Any encounter with marine life is magic, whether it is freediving with manta rays or with playful dolphins or being in the midst of a school of barracuda, sardines or tuna. But also, small clownfish peeking out of sea anemones are great to observe.
Herbert Nitsch
As journalism undergrads, we are taught to begin with a strong quote, and who better than the legend himself, Herbert Nitsch — a reminder that wonder, not numbers, is why we dive.
Herbert Nitsch is a living legend who participated in freediving competitions from 2001 to 2012, setting 33 world records. In fact, he held all pool and depth records simultaneously. His competitive journey ended with his world-record attempt dive to 253 meters (831 feet), which earned him the moniker “Deepest Man on Earth”. The boundaries of human limits were reached, but what brought him the most joy was going diving with his friends and interacting with marine life. All those skills he mastered, he used to swim with dolphins. You can see similar patterns with the legendary Jacques Mayol. Mayol, most famously portrayed in the Luc Besson-directed 1998 film The Big Blue, even wrote a book titled Homo Delphinus: The Dolphin Within Man.
The PADI Freediver course is not just a stepping stone; it’s an organized entry into the world of freediving. You practice your skills — up and down the line, amused by drifting jellyfish and curious baby squid. But then comes a part of freediving that’s truly liberating – using all the skills acquired to truly explore the world’s waterways.
A fun dive using apnea offers advantages that are quite unique. The one up, one down principle allows you to explore the reef with a buddy. Your local PADI Freediver Center can help you find the best spots and make sure you have a great time. To find one close to your location, you can use the PADI Dive Shop Locator.
If you’ve wondered what your instructors do on their day off, we usually grab a buddy, take a kayak, hook up to a mooring line and go explore the reef with nothing other than a mask, snorkel and fins.
How To Skill Up To Spot Marine Life While Freediving
That we can dive does not make the open water our environment. We are merely guests there. Yet, slowly but surely, it begins to feel like a second home, a place where there is inherent comfort, an understanding of the depths and comfort in your own body.
One of my reasons to get better at freediving was watching my PADI Freediver Instructor spot a leaf about 6 meters (20 feet) below her while snorkeling. This was the residence of Shawn the Sheep, a tiny nudibranch the size of a human thumbnail. That tiny speck of green likes to be camouflaged.
I was amazed as I watched my instructor not just find the nudibranch but also use her freediving skills to stay a few inches above the nudibranch without disturbing the sandy bottom. It blew me away to witness her ability to use the tiniest motions of the body to perform an underwater dance.
This sparked a fire in me. What do I need to learn to be able to do that? The answer was in front of me. I signed up for the PADI Master Freediver course at Kaizen Freediving in Koh Tao, Thailand. Later, I went on to become a PADI Freediver Instructor. The Master Freediver course gave me skills, and being an instructor rekindled the skills from my previous Army career. Being responsible for my students and having the opportunity to introduce them to this new world under the surface has been a rewarding and fulfilling journey.
Freediving at this level is about being able to watch turtles being clumsy and sergeant majors do their policing with groupers scowling from under the rocks while parrotfish get their spa time in with the cleaner wrasse. The ocean is never quiet. I spoke to Jenny Krauser, a PADI Freediver Instructor and underwater photographer, who views the ocean as her friend. It’s a safe space where bliss is not a word but a feeling for her.
“There’s never nothing,” says Krauser, quoting the German freediving champion, Anna Von Boetticher, while describing her time in the ocean. “It is nothing short of magical; I feel a connection with the ocean – sharing a space with a million creatures all alive and moving about around me. As a visitor in their world, I try always to be a gracious guest – observing but never disturbing. [I’m] grateful to the fish for allowing me to stick my face up close and say hello to little Nemo and watch the parrotfish chomp away at corals. Experiencing that connection in the water lets me be more mindful of nature on land as well.”
Care for Marine Life
While it is an incredibly rewarding experience to witness the reef in action, there is a responsibility that comes along with it. The reef animals are, after all, wild creatures – a distinction we must not forget.
The ocean does not ask the freediver to be confined to any space, and that places the onus on the diver.
Marine life, like all life, can be stressed when bothered. These animals do not appreciate being touched by human hands or being mobbed by frenzied snorkelers.
Want to make a difference as you dive? PADI Eco Centers are dive operations that champion sustainable practices, cultivate environmental awareness, empower local communities and protect marine life.
In addition, the PADI Aware 10 Tips To Save the Ocean are a brilliant starting point. These tips provide a framework for environmentally responsible diving, emphasizing actions like becoming a buoyancy expert, protecting underwater life, leaving only bubbles and taking only photos and removing and reporting trash. If this sounds interesting, the PADI AWARE Specialty course lets you learn and explore simultaneously.
The Big Fish
There is a joy in witnessing the giants of the oceans. Be it mantas, sharks, whales or the elusive mola-mola. Having memories of those precious animal encounters, captured in pictures and videos to share with friends and family, are priceless, too. We spoke to Kevin Quint, PADI Advanced Freediver Instructor and Master Scuba Diver Trainer (MSDT) as well as a passionate underwater photographer.
“Freediving and photography go hand in hand in a special way,” says Quint. “Without a tank or gear noise, you move quietly, becoming part of the ocean instead of just observing it. Every shot must count; you’ve only got one breath to capture it. You learn to slow down, to wait for the right moment – a ray passing overhead, a shark in the light or the way the sun filters through the surface. It’s challenging, but that’s what makes it so rewarding. Being a freediver photographer isn’t just about taking pictures underwater; it’s about feeling present, connected and free. Each image holds not just what you saw, but how it felt to be there.”
The allure of the big fish is an exhilarating experience, in Quint’s words, “Freediving with tiger sharks in the Maldives is one of those experiences that stays with you forever. The first time you drop into the blue and see their striped silhouettes gliding below, it’s hard not to feel a mix of adrenaline and calm. There’s just you, your breath and these incredible animals moving effortlessly through the water. They’re curious but not aggressive, and as long as you stay relaxed and respectful, they often come close enough for you to really appreciate their beauty and power. Sharing the ocean with tiger sharks is a reminder of how wild and balanced nature can be. It’s not about chasing thrills; it’s about connection, trust and learning to move in harmony with the sea.”
The World Is Your Oyster
Every dive ends at the surface, but the open water rarely leaves you there. Its silence lingers long after the water has dried — an endearing reminder of balance, connection and humility. Freediving isn’t about how deep we go, but how deeply we feel. Each breath, each dive, is an act of gratitude for a world that lets us visit, if only for a while.
Every ascent feels like waking from a dream you don’t want to end. The surface glitters, the world gets loud again, and yet something of the deep lingers — quiet, patient, infinite. That’s what keeps me diving. Not for numbers or records, but for the reminder that peace can be found in a single breath, suspended between two worlds.
Don’t wait, there’s an entire universe waiting to be explored. A journey that not only leads to the open water but also to sensation within. Fresh water, salt water, cenote or coral garden, it doesn’t matter. The spirit of adventure seeks fun, not pH levels.
About the Author
Akshay Thatte is a PADI Freediver Instructor Trainer and National Record Holder in Dynamic Apnea for India. The former Indian Army Veteran is now teaching full-time at Kaizen Freediving, Koh Tao, Thailand, and he spends his free time with the dogs, cats and fauna of Koh Tao. Follow his thoughts on his Substack or @akshay_aquanaut on Instagram.
