One Breath Freediving

ANNOUNCED: Sea Shepherd Link Up!

21/4/2026

I'm really pleased to announce I am a Sea Shepherd 'Divers for the Ocean' Ambassador!. For a long time I have been an advocate of the hard work done globally for the oceans by Sea Shepherd.

And with this news I am announcing that I am participating in the #fitfortheocean challenge to raise money and awareness for Sea Shepherd!
I will be undertaking the following:

Dahab Half Marathon (21km) - 1st May. An organised event, and the first time a half marathon race is held in Dahab.
Fin Swim (10km) from Blue Hole to Dahab - Date TBC, depending on weather

You can read more about the 'Fit For The Ocean' Challenge here:
https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/fit-for-the-ocean/

You can sponsor me here:
https://www.ouirace.com/en/challenge/10km-swim-to-protect-our-oceans-2026

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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What is Freediving 'Exploring'?

30/7/2025

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This September I will formalising a concept, something I have enjoyed doing myself for years, and something I have promoted among my freediver students since I became an instructor myself! This can be called 'Freediving Exploring' or maybe others might think of it as recreational freediving (or even advanced snorkelling!). In essence it is using freediving as a means to explore the marine environment and discover the underwater surroundings, the difference is it will have formalised planning, protocols, safety and equipment set-up specifically for the task of freediving exploring on the move.

As freediving has so many possible directions that can be taken, it is often up to the instructor of the initial freediving course(s) that you take as to which direction you proceed (depth training and competition are at the forefront for the majority of instructors). One certainty is that all freediving courses are based around learning and practicing motor skills with the aim of meeting a performance time or distance/depth requirement. This, of course, is for good reason, as like it or not freediving IS a sport. Many people that get into freediving might not see themselves as the 'sporty' type, but by definition it is a physical activity that you need to practice and train to get better at and contains a competitive element (often this can be competition against self, i.e; to beat your own PB's).

But why does this have to be the end goal or outcome objective in itself? That if you are not going deeper or longer each week, month or year you are not doing it 'right'. I have often said to my students that a good rationale to aim to be able to do a 30m deep training dive is that subsequently it will make a 10-12m reef dive seem super comfortable and therefore more enjoyable.

There is the quote that gets often thrown around that "Scuba divers look outside while freedivers look within themselves". I'm suggesting that freedivers can also look outside! This might seem obvious, but I have even taken very experienced freedivers out and shown them for the very first time the joy of NOT line training for once, but exploring and appreciating the marine environment.

Those that have trained with me, know that I am always one to make a detour to the reef, visit a swim through or locate a octopus hideout :) at the end of an open water training session. If this is the reason you wanted to freedive in the first place then why not make this the session?!

What are some objectives of a Freediving Exploring session?:
✅ Observing the nature of marine life and marine habitat
✅ Having fun, enjoying the process of diving and being playful and curious in the water
✅ Learning to explore and freedive with buddies in a safe way
✅ Achieving different goals; going through a tunnel or seeing an octopus for the first time
✅ Helping the marine environment; observing habitat change, collecting trash etc

Why go with a qualified freediving instructor for guided freediving exploring?:
✅ Knowledge of where all the good stuff is located! Wrecks, caves, swim throughs etc
✅ Safety as the priority allowing you to dive and explore knowing that you have your own safety diver watching you
✅ Extensive knowledge to share on the marine environment and wrecks

I am going to expand on this subject and in future blog posts I am going to look at:

Suitable protocols for safety while exploring off the line
Proper equipment set up for freediving exploring

So look out for these posts at a later date! Let me know your thoughts in the comments section and thank you for reading this blog post.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving .

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Announced! Malta 2025: Exploring Freediving Expedition

13/5/2025

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Just announced! One Breath Freediving is returning to Malta & Gozo for a specific Exploring Freediving Expedition. Led by myself, with 15 years experience of guiding divers around the Maltese islands we will explore together in a small group the best locations at the best time of year!

Below is a little video of a cool exit from one of my favourite caves, at Anchor Bay, where you can actually surface inside! And of course Malta is famous for its wrecks, and the Tug2 is a perfect one for freedivers as its depth of just 12-20m allows lots of time for exploration.

This exploring expedition has limited spaces available and will be run over two weeks, so you can either join one or both for maximum fun!

15th-20th September
22nd-27th September

Get in touch for more information and to book!

