Swim Teacher and Freediving Instructor Courses are a Perfect Match!
Our founder and company owner Vincent Sparreboom is responsible for the Swim Teacher programs within the Freedive Academy Panglao.
Vincent is Freediving Instructor Trainer, an avid swimmer, and has a passion for our oceans and conservation work.
Being a Freediving Instructor and entrepreneur, Vincent started looking for additional services to offer more value to our students, and thus he began an intense training program with SSI.
The Freedive Academy is now the only dive center in the world where you can also become a certified Swim Teacher. We offer all SSI, Molchanovs, AIDA Freediving Education levels, and all possible SSI Swim Teacher courses.
First and foremost, we are a Professional Freediving Development Center!
We have been running SSI Freediving Instructor courses since 2014 (with Freedive Academy Panglao since the start in 2018), which has been a big success – we are now running SSI, AIDA, and Molchanovs Instructor Courses almost every month. But after talking to so many instructors and instructor candidates, we’ve noticed that these future instructors and shop owners are looking for additional ways to generate income. And combining freediving courses and swim classes in countries like the Philippines, where 95% of people can’t swim, is the perfect combo.
Of course, we continue running the Freediving Instructor courses in Panglao, but from September 2017, we started offering our guests the option to do a Swim Teacher course, too. We are very proud to say that we are the only freediving center in the world to offer the two – let alone provide all levels of both!
This is how it is to take a Freediving or Swim Teacher Course with us in Panglao!
Please note that this video was shot at our first location. We still dive at the same incredible Napaling Reef with the sardines but moved about 300 meters down the road to a brand-new and fully equipped dive center with bungalows and a two-lane 25-meter pool.
Becoming a Certified Swim Schools International Swim Teacher!
Swim Schools International started from the passion of several aquatic professionals from both the swimming and scuba diving worlds. They intended to create a worldwide, standardized program for swim instruction, open to anyone who wants to better their abilities and level of swim teaching.
Swim Schools International provides education materials, swim teacher training, and certifications for Swim Teachers, Trainers, and Aquatic Training Facilities worldwide. In the short time they started with the program, SSI now stands as one of the leaders in progressive swim education and is a role model for global swim teaching standards. Their initiatives, standards, and certification requirements ensure that certified teachers can meet the needs and abilities of swimmers of all ages – from 3 months old to adulthood.
Swim Teacher Courses of ALL Levels!
Whether you are a freediver, a swimmer, or a water enthusiast, becoming a swim teacher is a great way to share your passion for the oceans or the underwater world.
But it’s not just about sharing your passion for the water. You are teaching people a necessary life skill. With the SSI Swim Teacher programs, you can teach swimming everywhere.
Fill in the form today. Just check our availability. Usually, you’ll have an answer within hours.
The 4 Levels of Swim Teacher Education!
Progressive Education for Babies to Seniors
As a Swim Teacher candidate, you can take a single course or multiple courses or join a 7-day program to complete all possible levels.
Swim Teacher: Level 1
- Aquatike I
- Aquatike II
- Aquatike III
- Preschool Beginner
- Advanced Preschool Beginner
- Beginner I
- Beginner II
- Beginner III
Built for the 3-year-old with no swimming experience, the Aquatike I class focuses on comfort in the water, with a final goal is to swim 2M (7ft) with reach & pull and a 10 count with the face underwater.
Prerequisites: The child must be 3 years old
Swimming Skills: None
Final Goals: Swim 2M (7ft) With Reach & Pull, 10 Count Face Underwater
The Aquatike II class follows the Aquatike I class’ final goal of swimming 2M (7ft) with reach & pull and a 10 count with the face underwater.
Prerequisites: The child must be 3 years old
Swimming Skills: Swim 2M (7ft) With Reach & Pull, 10 Count Face Underwater
Final Goals: Swim 3M (10ft) With Windmill Arms, Getting Front Breath With Assistance; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
It was built for the 3-year-old who has moved past the Aquatike II level and is ready for more challenge but hasn’t turned 4 years old yet.
Prerequisites: The child must be 3 years old
Swimming Skills: Swim 3M (10ft) With Windmill Arms, Getting Front Breath With Assistance; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
Final Goals: Swim 6M (20ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath With Assistance & Resume Windmill Arms To Destination; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion.
Built for the 4-5-year-old who has no swimming experience.
Prerequisites: The child must be 4-5 years old
Swimming Skills: None
Final Goals: Swim 3M (10ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath With Assistance; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
It was built for the 4-5-year-old who has moved past the final goals of Preschool Beginner but has yet to turn 6 years old.
Prerequisites: The child must be 4-5 years old
Swimming Skills: Swim 3M (10ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath With Assistance; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
Final Goals: Swim 6M (20ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath & With Assistance, Resume Windmill Arms To Destination; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
It was built for all beginner swimmers with no previous swimming experience, anywhere in the age range of 6 years to 17 years old.
Prerequisites: The swimmer must be no younger than 6 years old but not older than 17
Swimming Skills: None
Final Goals: Swim 6M (20ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath With Assistance & Resume Windmill Arms To Destination; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion.
It was built for beginner swimmers with some previous swimming experience, anywhere in the age range of 6 years to 17 years old.
Prerequisites: The swimmer must be no younger than 6 years old but not older than 17
Swimming Skills: Swim 6M (20ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath With Assistance & Resume Windmill Arms To Destination; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
Final Goals: Swim 12M (40ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath Independently & Resume Windmill Arms To Destination; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion.
It was built for beginner swimmers with some previous swimming experience, anywhere in the age range of 6 years to 17 years old.
