<![CDATA[APNEA ODYSSEY

<![CDATA[APNEA ODYSSEY - Blog]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:06:01 +0800Weebly<![CDATA[Promotion Freedive intro]]>Sat, 13 Dec 2025 13:32:59 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/promotion-freedive-intro

Try Freediving Bersama Apnea Odyssey
Pengalaman Pertama Freediving Untuk Yang tak pandai BerenangFreediving mungkin nampak mencabar, tetapi sebenarnya ia adalah tentang ketenangan, pernafasan dan keyakinan diri. Di Apnea Odyssey, kami percaya bahawa sesiapa sahaja boleh mencuba freediving — walaupun tanpa pengalaman menyelam atau berenang.
Itulah sebabnya kami memperkenalkan Program Freedive Intro, satu sesi khas untuk pemula yang ingin merasai pengalaman freediving buat kali pertama dengan cara yang selamat, terkawal dan menyeronokkan.

Apa Itu Try Freediving?Freedive Intro ialah sesi pengenalan freediving selama satu hari yang direka khas untuk beginner terutamanya yang tak pandai swim. Program ini sesuai untuk mereka yang:

Tidak pernah cuba freediving sebelum ini
Ingin bina keyakinan dalam air
Mahu cuba aktiviti baru yang mencabar secara mental & fizikal
Berminat untuk menyertai kursus freediving pada masa akan datang

Anda tidak perlu mempunyai sebarang pengalaman atau lesen menyelam. Instructor kami akan membimbing anda langkah demi langkah.

Apa Yang Anda Akan Pelajari?Dalam sesi Try Freediving, anda akan diperkenalkan kepada asas penting freediving, termasuk:

Teknik pernafasan yang betul
Cara untuk relaks dan kawal degupan jantung
cara tahan nafas
snorkel Tanpa life jacket
Dive pertama anda di bawah pengawasan instructor bertauliah

Semua aktiviti dijalankan di kolam renang dengan kedalaman sekitar 3–5 meter, sesuai untuk pemula.

Kenapa Pilih Apnea Odyssey?Di Apnea Odyssey, keselamatan dan pengalaman peserta adalah keutamaan kami.
✔ Instructor bertauliah SSI
✔ Sesi direka khas untuk beginner
✔ Persekitaran mesra & sokongan penuh
✔ Fokus kepada keselamatan & keseronokan
Kami juga memperkenalkan RIMBA, maskot rasmi Apnea Odyssey — simbol keberanian, ketenangan dan kekuatan dalaman. RIMBA mewakili semangat yang kami mahu setiap peserta rasai ketika mencuba freediving buat kali pertama.

Promo Khas Disember & JanuariBagi menggalakkan lebih ramai mencuba freediving, kami menawarkan promosi khas untuk tempoh terhad:

RM300 untuk 1 peserta
RM399 untuk 2 peserta (hadir bersama pada sesi yang sama)

📅 Sah untuk sesi pada Disember & Januari sahaja
📍 Lokasi: Kuala Lumpur (KGPA) dan Johor Bahru (Pulai Spring Resort)
Tempat adalah terhad dan berdasarkan pendaftaran terawal.

Siapa Yang Sesuai Sertai?Program ini sesuai untuk:

Pemula tanpa pengalaman
Remaja & dewasa (umur 10 tahun ke atas)
Peminat snorkeling & aktiviti air
Mereka yang ingin mencabar diri dengan cara baru

Jika anda pernah terfikir untuk cuba freediving, Freedive intro adalah langkah pertama terbaik.

Cara DaftarUntuk menyertai Try Freediving bersama Apnea Odyssey, sila lengkapkan pendaftaran melalui link berikut:
🔗 [ https://form.jotform.com/253436183368463 ]
Jika anda mempunyai sebarang pertanyaan, pasukan kami sedia membantu melalui WhatsApp.

Mulakan Perjalanan Freediving Anda Hari IniFreediving bukan tentang siapa yang boleh menyelam paling dalam.
Ia tentang mengenali diri sendiri, mengawal pernafasan, dan menemui keberanian dalam ketenangan.
Jom cuba freediving bersama Apnea Odyssey.
Biarkan RIMBA membimbing langkah pertama anda ke dunia bawah air.

]]><![CDATA[August 30th, 2025]]>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 23:31:05 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/august-30th-2025The Hardest Part of Being a Freediving Instructor
When people think about the challenges of being a freediving instructor, they imagine teaching breath-holds, equalisation, or guiding students through their first deep dive. But for me, the hardest part has always been something much simpler — persuading people to take their very first step.

