Sport Diving

Introduction

Sport Diving is a famous underwater sport performed individually or as a team. It is usually organized in a closed swimming pool with the aid of scuba diving recreational techniques.

Objective

The sole principal of the divers in the underwater sport diving competition is to score maximum points by completing the series of tasks and dives. They have to cross the barriers and collect the objects in specific events. All the participants do their best in the minimum duration to win the title.

History of Sport Diving

Marifé Abad discovered the underwater sport diving in Zaragoza, Spain from 1998 to 2000. The M-300 design for the underwater activities inspired him for the development of the sport. In 2000, the first-ever official competition was organized in Zaragoza. 

In 2008, the sport received its recognition from the General Assembly of World Underwater Federation (CMAS), Spain. 

On 25th July 2010, the first-ever European Sport Diving Championship was hosted in Kazan, Russia. In January 2011, the snow fins competition was also held in Russia. Post two years (2013), the first World Championship was organized in Kazan. In 2014, the Aquathlon and Sport Diving European Championship was conducted in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Events

Individual Events

M-300 metres event- The M-300 event is organized in a swimming pool for a total six laps of a 50 m long pool to cover the distance of 300 m. The details for all the laps are as follows -

• 1st lap - It includes entry of the participants in the scuba pool and the removal of the diving set in the middle of the lap. Later, the participant has to rise to the surface and swim using a snorkel.
• 2nd lap - The participants have to continue with surface swimming for the entire single lap. 
• 3rd lap - During the 3rd lap, the divers swim freely to locate and recover the diving scuba set, and start diving underwater with their scuba suit. 
• 4th to 6th laps - The participants perform underwater swimming with their scuba set. 

Night diving- In this event, the competitor’s wear a black diving mask and try to find three objects from the bottom of the pool within 3 minutes. They may use 5 m long rope along with a collecting bag to keep the items recovered from the bottom. The recovered items are then placed 4 metres apart from 2, 3, 4 m away from the centre of the competitive place. The highest points are awarded to the participant who collects the item in the least time duration. 

Immersion 6 kg- In the 6 kg immersion event, the participants have to lift a massive 6 kg weight from the bottom of the pool. They have to bring the weight to the surface in their lifting bag in the minimum duration. The first competitor to complete the task is regarded as the winner of the match. 

Team Events

Obstacle course - The obstacle course event consists of buddy pairs, performing in the swimming pool; they have to swim for a 100 m distance and occupy two lanes with a number of challenges. The challenges include the following tasks -

• Swimming through a tunnel that has a length of 2 m and 1 m diameter.
• Breathing through one cylinder at a time alternatively with the buddy with alternative air source. 
• In the middle timing, both the divers have to remove their mask and place them in their respective baskets and then swim ahead for 45 m. After covering the 50 m mark, the divers have to swim back and collect the masks and reach to a single 5 m long tunnel.
• The divers, then dive 73 m deep to collect the planted object at the bottom of the pool and try to reach the surface together.
• From the 75 m marked surface, the buddy pair swim along to a 100 m marked region. Points are rewarded according to the time taken to complete the whole course and the penalty time added for all fouls.

Briefing - In the briefing event, four divers participate all together to perform some specific task to search and gather information underwater from the signals received underwater. The team captain plays a vital role in deciding the order, checking on the collectables and directing the entire team for the event.

Participants

The participants use various diving equipment such as diving masks, diving fins, snorkel, compensator etc. The Sport Diving Commission of the CMAS Sport Committee is the highest governing body of underwater sport diving. 

Sport diving has emerged as one of the most adventurous sports in recent years. It is performed either individually or in a team of 2 to 4 participants.