Freediving Coron — Local services in Coron

On a recent trip to Coron, I was in a dive shop and asked if they offered free diving courses. They told me to go down the street to the GMG Hotel where I would find a free-diving store called Apnea Total.

My girlfriend and I went to the Apnea Total free diving store and sat down to speak with one of the instructors named Cat. I wanted to try free diving but wasn't set on signing up for the two-day course right away. Cat said no problem, try it one day and if you like it you can come again the next day to finish the course to earn your certification.

A little about my experience..

I knew after talking to Cat that the course was going to be exciting and challenging and I could tell from our conversation that he was very passionate about the sport. The next day we met for the classroom part of the course and learned about the techniques that we would use in the water. Then we got on the speed boat and headed to a lake in Coron Island (Coron Island is like something out of another world). The lake was incredibly beautiful. Probably one of the best spots in the world for free diving.

I started out the water lesson with another instructor named Paula and then switched back to Cat. They both have different teaching styles that compliment each other very well. I've played many sports and have had lots of coaches in my life but these two were probably the best. They were exceptional. Cat and Paula were so intuitive and did an amazing job at reading the students and pointing out areas that we needed to work on. It was pure joy being taught by them.

I was also blown away by the effectiveness of the breathing techniques that we learned in the classroom. I had no idea that my body was capable of being able to relax and hold my breath for so long while at the same time diving to such a deep depth and feeling so comfortable once I was down there.

The second day of the class was even better. Once you get the hang of it, you can really focus on equalizing and improving your technique.

I now have my certification and am absolutely hooked. I can't wait to go back to complete the advanced level certification.

Free diving is something that I would encourage every water lover to try at least once in their life. If you are visiting Coron, go by the Apnea Total store and have a conversation with Cat and Paula. You'll be so glad...

Unforgettable Freediving Experience in Coron Island with Cat!

I had an incredible experience freediving in Coron Island, and I owe it all to Cat at Freediving Coron. Before booking my trip to the Philippines, I reached out to a couple of schools in Coron to inquire about a 2-day freediving course. I had seen stunning underwater photos of the area and knew I had to experience it for myself. Cat replied within seconds—literally from a boat—with a quick message: "I’m on a boat, will reply soon with details." Forty-five minutes later, I had all the info I needed, sent my deposit, and the course was booked. That kind of responsiveness and clarity instantly gave me confidence.

From start to finish, Cat was exceptional. He knows his stuff inside and out—not just as a world-class freediver, but as a truly gifted instructor. He’s calm, focused, and incredibly intuitive when it comes to teaching. If something didn’t quite click, he’d patiently try a different approach until it made sense. You never feel rushed or pressured; he creates an environment where learning comes naturally and progress feels effortless.

Because of my tight schedule, we did two open water sessions in one day—and what a day it was. The morning session was from the Paolyn Houseboats, an absolutely unique floating hotel with its own restaurant. Just being there felt like a dream. In the afternoon, we dived in Barracuda Lake, which is hands down one of the most surreal and beautiful places I’ve ever seen underwater. Warm, crystal-clear water (no wetsuits needed), stunning surroundings, and Cat guiding the whole experience—it couldn’t have been better.

Whether you're brand new to freediving or already have experience, Freediving Coron and Cat are the perfect choice. If you’re starting out, you couldn’t be in better hands. And if you're looking to refine your technique or push your limits, Cat's experience and calm guidance will absolutely help you level up—or just enjoy the dive of your life at Coron Island.

I truly hope to return to this paradise one day. If you’re planning to freedive in Coron—do yourself a favor and...

Kat with freediving coron is your go to instructor if you want to learn to free dive! I’m a self taught free diver with a few years experience living in Australia and love to spend my spare time finding new marine friends. I wanted to get certified to enhance my skills and learn the proper techniques so I could stay down longer with them and open up more job opportunities as well. I had many opportunities to get certified in Australia but was put off by the larger groups and the setting in which they taught the course. I stumbled upon finding Kat after a quick search for best freediving courses. It’s easy to see why he’s top rated. I’m so glad that I decided to get my certification through him because he was the best possible teacher to have and I learned in such an amazing setting! He made me feel comfortable even before the class started and throughout the course with his friendly and bubbly personality which made it easy to relax and not feel like I was hanging out with a friend and not like I was scared to mess up in front of someone more intimidating which was the vibe I got from other courses I looked into. You can tell how knowledgeable he is and how impressive his freediving skills are . His ability to explain what he wanted out of me to do each step of the way and help me adjust in areas I need made it so easy to follow his directions and guidance. He was able to push me to PB depths not even realising that I was achieving them because he made me so confident doing them felt so easy. He celebrated every win with me and my other course mate which made us wanting to do better each time. I loved that it was just the two of us students instead of more people like the other schools because I wouldn’t have had the same attention and it would’ve discouraged my learning. Everything about the course I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m so happy I got to learn from the best of the best Kat! I’m going to go back to progress my certifications with him soon and can’t wait! Don’t hesitate to book with him you...