Canadian Association of Freediving and Apnea

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1.1 In addition to apnea training and development, CAFA recognizes records in various disciplines of apnea. Rules – or standards – being its common ground, are essential to record recognition. These rules are detailed below.
1.2 Records established prior to the creation of these standards will be taken into consideration only under the following conditions:

  • The reliability of the evaluation of the performance is adequately guaranteed (the CAFA Executive Board, hereinafter called “CAFA”, being the judge)
  • The events have taken place in conditions reasonably similar to those of the present requirements
2.1 These disciplines are as follows:

  1. Static apnea: the freediver holds his breath for as long as possible with his respiratory tracts immerged, his body either in the water or at the surface.
  2. Dynamic apnea without fins: the freediver travels in a horizontal position under water attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Any propulsion aids are prohibited.
  3. Dynamic apnea with fins: the freediver travels in a horizontal position under water attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Any propulsion aids other than fins or a monofin are prohibited.
  4. Free immersion diving: the freediver dives under water without the use of propulsion equipment attempting to reach the targeted depth (by pulling or not pulling on the rope during descent and ascent).
  5. Constant weight with fins: the freediver descends and ascends using fins and/or with the use of his arms without pulling on the rope or changing his ballast; only a single hold of the rope (one hand or two) to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed.
  6. Constant weight without fins: the freediver descends and ascends without the use of fins without pulling on the rope or changing his ballast; only a single hold of the rope (one hand or two) to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed.
  7. Diving with variable weight: the freediver descends with the help of a ballast weight and ascends using his own strength: arms and/or legs (either by pulling or not pulling on the rope)
  8. No Limits diving: the freediver descends with the help of a ballast weight (sled) and ascends via a method of his choice (balloon, etc).
2.2 Men’s and women’s records exist for each category.
2.3 For depth disciplines, there are both fresh and salt-water records.
2.4 No other subdivision of these categories will be considered (e.g.: lake in altitude, lake under ice, etc).
3.1 Any competitor may, in a CAFA sanctioned competition, set a CAFA record provided that they meet all of the following conditions except “request for record registration time” (see 3.4)
3.2 Any current CAFA competitive member, 18 years of age or older, may request the registration of a record.
3.3 The athlete must present the request himself to CAFA. CAFA will request additional guarantees to verify the actual level of the freediver and his safety conditions during his training sessions.
3.4 The request must be presented to CAFA no later than one month before the appointed date of the record attempt and must be accompanied by a file containing:

  1. An athletic profile of the person carrying out the record attempt.
  2. A CAFA Medical Certificate signed by a physician certifying that there are no counter indications to the practice of freediving.
  3. A report on the methods, devices and personnel to be used for the record attempt.
3.5 CAFA will then appoint two CAFA Judges, where possible natives of the area in which the attempt is to take place, in charge of assisting. The organizer of the record attempt will pay all expenses, including travel and lodging costs, if any.
3.6 The organizer, and not the CAFA National Judges, is responsible for the entire event, including the safety of all persons present.
3.7 The athlete will certify by fax or by electronic mail, no later than one week before the attempt, that the athlete has completed all the required prerequisites, which are detailed in the following paragraphs.
This is done by submitting a certification countersigned by two witnesses. AIDA reserves the right to accept or refuse the certification.
3.8 It is forbidden to consume any of the products detailed on the official drug list published by the IOC. At the request of the CAFA Executive, an athlete may be required to submit to a standard work place drug test. If the athlete refuses to organize or submit the test, his performance cannot be registered. The organizer will pay the costs of administering the test.
3.9 Any inhalation of oxygen or highly oxygenated mixtures prior to the athlete’s performance is forbidden.
3.10 Other performance-enhancing products may be forbidden.
3.11 Under penalty of disqualification, the competitor must not be aided out of the water unless he experiences difficulties.
3.12 No record will be registered if the athlete suffers a loss of consciousness or motor control, whether it is in or out of the water. The CAFA National Judges and medical personal will determine when the next attempt can be undertaken.
4.1 CAFA National Judges will be chosen from the list published on the web by CAFA. Their role is to monitor enforcement of the present regulations.
4.2 The organizer must ensure that all necessary facilities are at their disposal in order for them to accomplish their task.
4.3 If necessary, the Judges should suggest any changes to the organizer to enhance the efficiency of general safety devices.
4.4 The appointed National Judges reserve the right to issue an unfavourable recommendation of the registration if:

  • The existing rules and regulations have not been respected
  • The conditions do not appear to be adequate to guarantee the safety of every person participating in the attempt
  • They are unable to fulfill their task in satisfactory conditions

