Freediving Rules for AIDA Dynamic Competition

This post, like our earlier post on Freediving Rules for AIDA Static Competitions, is an abridged version of the AIDA Freediving Rules for Competitions and Records (Version 16.0 November 2018). This version is to help freedivers participating in their first freediving Dynamic competition to familiarise themselves with the freediving rules for a Dynamic and to know what to expect on competition day. This is not a comprehensive list of all the freediving rules but rather a guide to understanding the essential rules to perform a successful Dynamic and to avoid penalties and disqualification from a simple rule infringement. Where possible, the rule numbers on the left of the page correspond to the rule numbers in the AIDA Freediving Rules 2018 manual. The complete manual of AIDA Freediving Rules for Competitions and Records can be downloaded from the AIDA website here. We advise you to to follow the link for a greater understanding of competition rules. For now, here’s an abridged version:

4.1.3.2 Each athlete must be a member of an AIDA National (e.g., Australian Freediving Association, AIDA Philippine). (You must sign up with an AIDA National prior to the competition registration).

4.1.3.3 All athletes must be in possession of a signed “medical certificate of non contraindication to freediving” written in English to participate in competitions. The medical certificate cannot be older than one year. The signature must be that of a doctor and must include doctor contact information.

4.1.3.4 Each athlete must be in possession of a valid passport. The passport, and signed medical certificate must be inspected during registration

4.1.5 The exact time an athlete has to start his/her performance is called the Official Top; hereafter mentioned as OT.

4.1.6 Each athlete must appear at a location designated by the jury at least 60 minutes before their OT. (Also, at least 60mins prior to OT, the athlete must remain in the competition zone)

4.1.9 Any “Black-out” detected by the judge(s) will result in disqualification of the athlete for the discipline. This includes if the athlete is unable to maintain the airway out of the water.

4.1.13.1 The Surface Protocol (SP) consists of the following tasks:

1. Remove all facial equipment (mask, goggles, and nose clip).
2. Give 1 visible OK signal to the judge.
3. Give 1 verbal OK signal to the judge by saying “I’m Ok” or “I am OK”.

4.1.13.2 All the above must be done in this specific order within the time window of 15.0 seconds upon resurfacing. Failure to do so in this order and time frame is regarded as a disqualification and noted as “Failing SP”.

4.1.14 Upon surfacing, the athlete’s nose and mouth must remain out of the water until the jury has communicated their decision to the athlete, if any part of the athlete’s airway fully dips below the surface during this time (within 30.0 seconds), the athlete shall be disqualified (DQAirways).

4.1.16 At the end of each performance the jury informs the athlete of their decision regarding the validity of their performance with a white card (the performance is ok), a yellow card (the performance is ok but with penalties) or a red card (disqualification).

4.1.2.0 Three zones are marked off: a warm-up zone, a transition zone and a performance zone. The warm-up period starts 45 minutes before the start of the first official attempt(s); the athlete may not access the warm-up zone until 45 minutes prior to her/her OT. Athletes may not access the transition zone and / or performance zones until such time as the preceding athlete has left the area. The transition zone is for the athlete who is next to perform.

4.2.9 The following countdown is conducted in English by the speaker, and where possible for World Championships by an automated system 2’00, 1’30, 1’00, 30’’, 20’’, 10’’, 5’’, 4’’, 3’’, 2’’ 1’’, Official Top. , 1’’, 2’’, 3’’, 4’’, 5’’, 6’’, 7’’, 8’’, 9’’, 10’’, 20’’, 25’’, 26’’, 27’’, 28’’, 29’’, 30’’., start cancelled. See 10.4 below for ‘LATE START’ information.

4.2.10 The interval between OT times is determined by the organisers. AIDA recommends that each athlete be permitted at least three minutes in the competition zone prior to his/her OT.

7.1.3 The athlete is allowed to use arm strokes in either DYN or DNF.

7.1.4 In the DYN subcategory of Bifins (now referred to as DYNB), the athlete is prohibited from using a dolphin kick. If so, this leads to disqualification (DQOther).

