Daniel Parsons

Hi everyone, We've got some lovely news to share this week, and it's one Pian is especially excited about. Nertic Wetsuits has come on board as a sponsor of Pian's journey to becoming a freediving instructor. They're gifting Pian a high-quality 3.5mm open cell wetsuit, made for freediving. For anyone outside the freediving world, this is a big deal. Open cell neoprene seals against your skin, so it keeps you warmer and moves with you. That means longer, more comfortable sessions as Pian trains through each level with Veronica and Mike at Freedive Gili. After years on the snorkelling boats around Gili Trawangan, a suit like this marks a real step into the profession. Also we are basically at the $4,000 mark. Thank you. Every donation, share and message brings Pian closer to certification, and to the ripple effect it creates for his wife, children, mother and father. A huge thank you to the Nertic team for backing Pian and believing in what this community is building. We still have a way to go. If you haven't yet, you can donate below or share this page with a friend who loves the ocean. Terima kasih, Dan and the Freediving Central team

Thank you for believing in Pian! I wanted to share some news with everyone who has donated to Pian's campaign so far. Thanks to the funds already raised, Pian has officially started his freediving education journey with Freedive Gili. He's in the water, training, and building the skills that will take him from boat captain to certified instructor. And he's already showing what he's capable of. Just this week, Pian hit a new personal best of 2:40 in static apnea. For anyone who knows freediving, that's a huge number, especially this early in formal training. It's a real reflection of the years he's spent in the water long before any of us knew his name. None of this would be happening without you. Every donation has gone straight into making this possible, and Pian knows exactly who is behind this opportunity. We'll keep you updated as his training progresses. Thank you for being part of Pian's story. Cheers, Dan

From Boat Captain to Freediving Instructor — Fund Pian's Certification For years, Pian has been the person quietly making other people's adventures unforgettable. Anyone who's met Pian remembers him. He's the first to help carry your gear, the last to leave the boat, and somehow always smiling. His calm nature, generosity and quiet professionalism have made him a favourite among guests and instructors alike. Pian is a local Indonesian man from Gili Trawangan, driving snorkelling tour boats for tourists visiting the island. He wasn't born into money, and he doesn't have savings, assets or a safety net behind him, just years of hard work and a rare natural talent in the water. Now he has the opportunity to become a certified freediving instructor, a qualification that could completely change his future. The only thing standing in his way is the cost of getting there, and for a local Indonesian man, that cost is completely out of reach on his own. Pian is the sole provider for his family, a wife, two children, and his mother and father. Like many Indonesians, his income covers everyday living expenses, leaving little chance to save for a qualification of this scale. The cost of training, equipment and certification represents years of income for someone in his position. This isn't a matter of determination, it's simply a financial hurdle that's almost impossible to overcome alone. With this certification, Pian will have the skills to build a career that provides a far more stable income and the opportunity to support his family for years to come. He'll also be trained in his own language, Susak, rather than English or Bahasa Indonesia, so he doesn't just complete the course, he owns it. In Indonesia, the average monthly income is around AUD $220. A qualified freediving instructor can earn around AUD $150 per day. If Pian works just two freediving retreats each year, only two weeks of work, he could earn almost what many people in his community make in an entire year. One certification. One opportunity. A lifetime of impact. Your donation will help cover: Professional freediving equipment Four months of training Travel between Gili and Lombok A further week of hands-on training in Bali as a customer Accommodation and meals during training Lost wages while studying Instructor certification fees SSI registration A small contingency for unexpected costs Every dollar raised goes directly towards Pian's training, equipment and certification. Freediving Central and Freedive Gili are contributing discounted training, donated time and administrative support to maximise the impact of every donation. Today Pian is driving a snorkelling boat. With your help, next year he'll be the instructor introducing new divers to the ocean he loves. Your donation isn't just paying for a course, it's helping a local Indonesian man with no resources of his own build a career that can support his family for years to come. If you're unable to donate, sharing this campaign with others would mean just as much. Thank you for believing in Pian. Pian has spent years looking after everyone else in the water. It would mean the world to help him now. This campaign is backed by Freediving Central, Freedive Gili, and everyone who's already met Pian and knows exactly why he deserves this. With thanks, Dan Parsons, Freediving Central Follow his journey on Instagram: @freedivingcentral and @freedivegili