Beginner Freediving Course (with Bonus Session)

The best part of this Panglao course is that it teaches you to move underwater with almost nothing but your own breath. Over about 2.5 days, you work through classroom lessons, pool practice, and open-water sessions at Napaling Reef, building toward a depth of 20 meters without a tank. Instructors including Teo, Jomari, Ven, and Ramar are known for patient coaching and a careful approach to safety.

I like the small maximum group of four, which gives an instructor room to watch your technique rather than simply send you into the water. I also like the practical value: equipment, a completion certificate, unedited photos and videos, taxes, and pickup from a Panglao hotel, airport, or port are included. The main consideration is time. This is not a quick holiday activity. You need nearly three days, and lunch costs extra.

Key points before you book

• A 20-meter beginner target: The SSI Level 1 course builds skills for freediving to a stated maximum of 20 meters, or 65.5 feet.
• Three kinds of practice: You learn in the classroom, train in the pool, and then use those skills in open water.
• Napaling Reef session: The open-water portion takes place at Napaling Reef, one of the named stops.
• Small-group instruction: The group is limited to four people, a useful advantage when breath control and equalizing need close attention.
• Useful extras included: Snorkeling equipment, unedited photos and videos, all fees and taxes, and a certificate on completion are included.
• Plan for lunch: Lunch is not included, but it can be ordered one day ahead for about 250 Philippine pesos.

Learning to stay calm beneath the surface

Freediving looks simple from shore. You take a breath, slip below the surface, and return. The hard part is learning not to waste that breath through tension, poor body position, rushed movement, or an incorrect response to pressure.

This beginner course gives you time to work on those basics in a sensible order. You first discuss safety procedures, pressure-related issues, breathing, breath holds, and relaxation. Then you practice those ideas in the pool before using them in open water.

That order matters. A pool is a controlled place to learn how your body reacts. You can focus on breathing and movement without the added demands of a reef setting. Once you are more comfortable, the open-water sessions let you apply the same skills at greater depth.

The course is described as SSI Level 1, with the academy also working with AIDA and Molchanovs. The equivalent beginner options are AIDA 2 and Molchanovs Wave 1. If you are booking for certification, check which agency and exact course track will be issued for your reservation, since the published information refers to all three systems but specifically presents this experience as SSI Level 1.

You do not need to arrive as an expert swimmer. The available information says most people can participate, and the class is designed for beginners. Still, you should be comfortable in water and ready to follow safety instructions carefully. Breath-hold training is not the place for bravado. The goal is calm, controlled progress.

Day one: classroom skills and pool practice

The first stage takes place at Freedive Academy Panglao on Napaling Drive. Here you meet the instructors, go through the course material, and learn the rules that make freediving safe.

Expect discussion of pressure problems, equalizing, breathing methods, breath-hold technique, and relaxation. These may sound like technical subjects, but they are the heart of the course. The ability to relax is especially important because every unnecessary movement uses energy and every moment of tension makes the underwater experience harder.

Pool sessions give you a chance to turn those ideas into habits. You can practice staying relaxed, moving efficiently, and responding to instructor guidance. The pool work also lets you learn the feel of the equipment before heading to the reef.

The equipment is included, which saves you from renting items separately or trying to decide what you need before arriving. The included gear is described as snorkeling equipment, so ask the academy what specific freediving equipment is supplied for your scheduled course. That is a sensible question, especially if you already own fins, a mask, or other gear.

Small groups are a real benefit here. With no more than four people, the instructor can give more individual attention to breathing, body position, and comfort in the water. This matters for beginners because progress can vary widely. One person may be relaxed with breath holds while another needs more time. A limited group makes it easier to adjust the pace.

Several instructors are singled out for their personal approach. Teo is described as patient and focused on safety. Jomari is praised for being helpful, patient, and fun. Ramar is known for clear instruction and making students feel secure in the water. You may not be assigned to one of these particular instructors, but the academy has a team that includes them.

The open-water session at Napaling Reef

The second named stop is Napaling Reef. This is where the course leaves the controlled pool setting and brings your new skills into the sea.

Open water adds real conditions: a larger space, changing visibility, and the need to manage your breathing and movement without the walls of a pool. The purpose is not simply to reach 20 meters as quickly as possible. It is to use the skills correctly, with an instructor watching and safety procedures in place.

Napaling also gives the course a stronger sense of place than a training session held entirely indoors. You are learning a useful skill in the waters around Panglao, with the reef providing the setting for your practice. The experience includes unedited photos and videos, so you have a record of the session rather than only a certificate at the end.

The available details do not promise particular marine life or guaranteed water conditions. That is worth keeping in mind. You should book this for the instruction and the chance to practice in open water, not for a fixed wildlife spectacle.

The reef session can also feel more demanding than the pool. If you find yourself tense, uncomfortable, or unable to equalize, the right choice is to tell the instructor and pause. The course is built around safety and gradual skill-building, not a contest.

What the 20-meter goal really means

The advertised depth of 20 meters, or 65.5 feet, gives you a clear idea of the level you are working toward. It does not mean every beginner will reach that depth, nor should it be treated as a personal test of courage.

For you, the value is in learning the techniques that make greater depth possible later. Better relaxation, careful equalizing, efficient movement, and correct safety habits are more important than a single number. A certificate is useful, but the lasting benefit is knowing how to prepare and how to recognize your limits.