The First Move: Signing Up
I’ve met countless people curious about freediving. They love the ocean, they admire the beauty of diving on a single breath, yet when it comes to signing up for their first course, hesitation kicks in.
They tell themselves: “I’m not ready. I need to train more. Maybe later.”
But the truth is, once they finally take the leap, they always finish the course. They realise that freediving isn’t about being perfect from the start — it’s about learning to trust yourself, step by step. And that’s when transformation begins.

The First Move: Traveling out !
Another common hurdle is travel. When I suggest training at better facilities — a deeper pool, a calmer ocean, a place designed to push their potential — the resistance comes fast:
“Too far. Too expensive. Too much hassle.”
Yet, the moment they make the trip, something shifts. They train better, they feel safer, they see their own progress. And more often than not, they come back again and again. What once felt like a burden becomes a part of their growth journey.

The First Move: Competing
Competition is no different. Many divers are afraid of stepping onto the stage. They worry about not being good enough, about failing, about how others might see them.
But once they compete, everything changes. They become obsessed with technique, focused on refining every detail, hungry to perform better. The fear is replaced with passion.

My Forever Challenge
And so, this remains my greatest challenge as an instructor: inspiring people to take that first step. It’s not easy. It will never be easy. But I’ve accepted it as my forever challenge — one that I’m almost obsessed with.
Because the reward is priceless. To see someone achieve something they once thought impossible, to watch them transform fear into confidence, and hesitation into achievement — that is the true joy of my work.

Building the Pathway
As instructors, we see the other side of the road. We know the beauty, the freedom, and the strength that lie ahead. Our role is not just to teach techniques — it’s to build the pathway for you to cross, to walk with you as you discover a new version of yourself.
So if you’ve been waiting for the “right time,” know this: the hardest part is just the first step. Once you take it, you’ll never look back.

— Azua Shafii, SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer, and Freedive Athletes with more than 30 AIDA National record

]]><![CDATA[Kelas Freediving Wanita]]>Mon, 26 May 2025 21:44:12 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/kelas-freediving-wanitaDi atas permintaan kelas Anita yang tinga di seluruh Malaysia, kita sambut permintaan anda.
Di Kuala Lumpur dan Penang kita sudah mempunyai team untuk kelas wanita. Tarikh seterusnya untuk kelas freediving di Penang untuk bulan June dan July 2025 adalah pada 21-22June dan 19-20 July.

Dua Jurulatih Wanita akan bersama anda untuk coach bagaimana cara untuk relajar tahan nadas dan freedive. Course akan dermal dari jam 8.30 Pagi dan tamat pada jam 1.30 petang.

Sekiranya berminat boleh WhatsApp di +60124887388

]]><![CDATA[Meet our Instructor, the young one.. Tong Lip Yee]]>Fri, 02 May 2025 01:06:05 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/meet-our-instructor-the-young-one-tong-lip-yee

Hi, 我的名字是Lip Yee，我是SSI高级自由潜水教练。我热爱自由潜水，也喜欢和我的学生分享我的经验。如果你对学习自由潜水感兴趣，来找我吧！
我在吉隆坡教学，也有岛屿潜水之旅哦！

我的自由潜水课程包括：

体验自由潜水（如果你不会游泳，这是一个很好的开始）
自由潜水泳池课程（初级课程，学习下潜到5米）并为开放水域做准备
自由潜水开放水域一阶课程（可以选择去海岛或在吉隆坡的湖泊进行）
进阶自由潜水课程

]]><![CDATA[Mermaid Instructor Training Course December 2023]]>Tue, 07 Nov 2023 03:30:10 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/mermaid-instructor-training-course-december-2023If you are a certified mermaid and want to share your passion with future mermaid student you can enroll Mermaid Instructor Training Course for you to train to be a professional Mermaid Instructor.

We are offering SSI Mermaid certification. After the session you can offer SSI Mermaid course and train your future mermaid students to be a good mermaid in pool and open water.

SSI Mermaid Instructor Training Course:
Pre requisite

Min age: 18 years old
Have certification in SSI mermaid program and
snorkel instructor or equivalent from recognized training agency
Have CPR first aid and oxygen provider certification.

