RIVERVIEW FREE DIVING FIELD GUIDE
Under Pressure: Lead Freediving in Cebu — NAUI Freediving Leadership Workshop, 10–14 July 2026
A five-day, instructor-level workshop in Cebu that trains experienced freedivers to teach and lead dives and prepares candidates for NAUI instructor or examiner certification.
Under Pressure: Lead Freediving in Cebu — NAUI Freediving Leadership Workshop, 10–14 July 2026.
Adventure brief
Under Pressure: Lead Freediving in Cebu — NAUI Freediving Leadership Workshop, 10–14 July 2026
This intensive freediving leadership workshop gathers experienced freedivers at Paradive Resort, Punta Engano, Buto Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, for five days of classroom instruction, confined-water drills and ocean capacity dives designed to build the skills required to teach, supervise and manage safety in freediving.
On the eastern edge of Mactan Island, at Punta Engaño in Buto, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, the NAUI Philippines Freediving Leadership Workshop turns a tropical reef into a classroom for aspiring freediving instructors. Across five intense days (10–14 July 2026), this course blends rigorous academics, confined-water drills, and progressive open-water depth training at Paradive Resort, a practical base with immediate access to clear, coral-lined slopes and house-reef drops. Students arrive via Mactan-Cebu International Airport and find steadier water in morning windows when trade winds calm.
The program is purpose-built for experienced freedivers who want to teach: physics, physiology, equalization, safety and problem management are covered in classroom sessions, then applied back-to-back in pools and ocean sessions. Key features include static apnea evaluation, dynamic swims, constant weight (CWT) and free immersion (FIM) sequences progressing to 25 meters and beyond, supervised capacity dives, and instructor-level rescue scenarios. The local reef is primarily fringing coral on limestone substrate, with compact drop-offs that make depth work efficient and visibility often good for coaching and video review.
What sets this workshop apart is its immersion in real teaching conditions. Rig setup, surface weight checks, multi-student supervision, and simulated blackouts are run with repeated, structured drills so candidates leave ready to lead safe courses. NAUI instructors Nick Nechay and Asia Pacific representative William Tong are listed contacts for course details and membership steps, and the schedule includes time to file NAUI applications for new members following successful completion.
Logistics are straightforward but uncompromising: candidates supply their own low-volume mask, long freediving fins, wetsuit, rubber quick-release weight belt, and dual timing devices. Accommodation and meals are self-arranged near the resort, and participants should be prepared for physically demanding swim and breath-hold tests, including timed statics, long-distance swims, and survival floats.
Before you register, review NAUI's current standards and policy manual to confirm prerequisites and performance benchmarks; this workshop assumes certified intermediate-to-advanced freediving ability, strong watermanship, and comfort teaching practical skills. Medical screening and paperwork are completed on Day One, and the curriculum allocates time for presentations, peer feedback, and rig teardown drills. Expect concentrated evaluation sequences—two-minute statics, 800-meter swim tests, and repeated simulated rescues—to verify readiness for instructor responsibility and career advancement.
Beyond the training, the workshop places you within Cebu’s lively marine network. Between sessions, explore nearby house reefs, or take a short boat ride to Olango Island bird sanctuary and Gilutongan for snorkeling. Respect reef stewardship: reef-safe sunscreen, careful weight handling, and gear checks protect coral and keep access open.
This course is not an introductory vacation clinic; it forges instructors through repetition, safe escalation, and hands-on mentoring in a tropical setting that bridges classroom discipline with ocean reality—an exacting, efficient path to NAUI freediving leadership.
Route Schematic
Daily Schematic: Classroom to Ocean
The course moves from classroom theory and confined-water evaluations to open-ocean rig work and capacity dives over five days.
Day 1 — Classroom & Confined Water
Course introduction and paperwork, review of intermediate freediver topics, followed by confined-water evaluations including watermanship, recovery breathing, mask/snorkel clearing, neutral buoyancy and simulated dives (FIM & CWT) and static breath-hold practice.