This is also why the course takes several days. A short introduction might show you the sensation of holding your breath underwater. A certification course needs to cover theory, practice, and safety. It must give you repeated chances to make small improvements.

The course title mentions a bonus session, but the supplied details do not explain its timing or exact content. Confirm this before booking if the extra session is important to your plans. Do not assume it means another full open-water lesson unless the academy confirms that directly.

A practical look at the $416.70 price

At $416.70 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning in Panglao. It is also not priced like a simple snorkeling trip. You are paying for roughly three days of structured instruction, a small class, equipment, pool and open-water practice, a certificate, and instructor support.

The group limit makes the price easier to understand. A class of four can offer more attention than a large group, and that attention is particularly valuable when you are learning breath control and pressure skills. If you have tried casual snorkeling and want proper instruction, the course offers much more than a one-off swim.

Pickup adds practical value. Hotel, airport, or port pickup on Panglao Island is included, and the activity begins and ends at Freedive Academy Panglao. That reduces the need to arrange separate transport, though you should confirm the pickup details at booking.

Photos and videos are also included, and they are described as unedited. That usually means you receive a straightforward record of your session rather than a polished production. It is a nice extra, especially if this is your first certified freediving course.

Lunch is the only clearly listed daily expense. You can order it one day ahead for about 250 pesos. Since the course runs most of the day, plan for that cost rather than arriving hungry. The listed operating hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, from Monday through Sunday.

Who will get the most from this course

This suits you if you want a proper introduction instead of a quick taste. It is also a good match if the idea of swimming without tanks appeals to you, but you want an instructor to explain the risks and teach you the right habits.

The course should work well for:

• First-time freedivers who want a recognized beginner course
• Snorkelers who want better breath control and underwater movement
• People who prefer small classes to crowded group instruction
• Visitors staying in Panglao who can set aside nearly three days
• Anyone who wants photos, videos, and a certificate included

It may not suit you if your schedule allows only one morning, if you dislike classroom instruction, or if you want a sightseeing trip with a guaranteed list of marine animals. The emphasis is training, not a rushed tour.

The academy has also welcomed families and older adults on related water activities, but the course itself is a physical activity with breath holds. The published information says most people can participate, yet you should consider your own comfort in water and any health concerns before booking.

What the instructor experience feels like

The strongest pattern in the available feedback is the instructors’ patience and attention to safety. Teo is repeatedly associated with calm guidance, while Jomari, Ven, Ramar, and other team members are described as friendly and supportive.

That matters more here than a flashy facility. A good instructor watches your breathing, notices when you are tense, and encourages you without pushing you beyond your limits. Freediving can feel intimidating at first, so a calm teacher makes a real difference.

The academy also has a friendly community atmosphere. That may appeal to you if you want to continue training after the beginner course. People have taken longer AIDA courses there, including AIDA 2 and 3 combinations, and the academy supports SSI and Molchanovs programs as well.

Do remember that instructor assignment can vary. The published comments name several instructors, but they do not guarantee that one particular person will teach your course. If you hope to work with Teo, Jomari, Ven, Ramar, or another instructor, ask the academy before arrival.

Booking details that matter

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The experience uses a mobile ticket, so you should have the booking details available on your phone.

The starting point is:

Freedive Academy Panglao

Napaling Drive 1

Panglao, 6339 Bohol, Philippines

The activity ends back at the meeting point. Pickup is included from a Panglao Island hotel, airport, or port, which is convenient, but make sure your pickup location is within the stated service area.

The group is capped at four people. Service animals are allowed, the academy is near public transportation, and most people can participate according to the supplied information.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. A cancellation made less than 24 hours before the start time is not refundable, and late changes are not accepted. For a course taking nearly three days, check your schedule carefully before the deadline passes.

Should you book the Panglao beginner course?

Book it if you want a real introduction to freediving rather than a quick underwater photo stop. The combination of classroom work, pool practice, open-water training, small groups, included equipment, and certification gives the $416.70 price a reasonable basis.

I would be especially inclined to book if you are staying in Panglao long enough to enjoy the slower pace. The course asks for time and attention, but that is exactly why it can teach more than a casual snorkeling outing.

Before paying, confirm the agency track, instructor assignment if important to you, and what the bonus session includes. Also budget for lunch. If you can commit nearly three days and want to learn safely, Freedive Academy Panglao offers a focused, personal way to begin.

FAQ

Where does the course take place?

The course begins at Freedive Academy Panglao, Napaling Drive 1, Panglao, 6339 Bohol, Philippines. An open-water session takes place at Napaling Reef.

How long is the beginner freediving course?

The course lasts about 2.5 days, while the tour summary describes it as approximately three days.

What certification is offered?

The experience is presented as an SSI Level 1 freediving course, and a certificate is provided upon completion.

How deep can beginners learn to go?

The course teaches skills for freediving to depths of up to 20 meters, or 65.5 feet.

Which freediving agencies does the academy work with?

Freedive Academy Panglao specializes in AIDA, SSI, and Molchanovs courses. The booking information specifically identifies this experience as SSI Level 1.

What is included in the price?

The price includes snorkeling equipment, unedited photos and videos, all fees and taxes, and the completion certificate. Pickup from a Panglao Island hotel, airport, or port is also included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch can be ordered one day in advance for about 250 Philippine pesos.

How many people can join the course?

The activity has a maximum group size of four people.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at Freedive Academy Panglao, the meeting point.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refundable.