Tug 2 Wreck (Exiles, Sliema)

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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Instructing Vs Coaching Vs Mentoring

10/4/2025

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In freediving, terms such as these three are thrown around quite liberally! Let's look closer at what they mean and how they can fit into the sport of freediving.
Firstly some dictionary definitions:

INSTRUCTOR:

'a person whose job is to teach people a practical skill'

An instructor is a teacher. One can be an instructor of just about anything, but it usually applies to teaching hands-on skills, like a water-skiing instructor'

'An instructor is someone who teaches a skill such as driving or skiing.

COACH

''someone whose job is to teach people to improve at a sport, skill or school subject'
'one who instructs or trains'
'a person who trains an athlete or a team of athletes'
'someone who trains a person or team of people in a particular sport.'

MENTOR

'an experienced person in a company or educational institution who trains and counsels new employees or students.'
'an experienced and trusted adviser.'
'an experienced person who gives advice to less experienced people to help them in their work.'

As you can see from the definitions, not all instructing involves coaching, and not all coaching involves mentoring!

Klasen and Clutterbuck (2012) define the roles of coaching and mentoring as:

Coaching includes: "determining and specifying an individual's learning needs and objectives in relation to work issues; working out how the individual is going to improve performance deficits; helping the individual to explore the problem;, develop alternative solutions and decide which one to implement and how; and using appropriate and timely feedback".

Mentoring includes: "supporting individuals in discovering and defining their own development needs and setting their own objectives; fostering independent learners; allowing individuals to raise and talk about their issues, occasionally clarifying, reflecting back and challenging; helping individuals to reflect on their beliefs, feelings, thoughts and behaviour".

At One Breath Freediving David has been a freediving instructor since 2012 and is one of AIDA Internationals most experienced instructors with over 500 student certifications. Also holding an Honors degree in Sport & Exercise Science with core modules on sports coaching and he is a member of UK Coaching in The Charted Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences. Since creating a specific teaching and coaching philosophy and dedicating his business to small group and personalised learning he is in the ideal position to offer freediving instruction and coaching using mentoring as a key foundation.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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5 Essential Ways to Prepare To Become A Freediving Instructor

21/11/2024

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I'm not sure this counts as 'clickbait', but I expect that many of you reading this will be expecting me to list tips and tricks of how to overcome those sneaky IC performance requirements such as 40-50m Constant Weight or 90m Dynamic or the favourite, 5x 20m.
Well, no. These performance requirements are the minimum standard to just ATTEND the Instructor Course, so should already be ticked off and being ready for them should be a given. Unsurprisingly, as the name suggests, the freediving instructor course is about the Instructor Trainer (IT), teaching you, the candidate, how to teach others freediving.

There needs to be a mindset change (which may have happened to you, at least partially, on the AIDA4 Course as this is also Assistant Instructor level). This change needs to be mainly focussed on your new found responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of others under your care, your responsibility for teaching freediving correctly to a high standard and also maintaining the positive image of the sport for everyone.

In no particular order......

#1 Build a Base Knowledge:
There will be stuff you don't know. There will be stuff you know but not well enough to explain properly to others. Start working on this as students will have lots of questions. And it is sometimes ok to say that you don't know but will find out. So stay humble and keep a folder of topics you came across but didn't have time to read. Or subjects that you would like to understand better yourself for the future. Keep learning and look at ways teaching is conducted in other sports or areas of life and think what can transfer over successfully in to teaching freediving.

#2 Start Observing:
As an instructor you need to be observant and spot mistakes so you can correct them and even spot impending mistakes before they occur. Start watching your buddies and other freedivers at what they do differently to you. And remember, we do not need to always be critical with this. Often there is more than one way to do something well, so then question why you do what you do, the way you do it. Try new things out and evaluate the pros and cons and have alternative methods ready as a back up in your freediving 'tool box'.

#3 Consider Safety:
This is of paramount importance, but I think it only really dawns on people when they realise things can go wrong while undertaking theoretical course teaching on the instructor course (plus realising there is a whole chapter on 'risk'). The reality is that you are responsible for others during this outdoor activity that we all love. Question yourself; 'Is how I conduct myself safe?'. Think about what you allow others to do in your presence. Think about your equipment set up and your rescue and CPR training. Is it up to scratch or are you just hoping that nothing will go wrong?

Don't make it an uphill struggle...

#4 Accept You Are Not Good At Everything (and work on these things!):
No one is perfect, or even good at everything. As humans we tend to stick with what we are good at or enjoy the most. But the things we need to work on most are generally the things we don't like so much. So spend time looking at the lesser aspects of our freediving self. Never been into DNF (Pool No-Fins)? Well give it a go and accept that the first tries will suck but then you will gradually improve. Never fully understood Dalton's law? Try explaining it in it's simplest form to someone who does not even dive. With practice you will become more comfortable and get better, if maybe never fully enjoying some things.
This brings us to.....