Day 2 — Classroom Intensives & Presentations
Full-day classroom focus on advanced safety and problem management, instructor standards and teaching methods, with candidate presentations and gear evaluations.
Day 3 — Confined Water, Physical Evaluations & Academics
Further confined-water testing including static and dynamic swims, stamina tests and survival floats, plus classroom sessions on NAUI policies, pricing and leadership standards.
Day 4 — Ocean Rig Work & Skill Demonstrations
Ocean session with rig setup, surface weight checks, progressive FIM and CWT dives (5–25m and beyond), safety simulations for blackouts and underwater recoveries, and instructor-level demonstrations.
Day 5 — Ocean Capacity Dives & Personal Bests
Final ocean day focused on capacity dives, target personal best attempts, makeup demonstrations as needed and rig breakdown.
This course is physically demanding; candidates must be skilled freedivers, complete the NAUI Intermediate Freediver eLearning before arrival and expect rigorous in-water testing. Operators may adjust schedules or activities to meet safety and training needs.
What the day feels like
What the Workshop Feels Like
Expect long classroom days reviewing physics, physiology and teaching methodology; confined-water sessions testing watermanship, stamina and coaching; and ocean days that run through rig setups, progressive free-immersion and constant-weight drills, simulated blackout and recovery scenarios, and capacity dives aimed at individual personal bests.
THE CERTIFICATION
Earn NAUI Freediving Instructor / Examiner Credentials
This workshop prepares qualified candidates to earn the NAUI Freediving instructor or examiner designation and assists successful candidates with the membership application process; workshop pricing does not include NAUI membership dues or application fees.
THE TRAINING
Intensive Classroom, Confined-Water and Ocean Sessions
Across structured classroom lectures, confined-water evaluations and open-ocean rig and capacity dives, candidates perform timed statics, dynamic swims, simulated rescues and progressive depth demonstrations under instructor evaluation.
THE VENUE
Paradive Resort — Practical Ocean Training in Cebu
The workshop takes place at Paradive Resort in Punta Engano, with ocean sessions focused on rig setup, surface weight checks, progressive freediving depth work and safety management drills.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this workshop is made for — and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Required equipment includes a low-volume mask, freediving (long) fins, a simple J-tube snorkel, an appropriate freediving wetsuit, a freediving rubber weight belt (preferably quick-release) with proper ballast (neck weight, if used, must be ≤50% of diver weight), a depth-and-time monitor (dive watch) plus a second timing device; freediving professionals must wear a second timing device while leading all in-water portions.
Candidates must bring a primary means to monitor depth and time and a second timing device; freediving professionals are required to wear the second device during in-water leadership.
If a neck weight is worn it must not exceed 50% of the diver's total weight; bring equipment suited specifically to freediving (long fins, low-volume mask) rather than general snorkeling gear.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
When and where does the workshop take place?
The Freediving Leadership Workshop runs 10–14 July 2026 at Paradive Resort, Punta Engano, Buto Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, Philippines.
What prerequisites must I complete before arrival?
Each candidate is required to complete the NAUI Intermediate Freediver eLearning course; after registration the eLearning code will be added to the candidate's NAUI account within five business days and must be activated and finished prior to arrival.
Are accommodations and meals included?
No — all candidates are responsible for their own lodging, food and personal expenses.
Does the workshop fee include NAUI membership?
No — workshop pricing does not include NAUI membership dues or application fees; candidates who pass can submit a membership application and assistance will be provided at the workshop.
Who do I contact with questions about this specific workshop?
Contact the NAUI instructor Nick Nechay at [email protected] and the Asia Pacific Service Center representative William Tong at [email protected]; include both on all workshop-related email communications.
What is the best airport to fly into?
The best airport to utilize is Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
How this guide was prepared
This field guide is synthesized using verified supplier specifications, route descriptions, and destination data. Some booking links may generate affiliate revenue for ADV Guides.
- Verified: 2026-09-08T19:51:31.444Z
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