC, you will need to pay SSI for the first year annual and registration fee. Additional one-time fees with SSI are the Freedive Instructor Kit Level 1 and the mandatory wet slates (in-water writing board).

The total additional fee that you need to pay to SSI directly will be around $300. In the following years, your annual fee to stay active will be about $100.

We run the SSI Freediving Instructor courses pretty much every two months. Usually, we teach them in English. Dutch is possible too, and if you prefer another language, please contact us since we also regularly work with translators.

If you want a quick reply, please use the short form on this page.

For more detailed information about Courses, Accommodation, Prices, etc. Please follow the below links.

For more detailed information, please fill in this form.

Change your Lifestyle! Move to a Tropical Island!

At the Freedive Academy Panglao, we offer many possibilities to become a pro-freediver. We offer different instructor courses at all levels. We can offer them as a package with training and housing included. You can start a Zero to Hero program at any time. Or, every quarter, we have our Freediving Instructor Internships starting. With both, you can immediately gain experience working as a Freediving Instructor.

Regardless of which package you choose, you’ll definitely love what Panglao has to offer!

Fill in the form today, just check the possibilities. Usually you’ll have an answer within hours.

The Next Level SSI Freedive Instructor Upgrade Courses

We can teach almost all Specialities and SSI Instructor levels!

You have been teaching freediving courses for a while, perhaps you have your own freediving center, and you have a good number of certifications under your belt. Then it’s time to take your Instructor capabilities to the next level.

For most freediving Instructors, the next logical step would be the SSI Level 3 Instructor Course so that they can also teach the SSI Level 3 Freediving Courses. Others might be tempted to start with Professional Development Courses and choose the Specialist Instructor Course so they can also teach Basic Freediving Instructor Courses.

Whatever course you choose, Freediving in the Philippines is incredible, and the Freedive Academy Panglao got you covered with all possible SSI levels!

SSI Basic Freediving Instructor (SSI Scuba Cross-Over)

The SSI Basic Freediving Instructor can teach Try Freediving and Basic Freediving.

Prerequisites: The cross-over candidate must be an SSI Dive Control Specialist or SSI Assistant Instructor.

Duration: 1 day

Performance & Course Completion Requirements: The candidate must be able to complete and demonstrate all skills as outlined in the Basic Freediver Training Manual.

SSI Freediving Specialist Instructor

The SSI Freediving Specialist Instructor can teach Basic Instructor Courses.

Prerequisites: The upgrade candidate must be, at minimum, a Freediving Level 1 Instructor with at least 30 Basic or Level 1 certifications and assisted in at least 1 Instructor Training Program.

Duration: 3 days

Performance & Course Completion Requirements: The candidate must be able to complete and demonstrate all skills as outlined in the Freediving Specialist Instructor Manual.

SSI Level 3 Freediving Instructor

The SSI Level 3 Instructor can teach all recreational freediving levels.

Prerequisites: The upgrade candidate must be a Freediving Level 2 Instructor with at least 30 Pool or Level 1 certifications and issued at least 20 Freediving Level 2 certifications.

Duration: 3 days

Performance & Course Completion Requirements:

Constant Weight Bi Fins (CWTB): 50mtr.
Dynamic Bi Fins (DYNB): 85mtr.
FRC Dive (Mouthfill at 5mtr.): 25mtr.

Standby Rescue (1min. Rescue Hang): 20mtr.
BO Rescue (50mtr. tow incl. Rescue Breaths): 20mtr

* All skills need to be demonstrated with instructor level quality.

Price per person: $650

Be sure to contact us; Package Discount may apply.

The above price includes taxes, snorkelling fee, freediving gear rental, and facility use.

If you want a quick reply, please use the short form on this page.

For more detailed information about Courses, Accommodation, Prices, etc. Please follow the below links.

For more detailed information, please fill in this form.

Change your Lifestyle! Move to a Tropical Island!

At the Freedive Academy Panglao, we offer a wide range of possibilities to become a pro freediver. We offer different single-instructor courses. We can offer them as a package with training and housing included. We also offer options like joining our Freediving Instructor Internship, where you immediately gain experience working as a Freediving Instructor.

Regardless of your chosen package, you’ll undoubtedly love what Panglao offers you!

Fill in the form today, just check the possibilities. Usually, you’ll have an answer within hours.

Doing More than ‘Just’ a Freedive Instructor Course.

An Instructor Course can be much more than just 10 or 13 days of Studying!

You now know about our Freediving Center in the Philippines. You know about the SSI Freedive Instructor Courses that we run here in Panglao. That we run them every other month, we dive from shore without a boat, and you might even have read about all the things you can do in Panglao. We can offer so much more than ‘just’ a Freediving Instructor Course.