Prerequisites: The swimmer must be no younger than 6 years old but not older than 17
Swimming Skills: Swim 12M (40ft) With Windmill Arms, Get Front Breath Independently & Resume Windmill Arms To Destination; Must Use Arms & Legs In Forward Motion
Final Goals: Swim 12M (40ft) With Windmill Arms, Independent Rollover Breathing
The course duration is 3 days
Price per person: $480
Be sure to contact us. Group or Package Discounts may apply.
The above price includes taxes, rental of gear and tools, use of the facility, study materials, and certification fees.
Swim Teacher: Level 2
Built for intermediate swimmers to begin work on competitive strokes. The Intermediate I class focuses on development and technique of the Freestyle stroke.
Prerequisite: Swim 12M (40ft) With Windmill Arms, Independent Rollover Breathing
Final Goals: 25M (80ft) Freestyle, Get Side Breath
Developed for intermediate swimmers to build on competitive strokes. The Intermediate II class focuses on the development and technique of the Competitive Backstroke.
Prerequisite: 25M (80ft) Freestyle, Get Side Breath
Final Goals: Freestyle 25M (80ft) Bilateral Breathing; Elementary Backstroke 25M (80ft)
Built for advanced swimmers to build on competitive strokes. The Advanced I class focuses on the development and technique of Breaststroke.
Prerequisite: Freestyle 25M (80ft) Bilateral Breathing; Elementary Backstroke 25M (80ft)
Final Goals: Freestyle 50M (160ft) Bilateral Breathing; Breaststroke 25M (80ft); Competitive Backstroke 25M (80ft)
Built for advanced swimmers to build on competitive strokes. The Advanced II class focuses on the development and technique of the Butterfly stroke.
Prerequisite: Freestyle 50M (160ft) Bilateral Breathing; Breaststroke 25M (80ft); Competitive Backstroke 25M (80ft)
Final Goals: Freestyle 25M (80ft) Bilateral Breathing; Breaststroke 25M (80ft); Competitive Backstroke 25M (80ft); Butterfly 25M (80ft)
Built for advanced swimmers to work on speed and endurance using the four competitive strokes: Freestyle, Competitive Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly.
Prerequisite: Freestyle 25M (80ft) Bilateral Breathing; Breaststroke 25M (80ft); Competitive Backstroke 25M (80ft); Butterfly 25M (80ft)
Final Goals: 800M (2600ft) Freestyle 400M (1300ft) IM Without Any Disqualifying Techniques
Course duration is 2 days.
Price per person: $375
Be sure to contact us. Group or Package Discounts may apply.
The above price includes taxes, gear and tools rental, facility use, study materials, and certification fees.
Swim Teacher: Adult
Teaching an adult non-swimmer to swim is often not easy, so SSI offers two levels for adults aged 18 and over. Often the fear of the water far outweighs a technical inability, so we begin by focusing on comfort in the water and using tools to aid in decreasing anxiety. Then gradually, those tools are removed, eventually leading to an adult that feels safe and comfortable in the water. Neither the Adult Beginner nor Adult Advanced classes are intended to produce competitive swimmers, although that is certainly welcome. Instead, the focus is on comfort and ability in the water and removing fear.
The basics of this class are the same as the Beginner I-III levels for the younger swimmers but tuned to the unique needs and abilities of adults.
Prerequisites: Age 18+, No previous swimming skills required
Final Goals: 2 Minute Tread, 2 Minute Back Float & 20M (65ft) Swim With No Flotation Equipment
Once the fear of the water is mostly overcome, the focus shifts to technical training. The Adult Advanced program introduces competitive swim strokes to the adult swimmer: Freestyle, Competitive Backstroke, Breaststroke & Butterfly.
Prerequisites: Age 18+, 2 Minute Tread, 2 Minute Back Float & 20M (65ft) Swim With No Flotation Equipment
Final Goals: 5 Minute Tread, 40M (130ft) Freestyle & 40M (130ft) Elementary Backstroke
Course duration is 2 days.
Price per person: $375
Be sure to contact us. Group or Package Discounts may apply.
The above price includes taxes, gear and tools rental, facility use, study materials, and certification fees.
Swim Teacher: Baby & Me
The Swim Schools International Baby & Me class centers on gaining comfort in the water for 6-month-old to 36-month-old children. Instead of parents sitting idly by while the class takes place, this is one-on-one time with parent and child, all under the direction and supervision of a certified SSI Baby & Me Swim Teacher.
Our Aquababy swimmer level is the intermediate step for children in the Baby & Me class who have completed the skills for that level but have yet to reach the age of 36 months old. This level introduces independence from the parent, having the certified SSI Baby & Me Swim Teacher performing all of the hands-on teachings in the water while the parent sits in direct supervision on the edge of the pool. This class can aid children in becoming more independent from their parents and helps foster a learning bond between the child and their swim teacher while keeping a parent close by if need requires.
Prerequisites: Must Have Been Previously Enrolled In SSI Baby & Me Class,
Can Hold Breath For 10 Seconds, Can Swim 1M (3ft) In The Water Independently
Final Goals: Swim 2M (7ft) With Assisted Breath Using Arms & Legs, Independent Back Float, Independent Jump, Turn & Grab The Wall
Course duration is 2 days.
Price per person: $375
Be sure to contact us. Group or Package Discounts may apply.
The above price includes taxes, rental of gear and tools, use of the facility, study materials, and certification fees.
The Swim Teacher Courses are taught in English and Dutch. If you prefer another language, please contact us – we regularly work with translators.
The Full Swim Teacher Education Package!
As a Swim Teacher, you can now teach all levels and all ages.
If you want to do all 4 swim teacher courses, we can reduce the course duration to 7 days instead of 9 days. And instead of the $1590, you’ll pay $1250. We also offer special package prices in combination with our Freediving Instructor courses. Please get in touch with us for more information.
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For more detailed information about Courses, Accommodation, Prices, etc. Please follow the below links.