What a welcome to the 2019 Depth AIDA World Championships here in Villefranche Sur Mer, France, 23 years since the first event was held at this location.
During the Athlete Parade, 47 nations represented their countries wearing their team colors and holding flags arrived at their final destination, the Opening Ceremony with the presentation of each athlete. The roar of the crowds as they gathered to welcome the divers was heightened in the heat of the afternoon sun.
An evening meeting for the athletes was held to clarify the rules of the competition and a chance for the competitors to ask questions about their dives. The judges are clearly focused on safety, last minute requests to extend beyond their personal bests were shunned with a ruling of 3 meters/9.84 feet being the maximum depth increase.
Day 1’s weather forecast is calm for the morning, but some wind is expected as the day goes on.
On Day 1, the competition begins with the first boat departing the shore at 7:15 am to make the first of many shuttles to the dive platform where the best of the best will compete.
There are two lines in the water, each line will see a diver descend every 12 minutes, meaning the dives will begin every six minutes.
Day 1 will see Nataliia Zharkova from Ukraine takes the position for the first dive of the competition as the divers step up for the Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) discipline and the start list can be found here.
You can follow the action on the AIDA International YouTube Channel, coming live from the dive platform.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8x3NsZMimg
