AIDA International
Encyclopedia
The International Association for Development of Apnea (AIDA, from French: Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée) is the world wide rule- and record-keeping body for competitive breath holding events (freediving). It aims to set 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.
Freedive certifications
Specialites certifications
AIDA has 3 levels of Instructor qualifications and certifications:
Instructor certifications
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
History
- November 2, 1992: Frenchmen Roland SPECKER, Loïc LEFERMELoïc LefermeLoïc Leferme was a French diver who was the world free diving record holder until 2 October 2005, when he was surpassed by Herbert Nitsch. Loic was also a founder of AIDA in 1990 with Roland Specker and Claude Chapuis in Nice. In 2002 he set the world free diving record without any breathing...
and Claude CHAPUIS, found AIDA in NiceNiceNice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, with Specker as its first President - 1993: AIDA Competitions start to take form
- 1994-95: National clubs begin to form over all Europe
- 1996: First AIDA Team World Championship in NiceNiceNice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, for national teams - 1998: Second AIDA Team World Championship, SardiniaSardiniaSardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... - 1999: Sébastien NAGEL, Switzerland, replace Roland SPECKER as the President
- 2001: Third AIDA Team World Championship, IbizaIbizaIbiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... - 2004: Fourth AIDA Team World Championship, VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... - 2005: Bill STRÖMBERGBill StrömbergBill Strömberg born April 8, 1967 in Malmö Sweden.Former Swedish champion freediver:* 25 Swedish records this far, Swedish champion 2000-2005* Competing athlete and team captain for the Swedish National Team at the World Championship 2006...
, Sweden, replace Sébastien NAGEL as President - 2005: First AIDA Individual World Championship, RenensRenensRenens is a municipality in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. It is located in the district of Ouest lausannois, and is a suburb of the city of Lausanne. It is the fourth largest city in the canton. It is considered a very multiethnic town, as more than 50% of the inhabitants are resident foreign...
, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... - 2005: Second AIDA Individual World Championship, Villefranche-sur-MerVillefranche-sur-MerVillefranche-sur-Mer is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region on the French Riviera.-Geography:...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... - 2006: Fifth AIDA Team World Championship, HurghadaHurghadaHurghada is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is a main tourist center and second largest city in Egypt located on the Red Sea coast.- Overview :...
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... - 2007: Third AIDA Individual World Championship, MariborMariborMaribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, SloveniaSloveniaSlovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of... - 2007: Fourth AIDA Individual World Championship, Sharm el-SheikhSharm el-SheikhSharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000...
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... - 2008: Sixth AIDA Team World Championship, Sharm el-SheikhSharm el-SheikhSharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000...
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. - 2009: Fifth AIDA Individual World Championship, AarhusAarhusAarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. - 2009: Sixth AIDA Individual World Championship, Dean's Blue HoleDean's Blue HoleDean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
, Bahamas. - 2009: December, Kimmo LAHTINEN, Finland, replace Bill STRÖMBERGBill StrömbergBill Strömberg born April 8, 1967 in Malmö Sweden.Former Swedish champion freediver:* 25 Swedish records this far, Swedish champion 2000-2005* Competing athlete and team captain for the Swedish National Team at the World Championship 2006...
as President
Qualifications and certifications
AIDA has a star system for grading their freedive students certifications:Freedive certifications
- AIDA 1 Star Freedive, 8m CWT, 1'15" STA, 25m DYN.
- AIDA 2 Star Freediver, 16m CWT, 2' STA, 40m DYN.
- AIDA 3 Star Freediver, 24m CWT, 2'45" STA, 55m DYN.
- AIDA 4 Star Freediver, 32m CWT, 3'30" STA, 70m DYN.
Specialites certifications
- Competition Safety Freediver.
- Competition Freediver.
- Deep Tank Freediver.
- Monofin Freediver.
AIDA has 3 levels of Instructor qualifications and certifications:
Instructor certifications
- AIDA Instructor, can teach up to 3 Star Freediver.
- AIDA Master Instructor, can teach up to 4 Star Freediver.
- AIDA Instructor Trainer, can teach all levels, and instructors.
Constant Weight Apnea (CWT)
Deep freediving using bifins or a monofin.Men
- 124 m
- Name: Herbert NITSCHHerbert NitschHerbert Nitsch is an Austrian free-diver who has held world records in all of the eight apnea free-diving disciplines recognised by AIDA International. He is the current freediving world record champion and “the deepest man on earth”. This title was given to him, when he set the current world...
- Date: 2010-4-22
- Place: Dean's Blue HoleDean's Blue HoleDean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
, Long Island Bahamas
Women
- 101 m
- Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVANatalia MolchanovaNatalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
- Date: 2011-09-22
- Place: KalamataKalamataKalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
, Greece
Constant Weight Apnea Without Fins (CNF)
Deep freediving using swimming strokes only, no fins allowed.Men
- 101 m
- Name: William TRUBRIDGEWilliam TrubridgeWilliam Trubridge is a world champion and double world record holding free-diver from New Zealand.Trubridge currently holds the world record in the Free Immersion and the Constant Weight without fins disciplines, and is the first human ever to break the 100m barrier unassisted.World Records:•...
