Competitive
AIDA competitive freediving
AIDA is the Worldwide Federation for breath-hold diving. Established in 1992; AIDA manages and oversees the recognition of records, organizes competitions, and sets the standards for freediving education. Since 1992, AIDA International has officiated 330 world records (dd, January 2025). In AIDA competitive freediving an athlete announces a targeted performance, not reaching that performance will result in a penalty. In depth, due to safety reasons, an athlete can't go deeper then he announced, in pool there is no such limitation, and an athlete can go beyond their announced performance. In depth, an athlete normally announces the day before, and they have to take into consideration the sea / lake conditions they will face the day after and what other athletes will announce.
Disciplines
No Limit (NLT)
AIDA stopped sanctioning NLT-attempts in 2015 due to the extreme risks involved. In NLT, athlete descends with a sled and ascends with a balloon, and / or a diving suit, vest with inflatable compartments, or whatever other means. The NLT disciplines is the deepest depth discipline.
Variable Weight (VWT)
The freediver descends with the help of a ballast weight and ascends using his own power: either by swimming and / or pulling on the rope. Variable weight is one of the two depth disciplines which employ the use of a sled to descend in the water. With old-style sleds, the athlete descended head-first as seen in Luc Besson's famous movie "Le Grand Bleu", but the current generation sleds are feet-first which allows for easier equalization. Variable weight is only done as a record attempt and is not a competition discipline
Constant Weight (CWT)
The freediver descends and ascends with the use of monofin or bi-fins. Pulling on the rope or changing his ballast will result in disqualification; only a single hold of the rope is allowed in order to turn and stop the descent and start the ascent. Constant weight is the most widely practiced and known sportive depth discipline of freediving due to the specific fins or monofins used in it.
CONSTANT Weight With Bi-Fins (CWTB)
As in CWT, the freediver descends and ascends tries to reach the targeted depth, with the difference of the equipment and swimming technique used. The freediver uses bi-fins and / or arm strokes for his propulsion. Pulling on the rope or changing his ballast will result in disqualification; only a single hold of the rope is allowed in order to turn and stop the descent and start the ascent. Constant weight bi-fins is a relatively new discipline.
Constant Weight Without Fins (CNF)
The freediver descends and ascends underwater using a variation of breaststroke swimming stroke without the use of propulsion equipment and without pulling on the rope. Constant weight without fins is the most difficult sportive depth discipline because it requires the most strength and the diver is unaided by fins. CNF exemplifies perfect coordination between propulsion movements, equalization, technique and buoyancy. Pulling on the rope or changing his ballast will result in disqualification; only a single hold of the rope is allowed in order to turn and stop the descent and start the ascent.
Free Immersion (FIM)
The freediver dives under water without the use of propulsion equipment (fins) but uses the rope to pull to descend and ascend. Free immersion is the most relaxing discipline and is used as a training tool to learn equalization techniques. Athletes may experience the most enjoyable sensations in FIM because of the speed of the water over the body and the power of each pull on the rope as the only means of propulsion.
Dynamic With Fins (DYN)
The freediver swims in a horizontal position underwater attempting to cover the greatest possible distance, DYN is a pool discipline. Any propulsion aids, other than bi-fins or monofin and swimming movements with the arms, are prohibited. Dynamic with fins is the most common of the horizontal distance disciplines because of the specific means of propulsion; long fins or monofin.
DYNAMIC With Bi-Fins (DYNB):
As in DYN, the freediver swims in a horizontal position underwater attempting to cover the greatest possible distance, with the difference of the equipment and swimming technique used. Any propulsion aids, other than bi-fins and swimming movements with the arms, are prohibited. Dynamic bi-fins is a relatively new discipline.
Dynamic Without Fins (DNF)
The freediver travels in a horizontal position underwater attempting to cover the greatest possible distance using a modified breaststroke. Propulsion aids of any sort are prohibited. DNF requires a good technique, relaxation, and a long breath hold in order to achieve the greatest distance.
Static Apnea (STA)
The freediver holds his breath for as long as possible with his nose and mouth immersed while floating on the surface of the water or standing on the bottom of a pool. Static apnea is the only discipline based on time of breath hold and not distance. STA requires total relaxation in order to reach the longest breath hold.
World records
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Continental records
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National records
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