#5 Keep Improving The Basics:
It is easy to get lazy with the things we think we know or can do well already. Lets take the duck dive. How many of use got good at it at about AIDA3 level and then never thought much about it again? Quite a few I expect. This is called 'Unconscious Competent', when we can do something well without thinking too much about it. To be an instructor we need to teach these skills to someone at the other end of this spectrum ('Conscious INcompetent': who thinks hard about doing a skill, but still cannot get it right). So we need to be able to DEMONSTRATE skills to a high level for students of a much lower level, so things needs to be fluid, precise and correct in any demonstration we give. Start getting good now. Strive to make every aspect of your dives to the highest standard.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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5 Things Freediving Can Teach Us About Life

27/7/2024

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In this blog post I wanted to discuss something different; let's look how we can apply lessons from freediving to everyday life! So, here are 5 things freediving can teach us about life:

#1: Patience is Vital
Freediving is one of the few sports where you can't just push harder to get better, more often than not progress can be slow and a myriad of external factors can mean that the dive doesn't always go as expected. What better way to remind us that we sometimes need to bide our time and be more patient to achieve the outcomes we want.

#2: We need People
Many sports and training sessions have teams, or maybe two people playing in rivalry, but few require two people working together and looking after each other. Yes, it can sometimes be a pain to find a buddy, but it is in a good lesson in receiving outside help and trusting someone else, essentially with your life.

#3: Live in the Moment
Freediving is literally taking a single breath, which really makes things during this relatively short duration of the dive, pass in slow motion, meaning many sensations and momentary details are noticed as our senses are essentially on high alert. During the breath hold, one hour in the future does not matter. What happened yesterday does not matter. This is being in the moment of the dive and has been likened to an 'underwater meditation' where we are truly feeling the present moment to the fullest.

#4: Not Everything Goes to Plan
Yes, plans can be made, and we know what we would LIKE to happen, but there are few reality checks like a freedive, with so many variables at play, be it internal or external. We more frequently than not, have to learn to let go and accept what we are dealt in that moment, dive, or session. Acceptance of circumstances outside our control is also a valuable life lesson.

#5: Nature is Awe-Inspiring
Being in the water where we can experience weightlessness and with the water, light and marine life around us, really gives us a connection with nature that is much harder to achieve on land. Combined with 'being in the moment' on a single breath multiplies the sensation and seems to bring back some distant sensations of humans connection with the natural world.

What do you think, are there any others that could be on this list? Let me know in the comments section.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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5 Overlooked Safety Mistakes & How to Avoid Them (Vital for New Freedivers!)

28/5/2024

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As you will have learnt in you early freediving course(s), done properly, freediving is an extremely safe sport where we use the buddy system to watch each other and of course the golden rule is to NEVER FREEDIVE ALONE. Following from that we learn how to recognise and then rescue from both a black out (BO) and Loss of Motor Control (LMC), repeated on every course and from each discipline of freediving (pool and open water). Next comes never pushing your limits and paying attention to your own personal condition, both mental and physical (tiredness, cold, hydration, relaxation/stress etc), learning to dive conservatively and within our limits

THE Golden Rule

But in this blog post I wanted to cover what I consider to other less considered or overlooked aspects of safety. In over 12 years of teaching freediving I have made mistakes (and learned from them!), seen others making mistakes and heard about other peoples mistakes, accidents or close calls. So here are what I consider to be the 5 top overlooked aspects of freediving safety:

#1: Maintaining Equipment
With time and use your equipment degrades and even more so if it is not looked after properly and cleaned after dive sessions. I have seen (and even had!) fins snap, weight belts break, carabiners fail, masks break.... the list goes on.
In the majority of cases it is not a single failure it is degradation over time, which can be visible and therefore preventable.
So what can you do? Visually check all equipment as you assemble it for your dive session. And every 6 or 12 months do a more thorough check. This is especially important if you have not used equipment for a period of time and it has been in storage.
Replace equipment BEFORE it breaks to prevent a problem occurring in the first place. Prevention is always better than having to react to a bigger problem, or even accident, caused by improperly maintained equipment.

#2: Communication
Beginner freedivers especially, but all recreational levels (and beyond!) seem to forget that if you have a buddy, you actually need to tell them what you are doing. Often it is a shock for freedivers after their course is completed, when they don't have a paid safety diver (the instructor) anymore, and the person they are now accompanied by is not 100% there to watch and help them the whole session. However, you should both be 100% invested in helping each other as buddies although it is not your paid job, it is of course mutually beneficial. Just some people are better at it than others.
But as much as we would like to be, people are not mind readers, so remember to take time to discuss the key topics of a dive, including but not limited to; depth, discipline (dive type), time etc (WHERE will you go, HOW will you get there, WHO will help you if needed, WHEN will you be back).
Sounds easy but is often not done properly.

