Objectives
The international rules of competition contain the following four objectives for Sport Diving - firstly, encourage the further development of recreational scuba diving equipment and technique; secondly, promote scuba diving activities in localities that are remote from suitable diving sites or where open water activity may be prohibited by seasonal or adverse weather conditions; thirdly, to provide an opportunity for recreational scuba divers to practice and improve technique; and fourthly, the promotion of scuba diving carried out in swimming pools as a spectator sport for underwater diving enthusiasts.Equipment
Each competitor is required to have the following recreational diving equipment - a diving mask, fins, a snorkel, a buoyancy compensator, a diving weighting system that is independent of the buoyancy compensator, a diving regulator designed for open circuit scuba and fitted with both an alternative air source for use during the ''Obstacle Course'' event (refer below) and a submersible pressure gauge, a diving cylinder with an internal volume between 10 and 18 litres and filled with only breathing air of atmospheric origin, and an exposure suit such as a wetsuit or an isothermal garment such as a dry suit, and footwear such as wetsuit boots. Competitors will also be required to wear a swimming costume of the style used for competitive swimming. The use of the snorkel is usually compulsory for the ''Event M 300 metres'' (refer below) and optional in all other events. Equipment as a diving watch or a diving computer is optional for a competitor to have as underwater timekeeping is carried out by competition officials. The requirements of laws and practices in force at the place of competition may modify or vary the above requirements, i.e. diving cylinder internal volume and pressure rating. Some events such as ''Immersion 6 kg'', ''Night Diving'' and ''Briefing'' do require additional items of personal equipment (refer below).Competition area
The sport is conducted in a 50m swimming pool with a minimum depth of 2m. The International rules do allow the ''Obstacle Course'' event to be conducted in natural water bodies that satisfy the definition of ‘sheltered water’ (i.e. ‘confined water with swimming pool like conditions’).Events
As of December 2007, the sport had 5 events codified for competition at international level. These consisted of 3 individual events - ''Event M 300 metres'', ''Night Diving'' and ''Immersion 6 kg''; and 2 team events - ''Obstacle Course'' and ''Briefing''. Additional events have been developed in Spain byIndividual events
Event M 300 metres is a time trial event conducted over 300m (i.e. 6 laps of a 50m pool) and consisting of the following activities: * 1st lap - entry using scuba, removal of scuba set at mid-lap, free swimming ascent to the surface and commencement of surface swim using snorkel. * 2nd lap - surface swim. * 3rd lap -Team events
Obstacle Course is a time based event where a buddy pair swims a distance of 100 m in a course occupying 2 full swimming pool lanes whilst carrying out the following sequence of tasks: * Swim through a 2 m long tunnel made of 1 m diameter hoops suspended in mid-water in each lane starting at the 5 m mark. * The divers then make contact and breathe from one cylinder using an alternative air source from the 12 m mark until they reach the 42 m mark where the recipient diver resumes breathing from their own cylinder. * Each diver then removes their diving mask and places it in a basket located at the 45 m mark in each lane and then swims to the 50 m mark (i.e. the end of pool) and then returns to the basket to collect and refit their mask. * Prior to entering a single 5 m long tunnel located at the 65 m marker, each diver removes their scuba set and swim through the tunnel in single file holding the scuba set in front of them.. * After exiting the 5 m tunnel, each diver refits their scuba set, collects an object moored on the pool bottom at the 73 m mark and ascends to the surface as a pair. * On the surface at the 75 m mark, the buddy pair swims to the 100 m marker (i.e. the end of the course) whilst towing the ‘object’ and breathing from the atmosphere. Competitors are ranked according to the time taken to complete the course plus the addition of time penalties for mistakes made during the course (i.e. using hands during underwater swimming and touching the obstacles). Briefing is a time-based event in which a team of 4 divers carry out a search and information gathering task after receiving instructions whilst underwater. The event operates in the following sequence: * Just before entering the pool, a member of the team (identified as the ''Team Captain'' in the rules) is instructed on the order of the search for and what information is to be recorded from 16 ‘signal-pliers’. These are equally spaced across the bottom of the pool with 4 in each quadrant of the pool. * The divers enter the pool from its 4 corners and swim underwater to meet in the middle where the Team Captain communicates the task. * The 4 team members each search a quadrant of the pool for the ‘signal-pliers’ in the required order and record the required information in their personal notebooks. * When all of the information is collected, the divers return to the middle of the pool to review the results. The Team Captain checks the collected information for correctness and may amend a particular notebook or send a diver back to a particular ‘signal-plier’ to confirm the required information. * When the Team Captain is finally satisfied, the team ascend to the surface of the pool as a group. Teams are ranked using a scoring system that gives points for precision and the completion of the task in the quickest time.Governing body
The governing body is the Sport Diving Commission of the CMAS Sport Committee. As of June 2013, the following countries have affiliated with the Commission -Origins and history
The creation of the sport is attributed to Marifé Abad, a resident of Zaragoza, Spain who developed it during the years 1998 to 2000. The inspiration for the sport is attributed to Ángel Martínez Lardiés of the ''Aragonese Federation of Underwater Activities'' (FARAS) who originally designed the activity now known as the ''Event M 300 metres''. The first competition was held during 2000 in Zaragoza. It was introduced to CMAS at its general assembly held in Seville, Spain during 2005. During 2007, draft rules of competition were prepared by the ''Russian Underwater Federation'' and it was demonstrated at the First World Underwater Games held inCompetitor admission requirements
Competitors must have a Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) diving certification and must be 16 years of age in order to participate. Competitors are classified by gender and by age at the first day of year in which the competition is held - Junior (16–17 years old) and Senior (18 years old).Championships
As of July 2015, the following major championships have been conducted within Europe at locations where the majority of the interest in this sport lies: * ''1st European Sport Diving Championship'', 25 July 2010 Kazan, Russia. * ''Snow Fins Competition'' (International Finswimming and Sport Diving competition), 21–25 January 2011,References
External links