The term "Apnoea" designates a sports event where the athlete holds his breath keeping the face below the surface of the water. Free diving is often strongly associated with competitive breath-hold diving or Competitive Apnoea.
Competitive free diving is governed by CMAS. There are eleven disciplines in CMAS competitive free diving. All disciplines can be done by both men and women. Dynamic with Fins, Jump Blue Apnoea and Constant Weight Apnoea are the most common.
- Dynamic With Fins: Dynamic apnoea is an event where the athlete aims at covering the maximal horizontal distance by swimming in apnoea with or without fins. The event can be conducted in a swimming-pool or in open water and with the use of fins (bi-fins or monofin) or without. When fins are used, they must be powered only by the muscular power of the athlete, without use of any mechanism, even if the latter is activated by the muscles. (See also Fin Swimming).
- The Jump Blue: The Jump Blue is an event where the athlete must cover the maximum distance in apnoea around a square of 15 (fifteen) meters side situated in a depth of 10 (ten) meters. The event takes place in open water (sea or lake) and the use of fins (bi-fins or monofin) is mandatory. The fins must be powered only by the muscular power of the athlete, without use of any mechanism, even if the latter is activated by the muscles.
- Constant Weight Apnoea With or Without Fins: The Constant Weight Apnoea is an event where the athlete must cover the vertical distance in apnoea down to the declared depth without any change in his weight during the whole performance with or without fins. The event takes place in open water (sea or lake) and the use of fins (bi-fins or monofin) or without fins depends on the type of the competition. When fins are used, they must be powered only by the muscular power of the athlete, without use of any mechanism, even if the latter is activated by the muscles.
Source: CMAS.
