A beginner’s guide to freediving competitions in pool disciplines
by Anna Oravec
If you are new to freediving competitions, AIDA and CMAS can feel a bit confusing at first. Both organizations organize freediving competition events, but rules, timing, countdown, and procedures are slightly different. This guide will briefly explain what you can expect on competition day. Please, bear in mind that this serves as an organizational guide only, to help you feel relaxed and prepared, and not all rules are implemented. All detailed rules, anti-doping procedures and medical rules can be found on AIDA and CMAS official pages. Every competition might differ from one another. You will see three colors in this document: black for common information, tips and hints. Purple for rules applying for AIDA competitions. Green for CMAS competitions.
Glossary:
Official top (OT) / Top time (TT) – specific time when the performance begins.
Announced performance (AP) – the set, planned time or distance a diver plans to
achieve on the competition. Every athlete announces the planned performance before
the competition starts.
Personal best (PB) – the longest time (static apnea), or longest distance (dynamic) an
athlete has achieved.
Black out (BO) – loss of consciousness.
White card – successful dive according to rules.
Yellow card – discrepancies to rules were found during athlete’s performance.
Red card – mistake, BO or other reason for disqualification according to rules.
Start list – official list received before competition. Usually includes Name, surname,
nationality, PB, AP, warmup time, Official top/Top time, lane. Please, be aware that this
list might slightly change during the competition. Always check the latest version in the
pool venue.
The male pronoun will be used throughout, solely to avoid awkward formulations. All persons participating in a competition, in any role, may be of either sex.
What is AIDA and CMAS?
AIDA International is an organization dedicated to freediving only. It focuses on safety, education, and competition rules. AIDA was established in 1992 and is widely recognized for international freediving competitions.
CMAS is a much larger organization that oversees different underwater sports, not just freediving. These include scuba diving, underwater hockey, finswimming, spearfishing, and numerous others. CMAS was established in 1959, and freediving became part of its system later.
Basic rules and procedures:
Before the competition, organizers always set the deadline for signing-up for the competition. Organizers also issue a list of necessary documents to provide before the competition starts. Each athlete is responsible for registering his presence at the competition evening before or morning of the competition. All these information are mentioned in communication from organizers. After registration in person with all documents is successful, it is good practice to do the check-in as soon as athlete comes to the competition pool on the competition day. Check-in serves as precautionary measure to ensure fair competition. Athletes after check-in are not allowed to leave the competition venue. Please, be aware of this rule.
AIDA
Athlete must check-in at a specific place at least one hour before his Official Top. If athlete misses this check-in, he receives a red card and is not allowed to compete at the specific discipline. Do not forget to check-in before each discipline separately.
CMAS
Athlete must be easily located 60 minutes before Top Time. Best practice is to check-in the same way as mentioned above.
Warm up:
Once athlete is registered and checked-in, athlete has time for warmup. Athlete can perform warm-up by the pool side or in designated lane. The time of athlete’s “wet” (inside a pool) warm-up is always displayed on the Start list located in the pool venue. In case athlete needs any amendments to used procedures, he can discuss them with organizers or judges as soon as possible. Before athlete starts his dive, he needs to be in the pool on time and in the specific lane determined by the Start list. In case athlete is too late or in incorrect lane, the athlete receives red card. There is no “second chance” to start the performance.
AIDA
If the athlete uses extra weight during the performance, he may wear the weight up to 3 kg under his wetsuit. It is wise to mention this information to the judges prior to start.
CMAS
If the athlete uses extra weight during the dive, all weights must be worn on top of the wetsuit and visible to the judges.
Before the dive starts: Countdown
AIDA
Athlete will hear a detailed countdown leading to the start of the dive. Athlete is allowed to start anytime between Official Top and +10 seconds. This is called the 10-second window. If the athlete’s airways are not submerged by +10 second window, he will receive a Yellow card. If the airways are not submerged by +30 seconds, athlete’s dive is cancelled, and automatically receives Red card.
The countdown:
2 minutes to Official Top, 1’30, 1 minute, 30 seconds, 20, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Official Top, plus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, start cancelled.
CMAS
The countdown is similar but gives athlete more time for starting the dive. Athlete may start anytime between Top Time and +30 seconds. This is called the 30-second window. If athlete’s airways are not submerged by +30 seconds, he is disqualified and automatically receives Red card.
The countdown:
Last 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute 30seconds, 1 minute, 30s, 20s, 10s, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Top Time; +10s;+20s; +25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.
What can athlete do during the dive and what is prohibited?
Dynamic apnea (pool disciplines)
Here are basic movement differences:
Dolphin Kick
AIDA
-
BiFins: Allowed at the turn
-
Monofin: Allowed
-
DNF: Allowed
CMAS
-
BiFins: Allowed at the turn and 3 meters after every turn
-
Monofin: Allowed
-
DNF: Allowed
Static apnea (STA)
During static apnea, athlete must show that he is conscious by giving hand signals whenever asked by the coach or a judge. It is recommended for athlete to have his own coach during performance with him at the competition. This is usually a trainer, buddy, or someone who knows him well and can follow his routine. If athlete comes to the competition without a coach, athlete can still compete. He may find someone at the event to assist him, or an official safety diver (lane safety) can assist the athlete during his dive. This is applicable in static apnea only.
AIDA
Usually, a coach asks for signals agreed on, in advance of the athlete’s dive. However, a judge can still ask for the signals at any time. Athlete is obliged to answer with hand signals at any time the judge or coach asks for them. Not complying with judge results in penalties or disqualification. If the athlete has no coach, the judge will ask for signals at set times, such as: 60 seconds before his AP, 30 seconds before, at the AP, and after (+15 s, +30 s, etc.).
CMAS
Signals are required at fixed times based on athlete’s PB: 60 seconds before his PB, 30 seconds before, 15 seconds before, at the PB, and after (+15 s, +30 s, etc.).
The surface protocol
Once resurfacing, athlete must clearly show that all physiological and mental aspects are without any change. Athlete will display his ability to perform a protocol to the lane judge within time limit and in correct order. There are minor differences between AIDA and CMAS.
AIDA
Athlete needs to remove all facial equipment (mask, nose clip…). Give the “OK” sign within 15 seconds and say “I am ok/I’m ok” – in English language. People/ coaches are allowed to encourage and help the athlete with verbal guidance.
CMAS
Athlete needs to give the “OK” sign within 20 seconds after resurfacing. No help or assistance is allowed from coach or anyone else. Athlete is not allowed to touch or support himself with side wall of the pool. Athlete can use the lane line to support himself, but is not allowed to push the line down or climb on top of the line. Doing these moves result in disqualification and Red card. Once athlete has completed his dive and the card is displayed by the judges, he can exit the lane. The result of the dive is displayed by the pool shortly after the attempt.
Antidoping testing
If the athlete is asked to provide a blood or urine sample, he must comply immediately. Failure to follow the anti-doping protocols will result in disqualification from the competition. Usually, the athlete will receive a notice after the attempt. Athlete must visit the anti-doping officer. It is important to follow the protocol carefully, as doping is taken very seriously.
Black out
If the athlete experiences a BO, athlete is required to visit the competition doctor and follow all recommendations given. Freediving competitions are about preparation, precision, and performance—knowing the rules lets athlete focus fully on the dive and give his best on competition day. Special thanks to Ralph Staudigl and Tim Oravec for their valuable input and contribution to this overview.
