Monica, Apnea Total Instructor Trainer and co-founder
Monica originally from Argentina has always been involved with the ocean. She started in the sport of freediving in her home-town of Mar del Plata and then seeking more oceanic adventures she moved to the Caribbean for several years before arriving in Koh Tao, Thailand in 1999. Monica originally specialised in underwater videography and scuba diving before dedicating her career to the sport of freediving by co-founding Apnea Total in 2004. Monica now continues to develop the sport and education of freediving through Apnea Total while also enjoying the ocean during her travels around the world.
Eusebio, Apnea Total Course Director and co-founder
Eusebio, originally from Bilbao in northern Spain, has been involved in freediving for over a decade and is a leader in freediving education worldwide. In 2004 Eusebio co-founded Apnea Total, one of the world’s largest freediving education systems. Since this time, Eusebio has educated and trained thousands of freedivers from beginner level through to the professional as well as world champion spearfishermen. Eusebio’s personal performances include being a former National Record holder for Spain in the three depth categories. He currently freedives to 100 metres in depth in the self-powered disciplines, a triple-figure barrier that very few men in the world have surpassed. When not teaching, Eusebio travels the world with his camera and shares his freediving adventures and photography through his personal project of ‘One ocean One breath‘.
Aven, AT Course Director
Aven grew up in Missoula, Montana, in the northern part of the USA, surrounded by cold rivers, snowy mountains and far from any ocean. Nevertheless, it didn’t keep him from developing skills that later would turn him into a big fan of the sea. Without realizing it, he had his first freediving experience when he was only 12 months old and fell off the end of a pier into a lake and sank like a rock. To everyone’s surprise he didn’t mind the experience at all! From then on, first with little-kid swimming lessons where the deep end of the pool was his favourite place, to SCUBA diving in icy lakes in Montana and finally freediving for fun on trips to the Caribbean Sea, he has no doubt about what is his true passion is: freediving. Since 2012 he has been part of the Apnea Total family and has had the opportunity to share his passion with hundreds of students from complete beginners to instructor level. Aven is in charge of the Master courses, Instructor candidates and Instructor Trainer courses. His skillful teaching makes the learning process very clear and fun!! Aven loves meditation and his practices often come in handy as he shares underwater breath-holding experiences with his students. From that first time of 15 seconds underwater when he fell into a lake, to now over 7 minute breath holds and 90 meter dives. Aven has loved every second spent holding his breath in the water.
Chiqui, AT Deckhand
“the Boss”