Running a competition
AIDA competition updates
AIDA International, along with AIDA Nationals, have developed and approved competition rules which are reguarly updated. The main aim is to improve safety and remove any ambiguities or redundant regulations. As a result, for example, athletes will not get penalties for grabbing a side of pool on surfacing or for breaking surface. Organisers will be interested in new rules regarding depth such as a possibility of limiting announcements (for safety reasons) or required training for medical staff and additional equipment. All changes are published on the AIDA website.
All competitions from should be judged as per updated rules.
Full version of the AIDA Competition Rules are available here.
National Championships
Applications for National Championships shall be submitted to BFA between 1 st September and 31 st October the previous year. Decisions will be made at AGM in January. BFA invites potential organisers to communicate prior to that date.
AIDA competitions
The BFA aims to promote fair and safe competition in British Freediving at home & Internationally. We aim to inspire all levels of freedivers to take part in competitive freediving, safely and within the official rules of AIDA and BFA best practice. We can assist to bring together volunteers to make the competitions possible.
The Competition Registration Form is designed to promote safe and fair AIDA competition, and to allow equal opportunity to compete.
The BFA have produced a range of resources to help competition organisers and athletes. You can find these on our Downloads page.
• A guide to organising AIDA registered freediving competitions in the UK
• A guide to risk assessment and emergency planning
• An athlete checklist you should give to athletes at initial stage of enquiry
• A Competition Liability Release Template
If you need help and advice on how to run a competition under AIDA rules, please contact the BFA at competitions@britishfreediving.org.
We invite UK freedive groups to register competitions with the BFA. Since June 2012 all competitions registered with the BFA, are required to be open invite, and operate a fair & equal ballot entry system allowing first-come-first-served. They MUST offer an allocated number of entries to non members of the club, and offer equal opportunity to all members of the UK freediving community. Competitions run within the terms of the Competition Registration Form will be given BFA/AIDA /World ranking status.
Organisers will need insurance to cover their event.
You can download a competition application form & AIDA rules. If you need help and advice on how to run a competition under AIDA rules and BFA best practice please contact the BFA at competitions@britishfreediving.org
Volunteers: BFA Competitions are set up to support competing athletes and rely entirely on volunteers so if you want to help please contact the BFA at competitions@britishfreediving.org
So you’ve read the AIDA regulations and are ready to run a comp – then your next step is to fill out the newly updated 2024 competions registration form and email it to competitions@britishfreediving.org