Panglao Island is a beautiful green island in the heart of the Philippines. And thanks to its geographical location and the unique location of the academy, we can offer fantastic near-perfect freediving conditions year-round. Add to that; the life on the island, great restaurants, bars, cheap but great grocery shopping, lots of activities for your days off and nice and affordable long-term housing, then you realise that Panglao is perfect for a long-term stay. And because the Freedive Academy Panglao can offer so much more than ‘just’ an instructor course, many of our visitors decide to stay here longer and combine their Instructor Course with training or one of our other programs. Have a look, and see what fits you!

Join us with one of the following Freedive Instructor Development programs.

Molchanovs, SSI or AIDA Instructor Combo

The Molchanovs, SSI or AIDA Freediving Instructor Combo

It doesn't matter if you do a Zero to Hero, a freediving internship or a single instructor course with training; with the Freedive Academy Freediving Instructor Combo, you get the best of two worlds!

First, please note; this is not a 2-in-1 course - you won't get two certifications with one course! The Freedive Instructor Combo is an entire Instructor course followed by an Instructor crossover course.

Some guests want to do the SSI Instructor course because this course, like no other, prepares them to become proper dive professionals. Some want to become Molchanovs or AIDA instructors because of the flexibility the agencies offer.

The Freedive Academy runs SSI & Molchanovs, SSI & AIDA and Molchanovs & AIDA combo courses.

We are saving time with performance requirements that are often the same between the different agencies. We're saving time discussing and demonstrating the skills. An excellent example is also, with the SSI and AIDA Instructor Course, we add instructor candidate skills video review, which is usually only done with the Molchanovs FITC. We are adding more value to the different courses, running both courses more efficiently and thus can do the crossover in a shorter time frame and, therefore, cheaper. This is one fantastic and compact package for both certificates! Truly the best of both worlds.

Price without package discount per person: $1750

Please note that the above price does not include the mandatory ~$350 SSI fee for the registration and annual membership fee, the freedive instructor kit level 1, the SSI level 2 upgrade kit, and wet slates. Also, the first-year yearly fee to become an active AIDA or Molcanovs Instructor needs to be paid directly to the agency. The prices with Molchanovs are currently set at $150 per year, and AIDA is now € 50 a year.

Zero to Hero Freediving Program

You love the water, you love to swim, and you want to do something incredible! You’ve seen the freedivers in videos or when you were doing scuba, and you know that this freediving ‘thingy’ is something for you. You are meant to be a freediver! The Zero to Hero freediving program lets you start with the Freediver Level 1 or Level 2 course and will end with you becoming a Freediving Instructor.

Swim and Freediving Instructor Combo

A first in the industry! We are very proud to be the world’s first freediving centre to offer all SSI Swim Teacher Courses. Whether you want to teach kids, baby swimming, adult or competitive swimming – getting a swim teacher certificate is a great way to increase earnings and gain more business opportunities. When you do your Freedive Instructor Course with us, you can get up to a 35% discount on all Swim Teacher Programs.

Freedive Instructor Internship

You are sure you want to make freediving your profession – and why not! Who wouldn’t want the flip-flop lifestyle on a tropical island like Panglao? The Freedive Academy Panglao offers the possibility of training and gaining solid experience working at a freedive center. After your training in the afternoons, you’ll help out around the center or retail shop, and in exchange for your work, you get a significant discount on the course prices. We provide our interns with basic housing and free lunch too. You’ll be a skilled freediver and experienced instructor at the end of your Freediving Internship!

Instructor Course Cross-Overs

You might be an SSI Scuba Instructor or a Freediving Instructor with AIDA, CMAS, PADI, or any of the other agencies. In most cases, a cross-over to SSI shouldn’t be a problem. Here you will find the Freediving Courses Equivalency Chart.

The SSI Freedive Instructor Course Schedule

We run SSI Instructor Courses pretty much every 1,5 months now!

You must schedule your trip wisely. The start of your Zero to Hero freediving program should be planned around your instructor course. Although you can come earlier or leave later, your freediving internship is also scheduled around your instructor course. If you do ‘only’ an instructor course with us, arriving in Panglao the day before your course starts is not uncommon but makes it very challenging.

Please feel free to contact us anytime with any scheduling questions you may have.

Since the Philippines opened up for international tourists, things have really picked up. Not only have we booked quite a few instructor courses in Panglao but have we decided to continue with the online courses and cross overs - they are a lot of fun!

If the below dates are not in line with your schedule, please don't hesitate to contact us. We expect that we'll be running at least two instructor courses - online and offline - each month and are more than happy to schedule one according to your schedule!

Aug. 25 - 27, 2023

SSI Swim Teacher Level 1