Our Mission
At Freediving Uvita, safety is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to support the responsible growth of freediving in Costa Rica while building a strong, connected community in Uvita and beyond.
We believe in creating real impact—from teaching people to feel confident and calm in the ocean to encouraging responsible spearfishing. As active members of the Costa Rican Freediving Federation, we proudly participate in national competitions and support the development of the sport across the country.
Through our semi-Olympic pool project, we’re investing in the future by offering a space for kids, athletes, and the local community to learn, train, and thrive.
Our goal is simple: to help people overcome fear, connect deeply with the ocean, and grow together—safely, responsibly, and with purpose.
Our Team
Sylvain
Growing up in the beautiful—but often chilly—landscapes of Belgium, Sylvain always felt a deep desire to explore the world and discover new horizons. After earning his degree in management, he set off on a six-year journey across the globe, driven by curiosity and a passion for adventure.
His first step into a water-based career was becoming a highly qualified scuba diving instructor. From there, one path naturally led to the next: underwater photography and videography, where he developed a refined eye for capturing the beauty and complexity of marine life.
A year ago, after exploring every corner of Costa Rica, Sylvain chose to put down roots in Uvita, near the renowned Caño Island National Park. There, he discovered the world of freediving—its serenity, its challenges, and its profound benefits for both body and soul.
Charline
She grew up in France close to the mountains and was always attracted to water.
She became addicted to the salty water the first time she swam in the sea (at the age of 17).
When she was 20 years old, our mermaid decided to travel away from her home country after she finished her studies in adapted physical education and stayed in Australia for 3 years to explore the whole land.
At first she was doing farm work to get her second year visa. But Charline was never far from the coast. And during her second year there, she found a job on a scuba diving live aboard boat. She could dive everyday while working which was a revelation !
Coming back to France after those years, she couldn’t see herself living there anymore and decided to follow her intuition and her partner Sylvain in Costa Rica.
Fast enough Charline had discovered the benefits of freediving and already wanted to share her knowledge with others.
She is now instructor and she’s excited to tell you all about the freediving world !
Hans
FDU Instructor
AIDA Judge, Competition Safety Diver, Instructor, and high-performance athlete for the Costa Rican national freediving team, setting National Records in various disciplines.
He was born and raised in the mountains of western San José in a small town called Ciudad Colón. Passionate about nature and conservation, he has always felt a strong calling to the ocean.
He began his journey into the underwater world as a scuba diving instructor and videographer, which gave him the opportunity to travel, explore, and document many places on both coasts of Costa Rica.
Simultaneously, his career as a designer and builder of stone, bamboo, wood, and natural structures allows him to inspire others to conserve, protect, and enjoy nature, the planet, and Costa Rica in particular.
Spiritually convinced that there is always another opportunity, regardless of the circumstances, he is grateful to God for the privilege of representing and elevating Costa Rica’s name despite the challenges along the way, and for becoming the person he is today.
He currently lives on the Osa Peninsula, where the ocean invites him daily to dive freely into its depths to learn about himself, hunt for his own food, and share his knowledge and the benefits that freediving offers with many other enthusiasts. He strives every day to make this world a better place to live, one breath at a time.
Greybi
Greybi grew up on the Osa Peninsula and has spent his entire life on the ocean. He learned to drive a boat at just 11 years old and now has over 35 years of experience navigating the South Pacific waters of Costa Rica.
Pura vida! I’m “La Pipa Loca,” the official adventure boat for Freediving-uvita!
Forget boring tours; I’m your ticket to the real wild side of Uvita, Costa Rica. My specialties? I’m an expert giant-finder (Whale Watching), I taxi freedivers to silent underwater worlds (Freediving), and I know all the secret spots for catching dinner (Spearfishing).