Duration: Minimum 32 hours ( 4 - 5 day)

Requirement for completion:

Successfully complete all academic and practical application session as outlined in the instructor manual for mermaid instructor training course including academic presentations and pool presentation.
Complete and pass final theory exam
Complete mermaid water fitness evaluation
- Tread water 15mins without any aids
- Swim 700m non stop within 20mins using mask fins and snorkel
- Underwater swim 25m using mask fin and snorkel
- Perform a full surface rescue of an unconscious swimmer for a total distance of 50m using monofin or mermaid tail

Active status SSI mermaid instructors may teach supervise and issue certification:

SSI Try mermaid
SSI Mermaid
SSI Ocean mermaid
SSI Mermaid model specialty
SSI Mermaid explorers
Snorkel diver

SSI professional additional material:

Mermaid instructor kit (training material and certification in digital)
SSI Professional Registration & Initial Year Renewal fee

with this activation candidate will get assess to SSI mermaid program including free program sponsored by SSI like snorkeling, Try Mermaid.

Mermaid Instructor Training course Fee: RM5500 (price for 2023)
Please take note you need to have SSI mermaid certification before attending the mermaid instructor course. Please arrange with any SSI mermaid instructor to complete your certification. You can also do it with us.

And CPR First aid and Oxygen provider you can addon RM650

Fees Include the SSI Mermaid Instructor kit, Registration fee and initial renewal fee and mermaid instructor trainer fee and pool entrance fee for 5 day

]]><![CDATA[Azua Shafii featured in Malaysian Newspaper - The Star]]>Thu, 02 Nov 2023 01:09:11 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/azua-shafii-featured-in-malaysian-newspaper-the-starFor this Malaysian female freediver, the sport is therapeutic and meditative

THERE’S a saying among freedivers that they are all lousy swimmers.
While swimmers move fast in water, freedivers – those who dive underwater without breathing apparatus – do quite the opposite; they dive vertically into the deep blue and hold their breath for as long as they can. When they sense that the oxygen in their lungs is starting to deplete, they swim upwards and breathe again.
Syafidatul Azua Shafii, 38, does this for leisure and also for a living. A freediving trainer, she currently holds the national record for freediving, at 41m without fins, which she accomplished at the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA) Freediving World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus in September.
That’s about three minutes of holding her breath underwater – 90 seconds diving down and 90 seconds going up again. She can go down to 61m with a monofin (that looks like a mermaid’s tail) or 51m with bi-fins (fins with long blades).

Read full article here:

https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2023/11/01/for-this-malaysian-female-freediver-the-sport-is-therapeutic-and-meditative

]]><![CDATA[Refresher Program for Freediving in Apnea Odyssey]]>Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:28:33 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/refresher-program-for-freediving-in-apnea-odyssey

We have good news to all our students and other certified freedivers in Malaysia.

We will now offer refresher program for everyone that need to refresh your freediving knowledge and skills.

In all our freediving program we will have theory component, practical session and also water session. This apply to all from beginner to Deep/professional program and also in our specialty program.

We know you have been away or not practicing your freediving skills for months or maybe for years, we will start to offer refresher program for you to restart again your freediving training.

We also would like to improve on our services to our students, We have restructured all our freediving course to train our students to be a quality freediver. There will be many additional topic we will introduce to our course.

Beginner: Pool/Level 1 Theory

Physiology
1. Human anatomy
2. Urge to Breath
3. Hyperventilation
4. Relaxation in Freediving
5. Breathing for Freediving
6. Mammalian Dive Reflex
7. Pressure
8. Equalisation in Freediving

Vertical Divider

Freediving Skills
1. Introduction to Freediving Discipline : Static, Dynamic, Constant Weight
2. Freediving skills in each discipline
3. Safety skills

Safety:
1. risk in freediving
2. Rescue in Freediving
3. How to avoid and minimize the risk

Vertical Divider

Freediving Equipment:
1. Basic Freediving equipment
2. Freediving equipment for safety

Freediving Experience:
1. Freediving environment: Manmade and natural
2. student responsibilities
3. Dive site characteristic in open water environment
4. continuing education and training for freediving

Vertical Divider

Intermediate: Level 2

Advanced Freediving Knowledge:
1. Mechanism of Shallow water black out
2. Effects of pressure on the chest

Vertical Divider

Equipment:
1. Specialty equipment
2. equipment for safety
Buoy system will be teach to level 2 as well.

