Daniel Parsons

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