Freediving experienced a year of evolution in 2025 that went beyond mere quantitative growth. The International Association for the Development of Apnea -AIDA- closed the season with sustained activity on a global scale, strengthening its competitive structure, safety standards and organisational capacity within a sport that is increasingly widespread and professionalised.
Throughout the year, more than 350 competitions were held in over 50 countries, with the participation of more than 6,000 athletes from 127 nations. This level of activity reflects not only geographical expansion, but also greater competitive regularity, with national and international calendars becoming more consolidated and coordinated under the umbrella of AIDA.
The AIDA World Championship 2025 as a sign of organisational maturity
The AIDA World Championship 2025 became one of the main showcases of this evolution. Beyond sporting results, the event stood out for its smooth organisation, rigorous application of protocols and a high level of coordination between judges, safety teams, medical staff and local organisers. This approach allowed the competition to be delivered effectively in a highly demanding environment.
The championship highlighted the growing importance of operational standards within international freediving. Sound safety management, procedural control and consistency in decision-making reinforced the perception of the World Championship as a benchmark not only in sporting terms, but also from an organisational perspective within the AIDA calendar.
Alexey Molchanov. (Photo: AIDA)
Safety, education and knowledge as core pillars
During 2025, AIDA made progress in implementing new safety standards, global education programmes and lines of medical research applied to freediving. These initiatives, developed alongside competitive activity, helped create a more reliable environment for both elite athletes and participants at national level. This structural work proved key to sustaining the sport’s growth and strengthening the confidence of federations, organisers and athletes. The combination of clean sport, clear protocols and scientific knowledge has become one of the organisation’s strategic pillars.
Competitive activity was not limited to major international events. In October and November, 128 national records were set by 94 athletes from 60 countries, across both pool and depth competitions. The balanced distribution between men and women, together with the emergence of new countries in the record books, reflects a broad and constantly evolving competitive base. These figures are just one example of the level of activity recorded throughout the year.
From 2025 to 2026: calendar, athlete support and next challenges
The start of 2026 maintains this momentum, with competitions scheduled from the first days of the year in countries such as Malaysia, South Korea, Finland, Sweden, Japan, the United States and Costa Rica. This immediate restart confirms the stability of the calendar and AIDA’s ability to sustain activity without prolonged breaks between seasons.
The main milestone of the year will be the 36th AIDA World Championships, to be held in Budapest, Hungary, at the Duna Arena complex. In parallel, the organisation is developing new athlete support programmes, including direct financial assistance, funding for national teams and performance-based prize money. These measures form part of a medium-term plan designed to further reinforce the structure of international freediving ahead of upcoming competitive cycles.
