Diving into the sea as a nonswimmer
Have you ever considered learning to dive into the ocean’s depths but fear doing so because you aren’t a swimmer? Well, you don’t have to be afraid anymore!
A fascinating group of thalassophiles (people who adore the sea) is on a mission to help people explore the ocean independently. The Freediving Coaches of Asia (FCOA), a non-profit organization, offers diving training to non-swimmers irrespective of their swimming capabilities. What is unique is that they do this for free!
“Diving is a way we can move around 70% of our planet and it’s shocking to believe that we still have billions of people out there who fear the sea or don’t know how to swim,” said Jeroen Elout, Founder of Freediving Coaches of Asia (FCOA). “This thought led to the formation of our organization and we aim to teach everybody how to survive at sea and how to interact with and love our water bodies. Awareness is the key and once they embrace it am sure they would volunteer to learn more about various activities that help them to be with the ocean.”
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Overcoming a fear of water
Right from day one, their strategy is to ensure every newcomer enters a coaching and collaborative mindset. Non-swimmers are restricted to shallow water until they master the 200-meter swim.
“My experience during the freediving session was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, excitement, anxiety, and plenty of fun, “ said Dinta Suresh, who was new to water and found the initial days were quite intimidating. She discovered the course in Calicut through an Instagram page of a swimming academy, Swimphin Academy based in Edimoozhikkal, Kozhikode.
“Not knowing how to swim made me overly cautious, even while stepping into the water. However, as the days went by, I gradually gained confidence and became much more comfortable with the water. One of my proudest achievements was learning to free float. Experiencing the sensation of weightlessness and gently drifting with the waves was an unforgettable experience,” she added.
Safety Techniques & the ‘Buddy System’
FCOA not only helps newbies discover a love for the sea but their sessions also introduce various safety techniques to teach them how to survive and feel comfortable in this environment.. With the buddy-up method, each participant is assigned a buddy who looks out for them when they dive. All the group members are trained to handle blackouts and run mock drills to educate participants to handle crises while diving.
“After completing the course, I feel much more comfortable around the sea,” said Dinta. “The class also focused on teaching basic survival skills, which are crucial for saving lives, even for those who don’t know how to swim. I used to rarely step into the waves, but now I feel at ease with the ocean. Additionally, the foundation course has sparked an interest in diving and exploring the underwater world. I’m now excited to learn more and experience the sea in a whole new way.”
Environmental awareness
Founded in the Philippines in 2016, FCOA’s foray into India was a coincidence. When Jeroen was stranded in the Maldives during the pandemic, he took up sailing which took him to the Kerala coast. In 2021, he helped organize the first FCOA freediving event in Kochi, which drew a huge response, with people growing more environmentally aware and spreading the word to others.
However, FCOA had its doubters and its challenges. People are always apprehensive when something is offered for free explained Jeroen who became a scuba diver at 19 and has taught diving around the world for over 30 years. “They feel that it’s a scam and there might be some hidden agenda behind this. But once they are in and learn our methodologies, it helps us build trust. Right after a few classes, the participants get super excited and help us spread the initiative by word of mouth.”
Free programs
The group encountered hostility from swimming schools in the area where they conducted workshops. “They feel that we are attacking their business and that it will impact their group of followers.”
However, Pondicherry was an exception added Jeroen. “Two of the swim schools were more than happy to share their space for our workshops, especially during the rainy season.” He was grateful to donors who realized their intentions were genuine and generously funded FCOA so they could reach more people and offer the program for free across the globe.
The organization also trains interested individuals to become certified coaches and continue FCOA’s mission. “Anyone who wants to train further to become a FCOA coach is also welcome to do so by completing all the lessons from 1 to 5. Once they gain certification, they are added to our database thus helping this initiative reach the masses.”
“A few FCOA coaches provide one-on-one lessons and charge for them. But for the big events and workshops, they often participate out of generosity and gratefulness. Those events are good places to meet new dive buddies.” FCOA also offers lessons in scuba and sailing from beginner to instructor levels.
Protect, not pollute the ocean
Legally registered in Chennai, FCOA India has organized diving workshops across the country, including in Chennai, Calicut, Pondicherry, Delhi, Bangalore, and Piravom. Its coaches also deliver programming in Uganda, Zambia, Phillippines, and the Seychelles and in the next few years, FCOA is preparing to expand to other countries in Asia in the upcoming years.
“I sincerely hope that more people are aware of this initiative and join us to learn diving,” says Jeroen. “This would help the masses to become environmentally aware because I believe that we definitely can do a lot better for our nature and water bodies,” Their first event for 2025 is scheduled to be held in Mangalore, India.
FCOA strongly believes in its mission – if it can make people love the ocean, that will pave the way for them to care for and protect its waters instead of carelessly polluting it.