Welcome to Apnea Total Malta / Gozo
We Are
Apnea Total Malta is a professional freediving school born out of a passion for freediving and spearfishing and it is our honor and pleasure to continue to share this passion in not one but two education centers right in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. After 8 blissful years of teaching freediving in Malta, we have responded to the requests of our freedivers and have opened a 2nd training centre, this time accross the channel on the island of Gozo.
Our Freediving Philosophy is Freediving is for everyone because freediving means something different to each one of us, whether you are a novice freediver or a seasoned diver. It may be self-discovery, self-awareness, self-gratification, competition, exploration, freedom, escape, stress-relief, etc. We believe in learning and practising apnea in a way that respects the technical requirements of freediving and its transformative power on each freediver, while having a good time. Because we truly embrace everyone's uniqueness, we do not impose a vision of what freediving should be. Freediving is what you want it to be and we will guide you on your freediving journey without judgement or preconceived notions.
Our main instructor and founder, Arturo, discovered freediving through spearfishing when he was a teenager. He then learned the proper freediving techniques in Asia where he not only became a Freediving Instructor but an Instructor Trainer, the highest level in freediving education. He has now certified more than 1.300 students. Needless to say, you will be in good hands!
Apnea Total Malta is a pure freediving center, and as such, we have chosen 2 Freediving Education Systems that follow our principles: APNEA TOTAL and MOLCHANOVS. Both Apnea Total and Molchanovs were created by freedivers for freedivers, and they both aim at making you the best possible freediver through different approaches.
What we do
Choose Us
With the growing popularity of freediving, it's more important than ever to find the right freediving school. A free diving centre that balances the technical requirements of freediving with the needs/abilities/wishes of the free divers. A dive school with qualified and experienced instructors with a deep passion for freediving who can best accompany you on your journey, and nothing beats good tuition by an experienced and passionate instructor.
Top-notch instructors for a genuine and experience-based guidance
Our head instructor, Arturo, has been freediving on a regular basis for over 20 years and professionally for over 10 years. In addition to being extremely experienced, he is also qualified to instruct all levels of freediving including instructors. He uses his experience and expertise as an instructor but also as a free diver to understand your limitations and needs and provide you with the right recommendations to achieve your goals.
Personalised attention
You are at the heart of our methodology, which means we adapt to your needs. Our goal is for you to be the best freediver possible, whatever this means to YOU. We will help you reach the freediving accreditation, level, bottom time or depth you want or simply freedive for the pleasure of it. We will instill in you the spirit of freediving while embracing your uniqueness wholeheartedly.
Safe Space
No imposed vision of what freediving should be or should feel like. Just us drawing on our love of freediving and our years of expertise (a lifetime diving) to guide you on a journey that is entirely your own. We aim to create a relaxing, fun and non-competitive environment, a safe space where efficiency meets respect.
Unique teaching methods and sound diving practice
Efficiency is our training focus. We have a very practical approach, and keep our freediving groups small for personalised tuition and faster progress. Though we have academic classes, our teaching mainly takes place where it matters the most: on the surface and under the water. Our freediving instructors will always be by your side during your dives, all the way down and back. Our approach allows for better progression, experience and overall performance than with a standard-based system.
Flexible scheduling and diversity of programs for all freediving levels
No fixed schedule, no imposed activities. We respect your schedule and remain flexible to provide you with uniquely crafted underwater adventure on the days that work best for you. All our freediving and spearfishing courses and activities can be combined to create the bespoke program that suits you best. Whether you want to become the best freediver possible or have a fun day out, dive in and experience the best freediving or dip in the shallow reefs, we have you covered.
Prime location
As a freediver on the blue planet the world really is your oyster and we encourage you to go freediving in as many places as possible. We have chosen to focus on freediving in Europe and in particular Malta and Gozo as they are truly top spots for freedivers and scuba divers alike. We have been freediving in Malta and Gozo for many years and know all the ins and outs, ups and downs the Maltese Islands have to offer: fantastic sea conditions with great visibility, no current, and warm waters, fascinating wrecks at different depths for all skill levels, mesmerizing underwater cave systems, and so much more right by the shore.
Memories captured forever
Our freediving activities, courses, and tailored programs create rich personal experiences that won't be forgotten. We also capture the moment on camera for you to relive and/or share with your friends, family and followers. Share the thrill of freediving, the discovery of a whole new world just a short swim from shore.
What our students say
Centers
The sea is our office but we also have on land training facilities: classrooms for our freediving knowledge development sessions with free WiFi, audiovisual equipment and water dispenser, a swimming pool for our Static and Dynamic sessions and a mini freediving shop. We also provide all the freediving equipment needed: low volume mask and snorkel, 3mm to 7mm wetsuit depending on the season, gloves, socks, long fins, lanyards, weights and rubber weight belts. Nose clips, goggles and swim caps are also provided for pool training.
