How to Start Organizing a Freediving Pool Competition

If you’ve ever participated in a freediving competition and thought, “I’d love to bring this energy to my local pool,” then this guide is for you. Organizing a pool competition might seem daunting at first, but with the right steps and mindset, it’s an incredibly rewarding way to contribute to the freediving community, support athlete growth, and raise awareness of the sport.

Here’s a breakdown of what it takes to get started.

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1. Understand the Basics

First, decide what kind of competition you want to host: official ranking event or a friendly non-ranking one. If you’re aiming for athletes to earn official results, records, or international ranking points, your competition will need to be sanctioned by AIDA or another recognized federation.

This guide focuses on AIDA-sanctioned pool competitions, which follow a clear structure and standardized rules.

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2. Secure a Suitable Pool

The pool should meet the basic requirements for each discipline:

• STA (Static Apnea): At least 12.5 meters long, and ideally 1.2 meters deep or more.
• DYN/DNF/DYNB (Dynamic disciplines): 25 meters or 50 meters in length, with consistent depth and safe entry points.

It’s essential to get permission from the pool management, confirm availability, and check whether you’re allowed to set up safety equipment (like oxygen kits) and cordon off specific lanes.

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3. Find Judges and Medical Support

You’ll need a minimum of two AIDA-certified judges for a single-lane ranking event, and more if you’re running multiple lanes. Judges must be approved by AIDA and listed on the official judge roster.

You also need a certified medic (doctor, nurse, or paramedic) on-site throughout the competition. This person must be dedicated to medical duties and cannot participate as an athlete, judge, or safety.

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4. Build Your Safety Team

A solid safety team is the backbone of a successful comp. Safety divers should be experienced freedivers trained in competition rescue procedures. Make sure you have enough to rotate shifts throughout the day without fatigue.

You’ll also need basic emergency equipment, including:

• An oxygen kit capable of delivering at least 15 L/min for 15 minutes
• First aid supplies
• A communication plan in case of emergencies

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5. Submit the Sanctioning Request

To make your competition official under AIDA, you’ll need to:

• Submit a Sanctioning Request Form
• Pay a €50 sanctioning fee
• Ensure all your judges, medics, and safety plans are in order

The request is typically sent 6–8 weeks before the event date. Once approved, your event will appear on the AIDA International calendar.

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6. Open Athlete Registration

Create a registration form that collects:

• Athlete information and AIDA ID
• Emergency contact details
• Performance declarations and personal bests
• Medical and liability waivers

Make sure athletes are aware of the terms and rules, and that you provide clear schedules, warm-up protocols, and event logistics.

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7. Plan the Competition Flow

Create a timeline for each day: registration, warm-ups, performance slots, judge and safety shifts, and debriefs. Include buffer time between performances and have backups for key roles.

Keep communication open with athletes, judges, safeties, and volunteers. The smoother your planning, the better the atmosphere.

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8. Submit Rankings and Wrap Up

After the event, you’ll submit the official results and pay the ranking fee (€1 per performance per athlete) to AIDA. This is done through their ranking submission system.

It’s also a great time to gather feedback, celebrate personal bests, and thank your team.

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Final Thoughts

Organizing a freediving pool competition takes effort, coordination, and a commitment to safety — but it also creates a powerful sense of community. Whether it’s a small local event or the beginnings of a larger national scene, hosting a comp can help grow the sport and elevate athletes at every level.

If you’re considering organizing your first competition, start small, get the right support, and go for it. The freediving world needs more passionate organizers.

Read this for a Step-by-step guide.