About Live Free Diving

Our Story

Live Free Diving was born out of a simple belief: that freediving is more than a sport—it’s a lifestyle that connects us to the ocean, ourselves, and each other.

We (Keke and Farrell) first met at Florida Atlantic University in 2014 through the Freediving & Spearfishing Club. What started as shared dives turned into a shared dream: to create a community where people could experience the ocean safely, mindfully, and with a sense of freedom.

After graduation, we found ourselves in careers that didn’t align with our passion. So we took a leap of faith. Keke was already teaching SCUBA and freediving, and Farrell began his path to becoming an instructor. Together, we launched Live Free Diving—an idea that quickly grew into a movement.

Today, we’ve introduced hundreds of people to freediving and snorkeling, built a thriving community that extends far beyond Florida, and watched students discover more about themselves than they ever imagined underwater.

Kaleigh “Keke” McBride — Co-Founder & Instructor Trainer

Keke is a native Floridian with roots in Scotland and Trinidad & Tobago. Her freediving journey began in 2014, merging seamlessly with her love for yoga and meditation. She holds four national freediving records for Trinidad & Tobago and is one of the few female PADI Freediver Instructor Trainers in the U.S.

Her credentials include:

PADI Instructor Trainer (Freediving & Mermaid)
PADI Master SCUBA Instructor
200hr Certified Yoga Teacher
Emergency First Response Instructor

Keke’s teaching style blends safety, patience, and joy. Beyond diving, she creates ocean-inspired jewelry through her brand GypSea Soul Jewelry and shares her love for the sea via @underseakeke.

Farrell Tiller — Co-Founder, Instructor & Captain

Born and raised in South Florida, Farrell has been exploring local reefs and currents since childhood. While studying at FAU, he founded and led the Freediving & Spearfishing Club, building a foundation of leadership and community that carries into Live Free today.

His credentials include:

PADI Advanced Freediving Instructor
U.S. Coast Guard Master Captain
Oxygen Advantage Functional Breathing Instructor

Farrell is known for his enthusiasm, storytelling, and ability to make even the most challenging dive feel fun and attainable. His passions extend to spearfishing, conservation, and cultivating safe, sustainable hunting practices.

NICK GIANNOLA, CHIEF OF SUSTAINABILITY & SENIOR IN WATER GUIDE

Born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Nick’s affinity for nature and the underwater realm began in childhood, earning him the nickname “part fish” due to his early mastery of swimming. Exploring the pristine waters of Squash Lake, WI, at the family lake house fueled his fascination with aquatic life. Nick pursued a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife, specializing in fish biology and management at Michigan State University, graduating in 2012. His post-graduation journey led him to Florida, where he immersed himself in the native plant industry, transforming yards into wildlife havens. While exploring Florida’s ecosystems, Nick discovered the enchanting springs, reigniting his passion for the underwater world. Completing his PADI Open Water SCUBA course and a freediving course in 2018, Nick, now a +100ft diver with a 4:15-minute breath hold, shares his profound love for Florida’s unique ecosystems above and below water, guiding others into the captivating realm he holds dear. When he is not in the water you can find him managing his company, NTG Bookkeeping.

Follow Nick on Instagram: @nickin_nature

STEVIE GORDON, SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR, IN WATER GUIDE, & DIVE MASTER

Stevie gracefully balances her time between the sun-kissed tropics of Florida and the majestic mountains of Colorado. Raised along the pristine west coast of Florida, she developed a profound love for the ocean and the exhilaration of a perfect day on the water. Having achieved her PADI Divemaster rating in Key Largo, Stevie now finds her calling on the east coast of Florida, where she enthusiastically unveils the enchanting secrets beneath the azure waters to both strangers and locals.

When she’s not immersed in the deep blue, you’ll discover Stevie fearlessly swimming with sharks or dedicatedly participating in beach clean-up initiatives along the Florida shoreline. Stevie’s truest devotion lies in the preservation of our oceans, fueled by a desire to safeguard their beauty for future generations. Stevie is on a mission to inspire awe, appreciation, and a commitment to environmental conservation.

Follow Stevie on Instagram: @steviewanders__

LAURENT KRAMER, BOAT CAPTAIN, MECHANIC, & SWISS ARMY KNIFE

Born in Switzerland and raised across Europe, Laurent spent his youth traveling with his adventurous parents, learning about boats and photography from his father. At 18, he earned his CMAS two-star scuba diving certification in Switzerland, sparking his love for the underwater world.

After 22 years as a professional lifeguard and police officer in Switzerland, Laurent moved to San Diego, California, in 2007. There, he trained as a boat mechanic and later joined the yachting industry in Florida as an engineer. In 2018, he began freediving in the Keys, blending his passion for the ocean with his photography skills to create stunning images, some featured on this website.

Laurent is an advanced freediver, a USCG OUPV Captain, and a versatile member of LFD, handling everything from driving and servicing the boat “Fins Up” to capturing underwater photographs. Follow his journey on Instagram @urakphotography.