#2: What did you say? I wasn't listening...

#1: Still has plenty of life left (NOT!)

#3: Exploring is different to line training
Diving using a buoy / rope / weight / lanyard set-up makes things much much easier to do deeper and more efficient freedives. This is often overlooked and when recreational freedivers dive on the reef to explore they often mistakenly assume they can achieve the same depths or times.
This is incorrect. Having a buoy (to rest on), a rope (to take you in a straight line and turn on), a weight (to allow you to 'pull' up or down if needed) and a lanyard (to keep you safely close to the line) all make a huge difference to how easy and relaxed the dives are, but more importantly how safe. So much so, that when diving off the line you should reduce your maximum depth by at least ONE THIRD. Therefore, if you are a 20m diver on the line, your recreational off-line diving depths should be limited to 13-14m range for the purpose of safety.

#4: Pay Attention
Paying attention is an important safety aspect, but does sound rather broad and vague, so let me elaborate. This can be applicable to three main areas: 1) Yourself 2) Your buddy 3) Other factors (such as weather and equipment).
As an example, it is not uncommon while teaching for me to see a freediver about to dive with either no lanyard attached (forgotten) or a lanyard on the wrist but the other end is still attached to the buoy and not the rope. So both the freediver has not noticed this AND the buddy has not noticed this. Now this is not uncommon for new freedivers as they learn and have lots to think about, but once diving independently details such as this matter (for both safe and enjoyable dives).
Also, are you noticing if you are getting more tired or colder or heavier contractions etc? Maybe time to stop the session.
Did you notice that the waves are getting bigger or the current getting stronger or visibility deteriorating? Maybe time to stop the session.
You get the idea.

#5: Weight is NOT fixed
What do I mean by this? I am suggesting that the weight you put on your weight belt needs to be thought about and adjusted on a fairly regular basis. As part of the AIDA3 Advanced Freediver Course it is taught to consider what and where is 'Neutral Buoyancy' and what factors will have an effect on this...... Think, wetsuit thickness, water type (salt or fresh), how deep you want to dive, what safety precautions you have, what your buddy is capable of etc.

Think about this statement:
"Deeper neutral buoyancy is the SAFER option."
Let that sink in....
Setting your neutral buoyancy DEEPER means LESS weights on your belt. This means it is harder to get down, but easier to come up (which, remember, is the hard part of the freedive), and that if (in the very unlikely scenario) you should have an underwater blackout, you are more likely to float back to the surface rather than sink deeper.
Deep freedivers taking part in competitions take the absolute minimum weight down with them because then it is less to bring back up on the harder, second part of the freedive.

Here is another statement for you:
"More weight should not replace bad technique."

Meaning that it is dangerous to simply add more weight to get down underwater easier. If you struggle to reach neutral and then negative buoyancy while correctly weighted you need to work on your duck dive and finning techniques, which is a topic for another blog post!

What do you think, are there any others that could be on this list? Let me know in the comments section.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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First Impressions: AIDA Depth Competition Safety Freediver Course

24/4/2024

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The AIDA Depth Competition Safety Freediver Course (alongside the Pool version) is a new course from AIDA with the goal of updating and standardising the role of the competition safety freediver to ensure the highest safety standards for future AIDA competition events. Going forward, all future safety freedivers will be selected based on initially having this certification and then a subsequent points system that signifies experience gained from prior competition safety freediver participation.

Note:
This course is only taught by a limited number of AIDA Instructors who are also AIDA Judges

Who is this course for?

Those that want to be official safety freedivers in future AIDA competition events
Freedivers interested in the latest safety and rescue procedures to make their own training safer
Additionally, I would recommend the course for Athletes to better understand the role of the safety freediver which will give themselves greater reassurance that they are being professionally supervised when competing

What does the course include?