- Date: 2010-12-16
- Place: Dean's Blue HoleDean's Blue HoleDean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
, Long Island Bahamas
Women
- 62 m
- Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVANatalia MolchanovaNatalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
- Date: 2009-12-03
- Place: Dean's Blue HoleDean's Blue HoleDean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
, Long Island Bahamas
Free Immersion Apnea (FIM)
Deep freediving, allowing pulling along the vertical depth rope.Men
- 116 m
- Name: William TRUBRIDGEWilliam TrubridgeWilliam Trubridge is a world champion and double world record holding free-diver from New Zealand.Trubridge currently holds the world record in the Free Immersion and the Constant Weight without fins disciplines, and is the first human ever to break the 100m barrier unassisted.World Records:•...
- Date: 2010-04-22
- Place: Dean's Blue HoleDean's Blue HoleDean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
, Long Island Bahamas
Women
- 90 m
- Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVANatalia MolchanovaNatalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
- Date: 2009-09-27
- Place: Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
Variable Weight Apnea (VWT)
Deep freediving using a weighted sled for descent, pulling along the depth rope for ascent.Men
- 142 m
- Name: Herbert NITSCHHerbert NitschHerbert Nitsch is an Austrian free-diver who has held world records in all of the eight apnea free-diving disciplines recognised by AIDA International. He is the current freediving world record champion and “the deepest man on earth”. This title was given to him, when he set the current world...
- Date: 2009-12-07
- Place: Dean's Blue HoleDean's Blue HoleDean's Blue Hole is the world's deepest known blue hole with seawater. It plunges in a bay west of Clarence Town on Long Island, Bahamas.-History:The full depth of the cave was reached by Jim King in 1992....
, Long Island Bahamas
Women
- 126 m
- Name: Annelie POMPEAnnelie Pompe- External links :* * by Annelie Pompe...
- Date: 2010-10-05
- Place: Sharm el-SheikhSharm el-SheikhSharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000...
, Egypt
No Limit Apnea (NLT)
Unrestricted deep freediving, all propulsion means allowed, traditionally using a weighted sled for descent and inflatable balloon for ascent.Men
- 214 m
- Name: Herbert NITSCHHerbert NitschHerbert Nitsch is an Austrian free-diver who has held world records in all of the eight apnea free-diving disciplines recognised by AIDA International. He is the current freediving world record champion and “the deepest man on earth”. This title was given to him, when he set the current world...
- Date: 2007-06-14
- Place: Spetses, Greece
Women
- 160 m
- Name: Tanya STREETERTanya StreeterTanya Streeter is a British/Caymanian world champion free-diver, inducted into the Women Diver's Hall of Fame in March 2000...
- Date: 2002-08-17
- Place: Turks and Caicos
Static Apnea (STA)
Immovable breath hold for time.Men
- 11 min 35 sec
- Name: Stéphane MIFSUDStéphane MifsudStéphane Mifsud is a French free diver born 13 August 1971 in Istres . His lung capacity was measured at 10.5 litres...
- Date: 2009-06-08
- Place: HyèresHyèresHyères , Provençal Occitan: Ieras in classical norm or Iero in Mistralian norm) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France....
, France
Women
- 8 min 23 sec
- Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVANatalia MolchanovaNatalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
- Date: 2009-08-21
- Place: AarhusAarhusAarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark
Dynamic Apnea With Fins (DYN)
Horizontal freediving for distance, using bifins or a monofin.Men
- 250 m
- Name: Alexey MOLCHANOVAlexey MolchanovAlexey Molchanov is a Russian free-diver. 5 times vice-champion of the world and ex world record holder in free-diving.-Records:Alexey Molchanov is a Russian free-diver. 5 times vice-champion of the world and ex world record holder in free-diving....
- Date: 2008-10-05
- Place: Lignano, Italy
Women
- 225 m
- Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVANatalia MolchanovaNatalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
- Date: 2010-04-25
- Place: Moscow, Russia
Dynamic Apnea Without Fins (DNF)
Horizontal freediving for distance, no fins allowed.Men
- 213 m
- Name: Tom SIETASTom SietasTom Sietas is a free diver. He specializes in the "static apnea" event, holding his breath under water, and the "dynamic apnea" event, swimming the greatest possible distance underwater without breathing. Sietas started free diving in the year 2000...
- Date: 2008-07-02
- Place: Hamburg, Germany
- 213 m
- Name: Dave MULLINSDave MullinsDave Mullins is a New Zealand free-diver and world record-holder.On 21 September 2007 Dave set a new world record in Dynamic apnea breaking the old record by 1 m, creating a new world record of 226 m in a time of 3:38. The old record of 225 m was held by Stig Severinsen...
- Date: 2008-08-12
- Place: Wellington, New Zealand
Women
- 160 m
- Name: Natalia MOLCHANOVANatalia MolchanovaNatalia Molchanova , born 8 May 1962, Ufa, Russia is a Russian champion Freediver and is the current President of the Russian Freedive Federation....
- Date: 2009-08-21
- Place: AarhusAarhusAarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
, Denmark