About
A personal, mindfulness, and safety-first approach to freediving in Siquijor
Swake (swa-kēh) is a community built around freediving, the ocean, and the people who share it.
Year 2017-2023, Swake was just a group of people who loved diving — day-job workers, graveyard-shift staff, freelancers, plane mechanic, artists, government employees, marine ecology student, bantay dagat volunteers, social workers, and weekend sport enthusiasts, each with different lives but the same Saturday plan: 2–3 hours in open water, line training or a fundive, whenever the week allowed.
At some point, one of the members got freediving certification just to guide the sessions properly: safe, comfortable, and properly. Others followed. Members' certifications kept upgrading, and what had been an informal meetup started to take real shape, with people formally sharing the experience to newcomers and visitors.
The group kept growing, and the goal became clearer: adherence to standardized freediving education for locals — including the marine sanctuary guides, so they could offer safe snorkeling and fundive sessions for visitors on the island. The group pooled resources to help one of their own through full instructor training and certification. That decision is a big part of why Swake can now provide genuinely affordable certification courses to local and international freedivers alike.
Today, Swake is a local freediving center in Siquijor offering Molchanovs Wave 1–3 certification, intro classes, fundive adventures, and regular training sessions. The group dynamics is exactly why the idea that nothing in the ocean exists on its own is foundational to how we teach. We aim to promote sustainable freediving while sharing our passion for mindfulness, marine conservation, community, and personal growth through self-challenge.
We are in these waters most days, we know how the sites change with the season, tide, current, light, and waves, and we plan every session around these conditions, personal and paced.
Meet the team
Jether Serino
Instructor/Athlete
Molchanovs W3 Instructor
Athlete freediver, professional freediving instructor, underwater photographer, and an accomplished visual artist with artworks exhibited in cultural institutions and museums
Kalvin Klein Matas
Master Freediver/ Assistant Instructor
Molchanovs W3
Underwater videographer, plane mechanic, content creator, dominant pickle ball player, chill surf skater, ultimate frisbee player, etc. (you name it)
Glee Joshua Bunado
Master Freediver/ Assistant Instructor
Molchanovs W3
Freediving since childhood, exploring tide pools on weekends and holidays; started training seriously in 2020 and earned his first certification in 2021. He assists in intro class for beginners and coaches line training for students refining form and depth technique. A chemical engineer now working as a software engineer, and active in various other sports in his free time. Teaches with patience above all, focusing on comfort and mastering equalization without rushing. Prefers dedicated line training over casual fundives, valuing the precision and deeper awareness.
Bernard Serino
Co-founder/ Master Freediver
Molchanovs W3
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Charisse Nicole Espinosa
Co-founder/ Admin Officer/ Accountant
Has an immense dedication in freediving activities and related field, works mainly accounting and financial sectors
Rexon Bongat
Fundive Guide
Molchanovs W2
Began freediving in 2015 after joining as a guide at the sanctuary — about 10 years of diving experience. Serves as Swake's videographer, and his background as a fisherman gives him sharp instincts for reading currents and depth underwater. Dives with safety at the front of his mind, for himself and for guests.
Jayson Abas
Fundive Guide/ SocMed Manager
Molchanovs W2
Started freediving in October 2023, talked into it by his friend Pipay for the self-challenge — 3 years in now. Handles marketing, line training, and fundive guiding. Outside diving: surfskating, coffee, Dota, and tour guiding at waterfalls and island tours. Always checks water conditions and temperature first to dial in camera settings for smoother edits. Describes the feeling underwater as being one with the sea creatures, respectfully.
John Lloyd Payla
Fundive Guide
Molchanovs W2
Started out just tagging along on dives at Tulapos Marine Sanctuary — 4 years in now. Aalso guides at Tulapos Marine Sanctuary. Outside diving: basketball and frisbee.
Soyinx Lazarte
Fundive Guide/ Club President/ Marketing
Molchanovs W1
Started freediving in 2021, during the pandemic, with Swake's OGs. Works in service to farmers and fishermen in San Juan outside diving. Known for patience, video, and reading sea conditions — believes freediving is rare and amazing, since only 1 in 1000 people do it.
Reyida Keith Ocao
Administrative Officer/ Finance
Molchanovs W1
Started freediving 2 years ago after encouragement from KC. Handles Swake's finance and dive/gear records, invoicing, and client payments; and enjoys pickleball and nature trips. Patient, calm, and focused underwater, always chasing a bit more depth.
Sul Dahunan
Snorkeling guide
Candidate Molchanovs W1
Started freediving as a tour guide and has been diving for 3 years since. Now works as a DA-NIR staff and part-time guide and fundive videographer, capturing underwater footage and editing it himself. Playfully explore angles for a great shot.