About Us
The Freediving Coaches of Asia (FCOA) is an environmental-advocacy and non-profit certification body specializing in freediving, scuba diving, sailing, and climbing disciplines. Established in 2016 by founder Jeroen Elout, FCOA provides inclusive, high-standard training that empowers people of all backgrounds to explore the natural world. Our mission goes beyond technical skill; we cultivate responsible athletes who actively protect and preserve our planet’s ecosystems.
Our Mission
- To Teach ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY How to Survive at Sea
Did you know that 80% of the world’s population cannot swim? That is over 6 billion people locked out of the beauty of the ocean—and tragically, it leads to over 300,000 preventable drownings every single year. At FCOA, we believe that water confidence is a fundamental human right. Our mission is to transform these statistics by training patient, safety-first coaches who can turn non-swimmers into confident ocean protectors.
- To Teach Diving Because Those That Get To Love the Ocean and Will Take Care of It
You protect what you love. At FCOA, we don’t just teach you how to dive—we help you build a deep, personal connection with the sea. By learning to love the ocean firsthand, our coaches and students naturally become its fiercest protectors and caretakers.
- To Train Coaches, So That When They go Home They Also Teach Their Family and Friends How To Survive and Dive
Knowledge is meant to be shared. We train our coaches to practical standards that allow them to teach with confidence in a relaxed, fun and safe way. Together, we are building a global network of lifesavers, one community at a time.
Our Vision
To empower our 20% swimming population to teach swimming to the 80% that still has to learn it.
To foster respect for life. Respect for fellow humans, for animals, for nature in general and for our personal well-being, own mind and health.
To identify destructive habits—both in aquatic safety and daily life—and systematically replace them with progressive, constructive behaviors that promote long-term success.
