Today we’d like to introduce you to David Cobiella.
Hi David, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Founded in 2023, Aquatrek Expeditions is led by CEO David Cobiella. With a background in science education at institutions like Oak View Middle School, SeaWorld Orlando, and Georgia Aquarium, Mr. Cobiella has also cultivated a career as a freediving instructor in North Central Florida since 2017.
This experience culminated in the establishment of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges facing Florida’s springs and organizing volunteer efforts for environmental clean-up. The accumulated knowledge from these endeavors informs Aquatrek Expeditions’ mission to educate and inspire clients to become future advocates for natural environments.
In 2023, Mr. Cobiella integrated these ventures to form Aquatrek Expeditions. Tours are conducted by appointment, limited to small groups of eight or fewer participants to foster a personalized connection with nature. The objective is for each client to develop an appreciation for the wild outdoors and to gain the knowledge necessary for its protection. Expeditions are tailored in length and structure to individual client preferences.
Aquatrek Expeditions also offers all-inclusive, week-long freediving retreats in diverse locations within Florida and internationally. Many clients engage in private training to enhance their underwater exploration skills and embrace an aquatic lifestyle.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a wild ride! I have had several starts and stops, usually involving former business partners or employers. Although Aquatrek started in 2023, I had been a freediving instructor since 2019, and even had a non-profit for a while. Each chapter led me closer to Aquatrek, but there were definitely times where I felt like I lost everything, and times when I thought maybe I should quit. But I didn’t – and now it’s paying off.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in working with beginners. I am known for being very structured, academic, and thorough with my freediving students. My tours are engaging and educational. I am very proud of my professionalism and guest service which were both honed by SeaWorld and Georgia Aquarium. I’m also proud of being passionate about my work, and creative in my underwater filming.
I can be set apart from other guides and instructors by my commitment to an individualized, personal experience. I don’t mix groups, which sets me up to bond with clients on a personal level. The result of this is an ability to expose clients to an underwater lifestyle and plant a seed within their family that results in generations of underwater explorers. I was raised by divers, and getting the chance to spread that to another family is electrifying!
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is the human experience. I believe nature has the ability to heal, soothe, and educate us. We have become disconnected from the vessel of our bodies which has been adapted to wild places over hundreds of thousands of years. Our bodies retain the ability to dive over 100 feet deep without the use of extra technology. Just being in the water makes us smile. Why do we yearn for more and struggle with mundane, under stimulating routines while we have one of the most incredible natural environments on the planet (the Florida Springs) right outside our doors? All it takes is the courage to go underneath the surface, and we gain access to what our bodies and our minds crave: raw elemental connection.
Pricing:
- Freediving Course: $450
- Snorkeling Tour: $125
- Paddleboarding Tour: $175
- Celestial Tour (night paddling): $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aquatrekexpeditions.com
- Instagram: @aquatrekexpeditions
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/aquatrekexpeditions
Image Credits
David Cobiella
Julien Bourde
Gary Thomas
