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Originally Posted by laminar
...depth, time, distance sport... finswimming and spearfishing are very separate sports... Does AIDA know what spearos and finswimmers want?
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Two of the three main freediving disciplines are pool events. When I entered freediving I came to it from the pool to find that most people come to freediving from the sea. On this continent, at least, I would guess that the majority of freedivers enjoy depth diving in the seas more than the pool disciplines.
In trying to establish freediving as a sport in the United States, the USAA looks to the scuba and spearfishing communities for prospective new recruits. The main event last for the USAA was DEMA to publicize this new sport. DEMA looks to be the centerpiece of USAA's 2006 calendar again as well. In the USA, it seems that the AIDA (USAA) feels it needs finswimmers and spearfishers in order to grow and survive. Therefore, separating these sports might stunt the growth of freediving as we know it on this continent.
In the USA, I believe most attendees at freediving clinics come from the scuba-spearfishing-finswimming communities. Right or wrong, that appears to be the market that has the money. So, it's not surprising that there's a turf war over who will sanction the sport, make certifications, train judges, teach clinics, etc. The answer, of course is to make a bigger pie so everyone can have their own piece of the action.
I agree with Peter that AIDA has it hands full with depth, distance, and duration. It would be nice if AIDA North America could focus on just those three disciplines, but that's not the world we find ourselves in. In the end, Apnea distinguishes the AIDA from CMAS. Keeping the focus on Apnea will assure AIDA of its identity. Apnea is what AIDA does best.
