AIDA International
AIDA International is a Geneva-based non-profit founded in 1992 that governs competitive freediving worldwide, setting rules and safety standards, validating world records, hosting World Championships, and certifying athletes, instructors, judges, and safety personnel through its EOS 2.0 platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersNot specified
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What AIDA International does
AIDA International (International Association for the Development of Apnea) is a Geneva, Switzerland-based non-profit founded in 1992 that serves as the global governing body for competitive freediving. The organization establishes and enforces the rules, regulations, and safety standards for the sport, manages the official world record database and athlete ranking system across ten disciplines (STA, DYN, DYNB, DNF, CWT, CWTB, CNF, FIM, VWT, NLT), sanctions national and international competitions including annual World Championships, and runs a multi-tiered certification program (AIDA1-AIDA4 plus instructor and judge levels A-E). Its operations are coordinated through the EOS 2.0 digital platform, developed with technology partner WEBFLAVORS, which handles member registration, athlete profiles, event management, and organizational administration.
The organization serves four primary customer segments: competitive freediving athletes, certified instructors and students, competition judges, and competition safety personnel. It operates globally with active participation from 32+ nations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa, and runs a calendar that includes World Championships, regional events, and local sanctioned competitions (e.g., AIDA Panglao Pool Championship in the Philippines, Vertical Blue, national championships). The core technology assets are the canonical rankings and records databases, the EOS 2.0 platform, and the codified rules and certification framework.
AIDA's revenue model combines transaction fees from competition registrations (e.g., €400 per athlete for World Championships before deadline), recurring membership and certification fees via the EOS 2.0 platform, professional services revenue from instructor/judge/safety courses, and event-level sponsorship contributions (e.g., Hotel Park Beach, EDT Offshore). The organization is volunteer-based with 107 listed personnel, operates without external equity investment or parent company, and does not publicly disclose financial figures.
AIDA International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AIDA International
- Legal name
- AIDA International
- Website
- https://aidainternational.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- AIDA International is a Geneva-based non-profit founded in 1992 that governs competitive freediving worldwide, setting rules and safety standards, validating world records, hosting World Championships, and certifying athletes, instructors, judges, and safety personnel through its EOS 2.0 platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AIDA International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Federation and Freediving Governance
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Sport Federations (IFs) (MPAKAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)
Keywords
Where AIDA International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Not specified
Offices1 record
Markets served
AIDA International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Competition Registration Fees: Athletes pay registration fees to participate in AIDA-sanctioned competitions. World Championship registration fees noted at €400 before specified deadlines.
- Certification and Course Fees: Revenue from instructor certifications, judge courses, safety courses, and educational programs for freediving instructors and candidates.
- Membership Fees: EOS 2.0 platform suggests membership-based structure with accounts and organizational coordination for athletes, instructors, judges, and safeties.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | World Championship Registration Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
AIDA International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AIDA International functions as the international governing body for competitive freediving, developing and enforcing competition rules and safety standards. It sanctions World Championships and regional competitions across ten freediving disciplines, maintains an official rankings system and world records database, and delivers a structured freediving education program (AIDA1 through AIDA4, plus Pool Instructor and Instructor levels) through its certified instructor network. The organization operates the EOS 2.0 platform to manage athlete registrations, event coordination, member profiles, and certification records.
Product overview
AIDA International is a volunteer-based organization governing competitive freediving worldwide. Its core offering consists of the EOS 2.0 competition management platform, structured freediving education (AIDA1-AIDA4 courses), official competition events (pool, depth, and world championships), and comprehensive athlete databases including rankings and world records. The organization serves as the primary international authority for freediving rules, safety standards, and competitive regulations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EOS 2.0: AIDA's online membership and event management platform
Products and services
- EOS 2.0 Platform
- AIDA Freediving Courses
- AIDA Competition Events
- Official Rankings System
- World Records Database
- Judge Certification Program
Companies that use AIDA International
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AIDA International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
AIDA International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Hotel Park Beach (Limassol, Cyprus)minorOfficial hotel partner for the 35th AIDA Freediving World Championship 2025 in Limassol, Cyprus. Offers discounted accommodation rates for participants.
- EDT OffshoreminorProvides vessel and offshore support for depth competitions. Mentioned as dive conditions provider for the 35th AIDA World Championship with one vessel for the competition site.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AIDA International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): PADI is the world's largest recreational diving certification body. While primarily scuba-focused, it offers freediving specialty courses and has a vastly larger global instructor and student base, making it a broad incumbent operating in an adjacent category that occasionally overlaps with AIDA's education mission.
- World Aquatics (formerly FINA): World Aquatics is the IOC-recognized international federation for aquatic sports. Although freediving is not its primary focus, it represents the broader sports-governance model AIDA operates under and is a relevant comparable for federation operations, anti-doping frameworks, and Olympic/recognition strategy.
- SSI (Scuba Schools International / SSI International): SSI is a major global diving and freediving certification agency with active competition circuits. Comparable to AIDA as a diving-education franchise and competition organizer, but operating at significantly larger scale and broader category scope.
Direct peers
- CMAS (World Underwater Federation / Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques): CMAS is the principal rival international federation sanctioning freediving and underwater sports. Like AIDA, it organizes world championships, maintains world records, and certifies athletes and instructors — making it the closest direct competitor for the same governing-body role AIDA occupies.
- Molchanovs Movement: Molchanovs runs a competing freediving education and competition ecosystem (the Molchanovs Wave competition series and LAP/CMP instructor certifications) and is named after elite athlete Alexey Molchanov. It is directly comparable to AIDA as a competitor federation/education brand in competitive freediving.
- Apnea Academy: Apnea Academy is another international freediving education organization offering structured certification courses (Apnea Academy Open Water, Advanced, Instructor levels) with a global instructor network. It competes with AIDA on the same freediving-education category.
- Performance Freediving International (PFI): PFI is an established freediving instructor-certification agency and competition organizer with parallel curriculum (beginner through instructor levels) and a global instructor base. It competes head-to-head with AIDA for freediving students and instructor affiliations.
Regional players
- British Freediving Association (BFA): The BFA is the UK's national governing body for recreational and competitive freediving, sanctioning national records and championships. It operates at a national rather than international level but mirrors AIDA's federation model (rankings, records, instructor certification) at smaller geographic scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
AIDA International social profiles
Digital presenceAIDA International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AIDA International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
AIDA International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AIDA International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AIDA International
What does AIDA International do?
AIDA International functions as the international governing body for competitive freediving, developing and enforcing competition rules and safety standards. It sanctions World Championships and regional competitions across ten freediving disciplines, maintains an official rankings system and world records database, and delivers a structured freediving education program (AIDA1 through AIDA4, plus Pool Instructor and Instructor levels) through its certified instructor network. The organization operates the EOS 2.0 platform to manage athlete registrations, event coordination, member profiles, and certification records.
Is AIDA International a public or private company?
AIDA International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was AIDA International founded?
AIDA International was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AIDA International based?
AIDA International is headquartered in Not specified.
How does AIDA International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Competition Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are certification and Course Fees and membership Fees.
Who are AIDA International's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), World Aquatics (formerly FINA) and SSI (Scuba Schools International / SSI International). Direct peers are CMAS (World Underwater Federation / Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques), Molchanovs Movement, Apnea Academy and Performance Freediving International (PFI). British Freediving Association (BFA) is listed as a regional player.
Does AIDA International have an API?
No public API is recorded for AIDA International.
What industry is AIDA International in?
AIDA International's product category is Sports Federation and Freediving Governance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAFAB, International Sport Federations (IFs), with a secondary code of MPAKACAD, Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8600.