The countdown has begun for one of the most demanding and fascinating events in competitive freediving. World Apnea has officially opened registration for the World Apnea 2026 Depth World Championships, the 37th edition of the AIDA Depth Freediving World Championships, set to take place from September 27 to October 10, 2026, in Limassol, Cyprus. The opening of registration marks the formal start of the road to a competition that, year after year, brings together some of the most precise and mentally resilient athletes in underwater sport, in a setting where every descent demands absolute control, technical preparation, and an intimate relationship with the limits of the human body.

The 2026 edition also marks the beginning of a new institutional chapter. Although the championship will continue under the same established rules, formats, and rankings, the event will now be organized under World Apnea, the new competitive brand evolving from AIDA International. The name change does not alter the essence of the competition, but it does project a renewed identity for a discipline that has gained technical sophistication, visibility, and structure in recent years. With registration already open for national federations and an early-entry fee available until June 30, 2026, the calendar is already setting athletes, teams, and technical staff in motion toward one of the most complex events on the international circuit.

Limassol prepares a stage built for high performance

The choice of Limassol is no coincidence. The Cypriot coast will provide an environment specifically designed to meet the demands of depth freediving, with a competition zone located just one mile from shore and a depth of 170 meters, conditions that allow for an efficient operation without compromising technical capacity. Water temperatures, expected to range between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius, will also offer favorable conditions for physical performance, reducing one of the most sensitive variables in events where every detail can affect execution.

Surface logistics also reflect the level of sophistication that high-performance freediving now demands. Four taxi boats will be available to transport athletes, judges, and crews from the beach to the competition zone, while the main operation will be supported by a central vessel provided by E.D.T Offshore. From there, two official competition lines will operate, both equipped with counter ballast systems running at 1.5 meters per second, along with four warm-up lines extending to 30 meters. The structure is designed to reduce downtime, optimize preparation, and deliver an operational flow capable of sustaining high-intensity competition days with millimetric precision.

Safety, technology, and control in a discipline at the limit

In a sport where the margin between control and risk is minimal, safety once again takes center stage in the championship’s design. Each competition line will be staffed by four experienced and trained safety divers equipped with underwater scooters for rapid intervention at depth. Added to that is oxygen availability at the dive site, dry warm-up zones both on the main vessel and on a smaller platform near the performance area, as well as an evacuation boat equipped with first-aid personnel and a doctor on board.

Technological supervision will also be one of the event’s key operational pillars. The championship will feature high-resolution sonar and a real-time connected camera to monitor athlete progress during every dive, a resource that not only improves competitive oversight but also reinforces the response capacity in the event of an incident. Members of the AIDA Medical Committee and emergency personnel specifically selected for the championship will also be present on site, reinforcing a system designed to support a discipline that demands silence, precision, and absolute trust in every meter descended.