What if the life you had planned… wasn’t the one you were meant to live?
Roberto Butera was on track to become an attorney in Sicily. Everything was in place — the studies, the career path, the expectations. But something in him was drawn elsewhere. One day, out of pure curiosity, he signed up for a freediving course. That decision changed everything.
The underwater silence, the control of breath, the presence it demands — it all resonated more deeply than any courtroom ever could. Roberto stepped away from law and dove fully into the world of freediving.
He trained extensively, earned instructor certifications, and became a highly respected safety diver at international freediving competitions. Over time, he built a life around the ocean — grounded, quiet, and far from the structures he once studied to uphold. Today, he spends half the year in Dahab, Egypt, working with select athletes and supporting events across the global freediving community.
The idea for the course began after Roberto met Fabi, founder of Snowmads, who was navigating life after a spinal cord injury. At the time, Fabi was still using a wheelchair for part of the day and needed extra support to dive. Roberto didn’t hesitate. He carried gear, adapted the setup, and made the experience not just possible, but smooth and empowering. That encounter laid the foundation for something deeper — a shared desire to create a space where people can explore their physical limits while reconnecting to themselves.
The course also brings in another key influence: Mysore-style Hatha Yoga, taught by Emilio, who has been a teacher to both Fabi and Roberto over the years. This practice, based on discipline, breath, and personal rhythm, played a central role in Fabi’s recovery — and it now complements Roberto’s freediving philosophy as well.
The result is a course that weaves together depth and stillness — with time in the water and on the mat, set in the calm and beautiful surroundings of Dahab.
The next course takes place this November, and will also return in spring 2026. If you’re already feeling the pull, early bird rates are available for those who book during April.
As Roberto says:
“The deeper you go, the more you meet yourself. Depth isn’t just in meters. It’s in presence.”
