Why Camotes Freediving Is More Than Just a Freediving School
What makes Camotes Freediving different?
People often ask me, “What makes Camotes Freediving different?” Sometimes they expect me to talk about our platforms. Or our facilities. Or my competition results. Those things certainly matter. But they’re not the first things that come to mind. Because when I think about Camotes Freediving, I don’t think about buildings. I think about people. I think about the student who arrived convinced they could never hold their breath for two minutes… …and left smiling after doing it with ease. I think about the friendships that started over lunch after a morning dive. I think about former students who return every year—not because they need another certification, but because Camotes feels like home. That’s what Camotes Freediving has become. A school. A community. And, for many people, a place where they discover a different version of themselves.
From My Experience: I’m proudest not of the records we’ve set, but of the community we’ve built around learning and sharing the ocean.
Why Camotes Island Is One of the Best Places in the World to Learn Freediving
We Don’t Teach Numbers
One of the biggest misconceptions about freediving is that it’s all about numbers. Depth. Time. Distance. Of course, those things are part of the sport. But if that’s all you remember after your course, I think we’ve missed something. What I really hope students leave with is confidence. Confidence in the water. Confidence in themselves. Confidence in their ability to stay calm when life becomes uncomfortable. Those lessons are far more valuable than a depth certificate.
Coach’s Tip: If you leave a course with more confidence, better friends and a deeper connection to the ocean, that’s success.
The Ocean Is the Classroom
Some of the best lessons don’t happen in front of a whiteboard. They happen underwater. When you realise that forcing never works. When you discover that relaxation is more powerful than effort When you understand that patience almost always beats ambition. Those are freediving lessons. But they’re also life lessons. The ocean has an incredible way of teaching them.
Everyone Starts Somewhere
One of my favourite moments is watching beginners on their first morning. They’re often nervous. They wonder if they’ll be able to equalize. They’re worried about holding their breath. Some even apologise in advance because they think they’ll be “bad students.” Then, a few days later… They’re smiling. Relaxed. Encouraging the next group of beginners. It’s amazing how quickly confidence grows when people are given the right environment.
Progress Looks Different for Everyone
Not everyone dreams of diving to 40 metres. Or 80 metres. Or 130 metres. And that’s perfectly fine. For one person, success might be completing their first duck dive. For another, it might be becoming an instructor. For someone else, it might simply be feeling relaxed in the ocean for the first time in their life. Every one of those achievements deserves to be celebrated. Because progress isn’t measured against other people. It’s measured against who you were yesterday.
A Place Where Questions Are Welcome
I’ve always believed that the best students ask lots of questions. Why does equalization work this way? Why do contractions happen? Why does relaxation make such a difference? Curiosity makes better freedivers. That’s why we encourage questions—not just during classroom sessions, but throughout the day. Some of my favourite conversations have happened over coffee after training or while reviewing dive videos together. Learning doesn’t stop when the lesson ends.
Serious About Learning. Relaxed About Everything Else.
People sometimes assume that because we coach athletes and instructor candidates, the atmosphere must be intense. The reality is almost the opposite. We take coaching seriously. We take safety seriously. We take education seriously. But we don’t take ourselves too seriously. You’ll probably hear plenty of laughter on the boat. Lunches often last longer than planned because everyone is talking. Someone is usually showing underwater photos from the morning. Another group is already planning dinner. The atmosphere stays relaxed because we believe people learn better when they enjoy the process.
The Community Is the Heart of Camotes
Over the years, something unexpected happened. Students started coming back. Then they started bringing friends. Then they returned again. Some came back as instructor candidates. Others came back simply because they missed the people. That was never part of the business plan. It happened naturally. Today, one of the things I’m most proud of isn’t our facilities or our achievements. It’s hearing someone say, “It feels like coming home.”
The Goal Was Never to Build the Biggest School
If my goal had been to build the biggest freediving centre in the Philippines, we would have made very different decisions. We would teach larger groups. Run more courses at the same time. Move students through more quickly. Instead, we’ve always preferred a different approach. Small groups. Time for individual coaching. Time to answer questions. Time to share lunch. Time to celebrate progress. Growth has never been our main objective. Quality has.
What I Hope You Remember
Years from now… You probably won’t remember exactly how long your static breath hold was. Or every detail from the classroom. You’ll remember the feeling. The excitement before your first open-water dive. The silence at depth. The people you met. The sunsets after training. The confidence you discovered. Those are the memories that stay with us.
Why I Still Love Teaching
People sometimes ask me why I continue teaching when I also compete. The answer is simple. Watching someone achieve their first successful dive still makes me smile. Watching a student overcome fear is every bit as rewarding as reaching a new personal best myself. Competition challenges me as an athlete. Teaching reminds me why I fell in love with freediving in the first place.
More Than a Course
When you book a course at Camotes Freediving, you’re obviously learning freediving. But I hope you leave with something else as well. A better understanding of yourself. A deeper appreciation for the ocean. New friendships. New confidence. And perhaps a desire to keep exploring—not just underwater, but in life. If that happens… Then we’ve done our job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Camotes Freediving suitable for complete beginners?
Absolutely. Most of our students have little or no previous freediving experience. Our courses are designed to guide you step by step in a safe and supportive environment.
Is the school only for serious athletes?
Not at all. While we coach competitive freedivers and instructor candidates, the majority of our students simply want to enjoy freediving, improve their skills and have an unforgettable experience.
What makes Camotes Freediving different?
We believe it’s the combination of professional coaching, small groups, a welcoming international community, purpose-built facilities and a culture that values people as much as performance.
Will I meet other freedivers?
Almost certainly. Our students come from all over the world, and it’s common for people to share meals, organise island trips and stay in touch long after their courses have ended.
Why do so many students return?
Some come back to continue their education. Some come back to train. Many come back because they miss the atmosphere, the community and the friendships they built during their first visit.
Final Thoughts
When I founded Camotes Freediving, I wasn’t trying to create the biggest school. I was trying to create the kind of place where I would have wanted to learn. A place where beginners feel welcome. Where experienced divers continue to grow. Where instructors care. Where questions are encouraged. Where people share meals after diving. Where everyone celebrates each other’s progress. And where the ocean remains at the centre of everything we do. If you decide to join us, I hope you’ll leave with more than a certification. I hope you’ll leave with stories. With friendships. With confidence. And with the feeling that you’ll always have a reason to come back to this little island in the Camotes Sea. Because for us, freediving has never been just about diving deeper. It’s about living a little deeper, too.