3x Open Water Sessions
4x Theory Sessions
1x Written Exam

What are the key physical and rescue components of the course?
Fulfil the following physical requirements:

35-40m CWTB dives (3x per session)
30m dive + 30” surface recovery + 20m dive
20m dives with 3-5 seconds notice, at fast pace (early turn simulation)

Course requirements:

20m solo rescue (as if only one safety freediver)
25m team rescue with 30 seconds notice (in all safety diver roles #1, 2 & 3)
Rescue from various depths (20-25m) in various simulated situations
Full rescue extraction

Initial impressions of teaching this course:

It is an intense course run over 2 days with a high amount of work needed to be completed in the sessions, both in and out of the water.
It is PHYSICALLY DEMANDING course with the number of deep dives and deep rescue dives needed to complete the pass requirements. An above average level of fitness and endurance is needed to complete the physical demands. (REMEMBER, you are training to be absolutely ready for when another person, the athlete, is in need of your help!).
Preparation for the course is recommended to include: Familiarity with the current AIDA competition rules. Teaching / assisting teaching is great to get used to focusing on another diver and diving when they are ready, not when you are ready. CO2 tables to get used to having contractions during dives. Practice rescuing someone after a short hang.
Being a safety freediver can be both GREAT FUN and rewarding and builds camoraderie among those who are the unsung heroes of freediving competitions.

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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News: One Breath Freediving Moves to Dahab. Shift in Focus to Small Group & Personalised Teaching Methods

16/2/2024

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In this news blog post ('manifesto', maybe) I will confirm what some of you might know already, which is that I have relocated the One Breath Freediving school from Malta to Dahab on a permanent basis. Simultaneously I am making a conscious shift of the education & business model of OBF to primarily focus on high quality, small group, customised and personalised teaching methods, which aligns perfectly with my beliefs for how freediving education should be.

Since I became a freediving instructor back in 2012 the sport has grown immensely, and though still somewhat niche and alternative, the general popularity of freediving is now much greater, with so many more people participating regularly on a recreational basis. I feel fortunate to have been in a position early on to help build the sport of freediving as Malta's first full time freediving instructor as well as opening and operating the first dedicated freediving centre in the country.

But now is time for a change.... :)

With freediving centres getting busier and therefore less personal attention, I feel there is too often a deficit of personalised, professional, high quality service, and I feel this is the perfect opportunity to return to the values and the vision from when I started One Breath Freediving back in 2012. You will see I have compiled a written Philosophy & Core Values based on what I firmly believe is the optimal way people should be taught and trained in freediving (Philosophy, below).

As one of AIDA Internationals most experienced active instructors, I am very excited to be offering all courses and training either 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 (the student can choose), therefore naturally ensuring that the standard and quality of education is kept at its highest and students feeling they have progressed their skills, gained confidence in their abilities, increased their freediving knowledge (and about themselves) and lastly, have a smile on their face with some great memories!

I also wanted to ensure that all prices remain extremely competitive and amazing value financially, and that customers, on all courses, receive the personalised attention that I have always strived to give, such as in depth communication pre-booking and pre-course, in depth preparation for the course, assistance with logistics and travel and of course flexibility to adjust or move plans if required (as just a few examples).

A summary of some of the benefits you can now experience at One Breath Freediving:

✅ Taught by AIDA Instructor Trainer David Watson (12 years experience)
✅ Guaranteed Ratio: Instructor to 1 OR 2 Students (your choice)
✅ Courses over a longer duration than at other freediving schools
✅ Includes: Equipment Hire / Certification / Study Material (courses)
✅ Free Video Analysis and feedback of diving technique
✅ Exclusive members area access to library of freediving knowledge

I hope you support my methodology for these positive changes and I hope to see you in the water again very soon in beautiful Dahab!

David Watson
AIDA Instructor Trainer & Freediving Coach

OBF Price List 2024

By David Watson, Owner, Founder & Head Instructor / AIDA Instructor Trainer at One Breath Freediving

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AIDA Competition Safety Freediver Courses Available at One Breath Freediving!

26/1/2024

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AIDA is excited to announce a brand-new safety training program developed jointly with Vertical Blue!
AIDA Competition Safety Freediver by Vertical Blue Professional Safety Freediver® is the most comprehensive safety program available, comprising over 30 years of high level competition experience. The goal of this program is to standardise safety protocols for all AIDA competitions and set an example for freediving safety worldwide.

The AIDA Competition Safety Freediver course will allow prospective safety diving students to specialise in both pool and depth competitions and earn different certifications, enabling them to take part in a variety of AIDA events.

Specialties include:

Pool Competition Safety Freediver – All AIDA pool competitions
Depth Competition Safety Freediver - AIDA depth competitions limited to a depth of 80m maximum
Advanced Depth Competition Safety Freediver – All AIDA competitions at unlimited depth

The Advanced Depth Competition Safety Diver course will be taught by a select number of experienced safety trainers. The standard Pool Competition Safety Diver and Depth Competition Safety Diver courses can be taught by any AIDA Instructor with active judge status.

In conjunction with this new program, AIDA is rolling out a new experience point system for AIDA Safety Divers, following the well-established model for AIDA Judges. This will create objective measures and make it easier to select safety teams for AIDA competitions worldwide.

For more information go HERE