The competitive disciplines of Free diving

Written by: Rik Rösken

Introduction

Within the organisation of AIDA are eight disciplines recognised;

• Static
• Dynamic (met en zonder vinnen)
• Constant Weight (met en zonder vinnen)
• Free Immersion
• Variable Weight
• No-Limits
• Andere disciplines

The performance of all the disciplines is only recognised after the competitor surfaced completely clear. To make this easier to establish for the judges, the athlete has to remove his or er mask and give an OK-signal. If the Free Diver is unable to do this, or even has lost his counciousness, the performance is considered void.

Static

Static is perhaps the least exciting discipline. The goal is to achieve a maximal breath-hold without while holding still. To maximalise fysical safety, a safetydiver gives signals to the diver that he or she should answer to stay in the competition.

Dynamic (with or without fins

The goal of this discipline is to swim a maximal length underwater if possible. This can be done with bi-fins, a mono-vin or without. During swimmingpool competitions, this discipline is often paired with static. As like in static, safetydivers are added to ensure safety during the dive. For some time, the monovin grows in populairity with in the freediving comunity since several world records have been set with this type of fin.

Constant Weight (with and without fins)

For this dive in the open water a rope and fins are needed. If you dive deep, technical divers are also needed to ensure the divers safety. The goal is to dive as deep as possible without touching the rope. At the announced depth of the diver a card is found that the diver brings back to the surface. Constant weight with fins is currently the most organised out door freediving competition type.

While constant weight is also known as constant ballast and Fixed Weights, the first will be used on this website.

Free Immersion

In oposition of constant weight, free immersion uses the rope to reach the acquired depth. By using your hands you pull yourself into the depth and back to the surface. Because your arm muscles uses less energy than leg muscles, divers can gain equal, or even deeper depths compared with constant weight.
A competition is organised infrequently in Free Immersion.

Variable Weight

By using a weighted sled, the diver is pulled into the depth. At the pre-set depth, the diver leaves the sled and turns back to the surface under own power by finning or pulling yourself up with your arms. Due the significant depth and needed safetyrequirements, only record attempts are being held in this discipline.

No-Limits

With the most extreme discipline, the diver is lowered by a sled and returns to the suface with a lifting device (often a lifting bag). This discipline is most known with the media due the extreem depths. No competitions are being held

Other disciplines

Aside from the eight official disciplines also other, demonstration, disciplines are being held.
One of them is 16 x 50 meter dynamic with fins. The winner is the diver who completes the acquired distance in the shortest time. A lot of training and technique is needed to fulfill this discipline.

Last words...

Just like with freediving for leisure, a course is needed to acquire a basic understanding of freediving for a competition. This can assist you in understanding the rules and make everything a lot easier when competing.