Jean-Pol François (JP), founder of AIDA Belgium and a key figure in the French-speaking freediving world, embodies a life where passion becomes purpose, and breath becomes commitment.


A certified instructor trainer for AIDA, PADI, MOLCHANOVS, and EFR, he brings over 34 years of experience in freediving. A former world champion in free immersion and static apnea, he continues to push his limits, with personal records of 9 minutes in static and 94 meters in depth.

“I’m passionate, period. It’s an unwavering love.”

From the very first words, Jean-Pol sets the tone. His connection to water is visceral—born in childhood swimming pools, nurtured by Cousteau’s documentaries and the imagery of The Big Blue. At 55, now based on Cebu Island in the Philippines, he dedicates his daily life to teaching, competing, and developing safe practices within the local community.

A pioneer in structuring freediving education, he served as AIDA International Education Officer for six years. In Asia, he’s considered a mentor to many instructors and judges, known for his rigor, generosity, and ability to transmit more than technique—a philosophy of breath.

A multifaceted aquatic journey

A former elite swimmer, Jean-Pol trained intensively for years: twice a day, seven days a week. This foundation of discipline naturally led him to freediving, where he quickly stood out. Without any kind of preparation, he could already hold his breath for 5′. Today, with some training, he’s close to 9′.

His track record is impressive: he still holds the Belgian male static apnea record with 8’21”, which he achieved during a post-COVID competition. But beyond the numbers, it’s the spirit of camaraderie and self-improvement that drives him. In his early days, 35 years ago, he took part in two or three competitions a month—in France, Switzerland—often with a group, in a shared minibus atmosphere and collective podiums.

He fondly recalls key encounters: Jacques Mayol, revered at the time as the God of Freediving; Andy Le Sauce, with whom he exchanged letters for months; and the French legends Claude Chapuis and Loïc Leferme. He also dove in mythical locations like the Blue Hole in the Bahamas, where underwater magic contrasted with the unwelcoming land fauna.

A pedagogy focused on well-being

Today, Jean-Pol teaches freediving with an approach centered on relaxation and body awareness. “We remove the performance aspect and say: try to let go.”
For him, freediving is an inner journey, a form of meditation. His courses are adapted to all levels. The message is clear: respect yourself, know your limits, and progress with joy.

His workshops in the Philippines combine pool practice, stretching, open water sessions, and theory. He emphasizes safety, with full infrastructure: boat, buoys, dive lines. He’s even trained artists for aquatic shows, including Franco Dragone’s production in Macau, where he worked for several years as a technical diver.

AIDA Belgium: a collective adventure

Among his many contributions, the creation of AIDA Belgium holds a central place. “We started with a group of passionate people. We built everything: competitions, rules, courses.”
Jean-Pol wanted a unified structure, despite the challenges of Belgium’s linguistic communities. He chose to bring north and south together under one banner, even if it meant giving up some public fundings.
“I didn’t want two organizations. I wanted one AIDA Belgium that brings people together.”

Alongside figures like Patrick Musimu, Pierre Galère, Frédéric Vanderschueren, and Philippe Desitter, he structured the association, organized workshops for all levels, and supported members in their growth.
“We had fun, we really enjoyed ourselves. And that’s what people appreciated. We organized activities for members—not necessarily competitions or performance races—but to learn, to be together.”

He witnessed Patrick Musimu begin his AIDA journey with them as a beginner freediver, quickly becoming a true champion and the first athlete to dive beyond 200 meters in No Limit.

His commitment extended beyond Belgium. As Education Officer at AIDA International, he helped develop the discipline in several Southeast Asian countries, assisting in the creation of national structures and training instructors. Today, he continues to grow his school, Freediving Planet, with two branches in the Philippines and likely more to come.

A clear, committed vision

Jean-Pol remains attentive to the evolution of the sport:“Performances have exploded.”
But he also warns about the risks: decompression accidents, squeezes, sensationalist videos he’d rather not see promoted. For him, it’s essential to evolve safety standards and to remind everyone that freediving, beyond competition, is above all a source of well-being.

He continues to judge international competitions and returns to Belgium every two or three years. He would gladly reconnect with AIDA Belgium to organize workshops “at any level.”

Jean-Pol embodies a generous, open, deeply human approach to freediving. His journey is that of a builder, a transmitter, and a lover of water. Through AIDA Belgium, his workshops, his encounters, and his commitments, he leaves a lasting mark on the Belgian and international freediving world—and in the hearts of those who cross his path.


✨ Express portrait

His mantra or favorite quote:

  • “Pure pleasure, pure happiness.”
  • “Well-being.”
  • “It’s an unwavering love.”

People who inspired him:

  • Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who introduced me to the underwater world through the Calypso documentaries.
  • Jacques Mayol, who made me realize that one could dive deeper in apnea than with scuba gear.
  • Philippe Desitter, my best freediving buddy and partner in crime since the very first day we met. It’s thanks to him that I joined the apnea section. I’ll never forget him—gone far too soon.
  • Guillaume Néry, for the positive example he set for the image of freediving, both as a leisure activity and a competitive sport.

His favorite diving spots:

  • The sea, swimming pools in Belgium, the south of France.
  • The Blue Hole in Dahab—easy to access and soothing.
  • The Blue Hole in the Bahamas—discovered during a competition.

His favorite music before a dive:

  • Ambient and alternative rock.
  • The cult band “Trisomie 21,” in pure Coldwave style.
  • For energy: rock and metal.

One word to define his relationship with performance:

  • Well-being.

🔗 Links

Jean-Pol’s Freediving School
📘 Facebook page
🌐 Website
🔗 AIDA profile

The show he contributed to
🎭 House of Dancing Water