The 35th AIDA Freediving World Championship Kicks Off in Limassol, Cyprus

The 35th AIDA Freediving World Championship officially opened in Limassol, Cyprus, launching a week of elite-level freediving competition in the Mediterranean Sea.

On Day 1, the spotlight was on the women, who competed in one of freediving’s most demanding depth disciplines: Constant Weight No Fins (CNF). In CNF, divers descend and ascend under their own power, without fins or rope assistance — a discipline that pushes the limits of strength, technique, and mental focus.

The competition takes place approximately three miles offshore from Limassol, where surface water temperatures hover around 27°C, with a mild thermocline beginning at 40 meters depth — ideal conditions for world-class freediving.

Day 1 Highlights: A Showcase of Champions and New Nations
The opening day saw 39 female athletes from 27 countries compete — an event marked by both seasoned champions and exciting newcomers. Divers from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Iran, and Lebanon made their debut in this category, signaling the growing global reach and inclusivity of the sport.

Women’s CNF Podium:

Kateryna Sadurska (Ukraine) – 75 meters
Zsófia Törőcsik (Hungary) – 72 meters
Sanda Delija (Croatia) – 68 meters

Kateryna Sadurska of Ukraine, the current world record holder in CNF, added another gold to her impressive career. Although she did not surpass her world record of 84 meters, her 75-meter dive was enough to secure the title of World Champion.

A standout performance came from Zsófia Törőcsik of Hungary, making her depth competition debut. After a dominant performance in pool disciplines — including two world records and the overall title at the AIDA Pool World Championships in Wakayama (June 2025) — she delivered an impressive 72-meter dive, earning her the silver medal. Her performance was awarded a white card by judges, confirming a clean dive and successful protocol.

Continental and National Records Set
Talya Davidoff of South Africa made history by setting a new African continental record with a 63-meter dive — also a South African national record.
In total, 10 national records were set on Day 1:

🇧🇬 Silviya Rashkova (Bulgaria) – 40m
🇮🇩 Nikita Fima Atriyu (Indonesia) – 50m
🇿🇦 Talya Davidoff (South Africa) – 63m
🇮🇱 Shlomit Wallerstein (Israel) – 55m
🇭🇺 Zsófia Törőcsik (Hungary) – 72m
🇭🇷 Sanda Delija (Croatia) – 68m
🇫🇮 Leena Oijala (Finland) – 56m
🇵🇷 Natalia Padró (Puerto Rico) – 50m
🇨🇷 Estefanía Dejuk (Costa Rica) – 25m
🇩🇴 Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra (Dominican Republic) – 15m

Watch the Action Live

The official competition is being streamed live on the AIDA Freediving YouTube channelstarting 23 September 2025. Don’t miss the chance to witness some of the world’s top freedivers push the limits of human potential.
Competition schedule, start lists, and daily results are available at:
AIDA | 35th AIDA Freediving World Championship 2025
Replays of past AIDA World Championships can also be found on AIDA’s YouTube.
Full list of AIDA Official World Records:
AIDA World Records – Official History

About the Discipline: Constant Weight No Fins (CNF)

CNF is widely regarded as one of the most physically demanding freediving disciplines. Divers must rely solely on technique and muscle power to manage the ascent and descent — countering the effects of changing buoyancy, oxygen debt, and depth pressure.
Current AIDA World Records in CNF:

Women: Kateryna Sadurska (Ukraine) – 84m (set on 12 December 2024)
Men: Petar Klovar (Croatia) – 103m (set on 26 May 2025)

About AIDA International

Founded in 1992, the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA) is the world governing body for competitive freediving, uniting over 60 member nations. Based in Switzerland, AIDA has organized more than 30 world championships and ratified over 300 world records, promoting freediving through sport, safety, education, and research.