Elianne Dipp | Photographer | Freediver | Apnea Bali

Talented photographer and the co-founder of Apnea Bali, Eli Dipp teaches the art of freediving, from beginners to deep divers, in the seas of Indonesia. After working for 5 years under the surface, she developed a passion for marine life and photography, capturing beautiful portraits of freedivers, mantas, sea lions, humpback whales and more. 

“Eli is a passionate free diving coach and underwater photographer who believes that free diving is the most natural way to enjoy the underwater world and is an activity that absolutely everyone can enjoy, regardless the level.”

Where are you from? 

I'm from Mexico but I've been living in Bali Indonesia for the last 7 years.

What’s your profession? 

I am a Master Freediving Instructor and I teach Master programs in Apnea Bali, also I work as an UW photographer with our freediver students. I do special photo shoots by request. I did it for CCTV China, Turkish Arilines, BestDive wetsuits etc.

What is a typical day like for you?

I spend every morning in the Ocean. My passion is to teach Freediving.  I own a freediving school in Bali Indonesia ‘Apnea Bali’ so in the normal days (before covid-19) I go every morning to my school and I teach the master students, I coach them. In the afternoons I like to keep active and fit so I either go to the GYM or I walk my dogs up to the mountains behind my house.

What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today? 

When I was a child my family had a house on a remote beach in Jalisco so every year we would go there to spend Christmas and there was a turtle camp a few kms away on the beach, so I remember I was around 10 yrs the first time we went helping the turtle camp and it was the first time that we were awake all night helping the camp to release the turtles back to the sea and looking for the nest eggs to keep them safe at the camp. I used to do it every year since.

I started to study Marine Biology and at a young age I moved near the sea in Punta Mita Nayarit Mexico.

What/who currently inspires you?

Sylvia Earl, Serena Williams and Sayuri Kinoshita.

What path did you choose after leaving school?

I got an internship in Sian Kaan Tulum in a research camp to monitor the corals and fish of the Marine barrier located in the Mexican Caribbean sea and afterwards they encouraged me to do my Instructor course in Xcalak Mexico to start working as an Scuba Instructor in this amazing small town in the middle of nowhere.

What have been the biggest challenges you've had to overcome? 

My biggest challenge and the one that changed my life was when I moved alone to Indonesia when I was 22yrs and managed to own my Freediving school a year after together with my business partner.

What would you most like to change in the world/environment today? 

The plastic pollution, here in Indonesia we get tons of plastic in the ocean after the rainy season. Its like having a plastic season...very sad.

What do you value most in life? 

My family, friends and being able to spend time in the Ocean.

Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking? 

When I was a kid my dad gave me as a present the Jacques Cousteau Encyclopedia called the undersea discoveries and for sure that changed my path into the ocean. 

Another one is homo delphinus from Jacques Mayol.

What brings you the most joy? 

Being in the Ocean.

What legacy do you hope to leave? 

Encourage people to spend time in the ocean, being able to admire the beauty of nature while freediving and to respect the ocean.

Instagram - @eliannedipp

Website - www.apneabali.com/about