Competition FAQs

Find the answers below to some of the most frequently asked questions about what to do in advance of the competition, dynamic categories, rules and what to do on the day. A useful competition guide for athletes can be found at the bottom of this page and full AIDA rules can be found on the AIDA Website Documents section

What are APs and PBs and why are they important?

APs

AP stands for 'Announced Performance' and is not the time or distance you expect to do on the day. AP's are used to work out the running order of athletes for each discipline, lowest starts first. If you want to go in one of the early heats, put a low AP, if you want to wait until later then put a higher AP. However, penalty points will be awarded if an athlete does not achieve their stated AP time/distance.

Friendly advice: Do not put an AP you can't achieve or any time/distance that will put pressure on you.

PBs

PB is simply 'Personal Best'. We ask for this so the Judges and Safety Divers have a better idea of what you are capable of so know when to potentially intervene and when to let things carry on. If you improve your PB during training before the comp please let us know by emailing BristolBlueComp@Gmail.com.

Changing APs

Can I change my AP after registering?

Yes - you can. You can change your AP's up to 1 week before the competition. After that the starter list, Top Times and running order will be worked out and published meaning no further changes can be made. Email your change of AP to BristolBlueComp@Gmail.com

DYN or DYNB

Switching Dynamic discipline

Can I switch from No Fins to Mono to Bi-Fins (or Visa Versa) in the dynamic discipline?

Yes - in the same way as changing your AP's, you can switch from Mono to Bi-Fins or visa versa up to 1 week before the competition. After that it will be fixed and announced on the starter list. Email your update to BristolBlueComp@Gmail.com

Mono Kick in DYNB

Can I do Mono kicks if I entered DYNB?

No. If you enter the Bi-Fins category then you can only do Bi-Fin kicks. Any Mono technique will result in disqualification.

Wearing BiFins for DYN

If I enter the DYN Mono discipline, can I wear Bi-Fins?

Yes – and you can use a Mono technique while wearing Bi-Fins. Provided you are in the DYN Mono category you can wear whatever fins you like and perform whatever technique you like.

Official Top times and Surface Protocol

Official Top

Your official Top (OT) is the time at which you start your Static or Dynamic dive. You can not start before your OT and you MUST begin your hold/dive within 10 seconds of OT in order to avoid any penalties or disqualification. Your OT is published 1 week before competition so you will know your start time well in advance.

Surface Protocol (SP)

After each hold and dive you must complete a Surface Protocol (SP). This consists of removing all facial equipment, giving a visible OK sign and saying "I'm OK" or "I am OK". Your SP must be completed within 15 seconds of surfacing, be done in the order stated above and be seen by the judges.

SP - removing facial equipment

During the SP, a facial wipe and / or the removal of the hood / swim cap will not result in disqualification. Although, if repeated this will result in disqualification. An athlete should not be disqualified by making himself more comfortable during recovery.

SP - OK Sign

An OK-sign is considered to be given when the tip of the thumb and a finger are in contact.

Do this once with 1 hand.

Visual OK-signs given simultaneously with both hands, repeating of the visual OK-sign after releasing it, or putting the OK-sign below the surface of the water and bringing the sign back out of the water, or repeating of the visual OK-sign with the other hand are considered as a double OK sign and thus result in disqualification.

Movements of the hand giving the visual OK-sign are not considered as multiple OK-signals and are allowed, provided the thumb and finger do not lose contact.

Dips and Black Out

Surface dip

If after your dive/hold your airways dip beneath the water, provided you are able to recover yourself without support you will not be deemed to have had a Black Out. You will receive a red card and be disqualified for that event but will be allowed to compete in the next scheduled discipline.

Black Out

Your health and safety is our #1 priority! If you do have an incident or black out during the competition we have a policy and process in place to ensure your welfare. This is non negotiable and is taken very seriously. A Black Out is defined by respiratory arrest or a loss of consciousness.

Mild
Black Out

A Mild black out is defined as a black out on the surface and takes less than 10 seconds to recover.

If you have a Mild Black Out you will be required to see the medic for a health evaluation and monitoring. You will not be allowed to dive again on the same competition day, no exceptions. If there is a 2nd day of competition, you will be required to repeat the medical check-up the following morning and in order to compete again you will be required to be signed back on by the medic and have agreement from the organiser/head judge to do so.

Moderate Black Out

A Moderate black out is defined as an underwater black out or any that takes 10-20 seconds to recover.

If you have a moderate black out you will be required to have a minimum of one rest day (day of BO and day after) and a medical check-up 24 hours after BO. As the Bristol Blue is only 2 days, any Moderate BO will mean no more diving for the rest of the competition.

Timing your preparation

Warming up

There is plenty of space around the side of the pools for you to stretch and warm up for dynamic disciplines. For Static, the learner pool has less space so we ask athletes to clear the area after their dive to give others more space. The area around the main 50m pool can also be used for dry static preparation but all wet warm up must be done in the learner pool.

1 hour before OT

In the hour before your dive or static you are required to be in the competition zone (poolside) for the entire time. You must check in with the officials to let them know you are there and remain until after your performance.

Warm UP zone

You are allowed in the warm up zone 45 minutes before your OT, not before. For Dynamic disciplines there will be safety divers in the warm up zone and for Static you can enter with your coach.

Performance Zone

You are allowed in to the performance zone as soon as your lane is cleared by the diver before you. We would also ask that consideration is given to divers in other lanes so not enter until all athletes are complete, especially with Static. For Dynamic you will likely need to wait for the starter blocks to be moved back in to place. This will happen when the final athlete has surfaced.

Friendly advice: Don't rush. There are 10 minute gaps between dives in dynamic disciplines and 12 minutes for Static so there is plenty of time to get in to position before your dive.

Countdown

There is a countdown to each Top Time played out over the PA system. This starts at 2 minutes before OT and counts down until OT and the 10 seconds after.

Filming and Spectators

Filming

You are welcome to film your friends and training partners dives and holds from the side of the pool. You are not allowed in the water to film or photograph. All we ask is that you have permission from the athlete and that you do not get in the way of the judges official filming. If you are asked to move for this please do not take offence, as officials we are required to film each performance so must take priority.

General filming of athletes, officials or the event in general is not permitted.

Official Photography

There will be official photographers at the competition who have permission to be in the water with athletes. These photographers are aware of where they can be and where they can not and will not impact on an athletes performance or warm up. We can not allow any other photographers in the water.

Spectators

Friends, family and other spectators are welcome to come and watch the competition. There is a large viewing gallery in the main pool for the dynamic disciplines and Statics can be viewed from the reception/cafe area as space in the learner pool is limited. There is no charge for coming along to watch.

Insurance and AIDA

Insurance

Athletes are responsible for obtaining any insurance they feel is required to cover their participation in the Bristol Blue 2025 Freediving competition. Athletes are responsible for their own actions and need to ensure any insurance for Public Liability, Medical cover, Travel or anything else required is obtained. The event organisers are not responsible for checking insurance policies or detailing what is required as each athletes needs will be different. By entering the competition you are confirming you will have in place all insurance cover you deem necessary

AIDA National Membership

All athletes must be a member of an AIDA national such as the BFA. Without this the organisers will not be able to add you as an athlete to the official competition page on AIDA.

AIDA profile

All athletes must have an active AIDA account or the organiser will not be able to add you to the official event page on AIDA and record your results. Please also ensure the "Membership" question on your profile is set to the national association that matches your nationality as the national association needs to approve your membership before being added to the event.

Athlete Comp Checklist

Athlete Checklist guide