Constant Weight (CWT)

The athlete shall descend and ascend to the maximum depth using only the strength in the legs or arms. It can use fins, both mono and stereo. No grasping of the rope shall be permitted except once at the maximum depth to arrest the descent and start the ascent. Any alteration of ballast, weight and buoyancy is prohibited.

Constant-weight diving is the most common depth discipline today, and is important for apnea divers because of its “purity” and simplicity. It is also one of the most difficult disciplines. It is often used in competitions and combined with statics.

The best in this discipline have already surpassed -100 metres.

Constant Weight without Fins (CNF)

The athlete shall dive to the maximum depth using only hair power, without any aids to facilitate movement underwater and without touching the rope.

This is the most difficult of the depth disciplines, requiring uncompromising control and coordination of swimming technique, pressure equalization and buoyancy.

Dynamic with Fins (DYN)

The apneist tries to swim as far as possible underwater in a horizontal position. All propulsion except arm and leg swimming strokes and fins (mono or stereo) shall be prohibited.

DYN is the most typical and common pool discipline. It is performed in pools with a minimum length of 25 metres, but most often in 50m Olympic-sized pools. It is very suitable for competitions as it is easy to prepare and perform, and the risks are much lower than in depth disciplines.

The best athletes have already passed the 200m mark.

Dynamic without Fins (DNF)

The diver attempts to swim as far as possible underwater in a horizontal position. All propulsion aids are prohibited.

In this discipline, a special frog technique is usually used. It is very popular among apnea swimmers because it gives them an advantage over swimmers who have trained with the monofin in the past, which is why they have dominated the DYN discipline in recent years.

Static apnoea – Static Apnoea (STA)

The apneist holds his breath as long as he can with his respiratory organs submerged in water. The body can be under or on the water.

Static apnoea is the only discipline where time is a factor. It can be done in a swimming pool or in open water. The best results are achieved through specific relaxation techniques, meditation and yoga.

The best currently hold their breath for up to 9 minutes or more.

Free Immersion (FIM)

The diver descends to depth without any means of propulsion underwater. The athlete pulls himself with his arms along the rope to the maximum depth and back.

The discipline is very popular because of the incredible sensations of speed and power in the hands with each pull along the rope. Most of them use the head-first method, but some also dive feet-first. Some use a combined method, which mostly depends on the matching ability.

Variable Weight (VWT)

In this discipline it is permitted to use a sled with ballast to reach the deepest point. The diver may leave additional ballast on the bottom and must swim out under his own power, using fins and towing along the ropes is allowed.

The technique allows for relaxation during the dive, resulting in extremely deep dives. It is one of the two disciplines where the use of a sledge with ballast is allowed. Today, sledges are mostly used to pull the diver into the deep with his feet down.

No Limit (NLT)

The athlete descends to the depths on a sledge with ballast, and can rise as high as he/she wishes using any aids. The most commonly used is an inflatable balloon or a vest with inflatable chambers.

It is an absolute discipline of depth. In principle, it is not the lack of air that causes problems for athletes, but the pressure and the balancing techniques. Some have even mastered methods where they can equilibrate with salt water. Some also call it Absolute Variable Weight.

The current record is -171 metres, but there is already talk of depths as low as -200 metres.

Jump Blue (JB) – Apnea Cube

Jump Blue is a discipline developed under the auspices of C.M.A.S.a and is not very popular in the world yet. It has even more supporters in neighbouring Croatia and Italy.

The point of the discipline is to limit the depth and thus increase safety for the competitors.

In Jumb Blue, the competitor must first dive to a depth of 15 m with the help of a weight, where the weight is dropped. Then swim unweighted around a marked cube with a side length of 15 m. When the competitor has completed the dive, he/she shall mark the length reached at depth with a pencil and return to the surface. The swum length is 15 m descending + 15 m ascending + the length swum around the cube.