World Apnea 2026 Depth World Championships
The last major international event of the freediving competition season 2026 — the World Apnea 2026 Depth World Championships — unfolds in Limassol, Cyprus, with more than 180 participants.
Sports Columnist: Asya Kleshchevnikova
Editor: Kristina Zvaritch
1. Preview of the World Championship
2. Day 1 (September 30): CNF Women
3. Day 2 (October 1): CNF Men
4. Day 3 (October 2): CWTB Women
5. Day 4 (October 3): CWTB Men
6. Day 5 (October 5): FIM Women
7. Day 6 (October 6): FIM Men
8. Day 7 (October 7): CWT Women
9. Day 8 (October 8): CWT Men
Preview Of The World Championship
Background
Similar to last year, the 37th AIDA Freediving Depth World Championship — rebranded as the World Apnea 2026 Depth World Championships — takes place in Limassol, Cyprus. The location is familiar to many modern athletes, as the Championship was also held there in 2021, 2023, and 2025. Also, Limassol is marked in freediving history by many legendary athletes, including Martin Štěpánek (CZE), Carlos Coste (VEN), Herbert Nitsch (AUT), Guillaume Néry (FRA), and Natalia Molchanova (RUS). Put simply, Limassol, Cyprus, is just as well-known among freedivers as Villefranche-sur-Mer, France, which hosted the first AIDA Depth World Championship in 2005.
These names are part of an illustrious and wild history of freediving, so if you’re unfamiliar with them, take a moment to explore the past:
- Cyprus freediving stories: The first international competition of Natalia Molchanova
- Cyprus Freediving Stories: The first official CWT dive that broke the 100m barrier
- Cyprus Freediving Stories: The Line
Diving Conditions and Competition Schedule
Limassol has been chosen for the World Championships many times for a reason — great diving conditions:
- Air temperature: 26–30°C (79–86°F)
- Water temperature: From 25–28°C (77–82°F) on the surface to 17–19°C (63–66°F) at 70m (230ft)
- Visibility: 30–40m (98–131ft)
- Currents: possible
- No waves
- Maximum depth: 170m (558ft)
- The dive site is located 1.6km (1mi) away from the beach
- The competition boat has two competition lines and four warm-up lines
Another great advantage of Limassol is a direct evacuation route back to shore and onward to the hospital, with an emergency ambulance on standby. What’s more, there is a hyperbaric chamber on standby during the competition, with a qualified hyperbaric specialist on call who has an understanding of freediving.
The World Championship follows AIDA regulations (learn more about the difference between CMAS and AIDA competitions). During the eight competition days, athletes will test themselves in four depth disciplines of competitive freediving: Constant Weight with Fins (CWT), Constant Weight with Bifins (CWTB), Free Immersion (FIM), and Constant Weight without Fins (CNF).
Each athlete will have a single attempt to perform in each discipline. Athletes must be mindful of their limits because, according to AIDA rules, blacking out underwater during a dive results in disqualification for at least one day (and, in more severe cases, for the rest of the competition). There is one rest day in the middle of the event, and women and men compete on different days, which gives athletes time to recover between deep dives and perform at their maximum potential in each discipline. Athletes can aim to win overall or set a new AIDA World Record, with both scenarios earning monetary prizes: 750–1,500 EUR for a medal in a discipline, 1,000–2,000 EUR for an overall victory, and an additional 2,000 EUR for a new AIDA World Record.
The competition schedule is as follows:
September 30 - Competition Day 1: CNF Women
October 1 - Competition Day 2: CNF Men
October 2 - Competition Day 3: CWTB Women
October 3 - Competition Day 4: CWTB Men
October 4 - Rest/Backup Day
October 5 - Competition Day 5: FIM Women
October 6 - Competition Day 6: FIM Men
October 7 - Competition Day 7: CWT Women
October 8 - Competition Day 8: CWT Men
Competing Athletes
In total, about 180 athletes announced their participation in the Championship, twice as many as at the previous 2026 CMAS World Championship Freediving Depth, indicating that most of the top athletes are present and we might expect an interesting rivalry.
