Freediving World Championships in Limassol. The fight for medals begins.

The Freediving World Championships are entering their most important phase. The medal competition for the 37th AIDA World Championships begins on Wednesday, September 30, in Limassol Bay. Competitors will dive on a single breath, without tanks, attempting to reach their declared depth and return safely to the surface.

The entire event will run until October 10th. The program includes four events, each with different underwater movement techniques. The competition can be followed on free AIDA webcasts, including footage that allows you to see what's hidden from the shore.

Freediving World Championships for the fifth time on the island

The event began on September 27th. The first few days were devoted to registration, briefings, and preparations. Now comes the start of the races, which will determine the medals.

Cyprus is hosting this championship for the fifth time. Limassol is ideal for deep diving thanks to its clear water, good visibility, and warm seas. The conditions also allow for trials at great depths.

The organizers' announcements included Alexey Molchanov, Petar Klovar, and Zsófia Törőcsik. These are names well-known to fans of this discipline, where the result is determined not only by physical ability but also by composure and precise preparation for each attempt.

One Breath, Four Ways to Dive

Freediving is a breath-hold dive. The competitor doesn't use a breathing apparatus and must complete the entire descent and return in a single attempt.

The program includes four competitions:

• CNF — diving without fins, using only your own body strength;
• CWTB — diving with two fins;
• FIM — descent and ascent by pulling oneself up on a rope;
• CWT — diving with fins or a monofin.

Simply reaching the declared depth isn't enough. Upon returning, the competitor must also correctly perform the surface procedure. Only then can we assess whether the attempt met the requirements.

For the spectator, this is often the most exciting moment: after a long wait to surface, one still has to wait for confirmation of the result.

Watch the broadcast from Limassol

You can watch the Freediving World Championships for free on YouTube. Below is the official AIDA broadcast—if you're watching before it starts, you can set a reminder on the site.

While watching, it's also worth paying attention to the moment of surfacing. Reaching the designated depth doesn't end the test—the competitor must still successfully complete the surface procedure for the result to be recognized.

Competition program in Limassol

The women's and men's races are split into separate days. The women's competition begins in the finless category.

The competition is scheduled for the morning and early afternoon. Limassol Tourism reports a time frame of 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., but the exact start time for each competitor depends on the attempt list.

How to watch the Freediving World Championships?

The most convenient way to follow the competition is through the official AIDA broadcasts on YouTube. They allow you to follow each attempt and compare competitors' results without having to find a spot on the coast.

The dives take place in the open sea, so arriving at the bay doesn't offer the same view of the competition as the online coverage provides.

Visit Cyprus marks the event as free, but doesn't provide detailed rules for public access. It's worth checking the organizer's announcements before heading there.

Over the next few days, Limassol will be the site of a competition where every meter counts. Everything will be decided underwater—and in the first moments after returning to the surface.

Sources: AIDA International, Visit Cyprus, Limassol Tourism, Sukeltajaliitto