Considering that the Philippines has blistering summer temperatures and an abundance of beaches, it is no wonder that most Filipinos and visitors regard swimming and diving as a way to cool down while also enjoying the summer tropical vibe here. While swimming and scuba diving are popular beach activities in this area, few people are aware of or consider freediving as a viable alternative sport. It is not unexpected that it is not well-liked because it may catch people off guard and lead them to feel that it is a detrimental recreational activity. Get to know about freediving in the Philippines and who knows, this might be your new favorite hobby.
When it comes to freediving, if you are unfamiliar with the sport, it is a type of diving in which a person dives underwater while merely holding their breath. Underwater sports such as this do not necessitate the use of any special equipment, such as a scuba tank. Recreational freediving is considered a sport, pleasure, and recreational activity. Freediving also has a number of health benefits, including increasing oxygen efficiency, increasing body strength, improving joint health, and increasing endurance and vitality.
Some people freedive for a variety of reasons, including the health benefits mentioned above. In case you’re intrigued by and interested in freediving, here are some facts about freediving in the Philippines to keep you entertained.
Rich in History
Philippine freediving has a long and storied history, and it is still practiced today. The Philippines was home to some of the world’s first and most innovative freedivers, including some of the world’s first and most innovative freedivers. The Badjaos (also known as sea gypsies or sea nomads) of Mindanao are an indigenous ethnic group who rely on freediving for their subsistence. They freedive in order to catch fish, which they sell at market. The Badjaos are capable of diving to depths of up to 20 meters and holding their breath for periods of several minutes at a time.
Freediving Courses
It is one of the best places in the world to learn how to freedive because there are so many beaches in the Philippines to choose from. The area is also home to a large number of freediving schools, the vast majority of which are AIDA accredited. AIDA is a non-profit organization that governs and maintains records for competitive breath-holding activities around the world. They are the ones that have established freediving schooling standards, as well as safety and comparability requirements for those attempting world records in the sport. When you decide to learn how to freedive in the Philippines, you can be confident that your safety will be taken into consideration.
Anyone interested in learning how to freedive can take advantage of basic freediving training that is provided. These fundamental courses might last from one to three days. In addition to introducing, you to freediving, the training will offer you with all of the required facts about the sport and an immersion into it. After you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you’ll be able to go to more advanced courses and training.
Best Freediving places in the Philippines
Many visitors travel to the Philippines in order to participate in freediving activities. Because the Philippines has more than 7,000 islands, with the majority of them having beaches, there is no doubt that it is an ideal site to go freediving. With that in mind, here are the best freediving spots in the Philippines to check out.
1 – Anilao, Batangas
Located just a few hours away from Manila in the province of Batangas, Anilao is the best place to learn to freedive, regardless of whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience under your belt. In addition, there are numerous freediving schools in this area. Because of the quantity of colourful fish and coral reefs in Anilao, the island is also known for having some of the top diving spots in the world. In addition to its mild environment and lovely beaches, Batangas is a perfect location to consider investing in real estate or even acquiring a condominium due of its stunning views and accessibility to fantastic diving spots in the area.
2 – Coron, Palawan
Palawan is, without a question, the best place to go freediving in the Philippines. Aside from the usual breath-taking views from the beach, the diving places are equally as breathtaking as the scenery. The chance of viewing sunken Japanese ships when diving in Coron, Palawan, is one of the island’s most distinctive diving experiences. Also worth visiting is the Barracuda Lake, which is thought to have been formed by a past volcano and hence contains several rock formations as well as, of course, barracudas.
3 – El Nido, Palawan
Because of the diving spots in El Nido, which are home to turtles, squid, and schools of fish, it is an excellent location for learning good static breathing techniques and practicing deep free dives. There are also numerous freediving schools in El Nido, which makes it a great place to learn to freedive in the Philippines. The fact that Palawan is an oasis where people can live and just go diving means that there is no doubt a lot of condominiums and affordable houses and lots to comfortably live near the beaches.
4 – Apo Island, Negros Oriental
In comparison to the other islands on the list, Apo Island is a very small island, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to see underwater on this small island. Due to the abundance of turtles, 400 different coral types, and 650 different fish species, Apo Island is the best place in the world to freedive because of its underwater habitat. Apo Island, without a doubt, is a favourite diving location among divers.
5 – Romblon
Romblon’s diving spots are well-known, and the best reason to go there is because the island is home to a blue hole, which is a gigantic marine sinkhole or cavern with amazing rock structures and a depth of 30 meters. It is the best diving spot in the world, and it is located in Romblon. It is also worthwhile to dive the Gorda wall, which is home to a diverse array of marine life and corals that are worth seeing while in Romblon.
6 – Camiguin
There are numerous natural treasures on Camiguin, often known as the “Island of Fire,” that are undoubtedly worth diving for on this tropical island. Aside from the abundance of natural resources on the island itself, the marine and aquatic life of Camiguin is especially worth recognizing for its diversity. Due to the presence of a subterranean cemetery where stone crosses may be seen, Camiguin is well-known for its diving opportunities.
Freediving Athletes
A team of the world’s best freediving athletes from various freediving disciplines competes against each other in freediving, much as any other sport does; this team is known as Team Philippines. This squad is comprised of the top athletes in the AIDA Philippines rankings, as determined by the AIDA rankings. In order to calculate the standings, any Filipino freediver who competes in an official AIDA event must accumulate a certain number of points. The members of the squad hope to raise awareness of freediving as a recreational and competitive activity among Filipinos by promoting it as such.
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Maria Noella Zosa competed in the 2019 Philippine Depth National Championship, which was held in the Philippines. The United States, China, Ukraine, and Ireland are among the countries participating in the competition. Despite the fact that Maria Noella Zosa was unable to claim the top spot, her ability to dive 55 meters beneath the surface is still outstanding. Another fascinating information about Zosa is that she is a vegetarian. She began diving in 2016, and within a year, she had risen to the very top of the national rankings. In the country, she has contributed to the development of freediving as a sport with her numerous accomplishments and accolades. Maria holds a number of national records in a range of sports, including the CWT-B and FIM records in gymnastics and swimming. The fact that she is a multi-dimensional athlete derives from her capacity to excel in a number of different sports. Other prominent freediving athletes include Martin, the leading freediver in the Philippines and the founder of the Philippine Freediving Team. He holds four distinct national records in freediving: CWT, FIM, DYN, and STA.
