Apnea Bali

Lombok & Gili Islands, Indonesia

The team at Apnea Bali are freediving evangelists, pure and simple. We love their focused approach; they’re Molchanovs through and through, which means a really structured, progressive pathway if you’re serious about depth or just want to refine your technique. While their name points to Bali, their Gili Trawangan operation is where we often find ourselves heading. It’s perfect if you’ve already done your scuba course on the Gilis and want to try something new, or if you’re just looking for that quiet challenge of holding your breath amongst the turtles. We’d suggest hitting them up for a beginner course. You’ll spend time in the pool, learning breath-hold techniques, and then transition to open water. There’s something genuinely meditative about descending slowly, feeling the pressure change, and watching a reef shark cruise by in silence. Visibility around Gili T is usually good, often 20 metres plus, so you get clear views of the corals and the occasional manta. Our favourite tip? Go early. The water is calmer, the light is better, and you avoid the afternoon boat traffic. They’re not about the hard sell, just genuine enthusiasm for the sport, and that's why we keep going back.