Freedive Academy

Name

Freedive Academy

Legal name

Apnea Dynamics Inc.

Website

https://freediveacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Freedive Academy Panglao is a private freediving education center in Panglao, Philippines, offering multi-agency certification courses (SSI, AIDA, Molchanovs, RAID) from beginner to instructor-trainer level, plus long-term career-pathway programs (Zero to Hero, Internships) and master training to recreational freedivers, career-pursuing instructors, and competitive athletes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diving Instruction Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD)

Keywords

• Freediving education services
• Diving instruction courses
• Underwater training programs
• Swim teacher development
• Professional freediving certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Panglao

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Freediving Courses: Revenue from teaching recreational and professional freediving courses across SSI, AIDA, and Molchanovs agencies, ranging from beginner one-day introductions to multi-month instructor development programs. Pricing from $60 per person for SSI Try Freediving to $1,285 for All-Inclusive One Week Combo (air-conditioned apartment).
2. Bamboo Bungalow Accommodation: On-site luxury bamboo bungalows and pool-side accommodation included in some packages, generating accommodation revenue as part of bundled freediving packages.
3. Bohol Tours and Watersports: Tours including Balicasag island hopping, dolphin watching, Bohol land tours, waterfall tours, kayak and paddleboard rental, operated through the Napaling Adventure Center. Revenue from day tours and adventure packages.
4. Freediving Gear and Equipment Shop: Webshop selling freediving masks, fins, wetsuits, and specialty gear. Equipment rental also available separately from course fees.
5. Master Training Program: Monthly training programs for master freedivers and instructors at reduced rates (starting at $350/month), providing ongoing recurring revenue from dedicated training clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Freedive Academy Panglao operates a freediving education center delivering certified training from beginner through instructor trainer level across SSI, AIDA, and Molchanovs agencies. It runs long-term career-path programs (Zero to Hero, Freediving Internship, Instructor Courses), specialty workshops, master training subscriptions, on-site accommodation in bamboo bungalows, and a freediving gear webshop, supported by two proprietary mobile apps (Apnea Assistant and Simple Breathing) and direct access to Napaling Reef with fixed depth dive lines.

Product overview

Freedive Academy Panglao is a freediving education center offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered on freediving instruction, training, and certification. The core offerings include recreational freediving courses (SSI, AIDA, and Molchanovs programs from beginner to advanced levels), professional instructor development programs (Zero to Hero, Freediving Internship, and Instructor Certification), and specialty programs (Swim Teacher, Mermaid Instructor). Supporting the training programs are two mobile applications: Apnea Assistant (breath-hold training with personalized tables and logbook) and Simple Breathing App (guided breathing and meditation). The academy also provides short-term and long-term diving packages, master training programs, and operates a world-class dive facility with a 25-meter private pool, classrooms, and accommodation, all located 300 meters from Napaling Reef in Panglao, Philippines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Apnea Assistant: A comprehensive freediving mobile application for breath-hold training, featuring 18 breathing and breath-hold exercises, personalized training tables, CO2 and O2 tables, detailed logbook, and informative resources. Free to use with no ads.
• Simple Breathing