Freediving Skills:
1. Stretching & Flexibility
2. warm up for freediving performance
3. Buddy system
4. Buoyancy and Freefall
5. Equalisation technic

Vertical Divider

Stay proficient in Freediving:
1. Develop routine on freediving
2. Staying proficient in Freediving

Note:
1. Level 1 Refresher will be automatically added into your Level 2 theory session.
2. Refresher program only open to freediver who has completed your freediving course training. We will not talk every topic into detail as the topic has covered during Level 1/level 2 course.
3. session will be online via google meet/zoom

]]><![CDATA[NEW POOL TRAINING FORMAT: TRAIN & RANK]]>Wed, 07 Jul 2021 21:38:06 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/new-pool-training-format-train-rankWe have been running our pool training for years now. Our founder Azua Shafii is a record holder and she has many experiences in pool training. We love to see how our students improve their performance and definitely their commitment and hard work need to be rewarded.

In May 2021, we have introduced new program TRAIN & RANK every month until end of the year and freediver with the highest ranking will win the grand prize (terms and condition apply here). There will be monthly prize as well but we will have to re-plan this program due to MCO3.0. Every month, all our freediver can come to our pool for training and improve their ranking.

For May 2021, we managed to run only one round. Promise is still a promise. Prize will still be offered to the champion for May 2021.The champion for MAY 2021 Train & Rank goes to Kong with 77 points. For May 2021 the champion will get Freedive Mask by Seac.

All certified freediver are welcome to join our monthly program TRAIN & RANK. Training is on weekend. Our pool located in Ulu Klang (next to Zoo Negara). The fee for this program is RM85.00 including pool fee. Bring your own gear otherwise you can also rent from our centre.

As for now this program has to be postponed. Please wait for our next announcement about this program.

]]><![CDATA[New Depth Training Location in Malaysia]]>Tue, 22 Jun 2021 05:27:14 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/new-depth-training-location-in-malaysiaIf you have been freedive for few years you know we do not have many options here in Malaysia to train our deep freedive. It is not because we don't have depth, a lot of area is still unexplored, facilities, man power or logistics are one of the things that add to the extra cost to pay. In the end it is almost same if we can travel out, stay for 2 weeks or month and train our depth there compared to train in Malaysia.

During covid-19 season, due to restrictions to travel out, in the end we have no choice instead of keep exploring for training locations in Malaysia. Based on our research and experience this new location will be one of the best options we can add into considerations on choosing place for training depth in Malaysia. The new training location we would like to write today is Merang.

Why Merang is new best location to train for Deep Freedive?

1. Location to airport or Bus station

Merang is located in Terengganu. It is 20 minutes away from airport in Kuala Terengganu and if you take bus to travel, the bus station to Merang is not far away and you have many options of taxi or e hailing car for you to do land transfer to Merang.

2. Boat transfer to Island full with freediving location

Merang itself is a main jetty for boat transfer to many islands such as Redang and Lang Tengah. You can choose to stay in this island and arrange yourself your freedive session with dive centre you visit in the island you stay.

If you stay in Merang, you can also arrange with dive centre here for day trip to Bidong Island and Yu island. The boat ride will take from 30 minutes to 45minutes to the training location.

3. Island with Deep area for training freedive

Near to Merang location there are island with deep area, here we are talkin to 40-50m area for you to train your deep freedive. To freedive to 40-50m area will take days to progress and to find a location where you can comfortably train and also do your work get access to internet, access to area with variety of healthy meals, variety of accommodation to suit your style and needs, Merang can be best location to add in your list as you can travel to Kuala Terengganu, city centre to find all your needs.

Talking about depth, yu can find 50m area in Yu island or even 30m area closer to Bidong Island. so all this island you can do daytrip and closer to mainland and will give you flexibility to plan for your trip.

Check our training videos for our instructor group in Merang this year. After being hiatus for few months, we take this opportunity to train again. We managed to find 50m depth however we just stick to 40m dive site as this is enough for our training during this trip.

]]><![CDATA[Freediving destination in Malaysia]]>Mon, 21 Jun 2021 08:35:42 GMThttps://www.apneaodyssey.com/blog/freediving-destination-in-malaysiaFreediver always choose freediving location with clear water visibility with endless depth, calm water, no current, with underwater marine life and colourful coral to swim, easy access to reach, healthy food to find and beautiful island scenery to relax and calm our mind. Either you want to train with line to get deeper or to do it leisurely to enjoy the beauty of tropical underwater, Malaysia also have good freedive site where you can enjoy for both purpose. Here is the list of freediving site in Malaysia where you can explore:
In East Malaysia, there are few island you can explore for freediving. Sabah is known for many beautiful island for diving/ snorkeling.

