I’ve visited the New Clark City Aquatics Center several times over the years to cover sporting events and tourism activities. Like many visitors, I admired its striking architecture from the outside and appreciated its role during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. But despite those visits, I had never stepped into the pools where elite athletes once trained and competed.

That finally changed when I enrolled in my first freediving lesson with Aquaholics Freediving.

I expected to learn how to hold my breath underwater. What I didn’t expect was to leave with a new perspective on water safety, mental discipline, and why freediving deserves to be considered a practical life skill.

Learning Inside a World-Class Aquatic Venue

The New Clark City Aquatics Center is unlike the typical public or commercial swimming pool. Built to international competition standards, the facility features an Olympic-size swimming pool, a dedicated diving pool, wide pool decks, spacious spectator areas, and modern support facilities for athletes.

One of its most recognizable features is its flowing roof inspired by moving water, while the spacious interiors allow natural light to brighten the venue throughout the day. Walking through the complex gives you the sense that every detail was designed for performance without sacrificing comfort for visitors.

As a student, I immediately appreciated another feature that isn’t often talked about.

The water was exceptionally clean. Even after spending hours in the pool, there wasn’t the overpowering chlorine smell that many swimmers are familiar with. The clear water also made it easier to stay relaxed during underwater exercises, especially for someone attending a first lesson.

Why Aquaholics Chose New Clark City

Aquaholics Freediving began in January 2021 and has since built one of the country’s active freediving communities. Their primary open-water training ground is in Bani, Pangasinan, where they have already guided more than 280 weekend batches of students, excluding weekday classes.

Instead of asking aspiring freedivers from North Luzon to travel several hours to Batangas just to attend an introductory class, the team decided to bring pool training closer to home.

Coach Joan Gutierrez of Joan’s Footprints Blog explained that New Clark City offered the right combination of accessibility and world-class facilities.

Students from Central Luzon and North Luzon can reach the venue much easier, while participants coming from Metro Manila still have convenient access. During the monsoon season, when sea conditions become unpredictable, the diving pool also provides a safe and controlled environment where lessons can continue.

Holding freediving classes in a landlocked province like Tarlac also introduces an activity that many people wouldn’t normally expect to experience there. It’s another reason for travelers to visit New Clark City beyond its sporting events.

Meeting Coaches Who Let You Learn at Your Own Pace

One concern many beginners have is the fear of being pressured into doing something they’re not ready for. That wasn’t my experience at all.

Our batch, Batch 21 at New Clark City, was guided by experienced and seasoned coaches who clearly understood that every student learns differently. My first coach, Ms. Clouie, shared that the diving pool at the Aquatics Center offers a much larger training environment than many city pools where they previously conducted lessons. That extra space gives students more room to practice comfortably and safely.

Throughout the session, I noticed something that impressed me. The coaches weren’t trying to rush anyone.

Instead of expecting everyone to progress at the same speed, they observed each student carefully, adjusted their coaching style, and patiently built confidence one step at a time. That teaching approach probably made the biggest difference for first-time students like me.

The 18-Meter Pool That Looked Intimidating

Standing beside an 18-meter diving pool for the first time can be intimidating. But once I entered the water and floated while holding onto the buoy, the fear slowly disappeared. The controlled environment made it surprisingly calming. Without waves, currents, or poor visibility to think about, I could focus entirely on listening to my coach, controlling my breathing, and becoming comfortable in the water.

By the end of the session, the depth that initially frightened me became one of the reasons I appreciated the experience even more.

Freediving Is More Mental Than Physical

Many people assume freediving requires exceptional athletic ability. Coach Milo Quinantoto challenged that idea.

According to him, freediving is about 70 percent mental and 30 percent physical.

Walking or jogging before training can help improve overall fitness, but learning to relax is what truly allows your body to perform underwater. That lesson stayed with me throughout the day.

Instead of forcing progress, we learned that relaxation often produces better results. It’s a lesson that extends well beyond freediving. Remaining calm under pressure is useful in everyday life, especially during unexpected situations around water.

A Life Skill That Every Traveler Should Consider Learning

Before attending this course, I viewed freediving mainly as another outdoor activity.

After the first Aquaholics Freediving lesson, I saw it differently.

The Philippines is surrounded by water. Many of us travel to beaches, islands, waterfalls, rivers, and lakes throughout the year. Learning proper breathing techniques, understanding water safety, and becoming comfortable underwater can make those experiences safer and more enjoyable. Freediving also teaches respect.

Those lessons apply long after the class ends.

Coach Milo also shared that Aquaholics has trained students as young as eight years old and as old as sixty-five. One of their oldest students enjoyed the sport so much that she returned for open-water dives several times. That speaks volumes about how accessible freediving can be when taught properly.

Preparing for Your First Freediving Lesson

If you’re considering enrolling, you don’t need to be an athlete. According to Coach Milo, Simple preparation goes a long way.

Your first freediving is NOT and should NOT be a competition. It’s about learning how to relax, listen to your body, and trust the process.

Small Details That Make the Experience Better

Aquaholics also removes many of the common barriers that discourage beginners.

Knowing that all coaches are certified under the internationally recognized Molchanovs Freediving Education system also gives students additional confidence in the quality of instruction.

Helping More Filipinos Experience the Philippines Underwater

As an archipelago, Freediving is an important part of tourism.

The Philippines is home to coral reefs, marine sanctuaries, underwater caves, shipwrecks, and thriving marine life. Every year, these destinations attract photographers, content creators, and travelers from around the world. As more Filipinos learn freediving responsibly, more people can capture and share these underwater destinations while developing a deeper appreciation for marine conservation.

In many ways, every trained freediver becomes another storyteller for Philippine tourism.

Ready for the Next Chapter

I signed up expecting to complete one pool session.

Instead, I left wanting to experience their open-water course in Bani, Pangasinan. That probably says the most about my experience.

Freediving challenged my assumptions, pushed me outside my comfort zone, and introduced me to a community that values patience, discipline, safety, and continuous learning.

If you’ve been curious about freediving but have been waiting for the right place to begin, the New Clark City Aquatics Center offers one of the country’s finest training venues. Paired with Aquaholics Freediving’s experienced and supportive coaching team, it creates an environment where beginners can build confidence one breath at a time.

Sometimes, the best adventures don’t begin in the open sea. Sometimes, they begin with learning how to stay calm in a pool and realizing that one simple skill can change the way you experience every body of water you visit after that.

Contact Aquaholics Freediving