Welcome to our Yoga & Freediving holiday in the jaw droopingly gorgeous coastal village of Sveta Marina, Croatia — a destination chosen for its unparalleled beauty, serenity, and pristine Adriatic waters. With its clear, calm seas and abundant marine life, Sveta Marina offers the perfect setting for freediving, whether you’re an experienced freediver seeking training/coaching and adventurous fun dives, or a newcomer excited to learn the basics and explore the vibrant underwater world on one breathe.
This unique retreat combines the expertise of Claire Kemp from Esprit Freediving, an experienced PADI Freediving instructor, and Emma Spencer-Goodier, a dedicated and experienced yoga teacher. Together they have created an experience that explores the powerful symbiosis between breath, body and mind shared by both yoga and freediving. Emma’s daily yoga sessions will foster breath control, mindfulness, and relaxation—essential skills for freediving and Claire’s freediving sessions invite you to deepen your connection with the sea and yourself with expert training/coaching or fun dives.
Our beautiful villa, nestled along this idyllic coastline, provides a peaceful base with ample space for relaxation and exploration. For those looking to explore or practice scuba diving , the nearby scuba diving centre offers opportunities to explore local wrecks and underwater wild life including rays, seahorses and octopus, adding an adventurous edge to this mindful escape. So, come on, dive in, breathe out, and let this Croatian coastal gem be the backdrop to mind, body, and soul rejuvenation.
Whilst practically it will be tailored to the needs of the freediver, yoga retreat is also a time to deepen other aspects of your practice; daily meditation in nature, pranayama the science of breath, a sweet strong intuitive hatha yoga flow to start the day, with workshops on yoga nidra and pranayama over two afternoons. The practice will be done outside in a shaded courtyard with the option of a SUP Yoga session one morning for participants wishing to hire a board.
Emma - I love language, stories, philosophy and poetry which I weave into my classes. My teaching approach combines clarity and precision with a balance of strength and gentle ease. Our morning sessions include meditation, breath work and a dynamic hatha yoga flow. I am senior yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance, a yoga elder and a yoga mentor. My quest is to share yoga as a tool to live life fully, simply and gratefully, deeply connected to the natural world. My guides are integrity and joy, and I remain open to finding little adventures in every day.
Growing up on the Isle of Wight, Claire developed a deep love for the ocean through family sailing and scuba diving, eventually becoming a PADI OW Instructor in 2010. In 2016, she discovered freediving and was instantly drawn to the simplicity, peace, and freedom it offered compared to traditional diving. Passionate about sharing this experience, Claire founded Esprit Freedivers, offering PADI freediving courses, pool training, and trips in UK and abroad. With support from her husband, friends, talented instructors, and her inspiring yoga teacher Emma, Claire has fostered a vibrant, growing community of freedivers who share her love for the sea.
Our spacious villa offers a captivating blend of modern amenities and traditional Istrian charm, perfectly positioned to overlook the sparkling Adriatic Sea in peaceful eastern Istria. Nestled near the enchanting coastal village of Sveta Marina, with its stunning coastline and rich marine life, the villa is just a short drive from the historical towns of Labin and Rabac. Each uniquely styled bedroom comes with air conditioning and a TV, ensuring both comfort and entertainment. The open-plan first floor provides a welcoming space for relaxation and socialising, featuring a spacious living room with a cozy fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen, and a dining area. Outdoors, guests can enjoy a private swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery, a fully equipped summer kitchen with a barbecue fireplace, and a large outdoor dining area that seats eight with seaviews of the peaceful harbour —perfect for savouring alfresco meals in the Istrian sunshine. With its prime location, the villa offers a serene retreat, inviting guests to experience the natural beauty and tranquillity of Sveta Marina, and it’s beautiful beaches.
This holiday includes a light breakfast smoothie each morning and one evening Bar-B-Q.
Self catering is possible in the villa and there are a couple of local convenience stores in the village.
Larger supermarkets are about 11km/15mins drive away.
There is a lovely beach cafe 75m away for brunch and lunch options and a number of restaurants in the village and within the local camping site.
Food in Croatia is fairly reasonable with Euros being the local currency.
Our main activities on this trip will be freediving and yoga, however the area is utterly lovely, so you could enjoy a hike, swimming, scuba diving, hire a bike or SUP board.
You might just choose to relax on the beach or sea wall with a good book.
Traveling from the UK to Sveta Marina, Croatia, is straightforward and offers several options:
The most efficient route is to fly into Pula Airport (PUY), the nearest airport to Sveta Marina. Several airlines operate affordable direct flights from London to Pula, including Ryanair from London Stansted and easyJet from London Gatwick. Flight durations are approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Sveta Marina is about 47 km from Pula Airport. Upon arrival, you have two primary options to reach the village:
- Taxis are available at the airport, offering direct transfers to Sveta Marina. The journey takes approximately 50 minutes. It's advisable to confirm the fare before departure.
- Renting a car provides flexibility to explore the region at your own pace. Several car rental companies operate at Pula Airport. The drive to Sveta Marina is straightforward, following well-marked routes and good roads.
- Train travel is an option, it involves a number of transfers. You would need to travel from London to a major European city with rail connections to Croatia, such as Munich or Venice, and then continue to Pula. From Pula, you would proceed to Sveta Marina by taxi or car hire. Whilst this route is less direct and involves some slower travel choices, it does present the lowest carbon footprint.
On booking we will connect you to other participants on this holiday to allow you to co-ordinate and discuss travel arrangements if you would like to benefit from sharing any transfer costs, eg cars which is very popular.
Price for 7 nights
Yoga - £850 (shared room - private bathroom)
Yoga & Freediving for qualified freedivers - £1300 (shared room - private bathroom)
Yoga & PADI Basic freediving introductory course - £1000 (shared room - private bathroom)
Single supplement - £300
