FREEDIVING. The 1st AIDA Philippines National Freediving Pool Championship was launched at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac on Thursday (Sept. 28, 2023). Leading the press conference are (from left) Department of Tourism Region 3 Director Richard Daenos, AIDA Philippines President Romar Acuña and Bases Conversion Development Authority Officer-in-Charge for Investment Promotions and Marketing Department (IPMD) Michelle San Juan-De Vera. (PNA photo by Jean Malanum)
MANILA – The Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnee (AIDA) Philippines will hold its first National Freediving Pool Championship from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
Freedivers from all over the country are expected to join the tournament supported by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region.
"We joined the AIDA World Championship in Jeju, South Korea last June and I saw the immense talent of our athletes and I believe that they have the potential to become world-class. The first AIDA National Championships is the expression of our fervent commitment to promote and advance freediving in our homeland," AIDA Philippines president Romar Acuña said during the event's launch on Thursday.
"Our aim is to further progress freediving in the country, not only to break records but also to inspire the next generation of Filipino freedivers to embrace and benefit from this incredible sport," he added.
Freediving is a form of underwater diving that relies on breath-holding until resurfacing rather than the use of breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.
"With this competition, New Clark City Aquatics Center opens its doors to more water sports. This is also a chance to showcase our world-class sports complex to the freediving community and position the Aquatics Center as one of the pool freediving hubs in the country," BCDA Officer-in-Charge for Investment Promotions and Marketing Department (IPMD) Michelle San Juan-De Vera.
De Vera attended the press launch along with DOT Region 3 (Central Luzon) Director Richard Daenos, Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving executive director Marco Angelo Ancheta and Tarlac Second District provincial board member Harmes Sembrano. (PNA)