If the CAFA National Judges choose to invoke this right, they must inform the organizers and the President of CAFA.
4.5 The National Judges will write a precise report in duplicate indicating all the parameters of the attempt. One copy will be submitted to the organizer and once the Judges committee chairperson has agreed and archived the document with CAFA, the other copy will serve as the official document for the registration of the record in the Table of Records.
5.1 For all safety guidelines and rules refer to the “CAFA Safety Protocols for Competitions/Records”

6.1 Static

6.1.1 The record attempt must take place at a maximum depth of 3 meters for a breath-hold at the bottom. The attempt may also take place at the surface with the respiratory tracts of the freediver immersed in the water.
6.1.2 The freediver must have fulfilled the following prerequisite:
a breath-hold lasting at least 15 seconds less than the previous record, within the 3 months preceding the attempt.
6.1.3 The choice of weight and diving suit are up to the freediver.
6.1.4 The two CAFA National Judges will time the attempt.
They will start their stopwatches once the face is below water or when the snorkel is released if preparation is performed with a snorkel.
They will stop their stopwatches once the respiratory tracts of the freediver are out of the water.
6.1.5 The recognized performance is the average of the two times rounded down to the lowest second.
6.1.6 A record will be considered broken when the time achieved is greater by at least two (2) seconds than the record previously recognized.

6.2 Dynamic

6.2.1 The record attempt must take place in a pool with a minimum length of 25 meters.
6.2.2 The freediver must have fulfilled the following prerequisite: a successful attempt 5 meters short of the previous record, within the 3 months preceding the attempt.
6.2.3 The choice of weight and diving suit are up to the freediver.
6.2.4 Two safety freedivers must be present for the duration of the record attempt at the surface of the water to follow the progress of the freediver attempting the record.
6.2.5 The start must take place in the water with the head immersed at least 1.50 meters from the edge of the pool. The start may be by duck dive or by using the edge of the pool for support.
6.2.6 The entire body must be submerged for the duration of the circuit. The freediver must come in contact with the wall of the pool at each turn.
6.2.7 The distance covered is determined by the exit of the respiratory tracts (except where the freediver ascends against the wall).
6.2.8 Any propulsion assistance other than swimming movements is forbidden (except in the case of thrusting against the side of the wall during turns).
6.2.8 For disciplines using fins, bi-fins and monofins are allowed.
6.2.10 A record will be considered broken when the distance covered is greater by at least one meter than that of the record previously recognized.

6.3 Depth Disciplines

6.3.1 General

6.3.1.1 The rope must be supported in such a way that it shall not obstruct the resurfacing of the freediver.
6.3.1.2 The submerged end of the rope must bear a weight between 30 and 50 kilograms for constant weight and free immersion disciplines and between 50 and 80 kilograms for variable weight and no limits disciplines and the weight must not touch the bottom (the masses indicated are for apparent weight).
6.3.1.3 For constant weight and free immersion, one or several signals will be placed at the anticipated depth of the record attempt bearing a number corresponding to the depth in meters and signed by the CAFA National Judges on the day of the attempt.
6.3.1.4 The safety diver will place the signals (“depth tags”) at the anticipated depth(s). He will judged the depth using his/her digital depth gauge and fix the signal (“depth tag”) to line.
6.3.1.5 The following submissions will be used to witness the performance:

  • A video recording on a new videocassette of the capture of the marker by a camera secured at the anticipated depth, signed by the 2 International Judges prior to its immersion.
  • A depth measuring devise
  • For the Constant Weight with fins the freediver brings up a marker (“depth tag”) previously signed by the 2 International Judges.
6.3.1.6 For variable weight dives, the depth attained is determined unequivocally by the position of the weighted disc stopping the sled.

The maximum distance separating the stopping point of the sled and the head of the freediver must be no greater than 3 meters.

The freediver will carry an electronic memory depth gauge. Another electronic memory depth gauge will be attached to the sled.

A video camera is mandatory at the end of the course.

