Why Serious Freedivers Choose Camotes for Freediving Training (Without Taking It Too Seriously)
When people hear the words “training centre,” they often imagine something intense. Early mornings. Strict schedules. Pressure. Athletes pushing themselves to exhaustion. That’s not what you’ll find at Camotes Freediving.
Yes, people come here because they want to improve. Some are preparing for competitions. Others are working towards becoming instructors. Many simply want to become more comfortable in the water. But what surprises almost everyone is the atmosphere. It’s focused. Professional. Supportive. And at the same time… Relaxed. Because we’ve learned something over the years. People progress best when they enjoy the journey.
Coach’s Tip: Look for a place where you’ll be excited to train tomorrow, not just impressed today.
A Place Designed for Progress
Everything at Camotes Freediving has been built around one simple idea: Make learning as enjoyable and efficient as possible. Whether you’re taking your very first Wave 1 course or preparing for a national record attempt, the goal is the same. Create an environment where you can focus on diving without unnecessary stress. That’s why our deep-water platforms are only a few minutes from the school. That’s why we built our own 25-metre training pool. That’s why our classrooms, stretching area and facilities are all in one place. Less time organising. More time enjoying the water.
Serious Coaching Doesn’t Mean Serious Faces
One thing people often notice on their first day is how much laughter there is. Students chat over coffee before heading to the boat. After the morning session, we usually eat lunch together at the shop. In the afternoon, someone might stay for another coached session while others relax on the terrace, watch videos of their dives or simply talk about freediving. Some evenings, a group heads out for dinner together. Other nights, people organise sunset rides or beach trips. It’s not something we schedule. It just happens naturally. That’s one of my favourite things about our community.
Small Groups Make a Big Difference
One of the decisions we made early on was to keep our coaching groups small. We normally work with a maximum of three students per instructor during coached depth sessions. That means more feedback. More time in the water. More individual attention. And, quite simply, a much more enjoyable experience. You never feel like just another person in a large class.
Why We Limit Our Groups to Three Students Per Instructor
The Kind of Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Many students arrive knowing nobody. By the end of the week, they’re having dinner with people from five different countries. Freediving attracts interesting people. People who enjoy learning. People who love the ocean. People who are curious. When you bring them together in a relaxed environment, friendships happen naturally. We’ve seen students return years later to train together again because they first met here.
Whether You’re Here for Three Days or Three Months
Some visitors come for a Wave 1 course. Others stay for several weeks. Some spend an entire month in our Master Training Program. A few return every season to prepare for competitions. The atmosphere doesn’t really change. Everyone shares the same platforms. The same boats. The same lunches. The same sunsets. Beginners often discover that they’re chatting over dinner with national record holders. And the experienced divers remember exactly what it was like to be a beginner. That’s something I really enjoy seeing.
Learning From World-Class Experience
One advantage of a dedicated training centre is that you’re surrounded by people with very different levels of experience. As a coach, I bring my experience as:
- one of the deepest Free Immersion divers in the world,
- a holder of thirteen French national records,
- former Head of Education at Molchanovs,
- and an Instructor Trainer Developer.
But honestly… The learning doesn’t stop there. You’ll also learn from your classmates. From the instructor sitting next to you at lunch. From watching someone else solve an equalization problem. From conversations after training. Some of the best lessons happen when nobody is teaching.
Everything Is Built Around Freediving
Camotes Freediving wasn’t created by adding freediving to an existing dive shop. It was designed from the ground up for freedivers. Our facilities include:
- A dedicated 25-metre training pool.
- Permanent deep-water platforms.
- Classroom facilities.
- Equipment rental.
- Stretching and workshop spaces.
- Professional safety equipment, including oxygen and sonar.
- Comfortable areas to relax between sessions.
Every detail exists for one reason:
To make your freediving experience as smooth as possible.
Plenty of Time to Enjoy the Island
Although many people come here to improve, nobody spends every minute training. There is plenty of time to enjoy Camotes. Go for a scooter ride. Relax on the beach. Visit Timubo Cave. Watch the sunset. Have dinner with new friends. Grab a coffee after the morning session. Some of my favourite conversations with students have happened long after everyone had taken off their wetsuits. Those moments are just as much a part of the experience as the dives themselves.
Progress Happens Naturally
One thing I’ve noticed after teaching thousands of students is that progress often comes when people stop trying to force it. They relax. They trust the process. They enjoy training. They stop comparing themselves with everyone else. Ironically… That’s usually when their biggest breakthroughs happen. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
Why I Built Camotes Freediving Here
People sometimes ask why I chose Camotes. The answer wasn’t simply the depth. Or the conditions. It was the feeling. I wanted to create a place where people could come not only to become better freedivers… But to enjoy becoming better freedivers. A place where learning feels exciting. Where students support each other. Where instructors have time to coach properly. Where people leave with new skills… And new friends. Years later, that’s exactly what I see happening every season.
Is Camotes Only for Serious Freedivers?
Absolutely not. In fact, most of our students are complete beginners. Some have never held their breath before. Others have never worn long fins. The reason experienced athletes also choose Camotes isn’t because the atmosphere is intimidating. It’s because the coaching and facilities allow them to keep progressing. The beauty is that everyone shares the same welcoming environment. Whether you’re aiming for your first 10 metres or your next national record, you’ll be treated with the same attention, encouragement and respect.
From My Experience: The atmosphere matters just as much as the facilities. People improve faster when they enjoy showing up every day.
Why Camotes Island Is One of the Best Places in the World to Learn Freediving
What Makes Camotes Different?
- Small coaching groups (maximum three students per instructor)
- Deep water only minutes from the school
- Purpose-built freediving facilities
- Dedicated 25-metre training pool
- World-class coaching combined with a relaxed atmosphere
- An international community of freedivers
- Plenty of opportunities to socialise, share meals and explore the island together
- A peaceful environment where it’s easy to focus, recover and enjoy the experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an experienced freediver to train at Camotes?
Not at all. Most of our students are beginners. We offer courses and coaching for every level, from first-time freedivers to competitive athletes.
Is the atmosphere very competitive?
No. People come here because they want to improve, but the atmosphere is friendly, supportive and relaxed. Everyone progresses at their own pace.
Will I meet other freedivers?
Almost certainly. Our students come from all over the world, and it’s common for people to share lunches, organise dinners or explore the island together after training.
Can I just come for a few days?
Absolutely. Many visitors join us for a Wave 1 or Wave 2 course, while others stay much longer for advanced training.
What makes Camotes different from other training centres?
We believe it’s the combination of professional coaching, small groups, excellent training conditions and a genuinely welcoming community. You can train seriously without feeling like you’re in a high-pressure environment.
Final Thoughts
When people look back on their time in Camotes, they rarely talk only about the numbers. They remember the conversations after training. The lunches shared around the table. The excitement of everyone’s first turtle sighting—even if it wasn’t on every dive. The laughter on the boat. The sunset after a great training session. The friends they made. Yes, people come here to become better freedivers. But I hope they leave with something even more valuable. A deeper appreciation for the ocean. More confidence in themselves. And the feeling that, somewhere on a small island in the Philippines, they’ll always have a community waiting to welcome them back.
