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If you are interested in learning to freedive in Moalboal in 2025, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will share the best freediving school in Moalboal.
Why do we love freediving so much? Freediving is paradoxical – the more extreme you take it the more peaceful you need to be! It is both deeply relaxing and deeply challenging at the same time. It is not just a journey into the ocean – but a journey into yourself. You need to understand your body and mind on a deeper level. Freediving is not just something you do – but something you become. Learning to master your innate urge to breath helps you master other less extreme stresses in your life. Learning to relax and breathe (really breathe!) has genuine benefits beyond the waters. Not only that. You can literally immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful ecosystems on the planet – at the same time as enjoying the dream of weightlessness.
We will include key information such as prices, how to book a course, and what to expect. This article is based on our experience taking the AIDA Level 3 course. We are recommending this school because of the competitive prices and a very positive experience with them.
NOT FOR YOU? – Prefer to breath whilst you’re exploring the under water environment? Find out about Scuba Diving in Moalboal
LEARN MORE – If you want to read around freediving in Cebu more generally – Full Guide to Freediving in Cebu
What are you looking for?
Before you read on, it is important to identify your goals. Are you hoping to take an accredited freediving course so that you can become qualified? Are you just looking for opportunities to train, practice, and develop your skills? Or are you looking for a fun dive where you can explore the beauty of the deep water in Moalboal?
If you’re just looking for a fun dive or some informal practice (such as line training), then we recommend Freediving Moalboal, which is situated next to Tipolo Resort in the Panagsama Beach area. They offer very competitive prices (and you can even learn to spearfish!); however, they do not offer any accredited freediving courses.
On the other hand, if you are looking for an official freediving course with accredited qualifications, then we highly recommend Orca Freediving Moalboal. Keep reading to find out more about this school.
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Why should you learn to freedive in Moalboal?
If you have ever dreamed of learning to freedive, then we highly recommend learning in Moalboal. This is undoubtedly among the best freediving destinations in the Philippines. Here are a few reasons to take your freediving course in the area:
- Amazing visibility
- Unique topography
- Impressive biodiversity
- Accessible freediving
- Relatively cheap courses
Orca Freediving Moalboal
When you are weighing up freediving courses, the instructor is probably one of the most important elements of the course. You need to find an instructor who inspires you, someone who you vibe with, someone you can communicate well with, and someone who is able to understand you. Having a good relationship with your instructor really is essential to a successful freediving course.
Orca Freediving School is run by the freediving legend Czar Sayosay. If you are hoping to take your freediving to the next level (or to greater depths), then we highly recommend taking a course with a professional competitive freediving instructor like Czar. He is a 4-time record holder for the AIDA no-fins discipline. Czar has a very calming and relaxed personality (this may not surprise you for a man that can swim to a depth of 60m without any fins!).
If you are interested in taking a course with Orca Freedivers, you can contact Czar directly at his email address: yamsayosay@gmail.com
You can ask him questions about the course, and if you choose to book a course with him, you will need to pay in cash when you arrive in Moalboal.
What courses can you take at Orca Freediving School?
1 Introductory class (no certificate)
If you have never tried freediving before, we recommend taking a beginner’s class. Czar will teach you the basic principles of freediving and give you an opportunity to try it out in the open water under his supervision and instruction. The half-day introductory class costs 3,000 pesos.
2 Line training (no certificate)
If you have tried freediving before and you just want an informal practice session, then you may be interested in a line training session. You can practice different descent techniques such as free immersion and constant weight and get feedback on your technique. The depth that you are allowed to go will depend on your skills, qualifications, and abilities. Line training costs 1,500 pesos for a one-hour session.
Certified AIDA Courses
Orca freediving offers AIDA certified courses. AIDA is one of the most widely recognised accrediting bodies for freediving. An AIDA course gives you an official AIDA certificate, a training manual and you need to meet the minimum AIDA standards (for level 2 and 3). If you want to take a certified freediving course, you will need to meet certain minimum prerequisites:
- 18 years old
- Confident surface swimming
- Completed previous levels
AIDA Level 1 (Introduction to Freediving)
Maximum depth: 10m
This is a beginner’s freediving course which allows you to learn the fundamental principles of freediving and apply them in the open water. You will learn about relaxation techniques, simple physiology, finning, and duck dives. The one-day course costs 7,500 pesos.
Top tip: If you are new to freediving, take your time and make sure that you rest between diving sessions. Freediving can be very tiring when you are a beginner.
AIDA Level 2 (Freediver Course)
Maximum depth: 20m
This is a more challenging course if you’re starting to get serious about freediving. The theory is more complex and in-depth. You will learn about physiology, equalization, safety, different freediving disciplines, and relaxation techniques. You will also be assessed throughout the course and have to show that you can meet the minimum standards for AIDA Level 2:
- 2 minutes static breath hold
- Swim 40m underwater with fins
- Dive to 12m (maximum depth 20m)
- Pass the theory exam with a minimum score of 75%
The two and a half day AIDA 2 course costs 11,500 pesos.
Top tip: The theory component of the course is assessed through a multiple-choice online exam. You will be given a training manual to help you practice and revise the material.
AIDA Level 3 (Advanced Freediving Course)
Maximum depth: 30m
This is a relatively challenging and intense course. Before you are allowed to begin this course, Czar will carry out some informal assessments to check that you are at a sufficient level to proceed (strictly speaking, you also need to have completed AIDA 2 or an equivalent course). AIDA 3 has complex theory involving gas laws, the mammalian dive response, decompression sickness, surface intervals, barotrauma, physiology, advanced equalization techniques, and much more. You will also need to demonstrate the following minimum standards:
- 2.45 minute static breath hold
- 55m swimming underwater with fins
- Dive to a depth of 24m (maximum depth of 30m)
- Pass the theory exam with a minimum score of 75%
This three-day course costs 16,000 pesos.
What is the most common reason people fail freediving courses?
Failing a freediving course is gutting on a personal level, and it also feels like a waste of money. So if you’re serious about taking a course don’t skip past this section…
One of the most common reasons that people fail freediving courses is that they are unable to meet the minimum required depth. In most cases, this is due to equalization problems (rather than limited breath hold time). If you are unable to equalize properly, the ear pain can be excruciating. You can easily sustain pressure-related injuries (referred to as barotrauma) or sustain ear infections. This can prevent you from progressing on your course and passing the minimum depth requirements. So, if you want to pass a freediving course, it is essential that you look after your ears carefully. Here are a few important tips to look after your ears:
- Do a short pre-equalization at the surface just before you dive.
- Equalize consistently throughout the dive.
- When you experience pain, stop and let your ears adjust. When the pain subsides, keep going a little further rather than returning to the surface.
- Do a pressure adjustment dive. If you’re struggling with ear pain, do a dive to the point that your ears are just beginning to hurt and then remain at this depth as long as you can (you can hold the line to stay at the same depth). Hold as long as you can before returning to the surface.
- Avoid over-equalizing. If you push too hard when you are equalizing, you can cause reverse pressure damage.
- Start with a few equalization warm-up dives (e.g., 3m, 5m, 8m, 10m, 12m, and so on).
- Practice equalizing at the surface before and between diving sessions.
- Use an ear wash. You can buy distilled vinegar and rubbing alcohol in Moalboal. Use a 50/50 mixture as an ear wash after your dives.
- Learn when to stop. If you stop when you experience a tiny bit of pain, you may struggle to progress in your course. On the other hand, if you push through too much pain, you can cause damage and injuries. You need to learn your body and learn when to stop.
- Keep communicating. Speak to Czar and ask for tips and advice on equalization.
