Welcome to the British Freediving Association Website

F reediving is the sport of breath hold diving in which the freediver descends under water on a single breath of air. Freediving includes leisure activities such as spearfishing and snorkelling as well as competitive disciplines: Constant Weight, Free Immersion, Variable Weight, No Limits, Dynamic and Static Apnea. Freediving has many benefits and can be compared to a martial art. It promotes increased lung capacity, deeper levels of awareness and perception and control over your body.

The British Freediving Association (BFA) is the UK governing body of the international freediving organization AIDA. We promote recreational and competitive freediving, ratify freediving records, and sponsor events for our members. The BFA also supports a growing network of affiliated freediving clubs throughout the UK.

If you are interested in learning to freedive safely, the BFA recommends that you take an AIDA freediving course. A list of AIDA instructors can be found in the education section of our website. Remember that you should never freedive without an experienced buddy with you at all times.

When you join the BFA you gain many benefits: a freediving log book, dive insurance, and the use of the BFA freediving platform at Vobster Quay in Somerset. To join, visit our membership section.

Latest British Freediving News

09/09/2008: Sara's news from the Team World Championships 2008

Check out Sara's report for the latest news about the UK Team 2008.

24/08/2008: David King Sets New British Record in Constant Weight

On Sunday the 24th of August 2008, at the AIDA Freediving Team World Championships 2008 Pre-Competition in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, Dave King's dive to 80 metres set a new British record in the Men's Constant Weight discipline. This beats his previous record of 78 metres, set in November 2007. David has held previous British records in Static Apnea and Dynamic Apnea and is part of Freediving Team-GB, who are about to compete in the Team World Championships 2008.

23/08/2008: Liv Philip Sets New British Record in Static Apnea

On Saturday 23rd August 2008, at the AIDA 2008 World Team Freediving Championship Pre-Competition in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, Liv Philip completed a performance of 5 minutes 35 seconds, which beats her previous record of 5 minutes 32 seconds, set in July 2007. Liv is part of Freediving TeamGB, who are about to compete in the main World Team Championships and also holds the British records in Dynamic apnea and Dynamic Apnea Without Fins.

The Pre-Competition has given team athletes a chance to compete as individuals in a number of disciplines, and David is the second British athlete to set a national record there.

09/08/2008: Philip Clayton Sets New British Record in Dynamic Apnea Without Fins

On Saturday 9th August 2008 at the Wellington Winter Freediving Championships in New Zealand, Philip Clayton completed a performance of 132 metres. The new record beats the previous one of 127 metres set by Alan Barber in February 2008. Philip, 40, originally from Lancashire, lives in New Zealand where he works as a Consulting Engineer. He has been competitively freediving for 2 years and this is his first UK record.

02/08/2008: The British Freediving Team 2008 has been selected

The British Freediving Team 2008 has been selected!
The Women’s team: Sara Campbell (Female Captain), Liv Philip, George Miller, Maria Teresa Solomans.
The Men’s team: Steve Millard (Male Captain), Tim Money, Dave King, Stuart Bond.
The British Freediving Team 2008 is sponsored by Suunto and Seven Tenths. Suunto have kindly donated a brand new D4 to every team member and Seven Tenths are supplying the team wear.

For more information and updates, please check our British Freediving Team 2008 page in the UK Team section of this website.

24/07/2008: Alan Barber Sets New British Record in Dynamic Apnea

On Thursday 24th July 2008, at the New Malden Centre, London, Alan Barber completed a performance of 186 metres. The new record beats the previous one of 178 metres, set by Martin Macnaughton in 2007. Alan, 35, from Yately, Hampshire is a relative newcomer to the sport and has been freediving for less than 18 months. This is his second UK record, as he also holds Men's Dynamic Apnea Without Fins, set earlier this year.

13/07/2008: Mark Harris Sets UK Men's Free Immersion Record to -67m

On Sunday 13th July 2008, at the SaltFree Double Dip competition in Chepstow, Mark Harris successfully retrieved his tag hanging 67m deep, setting a new UK record in the Men's Free Immersion discipline. Not only is this 3m deeper than his previous record set in Egypt in December last year, but it was achieved in the dark and cold waters (similar to supercooled Guinness below -50m) of a quarry lake, during a competition in which many freedivers had to turn early due to the difficult conditions. Mark is a very dedicated member of the BFA Committee, runs a freediving club in Richmond and currently also holds the UK Variable Weight Freediving record.

28/06/2008: Liv Philip Sets New British Record in Dynamic Apnea

On Saturday 28th June 2008, at the BFA Summer Outdoor Pool Competition, Liv Philip completed a performance of 122 metres, setting a new UK record in the Women's Dynamic Apnea discipline. The new record beats the previous long-standing one of 119 metres set by Hannah Stacey in 2005. Liv is an AIDA freediving instructor from Camberwell who also holds the British Freediving records in Static Apnea and Dynamic Apnea Without Fins.