Our Story
About Blue Mind Freediving
Founded in Amsterdam
Amsterdam's Premier Freediving Community
Our Mission
Blue Mind Freediving is a registered Dutch non-profit association (vereniging, KVK: 96935685). Our mission is to promote freediving as an accessible sport, improve water safety awareness, and build an inclusive, supportive community for freedivers of all levels in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.
Founded by Hakim and Dewi in 2024, Blue Mind Freediving emerged from our shared passion for freediving and the challenges we faced training in Amsterdam's busy swimming pools. After meeting in 2024 and training regularly together, we recognized the need for dedicated freediving lanes where athletes could practice safely without distractions.
Our vision was simple: create Amsterdam's first dedicated freediving training environment where members can develop their breath-hold techniques, dynamic apnea, and static apnea skills under professional supervision. Currently operating at Sloterparkbad every Monday evening, we're expanding our program to meet growing demand from the Amsterdam freediving community.
At Blue Mind Freediving, safety and community are our core values. Our certified instructors arrive 30 minutes before each session to ensure optimal training conditions. We offer personalized training plan consultations and foster a supportive environment where freedivers of all levels can improve their underwater performance.
The name "Blue Mind" comes from marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols' research on water's positive effects on human health and wellbeing. As Amsterdam's freediving specialists, we fully embrace this philosophy that being near, in, on, or under water enhances happiness, health, and performance.
Certified Freediving Instructors
Indoor Heated Pools
Small Class Sizes
Personalized Training Plans
Safety-First Approach
All Experience Levels Welcome
Meet Our Board
Board Members
Hakim
Co-Founder | president | Athlete | AIDA Judge & Safety
Hakim discovered freediving in 2021, just before relocating to the Netherlands. What started as curiosity quickly grew into passion, leading him to become a 4x Egyptian national record holder. He is an AIDA-certified judge and safety diver, and has represented Egypt at two World Championships. Beyond competing, Hakim enjoys training, coaching, and building a safe and welcoming freediving community through BlueMind.
Jamie Lingwood
Vice President | Secretary | Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor | Founder of Fanatic Freedivers
Jamie is a Molchanovs Wave 2 Instructor and the founder of Fanatic Freedivers. Much of his diving is done in dark, cold lakes, where low visibility and cold water leave no room for shortcuts on preparation, buddying, and safety. As vice president and secretary he keeps Blue Mind organised behind the scenes, and on the pool deck he enjoys helping newer divers settle in and build calm, solid technique.