Competition Rules and Judging

CAFA Competition Guidelines

Interclub Competition   

Interclub competitions are meant to prepare potential competitors for the rules and regulations of regional competitions without the stress and judging that are enforced at these higher-level competitions.  They are meant to be fun and provide individuals with the safety and support to practice and establish their personal limits SAFELY.

  • Held between clubs for practice and fun
  • Can be judged or not.
  • Not utilized for CAFA Rankings

Regional Competition

CAFA Regional Competitions are used to determine a competitor’s standing across Canada for the purpose of establishing those freedivers qualified to attend CAFA Nationals.  Rankings are updated on the CAFA website after the official posting of competition results.

  • There are two regions; East (Ontario eastward) and West (Manitoba westward, plus Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories). 
  • Maximum of four regional competitions to be held per year per region.
  • All regional competitions must include static apnea, dynamic apnea and constant ballast.
  • A competitor’s ranking is determined by taking their highest point total earned in a single regional competition.
  •  A competitor’s point total is the sum of their performances in static apnea, dynamic apnea and constant ballast.
  • Utilized for CAFA Regional Rankings.
  • Follows AIDA Guidelines for Individual International Competition of Freediving.

National Competition   

CAFA National Competitions determine CAFA National Rankings.  CAFA National Rankings represent the best of Canadian men and women freedivers.  National rankings are used to determine the eligibility of competitors to represent Team Canada at international competitions. 

  • To be held once per year.  Alternate between East and West whenever possible.
  • All CAFA members are eligible to apply to compete at the CAFA National competition.
  • Priority for the 20 men's’ and 20 women's’ spots are as follows:

    • 1. Regional Ranked Canadian CAFA members.
    2. CAFA members without Regional Ranking (priority given to those who have competed in any AIDA or CAFA competition).
    3. Non-Canadian CAFA members.
  • All National competitions must include static apnea, dynamic apnea and constant ballast.
  • Utilized to determine CAFA National Rankings.
  • Used to select Team Canada competitors.
  • Follows AIDA Guidelines for Individual International Competition of Freediving.

International Competition

In World Championship years, CAFA will send a men’s and women’s Team Canada.  On off-years, CAFA will try to arrange the support and sponsorship of two Team Canada men’s and women’s teams to compete.  CAFA will periodically arrange a invitational or open competition for other countries to attend in Canadian waters.

  • Invitational or open.
  • Not utilized for CAFA National Rankings

Team Canada Selection

 Every year, CAFA will determine the number of international competitions that it will sanction Team Canada  to attend.  With this team, CAFA will work towards finding sponsorship and promotion.  Each competitor must be prepared to fund all or a portion of their total expenses.

Three months prior to the international competition, an application deadline will be established for all interested and active CAFA members.  At this deadline, each competitor’s rankings will be used to pick the Team Canada members plus one alternate.  The top nationally ranked competitors who applied will be selected first.

  •  The deadline for Team Canada application is a minimum three months before the start of the primary international competition.
  • Team Canada selection is determined by national ranking points of the competition disciplines (one or more of static, dynamic and constant ballast)
  • At time of application, a current (within 6 months of application date) signed medical must be provided.
  • Within 2 weeks of selection, each competitor must send a deposit of $200 Cnd payable to CAFA.

Competition Levels 

Competition levels can be used to segment competitions into levels and to establish an incentive to progress as a competitor.  These levels follow AIDA levels closely, but not exactly.

CAFA           AIDA equiv   Points         Static               Dynamic            Constant    

Basic               Level I           0 – 45         0:00 – 1:30      0m – 30m        0m – 15m

Intermediate    Level II          46   – 90     1:31 – 3:00      31m – 60m      16m – 30m

Advanced       Level III         91   – 135    3:01 – 4:30     61m – 90m      31m – 45m

Expert            Level IV         136 – 180    4:31 – 6:00      91m – 120m    46m – 60m

Master           Level V           181 plus      6:01 plus          121m plus        61m plus

 

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