Products and services

• Apnea Assistant Mobile App Proprietary freediving training application offering 18 breathing and breath-hold exercises, personalized CO2 and O2 training tables, apnea timer, guided breathing exercises, and a detailed training logbook. Free to download on iOS and Android with no ads or subscriptions. Targeted at freedivers and breath-hold athletes.
• Simple Breathing Mobile App Guided breathing and meditation app providing box breathing, triangle breathing, equal breathing, breath control sessions, relaxation exercises, and a meditation timer. Free on iOS and Android with no ads or account registration. Targeted at general users seeking relaxation and breathing habit building.
• Freediving Certification Courses (SSI, AIDA, Molchanovs) Comprehensive freediving education programs from beginner (Try Freediving, SSI Basic, AIDA 1, Molchanovs Wave 1) through advanced master level (SSI Level 3, AIDA 4, Molchanovs Wave 3) and specialty disciplines (Free Immersion, Monofin, No-Fins, Variable Weight, Frenzel Equalization). Pricing from $60 for one-day intro to $650 for master level.
• Zero to Hero Program Long-term development program taking students from complete beginner to certified freediving instructor, typically spanning 3-6 months. Includes structured curriculum, mentorship, and multi-agency certification preparation.
• Freediving Instructor Internship Professional development program for newly graduated instructors providing real teaching experience, mentorship, and first paycheck through the FII (Freediving Industry Federation) framework. Program duration is 3+3 months.
• Freediving Instructor Courses Professional instructor certification programs including SSI Instructor, AIDA Instructor, and Molchanovs Instructor courses, plus cross-over certifications between agencies and Remote Freedive Instructor Courses delivered online. At least one instructor course runs monthly per agency.
• Swim Teacher Training SSI Swim Teacher training program offered at the Panglao location, expanding career opportunities for freediving instructors into swim education.
• Mermaid Instructor Training Mermaid instructor certification program offered at the Panglao location as part of career expansion options for freedivers.
• Freediving Vacation Packages Curated vacation packages combining courses, accommodation, and training including One Week Combo ($850), All-Inclusive One Week Combo with Bungalow ($1,035) or Air-Conditioned Apartment ($1,175), One Week Exploration ($1,115), One Week Freediving Mermaid ($610-$1,285), and One Month Mastery (4-6 weeks, $1,950).
• Master Training Program Advanced subscription-based training program for Master freedivers and instructors offering year-round buddy support, access to training lines at Napaling Reef, and coaching at industry-low pricing starting at $350 per month.
• Freediving Gear Webshop and Equipment Rental Online shop selling freediving masks, fins, wetsuits, and specialty gear, with equipment rental available separately from course fees.
• Bamboo Bungalow Accommodation On-site luxury bamboo bungalows and pool-side accommodation available as part of bundled freediving packages, generating accommodation revenue alongside training services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 820+ customer reviews with consistently positive ratings on TripAdvisor
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SSI (Scuba Schools International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer and Swim Teacher Development Centre. SSI is a primary certification agency alongside AIDA and Molchanovs. The academy offers the full SSI freediving curriculum from Try Freediving through Level 3 and all specialty instructor courses.
• AIDA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDA Instructor Trainer accreditation. AIDA is one of three primary freediving certification agencies taught at the academy. Courses include AIDA 1–4, Pool Instructor, Instructor, and Master Instructor levels.
• MolchanovscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMolchanovs Instructor Trainer accreditation. The academy offers Molchanovs Wave 1–4 courses, all instructor levels (Wave 2 Instructor, Wave 3 Instructor Trainer, Wave 4 Instructor), and Lap courses. Founded by legendary freediver Natalia Molchanova.
• RAID World Series of FreedivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAID World Series of Freediving instructor certification. The academy offers RAID freediving courses in addition to its primary SSI, AIDA, and Molchanovs offerings.
• Panglao Tours (Napaling Adventure Center)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-located Bohol tour company at the Napaling Adventure Center. Offers Balicasag island hopping, dolphin watching, Bohol land tours, waterfall tours, kayak and paddleboard rental. Same ownership/management group as Freedive Academy, sharing premises and driving cross-selling to freediving students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Molchanovs (Movement): Freediving equipment and education brand founded by Natalia Molchanova, offering Wave certification courses and instructor training through affiliated centers. Strategic partner of Freedive Academy but also a potential competitor in the global freediving education market.

Broad incumbents

• SSI (Scuba Schools International): Largest global dive certification agency offering both scuba and freediving curricula. Core strategic partner of Freedive Academy. Wider portfolio means broader competition but also the agency whose Instructor Trainer credentials the academy holds.
• PADI: World's largest recreational diving organization with a freediving program (PADI Freediver) taught through affiliated dive centers. Represents the broadest incumbent threat if freediving participation grows and customers choose agency-recognition over specialty-school expertise.
• AIDA International: International freediving governing body setting competition and education standards, with affiliated schools offering AIDA 1-4 and instructor certifications. Core partner of Freedive Academy; comparable in scope of curriculum but operates as a federation rather than a single school.

Direct peers

• Freediving International: Global freediving agency and education provider offering instructor training and certification programs. Comparable multi-agency ambition and career-path product structure (instructor courses, instructor trainer pathway).
• Apnea Total: Global freediving education brand with multiple locations offering beginner through instructor certifications. Competes on multi-agency curriculum depth and instructor-training pipeline — a comparable positioning to Freedive Academy's Zero-to-Hero and career-path programs.
• Blue Immersion Freediving: Premier freediving school in Dahab, Egypt — the global freediving mecca and referenced as the founder's secondary base. Offers AIDA, Molchanovs, and SSI certifications from beginner to instructor, with similar shore-access deep training lines. Most direct comparable in scale, certifications, and target customer.
• Performance Freediving: Australia-based freediving school with operations in Southeast Asia, offering AIDA and SSI certifications from beginner to instructor. Competes in the same Asia-Pacific market for advanced and instructor-level students.
• One Ocean Diving: Hawaii-based freediving school focused on safety and education, offering beginner through advanced certifications. Comparable premium education positioning and direct-to-consumer course delivery model.
• Dahab Freedivers: Long-established Dahab-based freediving school offering AIDA and SSI courses from beginner to instructor. Competes for the same European and international student base attracted to shore-access deep diving in tropical conditions. Directly comparable business model and product mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freediveacaph
• YouTubeyoutube.com/FreediveAcademyTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/freediveacademyph
• Instagraminstagram.com/freediveacademyph
• TikToktiktok.com/@freediveacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freediveplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Freedive Academy