The Women of the World Apnea 2026 Depth World Championship
Constant Weight with Fins (CWT) and Constant Weight with Bifins (CWTB)
Among the women, we’re missing Alessia Zecchini (ITA) and Alenka Artnik (SVN)— the current absolute World Record holders in CWT with 123m (404ft). Alenka is also a former AIDA CWTB World Record holder with a result of 111m (364ft), while Alessia is the current absolute world record holder in this discipline with 113m (371ft).
The main contender for gold (and maybe even a new World Record) in both fin disciplines among women is the charming Nataliia Zharkova (UKR). Nataliia is in great shape this year: in May, she set a new AIDA CWTB World Record diving to 112m (367ft) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and at the 2026 CMAS World Championship Freediving Depth, Nataliia won the gold in this discipline. Her official personal best in CWT is 117m (384ft). At the 2026 CMAS World Championship Freediving Depth, she dove to 121m (397ft), but blacked out at the surface.
Nataliia's nearest competitor in CWTB and CWT, Zsófia Törőcsik (HUN), is a solid 4m (13ft) and 5m (16ft) behind. In CWTB, Zsófia’s PB is 108m (354ft) and in CTW, it is 112m (367ft). Zsófia has set many world records in pool and depth disciplines during her short but bright career in competitive freediving, but she has yet to hold a CWTB World Record.
In her turn in CWTB, Zsófia is followed by two athletes with the same 100m (328ft) PB: Enchante Gallardo (USA) and Sanda Delija (HRV). And in CWT, Olga Markina (INT) and Enchante Gallardo (USA) are at Zsófia's heels, both with a PB of 110m (361ft). Olga reached this depth in May 2026 during the Only One Aida Event, and Enchante conquered the depth on her second attempt in the World Apnea Championships Precompetition Limassol 2026. Honestly, we couldn’t choose which athlete to bet on.
To win in CWT and CWTB, Nataliia only needs to avoid being greedy with her announcements, and she should be able to take the gold.
Free Immersion (FIM)
In the FIM and CNF disciplines, the intensity of competition among women is unprecedented; new absolute FIM World Records were set three times this year! By the beginning of 2026, the absolute World Record of 104m (341ft) belonged to Alessia Zecchini (ITA). Then, in April, Zsófia Törőcsik (HUN) reached 105m (344ft) in Batangas, Philippines. A month later, Nataliia Zharkova (UKR) made it to 106m (348ft) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Two months later, in July 2026, Enchante Gallardo (USA) set her first world record, equaling Nataliia's feat of 106m in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines. And then again, one month later, Zsófia reminded everyone who the boss was, showing a result of 107m (351ft) in Lastovo, Croatia.
And guess what? Now all three athletes — Zsófia, Nataliia, and Enchante — are in Cyprus. We have no idea how the events will unfold; maybe all three will overestimate their limits in their chase for gold, and Sanda Delija (HRV; PB 102m / 335ft) or Fatima Korok (HUN; PB 102m) will seize the initiative in the discipline. What we do know for sure: you don't want to miss the FIM competition day of all on October 5. Save the date!
Constant Weight without Fins (CNF)
The competition in CNF wasn't supposed to bring us any surprises. But the unchallenged leader in the discipline — Kateryna Sadurska (UKR) — whose absolute World Record is 88m (289ft), set at CMAS Deep Dominica 2025, isn’t participating in the Championship. Therefore, five athletes with PBs that vary by only 2m (7ft) might simultaneously compete for the gold. They are:
- Zsófia Törőcsik (HUN) - 72m (236ft) at the 35th AIDA Freediving World Championship and a silver medal.
- Jade MacDonald-Razvi (AUS) - 71m (233ft) at the AIDA Mabini Depth Quest - Season 4 in April 2026; she also attempted a 74m (243ft) dive at the CMAS World Cup Philippines 2026 in Camotes, Philippines, in May 2026, but got a red card.
- Sanda Delija (HRV) - 71m (233ft) at the 27th AIDA World Championship in 2021; Sanda's most recent result in CNF is 65m (213ft), reached during the AIDA Adriatic Depth Trophy 2026 in June.
