The Pinnacle of Competitive Freediving: The AIDA World Freediving Championship Held in Style in Jeju City, South Korea

The AIDA World Freediving Championship is the premier competition in the world of freediving, drawing the most elite athletes from around the globe. Held twice a year, the event is divided into pool and depth disciplines. This year's AIDA 30th Pool World Championship will take place from June 10 to 17 in Jeju City, South Korea — marking the first time AIDA has brought its World Championship to Asia.

Witness Taiwan's Athletes Shine on the World Stage

Taiwan has sent a total of 12 athletes to compete, including: in the men's division — Hsu Yueh-Hsiang (Wild Card), Chang Yi-Hsien, Li Po-Yen, Chan Kai-Hsiang, Tao Cheng-Hsi, Yang Chieh-Min, and Hsiao Chih-Jung; and in the women's division — Liu Yu-Fang, Lin Hsin-Ju, Chen Yu-Jung, Wu Tien-Hsi, and Tung Chia-Yi. In addition, Ting Yi-Hsien and Yen Wan-Yu have been selected as assistant judges for this event. Together with accompanying team personnel, a delegation of 20 people in total will be travelling abroad to compete — the largest delegation in the association's history.

The association, alongside the outstanding athletes set to represent Taiwan at the World Championship, invited Legislative Yuan members Chuang Jui-Hsiung, Lai Pin-Yu, Tsai Yi-Yu, and Lin Ching-Yi, as well as Ocean Affairs Council Chairperson Kuan Bi-Ling and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sports Administration, to a joint press conference to cheer on the athletes and raise public awareness of this ocean sport.

Chuang Jui-Hsiung: Hopes the Ocean Affairs Council Will Continue to Drive the Development of the Marine Sports Industry

Legislator Chuang Jui-Hsiung noted that marine sports have flourished in Pingtung in recent years, with many residents heading to Kenting and Xiaoliuqiu on weekends to enjoy ocean activities. Beyond fostering a culture of national fitness, this has also brought more diverse economic development to local communities. Over the years, he has collaborated with the Taiwan Freediving Development Association on a range of issues — including insurance for freediving competitions and the promotion of marine sports development — all of which have given him a strong impression of the professionalism and energy of these young athletes. On the eve of the athletes' departure for competition, he joined several fellow legislators to rally behind Taiwan's representatives, and expressed hope that the athletes will take the support of the entire nation with them and perform to their fullest on the world stage.

Legislator Chuang also noted that the Marine Industry Development Act passed its third reading in the Legislative Yuan last month, with marine sports identified as one of its key industries. He expressed hope that the Ocean Affairs Council and relevant government agencies will continue to support the development of the marine sports industry — not only for the athletes heading overseas this time, but also to chart a path forward for making marine sports more accessible and helping the public enjoy the ocean more safely. In this regard, the roles of both the Ocean Affairs Council and the Sports Administration are more important than ever.

Tsai Yi-Yu: Hopes to Integrate, Coordinate, and Build a Sustainable Marine Industry Environment

Legislator Tsai Yi-Yu stated that Taiwan is an island surrounded by the sea on all sides, and that ocean education and water zone management should be more open. He looks forward to seeing more people fall in love with water sports through participation in aquatic activities and embracing nature, thereby cultivating a greater pool of talented water sports athletes. The Marine Industry Development Act, which passed its third reading this legislative session, stipulates that the Ocean Affairs Council and relevant central government agencies shall jointly promote the diverse use of the ocean, create a friendly marine environment, and establish guidance and management mechanisms for marine sports, tourism, and recreational activities. As an island nation, Taiwan should place greater emphasis on the development of marine sports and ensure that participants in ocean activities have access to more resources and protections.

Legislator Tsai also mentioned the Blue Highway stretching from Chiayi to Penghu, a popular waterway for jet skiing, and expressed hope that the passage of the Marine Industry Development Act will help integrate and coordinate efforts to build a sustainable marine industry environment that promotes continued growth — and ultimately drives broader economic advancement for Taiwan. Through today's pre-departure press conference, Legislator Tsai also encouraged all athletes representing Taiwan to deliver strong performances and bring glory to the nation.

Lai Pin-Yu: Establish a Management Framework for Freediving as Soon as Possible

Legislator Lai Pin-Yu noted that her constituency is closely connected to the sea — particularly the Ruifang and Gongliao districts, where ocean sports such as SUP and freediving are thriving, bringing new possibilities to the local community. However, Legislator Lai emphasised that because freediving is an emerging sport and is not yet an event in the Asian Games or the Olympics, there is still room for improvement in terms of government regulatory oversight and the allocation of public resources.

Legislator Lai called on Ocean Affairs Council Chairperson Kuan Bi-Ling to establish a management framework for freediving as soon as possible, with particular attention to developing detailed safety regulations and guidelines — which she identified as her key expectation of the Ocean Affairs Council. She also called on the Sports Administration, present at the meeting, to provide every possible form of support so that athletes can focus entirely on competition without any concerns, and so that the world can witness Taiwan's strength and capability.

Lin Ching-Yi: Taiwan Has Uniquely Advantageous Potential for the Development of Marine Sports

Legislator Lin Ching-Yi stated that Taiwan has uniquely advantageous potential for the development of marine sports, and expressed delight at being able to show her support for the athletes heading to South Korea for the World Championship. She also highlighted that two of Taiwan's experts have been selected as assistant judges for the event. Furthermore, Legislator Lin noted that the growing public enthusiasm for ocean sports underscores the importance of government efforts in marine conservation and water zone safety management. As activities such as freediving, snorkeling, and ocean swimming gradually evolve into mainstream, nationwide pursuits, clearer regulations must be put in place — including improved facilities, professional management, and the promotion of safety awareness — so that the public can safely and joyfully experience the pleasures of marine sports.

Tigerair Taiwan and the Athletes: From the Blue Skies to the Blue Sea

With Jeju Island being a key destination in Tigerair Taiwan's South Korea network, and in recognition of Taiwan's outstanding freediving athletes, Tigerair Taiwan has been named the official and exclusive airline partner of the delegation, sponsoring the team's journey to Jeju Island for the competition. Tigerair Taiwan stated that it is advancing toward its sustainable development goals through three pillars: operations management, environmental sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. By partnering with the Taiwan Freediving Development Association for the AIDA World Championship, Tigerair Taiwan hopes to contribute to the development of Taiwan's marine sports and the sustainable use of ocean resources — fulfilling its corporate social responsibility while indirectly helping Taiwan's elite divers and the broader marine sports community connect with the world and let Taiwan be seen on the international stage.

Full reference:

• Taiwan Freediving Development Association
• Taiwan Freediving Development Association Facebook

Further Reading:

• 【What's This Gear #13】A Must-Read for Freediving Beginners: How to Buy Equipment & Essential Safety Tips｜Freediving Beginner's Guide
• Exploring Different Possibilities in Life: What Freediving Has Taught Me – Audrey Lee
• 【Philippines Bohol, Panglao & Balicasag】Diving to Pamilacan Island + Attending the Taiwan Freediving Cup Athletes' Evening feat. Island Fever
• 【What to Do Now】How to Avoid Getting a Yellow or Red Card – 2022 Happiness Cup Freediving Competition HAPPINESS MINI GAME