A nation-wide search is underway to find the UAE’s best freedivers as the country embarks on a mission to become world champions in a discipline that is at the heart of Emirati heritage.
Freediving, in which competitors attempt to gain as much depth or time as possible under water on a single breath, is one of the fastest growing athletic pursuits in the world.
AIDA UAE, the national freediving association endorsed by AIDA International (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée, the worldwide federation for freediving) and the Emirates Diving Association (EDA), believes it’s time for the nation to draw on centuries of pearl diving expertise and demonstrate its prowess on the world stage.
It has set a target of World Championship success in 2015, and aims to assemble a team of six Emiratis to compete.
“There’s an incredible passion for the sport in the UAE, and that’s based on the long history of pearl diving in the country,” said Ahmed Khoori, Control Engineer at Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), who is the President of AIDA UAE and the current UAE Freediving Champion.
“For some 7,000 years Emirati fisherman have been diving to great depths to collect pearls on the sea bed.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Emiratis to excel in a sport which has been integral to UAE culture for centuries. For UAE Nationals to go out there and win on the world stage will be wonderful, and that’s what we are planning to achieve – I hope to inspire the team as I follow their important journey.”
The path to qualifying for the team will begin on Friday October 24 when around 100 Emiratis will be encouraged to register at the first trial day to be held at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai.
Recruitment has already started, with over 80 UAE Nationals having already signed up for the trials. From there, 20 hopefuls will be selected to join the squad to begin further trials.
By the end of 2014, the six Emiratis who have been selected to represent the UAE will begin an intense training regime to prepare for the September 2015 showpiece event.
“The selection process will determine those that show the most potential through a series of trials," said Alex Boulting, Programme Manager for the initiative, Vice President of AIDA UAE and founder of FreedivingUAE, an Abu Dhabi-based freediving academy.
"Applicants will be judged on their attitude, behavioural assessments, self-confidence, physical fitness and swimming abilities. The final six will undergo AIDA’s structured training program, or 'education ladder', taking them from foundation level through to deep diving and managing the art of equalising, flexibility and stamina.”
The final stages of training will focus more on preparing the team mentally for the World Freediving Championships.
“It makes me so proud to see that the UAE is celebrating its freediving roots and is now entering a team at the World Championships," Mohamed Ali Saif Al Zaabi, who has already signed up for the trials.
"With a country that has a rich history of pearl diving, this is a sport that comes naturally to the UAE and its people – it’s in our genes. I am very excited about the prospect of being part of the UAE Freediving Team and very much hope I pass the trials."
UAE Nationals are invited to register for the trials at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai on the October 24 at 2.30pm.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/UAEFreedivingTeam.