Our training centers are located in Malta (Mellieha) and Gozo (San Lawrenz). We are the only freediving school with facilities on both Maltese Islands.
8 years ago, we chose Malta to open our freediving school to make this convenient base in Europe, already well known for scuba diving, a top spot for freediving. It then became our home and a place we love dearly. Easy shore access, great visibility, fantastic sea conditions, lively towns, quiet villages, friendly locals... Something for everyone. Why Gozo? Over the years our freedivers have been asking for our presence on Malta's sister island and we agreed now is a good time to expand and share our passion on both islands.
Our Malta (or Maltese) Center is based in the picturesque town of Mellieha, not far from the bustling St Paul’s Bay. Both are popular tourist destinations filled with restaurants, cafe and hotels. You can enjoy the blue in so many different ways here: boat rental, all kinds of watersports, scuba diving, snorkeling and obviously freediving.
Our Gozo (or Gozitan) Center is located in San Lawrenz, right by the Blue Hole, the Inland sea and where used to stand the Azure Window. Gozo, also called Malta's sister island, has a unique charm with slow pace of life. It is paradise for those looking to unwind. It offers breathtaking scenary, pristine coastline, and best of all a marvelous underwater realm we love to explore. The opening date is the 15th of April 2025.
Freediving in Malta and Gozo is nothing short of amazing.
Teaching
Methods
High quality tuition
We uphold the highest standards of freediving safety, instruction and education. We have been freediving on a regular basis for more than 20 years, and have experienced, witnessed and overcome most of the challenges that freedivers face, so we are perfectly suited to offer genuine experience-based guidance.
High Performance
We will make you achieve goals you thought impossible. We effectively and enthusiastically engage our freedivers and equip them with the confidence, mental strength, knowledge, and techniques to enjoy freediving in a safe way as freediving is, contrary to what people outside the freediving community think, more of a mental than a physical activity.
Safe Learning Environment
We are uncompromising when it comes to freediving safety. We will provide you with the required knowledge and skills because your safety is of paramount importance to us when you dive with us but also throughout your freediving journey. We also provide a safe space that respects your abilities and needs, where you will be heard and understood.
Tailored-Approach
We tailor our approach to our students' needs and abilities, and aim to cater to their individual goals. All our courses and activities, be it free diving or spear fishing, can be combined to create the program that is most suited to your needs. We also celebrate all achievements, for there are no small or big victories.
Education
Systems
Apnea Total Malta is the 1st Molchanovs Center in Malta/Gozo and the only freediving school to offer freediving courses from both Apnea Total and Molchanovs. On the one hand, a practical approach to freediving, on the other hand, an in-depth program. Both have proven to be very effective, and neither is better than the other. They simply cater to different kinds of freedivers, for Apnea Total Malta embraces the reality that we all have different aquatic potentials and comfort levels and that each of us has our own way of learning.
You may however wonder if 2 days are enough to learn all the necessary skills properly. Apnea Total has successfully taught tens of thousands freedivers worldwide. So, the answer is YES, a resounding yes especially with a freediving instructor like Arturo who has mastered the course and can draw on his many years of experience to adapt to the needs of his students. Don't take our word for it though, see for yourself what our freedivers have to say about our courses and teaching methods.
Why Molchanovs then? Though we love Apnea Total Courses, we felt freedivers would benefit from having a greater choice and so we chose Molchanovs, another pure freediving system that was not available in Malta/Gozo. We now have the opportunity to accommodate divers who are looking for in-depth knowledge.
&Gozo
Malta's reputation as a diving destination is well established. For a number of years, Malta has been winning awards as "best diving destination in Europe". It has even been voted world's best diving destination in 2025 (Boot Düsseldorf Dive Awards).
The Maltese islands are a haven for divers and freedivers alike. Whether you are in Malta, Gozo or Comino, Malta’s underwater world is not to be missed. Its crystal clear water provides excellent visibility (average of 30 metres), no tides and very few currents. Therefore, Malta/Gozo is the best place to learn how to freedive in Europe. Freediving in Malta is the opportunity to explore wrecks, caves, reefs and an incredible underwater landscape made up of incredible rock formations and drop-offs from 5 to 50m in the best conditions possible. Malta’s sea life is also known to be richer than in many other parts of the Mediterranean. Last but not least, Malta is a year-round freediving destination with water temperature from 17 degrees in winter to 32 degrees in summer.
The Maltese Archipelago is the perfect destination both above and under water, a gem in the Mediterranean. Malta has so much to offer: over 300 sunny days per year, a rich historical heritage, bustling seaside towns, sleepy villages, spectacular cliffs and rock formations, a vast array of attractions and above all beautiful blue water, the perfect setting for an extraordinary underwater adventure.
No surprise Malta is one of the top freediving destinations in Europe and in the world, and the place we choose to call home.
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