Emil started teaching freediving professionally in early 2012, initially in Thailand and Indonesia, before settling back in the Philippines. As an SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer, AIDA Freediving Instructor (inactive), and RAID Master Freediving Instructor (inactive), he teaches courses from beginner to instructor levels. As the country’s most experienced and longest-tenured professional freediving instructor, he treats his students with utmost care and always aims to provide nothing less of an exceptional experience.

He is a trained Red Cross lifeguard, a PADI scuba dive professional, and a React Right Emergency First Aid, CPR, AED, Oxygen Provider instructor. Although he loves scuba, he doesn’t dive with a tank as much anymore since he started freediving. He loves the simplicity of freediving.

His passion for diving started in 1999. He has been playing in the water since then. With degrees in computer science and information technology, he led a successful career in the corporate world before deciding to travel long-term and pursue his passion for the water.

He took his first freediving course with Apnea Total while on travel. Wanting to live and share this passion, he eventually became a freediving instructor. His deep appreciation for yoga and meditation steered him to complete a Yoga Alliance accredited traditional yoga teacher course and attended yoga and meditation retreats in India and Nepal. Understanding more about the body and the mind goes hand in hand with teaching freediving.