AIDA International


Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée is a worldwide rule- and record-keeping body for competitive breath holding events, also known as freediving. It sets standards for safety, comparability of Official World Record attempts and freedive education. AIDA International is the parent organization for national clubs of the same name.

History

AIDA was founded November 2, 1992 in Nice, France by Frenchmen Roland Specker, Loïc Leferme and Claude Chapuis, with Specker as its first President.
The AIDA Competitions started to take form to take form in 1993.
National clubs begin to form over all Europe in 1994–1995.
In 1999 Sébastien Nagel, of Switzerland, replaced Roland Specker as the President.
AIDA became AIDA International in 1999.
Bill Strömberg, of Sweden, replaced Sébastien Nagel as President in 2005.
Kimmo Lahtinen, of Finland, replaced Bill Strömberg as President in December 2009.
AIDA has a star system for grading its freediving certifications:
Freedive certifications
Speciality certifications
AIDA has 3 levels of Instructor qualifications and certifications:
Instructor certifications
AIDA recognized world records as of July 31, 2014

Sea Disciplines

Constant weight apnea (CWT)

Deep freediving using bifins or a monofin.
Men
Women
Deep freediving using swimming strokes only, no fins allowed.
Men
Women
Deep freediving, allowing pulling along the vertical depth rope.
Men
Women
Deep freediving using a weighted sled for descent, pulling along the depth rope for ascent.
Men
Women
Unrestricted deep freediving, all propulsion means allowed, traditionally using a weighted sled for descent and inflatable balloon for ascent.
Men
Women

Static Apnea (STA)

Immovable breath hold for time.
Men
Women
Horizontal freediving for distance, using bifins or a monofin.
Men
Women
Horizontal freediving for distance, no fins allowed.
Men
Women