East Malaysia

1.Sipadan / Mabul / Sibuan Island (Sabah)
Sipadan is definitely a must visit place for freediving. The island is unique because the only oceanic island rising from more than 600m from sea bed like an atoll in Malaysia. Around the island is full with different dive site where you can go for school of barracudas, trevally, jack fish, bumphead, sharks, and turtles. Sipadan also surrounded by wall of colourful coral and it will drop until sea bottom. We can only do daily trip to Sipadan, and you can choose to stay in Mabul or Semporna.

In Mabul, ideal for doing your freediving course, or go fortraining and also for recreational. The island surrounded by beautiful diving site with great depth for all level from beginner to master. You can also try freedive under the oil rig which turn to a resort.

If you stay in Semporna, Sibuan Island will be the best to do your freediving courses and training. With 40m depth we can find from the shore and good visibility all year round, it is definitely the best location for training.

2.Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (Sabah)
If you travel to Kota Kinabalu, you can check Mamutik Island or Sepanggar with less than 10 minutes boat ride. If you have more time to travel, can check Mantanani island for more clear water and best island experience.

Recommended: Beginner level
Freedive Centre: Apnea Odyssey KK
Freediving Certification: SSI Freediving

In Peninsular Malaysia, there are many island you can go for freediving too. The east coast from north to South is full with white sandy beach and crystal clear water and beautiful island. However between November until February is monsoon season. You can plan your freediving activity between March to October.

Peninsular Malaysia

3.Tioman

Tioman Island one of favourite destinations for snorkelers and scuba divers. You can find beautiful coral and colourful fishes just from the shore or you can do boat hoping and explore thhe dive site around Tioman. Many of the dive site you can find swim through and many of topical marine life. If you never try freediving before, Tioman can be a good place to start. Just take short vacation while experience the island life with the sea or jungle view and complete your freedivng course. You can also go for training to go deeper as deep as 40m or just go for leisure and explore the beauty of Tioman’s underwater.

Recommended: Beginner to Master level
Freedive Centre: Freedive Tioman
Freediving certification: Aida/ Apnea Total/ Molchanovs

4.Aur/Dayang Island
Aur and Dayang Island located in the south of Peninsular Malaysia is good site for freediving training and master course. Here you can find great depth more than 50m and there are many dive site for recreational too. The island is chosen to grow Giant Clam and you can find in few dive site around the island. You can also go hiking while you in the island and experience the top view of the island or watch sunrise.

Recommended : Beginner to Master level

5.Tenggol Island
Tenggol island is famour for whale shark sighting. For freediver, it has an ideal condition to train for master course as deep as 40m in the bay area and protected from wind. In Tenggol also you can find many ship wrecks to explore and many cave and swim through to explore.

Recommended: Beginner to Master level

6.Bidong Island
If you stay in Merang, you can do daytrip to Bidong Island for snorkeling or freediving. You can also go for freediving course or training. Bidong is famous for the history of the island and also now become a research centre for local university. Bidong definitely best alternative for your freediving activity if you want to stay in mainland.

Freedive Centre:
Agency: AIDA, Molchanov, PADI

7.Lang Tengah / Redang Island
Lang Tengah and Redang will be good location for your freediving photo or for your social media post for crystal clear water. Redang Island will be good location to start your freediving course with good visibility and accessible to swim from shore. In Lang tengah you can go for advanced level. There are house wreck from shore you can swim and freedive. It is advisable to take boat with the resort due to boat traffic.
Freedive Centre: Dolphin Lee Aquatic (Redang)
Agency: PADI Freediving

Freedive Centre: Lang Tengah Island Resort
Agency : AIDA and Padi freedive

8.Perhentian Island
Located in the North east coast peninsular Malaysia. You can easily travel by taking boat from Kuala Besut jetty. Perhentian always become attraction of snorkelers and scuba diving or travel destination to family and friends. You can go for freediving here and suitable for beginner to advanced level.

Freedive Centre: Freedive AndRasa
Agency: Molchanovs

9.Payar Island
Located in the West coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is the easy access to travel from Langkawi or Penang. Payar always become destinations for snorkelers, scuba divers who visit Langkawi. During monsoon season in east coast is best to check this island for training and also for recreational. There are many underwater marine life you can see here like grouper and colourful coral. Payar island best for beginner level of freediver as you can easily get 15m depth from shore.

FULL ARTICLE CAN BE READ on EZDIVE Magazine March 2021

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