- Naomi Iwazawa (JPN) - 70m (230ft) at the CMAS World Cup Philippines 2026 in Camotes, Philippines, in May 2026.
- Nataliia Zharkova (UKR) - 70m at the 3rd CMAS World Championship Freediving Depth in Kaş, Türkiye in 2018; at the World Apnea Championships Precompetition in Limassol, 2026. Nataliia also tried to reach this depth but got a red card.
The Men at the World Apnea 2026 Depth World Championship
Constant Weight with Fins (CWT) and Constant Weight with Bifins (CWTB)
Among the men, the main rivalry is between Alexey Molchanov (INT) and Petar Klovar (HRV). In CWT, Alexey has a significant advantage over his competitors, being an absolute World Record holder with a result of 136m (446ft) at the 31st AIDA Freediving World Championship in 2023. This year, Petar has been trying to beat Alexey in this discipline, but so far his official result in CWT is only 100m (328ft). Yet, with bifins, Petar managed to dive to 128m (420ft), setting a new World Record at the AIDA Mabini Depth Quest - Season 4 in Batangas, Philippines in April 2026. Then, in July 2026, during the AIDA Asian Freediving Cup 2026 in Panglao, Bohol, Philippines, Alexey took back the record by diving to 129m (423ft). At the moment, it remains the absolute World Record in CWTB.
Technically, Petar can perform a CWT dive with bifins as well, and if he repeats his PB, then he has the bronze to count on.
The main contender for the silver in CWT is pool legend Mateusz Malina (POL), with a PB of 130m (427ft). Alexander Vinogradov (INT), Vice-Champion of the Championship last year, may also count on a medal with a PB of 120m / 394ft (Aida Freediving World Cup, 2025).
And in CWTB, if Alexey or Petar black out trying to top each other’s dives, Mateusz (PB 116m) and Omar Al Ghailani (OMN; PB 111m / 364ft) will be diving for the bronze.
By the way, in CWTB, we’re heartily missing two French athletes: Arnaud Jerald (FRA; PB 126m / 413ft) and Abdelatif Alouach (FRA; PB 116m / 381ft). Arnaud used to challenge Alexey for the world record in CWTB, and Abdelatif was Vice-Champion at the Championship last year.
Free Immersion (FIM)
In FIM and CNF, Petar Kovar leads, and Alexey Molchanov follows. Alexey used to hold the FIM World Record of 133m / 436ft (Vertical Blue 2023). But since then, Petar has broken the record twice. The first time — in 2023, exactly here, in Cyprus, during the 31st AIDA Freediving World Championship — was when he made it to 135m (443ft). And in April 2026, at the AIDA Mabini Depth Quest - Season 4 in Batangas, Philippines, Petar reached 137m (449ft) of depth. Another athlete in this elite 130m (427ft) club, whose members have enormous hypoxia resistance, is Mateusz Malina. His PB is 130m sharp, reached during the AIDA Blue Element Competition 2025. If these three become too passionate about winning and exceed their limits, then Martin Ruman (SVN; PB 116m / 381ft) is the next in line for a medal.
Constant Weight without Fins (CNF)
In CNF, Petar Klovar is 3m (10ft) ahead of Alexey Molchanov (PB 100m / 328ft). His absolute World Record in CNF of 103m (338ft), set at the Aida Freediving World Cup in 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, is probably the most complicated record to beat, and it also won't be easy for Petar to repeat it in the cool Mediterranean Sea. Mateusz Malina has the third-deepest PB of 92m (302ft). But if something doesn't go as planned for these three athletes, we are at a loss to guess who else might appear on the podium. Let us know if you have any ideas in the comments, and let's watch together to see who’ll win!
What’s Next?
We hope we've gotten you excited about the event and that you won't miss the broadcast on the AIDA Freediving YouTube channel. The show promises to be epic! If you don't have time to watch the broadcast — don't worry! We'll watch for you and write detailed reports on all the notable performances.
Stay tuned and make sure to catch our updates.
And if you want more information on freediving competitions and how to watch them to get ready for this year’s Championship, make sure to check our competition guides:
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