A Landmark Freediving Event: The AIDA World Freediving Championship Held in Jeju City, South Korea

The AIDA World Freediving Championship is the premier event in the world of freediving, attracting the most elite athletes from around the globe. Held twice a year, the championship 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 (freediving agency) has brought its World Championship to Asia.

Witness Taiwan's Athletes Shine on the World Stage

Taiwan is sending a total of 12 athletes to the competition: 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; 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 the event. Including support staff and accompanying personnel, the delegation totals 20 people — the largest Taiwan has ever sent to an international freediving competition.

Together with the outstanding athletes representing Taiwan at the World Championship, the association 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 officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Sports Administration, to a pre-departure press conference. The event was held to cheer on the athletes and raise public awareness of this ocean sport.

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

Legislator Chuang Jui-Hsiung noted that ocean sports have flourished in Pingtung in recent years, with many residents heading to Kenting and Xiaoliuqiu on weekends to take part in water activities. Beyond fostering a national sports culture, this trend has also brought more diverse economic development to the region. Over the past few years, he has collaborated with the Taiwan Freediving Development Association on various issues — including insurance for freediving competitions and the promotion of ocean sports — all of which have left him impressed by the professionalism and energy of this group of young people. On the eve of the athletes' departure, he joined several fellow legislators to cheer them on, hoping they will take the support of the entire nation with them and perform their best on the world stage.

Legislator Chuang also noted that the Ocean Industry Development Act was passed on its third reading in the Legislative Yuan last month, with ocean 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 ocean sports industry — not only for the athletes competing abroad now, but also in terms of how to further grow ocean sports participation, enable the public to use marine spaces more safely, and strengthen the roles of the Ocean Affairs Council and the Sports Administration going forward.

Tsai Yi-Yu: Hopes to Integrate, Coordinate, and Build a Sustainably Operated Ocean Industry Environment

Legislator Tsai Yi-Yu noted that Taiwan is surrounded by the sea, and that ocean education and water area management should be more open and accessible. He hopes that through participation in water activities and embracing nature, more people will fall in love with water sports, and that more talented athletes will be cultivated. The Ocean Industry Development Act, passed during this legislative session, stipulates that the Ocean Affairs Council and relevant central agencies shall jointly promote the diverse use of the ocean, foster a marine-friendly environment, and establish guidance and management mechanisms for ocean sports, tourism, and recreational activities. As an island nation, Taiwan should place greater importance on the development of ocean sports, ensuring that those who engage in marine activities have more resources and greater protections.

Legislator Tsai also mentioned the "Blue Highway" stretching from Chiayi to Penghu, a popular waterway for jet skiing, expressing hope that the passage of the Ocean Industry Development Act will help integrate and coordinate efforts to build a sustainably operated ocean industry environment, promote the continued development of the marine industry, and drive overall economic growth in Taiwan. Through today's pre-departure press conference, Legislator Tsai encouraged all the athletes representing Taiwan to give their best 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 has strong ties to the ocean — particularly the Ruifang and Gongliao districts, where ocean sports such as stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and freediving are thriving, bringing many exciting new possibilities to the local community. However, she emphasized that because freediving is an emerging sport and is not classified as a designated Olympic or Asian Games discipline, there remains room for improvement in terms of government regulatory jurisdiction and the allocation of public sector resources.

Legislator Lai appealed directly to Ocean Affairs Council Chairperson Kuan Bi-Ling, urging her to establish a management framework for freediving as soon as possible — with particular attention to developing detailed safety regulations and guidelines. She also called on the Sports Administration, represented at the press conference, to provide maximum support so that athletes can focus entirely on competition without worry, and so that Taiwan's strength can be seen by the world.

Lin Ching-Yi: Taiwan Has Uniquely Favorable Conditions for the Development of Ocean Sports

Legislator Lin Ching-Yi noted that Taiwan has uniquely favorable conditions for the development of ocean sports, and expressed delight at being able to cheer on the athletes heading to South Korea for the World Championship. She also highlighted that two Taiwanese experts have been selected as assistant judges for the event. Furthermore, Legislator Lin pointed out that the growing public enthusiasm for ocean sports makes it all the more important for the government to prioritize marine conservation and maritime safety management. As activities such as freediving, snorkeling, and ocean swimming move increasingly toward becoming mainstream, everyday sports, clearer regulations are needed — including improved physical infrastructure, professional management, and public safety awareness campaigns — so that people can safely and joyfully enjoy all that ocean sports have to offer.

Tigerair Taiwan: Taking the Plunge Together — From the Blue Skies into the Blue Sea

Jeju Island is a key South Korean destination for Tigerair Taiwan. With high expectations for Taiwan's freediving athletes, Tigerair Taiwan has been named the exclusive designated airline for this delegation, and is sponsoring the team's trip to Jeju Island to compete. The airline stated that it is advancing toward its sustainable development goals through three pillars: operational management, environmental sustainability, and 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 ocean sports and the sustainable use of marine resources, fulfill its corporate social responsibility, and indirectly help Taiwan's top divers and ocean sports community connect with the international stage — letting the world see Taiwan.

Full source references:

海編"布魯陳"

我是布魯陳，平常喜歡帶著大相機下海找生物，如果你有海洋議題歡迎找我聊聊，約我吃飯更歡迎！