7.1.6 The athlete must be in the water before submersion (i.e., no diving is allowed) at the start of the event.

7.1.7 The athlete must be provided with a means to stand in the competition zone with their airway above the water.

7.1.8 The athlete’s airway must submerge within 1.5 metres of the wall at the start, otherwise the athlete will be disqualified (DQOther).

7.1.9 The athlete must make contact with the wall with part of the body or attached equipment (such as fins) during any point in the Start process before or as they leave the wall, otherwise a penalty (Start) of 5 points is applied.

7.1.10 Do not pull off a lane rope, side or bottom of the pool before the exit of the nose or mouth, otherwise a penalty of 5 points per occurrence is applied (Pull). This penalty does not apply when grabbing/pulling the edge of the pool or a line when exiting.

7.1.11 A part of the body or attached equipment must touch the wall at each turn. If athlete fails to do so a penalty (Turn) is applied of 5 points per occurrence. If the athlete turns short of the wall by more than one metre without touching the end wall the athlete will be disqualified (DQOther).

7.1.12 A partner is authorised to monitor and supervise the athlete’s warm-up and performance and they are permitted to assist in the three official zones. As soon as the performance has started, the partner is no longer allowed to touch the athlete or their equipment without disqualification.  They are only allowed to verbally coach the athlete.

7.1.14 If the athlete ascends against the end wall of the pool, the athlete must touch the end wall prior to his/her airway emerging in order to register the distance measured at the wall.

7.1.15 The athlete must resurface in the competition zone they started in. Failure to return to the competition zone before resurfacing will result in disqualification (DQOther).

7.1.16 The athlete may not swim a complete length at the surface otherwise a disqualification applies (DQOther).

7.1.17 Any arm recovery above the surface of the water such as freestyle, crawl, or butterfly stroke shall result in disqualification (DQOther).

7.1.18 If the realised performance (RP) is smaller than the announce performance (AP) a penalty (Under AP) is applied. This is 0.5 point per 1 metre in a dynamic event.

10.3 Early start. If the athlete starts before the Official Top (OT), a penalty of 1 point per unit of five seconds is applied (EARLY START).

10.4 Late Start. If the athlete starts after the authorised 10.0 seconds window in pool disciplines, a penalty of 1 point per unit of five seconds is applied up to 30 seconds after OT (called a “LATE START”). After 30.0 seconds the athlete is disqualified (called a “DQ LATE START”) and not allowed to start.

Summary of Dynamic Apnea Competition Freediving Rules:

1. Make sure all paperwork is completed and submitted to competition organisers by registration deadline (including evidence of your freediving certification from an internationally recognised freediving agency – minimum AIDA2 Pool or equivalent).
2. To be recognised for your performances on the AIDA database for athletes and rankings make sure you are a member of an AIDA National PRIOR to the competition and registration deadline.
3. Make sure the distance you announce prior to the competition (called “Announced Performance”) for your dynamic performance will be less than the distance you actually want to achieve (called “Realized Performance”).
4. Make sure you attend the competition site at least 1 hour prior to your OT and you remain in that area.
5. You are allowed to enter the warm-up zone 45 minutes before your OT.
6. Go through your warm-up routine so you are ready to move into the competition zone at least three minutes before your OT.
7. Make sure you start your event within 10 seconds of OT and do not start before OT.
8. Make sure you submerge within 1.5 metres of the wall at the start.
9. Make sure some part of your body or equipment touches the wall at the start and at all turns.
10. Do not pull your body along a wall, rope or the bottom while submerged.
11. If finishing at the end of the pool touch the wall before the airways exit the water.
12. Do not use dolphin kick if using bifins during your dynamic performance.
13. At the completion of your dynamic, and once airways above water, do not allow your mouth or nose to be submerged again and make sure no one supports you by touching you after your airways are clear.
14. Go through the Surface Protocol in the correct order and within 15 seconds of mouth/nose clearing the water.
15. Wait patiently for 30 seconds for the judge to show a white, yellow or red card. Keep your airways clear of water during that time.
16. Use visualisation to practice and remember the key points and freediving rules of your dive including the start, turns and surface protocol prior to your performance.
17. Good luck! You’ll do great!