Name: French Underwater Sports Championship
Start: 2026-05-22
End: 2026-05-25
Location: Limoges

Sports

22 May 25 May 2026

Limoges

Free

From Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th, 2026, Limoges will host the finals of the French Elite Underwater Sports Championships, a must-see event for aquatic sports enthusiasts. For four days, the city will be the stage for high-level competitions, showcasing the diversity and richness of underwater sports.

More information

The French Underwater Sports Championships

In a few words

The French Underwater Sports Championships bring together the best national athletes in various aquatic disciplines: swimming with fins, freediving and sport diving in the pool. These are thus a little more than 40 clubs, 800 competitors and 400 support staff who will meet in Limoges from May 22nd to 25th. These competitions offer a unique opportunity to discover sports combining performance, technique and passion.

The different disciplines

Apnea

Freediving, once essential to the survival of certain peoples and rediscovered in France for underwater fishing, is today a discipline in its own right. Popularized by The Big Blue, it has evolved beyond extreme performance to offer a varied practice: competitive, contemplative or simply fun. Adaptable to all environments (sea, lake, swimming pool), it appeals to a public in search of unique sensationsSupervised by trained instructors, it combines technical mastery, safety and passion.

Static apnea : consists of holding your breath for as long as possible. It is generally practiced on the surface and allows you to work on relaxation and concentration.
Dynamic apnea : consists of covering the longest distance underwater. It is practiced with monofins or bifins.
Dynamic apnea without fins : also involves swimming the longest distance underwater using a particular type of breaststroke focused on gliding, so as to save effort.
The endurance sprint or 16 x 50 meters : Swimmers must swim 16 times 50 meters in apnea as quickly as possible. They are allowed to breathe and recover for as long as they wish between each length.

Swimming with fins

Recognized by the International Olympic Committee since 1985, swimming with fins has allowed the Underwater Sports Federation to develop one's sporting character. Water sports, it is undoubtedly the most spectacular discipline, with speed peaks at 13 km/hIt is practiced in a swimming pool or in a natural environment, with a monofin or bifin.

Sport diving in the pool

Developed since 2011, this is a series of underwater events taking place in a pool. Performed individually or in teams, they aim to combine the physical, recreational, and technical aspects of scuba diving.

4 individual events:

100 meters immersion : travel 100 meters underwater as quickly as possible
Night diving suit : the diver must recover submerged objects with an occulted mask
200 meters stripping : cover 200 meters as quickly as possible, alternating between scuba diving, freediving and swimming
Emergence of a 6 kg object : the diver must cover a distance of 25 or 50 meters as quickly as possible, then bring up a 6 kg object with the help of a parachute

4 team events:

The octopus : two divers must cover 50 meters in immersion with a single bottle, breathing in turns into the octopus
Combined : two divers must complete a 100-meter course as quickly as possible while carrying out safety exercises
The 4 x 50 meter immersion relay : 4 divers take turns underwater with a handover
The 4 x 50 meter Torpedo relay : do a 4-person relay underwater while towing a buoy on the surface

Practical information

come watch the competition!

Spectators will have access to the stands and giant screens to follow the athletes' performances and cheer on their favorites. Admission will be free, without reservation. The detailed competition program will be available soon on the official website of the FFESSM Nouvelle-AquitaineThe competition will also be broadcast live on YouTube.

The 2025 edition in video

The events will take place in two emblematic locations in Limoges:

At theAquapolis :
From Friday to Monday
With its 50-meter Olympic pool and its 25-meter multi-purpose pool with variable depth, this aquatic center is the perfect place for freediving, finswimming and elite sport diving competitions.

At the Beaublanc municipal swimming pool :
Sunday and Monday
Located in the Beaublanc municipal sports park, this swimming pool has a 50-meter Olympic-size pool that is open in the summer, providing an ideal setting for the club's pool diving championship.

Championship schedule

Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover the elite of underwater sports in action. See you at Limoges, May 22-25, 2026 to experience intense moments and support French athletes in their quest for performance.

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