Our Story
Yan and Freda, Bali Freedivers co-creators, connected through freediving in 2017 and instantly clicked. They became dive partners and explored many parts of Indonesia to find secret spots underwater.
Freediving is for Freda an enjoyable and innovative activity. She initiated her freediving equipment project Fish on Stilts in 2019 to present the dreamlike aspect of freediving in bali.
Yan chose the teaching career path as a means to pass on the joy of the sport. He is a leading instructor at Bali Freedivers and has contributed to building a peaceful and secure environment for amed freediving. You can join Jan's introductory freediving classes, advanced courses, fun freediving experience and spearfishing.
The deeper value of freediving
Freediving includes a wide range of underwater activities all done on a single breath. While it involves sport, exploration, and fitness, we are most fascinated by its power as a tool for mental well-being. By using the water as a mirror for your inner state, you can become more aware of your physical sensations and emotions. Our mission is to create a safe space for you to turn this experience into a more mindful way of living. In our bali freediving sessions, we don’t focus on numbers or benchmarks; instead, we treat freediving as a practice to help you stay present and act with awareness.
Why Choose Bali Freedivers
Personal Approach
We adjust our teaching to match your specific learning rhythm and style. We stay flexible with our schedule, teaching languages, and the general flow of your freediving courses.
International Certification
We provide world-class certifications through the most prestigious agencies, including SSI, AIDA, and Molchanovs, ensuring your skills are recognized globally.
Perfect for Beginners
Our small groups (maximum 3 students per instructor) and the calm, clear waters of the area make us the top choice for a beginner freediving course in amed freediving.
Mental & Emotional Health
We are a unique school where emotional intelligence and safety are at the core of everything we do. We start with body awareness and move toward emotional scanning, teaching you the non-reactive behavior that is key to fun freediving and mindful living.
Our Team
Yan
Yan has been freediving since he was five years old, starting in the waters of his home country, Ukraine. He moved to Indonesia in 2013 and has been a professional instructor since 2017, holding Level 3 SSI and Molchanovs certifications.
Over the last decade, Yan has taught across five different countries and guided more than 500 students. He has also organized dozens of freediving expeditions throughout Indonesia, helping people discover the best hidden spots for bali freediving.
While he is an experienced deep diver, Yan’s real passion is passing on the magic of the sport to those taking a beginner freediving course. He loves watching students fall in love with the water and build their confidence through fun freediving in a safe, relaxed environment.
As an active spearo, Yan also tailors his freediving courses in Amed to help spearfishers and surfers. Since both sports require calm under pressure, his coaching focuses on the specific breathwork and safety skills needed to handle challenging conditions.
Freda
Freda grew up in several cities across Java, Indonesia, far from the coastline. Despite having little access to the ocean as a child, she felt a deep pull toward the underwater world and actually started her journey by teaching herself how to swim.
After joining the freediving community in Yogyakarta, she began exploring the rich marine life of Indonesia. Since then, she has traveled to countless destinations, always captivated by the underwater creatures that now inspire her unique visual art projects.
In 2019, she took her passion further by founding the freediving brand Fish on Stilts. What started as a creative project is now a well-known name in Indonesia and beyond, reflecting her love for the sport and the "feeling of freedom" she finds beneath the surface.
At Bali Freedivers, Freda is the heart of the operation as our General Manager and Marketing Lead. She ensures everything runs smoothly for those coming to enjoy freediving training in Amed or starting their beginner freediving course.
Rose
Rose grew up as a true aquatic kid, playing in the ocean with friends since she was five years old, in South-East Sulawesi. From early days spent spearfishing and exploring the shallows with a mask, her life has always been centered around the sea. "Freediving only makes sense if it's fun," she says, a mindset that perfectly matches the energy here at Bali Freedivers.
With a background as a radio announcer and customer service manager, Rose brings a warm and professional touch to our team. When she isn't in the water, she’s likely crafting unique jewelry from sea glass and shells, creating pieces that are a huge hit within the local bali freediving community.
In the office, Rose is the go-to person for all our guest communications, ensuring everyone feels welcome and informed. As a Level 3 certified freediver, she also steps out from behind the desk to lead fun freediving adventures for our groups in Amed.
Whether you’re just reaching out to ask about a beginner freediving course or you're ready to head out into the blue, Rose is there to make sure your experience is smooth and full of smiles.