6.3.2 Free Immersion

6.3.2.1 The freediver must have fulfilled the following prerequisite:
a freedive 3 meters short of the targeted record prior to the record attempt.
6.3.2.2 The judge will authenticate the presence of the ballast and the weight during the fitting of the freediver and will verify that no change has occurred when the freediver exits the water. If a change has occurred, the performance will not be validated.
6.3.2.3 The freediver must descend and ascend without fins or any other means of propulsion. He may pull himself along with the aid of the rope.
6.3.2.4 The freediver must be in the water before immersion. A diving or jumping start as well as any other form of running starts from a support point is prohibited.
6.3.2.5 The freediver may wear a diving suit or a vest with inflatable compartments. The compartments may be inflated by cartridges or bottles of compressed gas activated manually or automatically.
The CAFA National Judges must personally install the cartridges or the bottles of compressed gas on the diving suit when the freediver dresses. The Judges must personally deactivate the cartridges and verify that they are still intact as soon as the freediver exits the water.
If either the cartridges or the bottles of compressed gas have been used completely or partially, the performance will not be validated.
6.3.2.6 A record will be declared broken when the depth attained is greater than the previously recognized record by at least one meter.

6.3.3 Constant weight

6.3.3.1 The freediver must have fulfilled the following prerequisite:
a freedive 3 meters short of the targeted record, prior to the record attempt.
6.3.3.2 The judge will authenticate the presence of the ballast and the weight during the fitting of the freediver and will verify that no change has occurred when the freediver exits the water. If a change has occurred, the performance will not be validated.
6.3.3.3 The freediver must be in the water before immersion. A diving or jumping start as well as any other form of running starts from a support point is prohibited.
6.3.3.4 The freediver may wear a diving suit or a vest with inflatable compartments. The compartments may be inflated by cartridges or bottles of compressed gas activated manually or automatically.
The CAFA National Judges must personally install the cartridges or the bottles of compressed gas on the diving suit when the freediver dresses.
As soon as the freediver exits the water, the Judges must personally deactivate the cartridges and verify that they are still intact. If either the cartridges or the bottles of compressed gas have been used either completely or partially, the performance will not be validated.
6.3.3.5 The freediver must return to the surface with the marker of the attained depth and place it in the hands of the CAFA official assigned to observe the event from above water.
6.3.3.6 A record will be declared broken when the depth attained is greater than the previously recognized record by at least one meter.
6.3.3.7 For constant with fins:

  • The freediver must descend and ascend using fins. The freediver may not pull on the rope during descent or ascent. Only a single hold on the rope without shifting the point of support is allowed in order to stop the descent and start the ascent.
  • The freediver may use the rope only as a guiding device, by maintaining contact without pulling on it.
6.3.3.8 For constant without fins:

  • The freediver must descend and ascend without the use of fins. The freediver may not pull on the rope during descent or ascent. Only a single hold on the rope without shifting the point of support is allowed in order to stop the descent and start the ascent.
  • The freediver may use the rope only as a guiding device, by maintaining contact without pulling on it.

6.3.4 Variable Weight

6.3.4.1 The freediver must have completed the following prerequisite:
a freedive 6 meters short of the targeted record, prior to the record attempt.
6.3.4.2 The thickness of the diving suit must not exceed:

  • 7 mm for salt water
  • 9 mm for fresh water
6.3.4.3 Other elements that may contribute to excessive buoyancy (this being left to the discretion of the CAFA Judges) may be prohibited.
6.3.4.4 The sled, including instruments, must not weigh more than 35 kilograms (visible weight).
6.3.4.5 It is prohibited to use any system that fastens the freediver to the sled even if such a system allows for rapid release. However, it is possible to use a system of attachment that slides along the rope.
6.3.4.6 The freediver must ascend solely by his own strength, either by using his fins or by pulling on the rope with his arms. The use of balloons or other inflatable or mechanical systems to facilitate the ascent is prohibited.
6.3.4.7 For safety reasons, it is recommended that the freediver wear a suit or a vest consisting of inflatable compartments. In this case, the thickness of the added neoprene must not exceed 3 mm. Cartridges or bottles of compressed gas, activated manually or automatically, must be used to inflate the compartments.
The CAFA National Judges must personally install the cartridges or the bottles of compressed gas on the diving suit when the freediver dresses.
The Judges must personally deactivate the cartridges and verify that they are still intact as soon as the freediver exits the water.
If either the cartridges or the bottles of compressed gas have been used completely or partially, the performance will not be validated.
6.3.4.8 A record will be declared broken when the depth attained is greater than the previously recognized record by at least two meter.

6.3.5 No limits

6.3.5.1 The freediver must have completed the following prerequisite:
a freedive 6 meters short of the targeted record prior to the record attempt.
6.3.5.2 It is prohibited to use any system that fastens the freediver to the sled even if such a system allows for rapid release. However, it is possible to use a system of attachment that slides along the rope.
6.3.5.3 A record will be declared broken when the depth attained is greater than the previously recognized record by at least two meter