Freediving and yoga in SE Asia?

[andymoreno]

Hello,

I'm planning a month in SE Asia later this year. I'm thinking Indonesia but am very open to suggestions. I'll be travelling on my own so it would be great if there was an actual freediving school or similar.

What I want to do is some great freediving and get stuck in with some yoga and meditation. I'm absolutely not looking for luxury, just easy living and really stressing down. I wouldn't mind to get some more stars as well, but that's quite far down on the prio list.

Do any of you know of such a place? Prefferably an island...

Many thanks,
/Andy

 

[salibandy]

Wolfgang Dafert runs a school in Cebu, Philippines. About the yoga, I do not know. You could ask him.

http://freediving-philippines.com/

When are you coming down this way?

 

[bbutler11]

There is a great free diving school on Ko Tao in Thailand if you are going to make it up there. I took a class there about a month ago and loved it. You can also go along for fun dives as well. Here is the website: Apnea Total - Home.

 

[salibandy]

There is a school also on Koh Lanta if you should so choose to go. However I can tell you that the depths in Thailand and the diving at both Thai islands are not quite so good as Cebu. I cannot say the same for the instructors as I have never met any of them. I heard Apnea Total has very nice instructors.

 

[andymoreno]

I was thinking of going late September-October.

Koh Tao, eh? Typical! The only place I've been in Asia already. And three times as well... =)

Thanks to both of you, keep the suggestions coming!

 

[bbutler11]

I have spent quite a bit of time in Ko Tao as well. It is easy to just hang out and relax there for a few days. The instuctors there at Apnea are amazing. They really know their stuff and they fill you with confidence so you can push your self. I am going back in the end of June to try and get a new pb.

Where are you now? I am leaving for Indonesia from Semporna in 2 days. I am wanting to do some free diving, but I don't have a diving buddy at the moment.

 

[salibandy]

You are in Semporna? I was there couple of weeks back free and scuba diving.

 

[bbutler11]

Yeah that is what I have been doing. How did you like it? I have spent 3 days out at Sipadan and just barely missed the whale shark I am heading to Indo in just a couple of days to do some diving and relaxing.

 

[salibandy]

Sipadan was gerat, as expected. It was my dream location. Have you dived Turtle Tomb? It's very nice.

Where're you headed to in Indon?

 

[bbutler11]

Sipadan was very nice. I didn't get to do Turtle Tomb, a friend here said it was great to. She actually went yesterday and showed me a picture of a turtle skeleton. I am not sure what I am going to do in Indo. I fly to Bali, but want to make my way out to the Komodo Islands.

Have you been? Are you still traveling?

 

[salibandy]

I've heard nice things about Bali, it's a bit chilly though.

No I'm now home in Singapore. I'm thinking of going on another freediving trip soon before I get enlisted in the army. I might be joing to Tao in July to meet another member at Apnea Total.

 

[andymoreno]

I read up on Apnea and it does sound perfect, I'm just not sure if I want to go back to Koh Tao this year... At the moment it's looking like Philipines!

How much would 'cheap living' be over there? I mean, something like a simple bungalow... doesn't have to be right in the middle of anything either.

 

[salibandy]

Wolfgang says there are bungalows near his school going from 1000 PHP to 1500 PHP. However my friend there says there is other budget accommodation for 700 and less.

 

[andymoreno]

Excellent, that's exactly the type of rates I was looking for. Thanks a lot for the info!

 

[salibandy]

Andy, I might be going down end June. If I do go I'll be sure to scout around for you.

 

[moryde]

I just finished 2 courses at Wolfgang in Cebu, he is a very good instructor.

I took the 2 courses on one week, and that was my first time freediving, my results were quite good I think:
Static: 5.00 minutes
Free Immersion: 41.4 m

You can stay next to the Club Serena Resort (Where Wolfgang did his course from) for 750 peso.

 

[andymoreno]

Wow, that is quite impressive! I'm pretty much decided that I'm going there, but as there's still quite a few months to go anything can happen! Thanks for your input though.

 

[wdaf]

Wolfgang here.
If you are lucky like morton you can even meet World Record Freediver Herbert Nitsch.
He is in the Philippines a lot right now. 3 times in 1/2 year already.
Last time students were also lucky to dive and "harvest" some fish with herbert and myself.
yummy!!!

 

[mannyzuniega]

hello wolfgang,

ive seen freediving video of you guys. its awesome! and its also a perfect place to study freediving. i was in philippines last july but so busy and haven't time to go moalboal. maybe my next vacation on march or april (next year), i will make sure i could go moalboal for freediving lesson. are you living in cebu? i am from bikol (south of manila) and currently working in brunei as an OFW.

divesafely

 

[cjv]

Manny,

Definitely go for it. Take the Freediving lesson with Wolfgang. The place (White Beach, Moalboal) is nice as well.

Safe diving,