AIDA New Zealand

Supporting New Zealand's Competitive Freedivers

Team World Championships 2012

The 2012 Team world champs are fast approaching us, The event is being held from the 8th June to 16th September in Nice, France. Further information on the event can be downloaded here and more inforamtion can be found on the official website.

AIDA NZ is looking for an expression of interest from those interested in being put forward for selection. Should we have more athletes come forward than there are spots available, we will be making selections based on performances in competition over the last 18 months.

AIDA Worlds Team Shirts Available

We've had some interest in the Team Shirts that were worn by our Freedivers who attended the 2011 Worlds so we've decided to put some short sleeve copies of these fantastic shirts up for sale for a very limited time.  Thank you to Kathryn Nevatt for making this possible.

Order your NZ Worlds T-Shirt here

What are Freedivers in New Zealand up to?

Freediving Depth Nationals 2012

07-12-2011

The AIDA Freediving Depth Nationals are coming soon to a Lake Taupo near you.

The competition will consist of three sessions over three days. For each session, competitors can nominate any of the three AIDA depth competition disciplines. Disciplines can be repeated, although final ranking will only take into consideration the best result in each discipline. As this is our national championship, competitors are encouraged to take part in all disciplines and challenge for the final ranking, though this is up to the competitors.

There will be a recreation grade available for those not interested in international ranking and just wanting to challenge themselves. Divers in the recreation grade will compete in the same disciplines, but with relaxed rules and against other recreation grade divers. These dives will not be eligible for international ranking.

 divider

AIDA New Zealand

AIDA NZ is charged with the responsibility of supporting our elite athletes by facilitating competition in New Zealand and internationally as with any sport grassroots activity is important too and AIDA NZ wants to promote the sport at club level.  To maintain consistency in the sport AIDA NZ engages the rules of AIDA International standards and selects internationally qualified judges for every world ranking competition.

AIDA NZ believes that divers should be aware of the risks of the sport and promotes safe diving by compiling appropriate references and contact information for freediving courses run in New Zealand.

Training Tips

Setting a Dive Plan
Level: Beginner

Setting a dive plan and communicating it to your buddy is just as important for freediving as it is for scuba.  Especially if the conditions aren't optimal, your partner needs to know all the relevant information that will enable them to provide safety assisance in your freedive.  This includes:
dive time (the expected total time from duckdive to surfacing)
descent time - if you use the line to effect your turn (which you should) then your partner will be able to feel your pull from the surface, indicating that you have started your ascent.
what depth you would like the safety diver to meet you at.

Sometimes it can be helpful to have the safety diver make a visual or verbal (grunting/swallowing noise) signal underwater to let you know when you have reached them on the ascent.  This gives you an idea of your depth, and allows you to prepare for the surfacing phase at the end of the dive.

Don't forget to thank your buddy after the dive!

Re-printed with permission from William Trubridge
www.verticalblue.net
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