FREEDIVE EVENTS CYPRUS
This year Cyprus will host several high profile freediving events where divers will compete in the very extreme sport of breath hold diving called apnea.
It will start with the "1st Cypriot Competition of Static and Dynamic Apnea". In the static category freedivers will compete to reach a maximum time of breath hold underwater without moving. It is not unusual to reach breath hold times of around 7 minutes. The dynamic competition will see divers to cover the longest distance in length swimming underwater with only one breath. Both classes will be held in a pool in Larnaca (Total Muscle and Fitness Gym - Larnaca) on the 26th of January 2003. This beginning series of freedive competition is only for Cypriot Apneists in order to form an official national team of freedivers which can represent Cyprus at international competitions. So far 40 divers have signed up.
Out of this competition a limited number of the best divers will enter the next stage which will be an open sea freedive competition in the class of "Constant Weight". In this category the Cypriot apnea divers will race for the deepest depth on one breath using fins only. This event will take place in Limassol before the 27th of Febrary 2003. The exact date will be announced in due time.
The highligt of freedive competitions in Cyprus will be an international world championship. Under the title "Freedive Open Classic 2003 - Cyprus" this world championship will take place in Limassol from the 24th of May 2003 till 31st of May 2003. A multitude of the very best freedivers from around the world will come to Cyprus to set new world records in static, dynamic and constant weight freediving. The contestants will have their training peak on the 25th/26th of May 2003 in Limassol, Cyprus, which will be followed by the official competition. The world record championship will be held for individual divers and for "Team of Three" competition. The apnea dives will be officiated by 4 judges from Switzerland, Colombia and Greece. Additional these extreme divers will be accompanied by an international team of safety and support divers. As it is anticipated that several world records will be broken and that water depths of around -100 meters will be reached the safety/support team will consist of a selection of some of the best world class divers in the field using latest dive technology in scuba and closed circuit rebreather equipment.
The prime organiser Mr. Howard Jones from the "Freediver" - UK will visit Cyprus from the 19th of January 2003 till 22nd of January 2003 to collect detailed information from the local organisers of his team which are preparing since some time for the event. He will bring a collection of photo cd and video footage for the press which is welcomed to contact him for more info at the Golden Arches Hotel in Limassol (Tel.: 25 322433) where also most of the divers will stay in May. Further details can be obtained from the following web site: http://www.freediver.co.uk/finalsite/silent/frameset.htm or at contacts shown below.
The media is welcomed for and during all events. Throughout the freedive competitions the organisers have a team of underwater photo and videographers who will follow the contestants at all stages and footage for the media can be obtained. It will also include ROV (remote operated vehicle) underwater camera operations and possible live coverage on screen from underwater to surface.
This year Cyprus will host several high profile freediving events where divers will compete in the very extreme sport of breath hold diving called apnea.
It will start with the "1st Cypriot Competition of Static and Dynamic Apnea". In the static category freedivers will compete to reach a maximum time of breath hold underwater without moving. It is not unusual to reach breath hold times of around 7 minutes. The dynamic competition will see divers to cover the longest distance in length swimming underwater with only one breath. Both classes will be held in a pool in Larnaca (Total Muscle and Fitness Gym - Larnaca) on the 26th of January 2003. This beginning series of freedive competition is only for Cypriot Apneists in order to form an official national team of freedivers which can represent Cyprus at international competitions. So far 40 divers have signed up.
Out of this competition a limited number of the best divers will enter the next stage which will be an open sea freedive competition in the class of "Constant Weight". In this category the Cypriot apnea divers will race for the deepest depth on one breath using fins only. This event will take place in Limassol before the 27th of Febrary 2003. The exact date will be announced in due time.
The highligt of freedive competitions in Cyprus will be an international world championship. Under the title "Freedive Open Classic 2003 - Cyprus" this world championship will take place in Limassol from the 24th of May 2003 till 31st of May 2003. A multitude of the very best freedivers from around the world will come to Cyprus to set new world records in static, dynamic and constant weight freediving. The contestants will have their training peak on the 25th/26th of May 2003 in Limassol, Cyprus, which will be followed by the official competition. The world record championship will be held for individual divers and for "Team of Three" competition. The apnea dives will be officiated by 4 judges from Switzerland, Colombia and Greece. Additional these extreme divers will be accompanied by an international team of safety and support divers. As it is anticipated that several world records will be broken and that water depths of around -100 meters will be reached the safety/support team will consist of a selection of some of the best world class divers in the field using latest dive technology in scuba and closed circuit rebreather equipment.
The prime organiser Mr. Howard Jones from the "Freediver" - UK will visit Cyprus from the 19th of January 2003 till 22nd of January 2003 to collect detailed information from the local organisers of his team which are preparing since some time for the event. He will bring a collection of photo cd and video footage for the press which is welcomed to contact him for more info at the Golden Arches Hotel in Limassol (Tel.: 25 322433) where also most of the divers will stay in May. Further details can be obtained from the following web site: http://www.freediver.co.uk/finalsite/silent/frameset.htm or at contacts shown below.
The media is welcomed for and during all events. Throughout the freedive competitions the organisers have a team of underwater photo and videographers who will follow the contestants at all stages and footage for the media can be obtained. It will also include ROV (remote operated vehicle) underwater camera operations and possible live coverage on screen from underwater to surface.