Best Freediving Schools in Amed: My Honest Take

You can walk down the Amed coast and stumble across a freediving school every few hundred metres. But they’re not all the same.

Some feel like home. Some feel like hustle. And some… are just a mooring and a guy with a scooter.

Here’s my honest experience with the best-known schools in the area.

Apnea Bali

This is where I send people who are serious. It’s a 20-minute scooter ride, but that road leads to excellence.

State-of-the-art everything: pool, gym, kitchen. The instructors don’t just watch your dives—they see you. Pick up things you didn’t even feel. They care, deeply.

Everything is spotless. The support is next level. From Wave 1 to Masters, this is where transformation happens.

• LIFE CHANGING
• Arguably the best place to train from Wave 1 to Masters
  
• 20-minute scooter ride from Amed
  
• State-of-the-art location with pool, restaurant, gym
  
• World-class instructors who are very detail-oriented
  
• Clean, professional, supportive atmosphere
  
• Moorings are a short swim from shore
  
• High instructor involvement and personal support
  

Freediving Amed

New, but full of heart. The instructors are experienced, kind, and wildly flexible. When I needed to postpone my course, they didn’t flinch.

Moorings are a bit further. You swim. But it’s worth it, incredible conditions every time.

There’s a quiet coolness to this place. Volcanic sand under your feet. A breeze off the water. Sometimes, the owner teaches the course himself, which speaks a lot of the great quality of the instruction.

• New school with experienced freedivers
  
• Very flexible course scheduling, supportive with postponements
  
• Deep moorings a short swim away
  
• Relaxed, cool vibe
  
• Ocean views, right on volcanic sand
  
• Some courses taught by the owner

Apneista

The first time I trained at Apneista, I walked barefoot from my room to the ocean. The moorings were so close it felt like cheating.

The place is small, always buzzing. Instructors rotate, but they’re good. You can pre-order your post-dive lunch, and the kitchen somehow always gets the timing right.

It’s oceanfront. Step out, step in. Everything feels simple.

• Very central location
  
• Freediving moorings (even deep ones) are very close
  
• Plenty of instructors
  
• Good student feedback
  
• You can pre-order food before diving
  
• Right on the ocean doorstep
  
• Some rotation of instructors
  

Ocean Prana

They don’t fuss. You show up, and they take care of you. If you want more feedback or teaching, maybe not your spot. But for safe, solid diving—it’s great.

Beautiful venue. Central. Yoga shala upstairs. You can stretch, store your gear, grab a coffee.

The owner once held the world record in No Limits. You feel that legacy in the silence.

• Minimal instruction, strong safety support
  
• Moorings are not far
  
• Punctual and professional
  
• Beautiful, central venue
  
• Has a yoga shala and gear storage space
  
• Owner is a former world record holder in No Limits
  

Fusion Freediving

If you’re into spearfishing, this is your place.

Professional, no drama. They drive you to the dive site. Gear is solid. Instruction rotates a lot, but the vibe is consistent.

Not my first pick for progression or coaching, but great for underwater adventure.

• Specializes in spearfishing trips
  
• Professional approach
  
• Good equipment rental
  
• Transport to dive sites provided
  
• High instructor rotation

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So, who’s the best?

Apnea Bali. Every single time.

If you want structure and progression—Apnea Bali. If you want chill vibes by the beach—Freediving Amed. If you want to roll out of bed and be in the water—Apneista. If you want quiet professionalism—Ocean Prana. If you want a gun in your hand—Fusion.

You can’t go wrong. You just have to go.

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Also read: Competing Against Yourself, How to Prepare for Your First Pool Competition, and What Freediving Taught Me About Patience.