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A total of 40 diving athletes from 23 countries from all over the world will compete in the Sabang International Freediving Competition 2018 (SIFC2018). This competition is organised by the Indonesian Freediving Association and funded by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia and the Province of Aceh. This event will be held on 3 until 8 November 2018 in the beautiful Balohan Bay, Weh Island, Sabang City.
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The competition platform in Balohan Bay will be anchored with a maximum depth of 105m and shuttle boats will be provided for the transportation of athletes to-and-from the competition area. Training facilities will be available by 20 October 2018. All freedivers between the age of 18 and above (or 16 with parental consent), with a proven good health proven supported by a Medical Statement and a member of your very own national AIDA are welcome to join the competition. This event is also free and includes three official competition dives over six days, workshops, facilities for training, AIDA fees and the closing ceremony. However, please be note that accommodation, transport to-and-from Weh Island, Meals, Medical or evacuation insurance, and The Platform pre-competition training with competition setup are not included.
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The pre-competition meeting will be held on 2 November 2018, 3pm at the Mata le Resort Weh Island, in which attendance of all competing athletes is mandatory. . For this meeting, you must bring your passport, your lanyard including belt for CNF to be checked and marked by the judges, Medical Statement signed by a physician stating “fit for Freediving” with a validity of no longer than one year, as well as your depth announcement for day 1 and day 2. For athletes who do not have a medical statement, a doctor will be provided for you with a fee of 20 USD from 2:30-3pm on the same day. This meeting will then continue to explain the rules of the competition and the start list for days 1 and 2. The meeting will finish at around 6pm.
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The pre-competition meeting will be held on 2 November 2018, 3pm at the Mata le Resort Weh Island, in which attendance of all competing athletes is mandatory. . For this meeting, you must bring your passport, your lanyard including belt for CNF to be checked and marked by the judges, Medical Statement signed by a physician stating “fit for Freediving” with a validity of no longer than one year, as well as your depth announcement for day 1 and day 2. For athletes who do not have a medical statement, a doctor will be provided for you with a fee of 20 USD from 2:30-3pm on the same day. This meeting will then continue to explain the rules of the competition and the start list for days 1 and 2. The meeting will finish at around 6pm.
Image by https://freedive.id/
There are three competition dives in six days and every two days is dedicated to one of the depth disciplines. Day 1-2 will focus on CWT, Day 3-4 focuses on FIM and days 5-6 on CNF and a closing ceremony on 8 November.The top three divers (male/female) will be determined by the best overall results. The total prizes of the performances reach up to 200 million Rupiah. The safety of the of athletes in the competition is a top priority of the organisers.
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As a popular international sport, Sabang is specifically chosen to be the venue of this freediving event as it is the most strategic spot for freediving in Indonesia. Furthermore, apart from the great depth of sea structure, there is no strong undercurrent and has a beautiful marine life view with crystal clear waters. It is also chosen because Sabang successfully hosted the previous freediving event: 2017’s Sail Sabang Freediving Competition.
Not exclusive for competing freediving athletes, Weh Island is also a hidden paradise for those of you who are cheering on your national athletes or even visiting Sabang as spectator to this exciting event. This Island will bring your expectations of natural beauty to a whole new level. Their diving spot will always be the main attraction with a variety of sea creatures you can find under their blue waters. This hidden gem also have a more relaxed and laid back atmosphere due to the lesser amount of tourist compared to other tourist spots. Their charming coastline of golden sands are protected by lush forests and overlooking a clear bluish-green hue waters. The sea creatures that you can find here, includes the manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins and sea turtles. Divers even call this beautiful island “the unparalleled underwater universe”, which explained the reason why it is one of the most popular diving spots in Indonesia for divers from all over the world, with the most popular diving spot being Rubiah Island. Here you can also do a range of activities ranging from hiking high uphill or even deep sea diving.
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You can also enjoy many of Sabang’s culinary delights to satisfy any foodie’s endeavour in trying exotic foods. Of course in a beautiful natural island like this, fresh seafood is the main delicacy and you can enjoy a tasty feast on the seaside overlooking the natural beauty of Sabang. You can even visit the “0” kilometer of Indonesia, marking the very western tip of this vast archipelago.
Mark your calendar, gear up and take part in this fantastic event or come to support your country’s national athlete and also stop by the many attractions that Sabang has to offer
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