Finswimming in the United Kingdom (UK) is practiced at both regional and national level via a network of clubs affiliated to a national body, the British Finswimming Association (BFA).
The BFA is considered by proponents of finswimming being as the National Governing Body for Finswimming in the United Kingdom. [1] However, as of November 2013, the British government recognises the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) as being the National Governing Body responsible for this sport. [2]
The BFA was formed in 1999 following the creation of the British Underwater Sports Association in 1998 as a body to represent British underwater sports to the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) following the expulsion of the BSAC as the CMAS affiliate for the UK. [3] BFA's membership of the BUSA entitles it to compete in international competitions conducted under the auspices of CMAS. [4] The BFA is club-based organisation managed on a day-to-day basis by an executive committee. Its services include the provision of public liability insurance and access to a coaching program. [5]
As of April 2017, competition at a regional level within the UK is offered by the following clubs: [6]
Regional competition is offered by the BFA club system. [ citation needed ]
There is an annual National Short Course (25 m pool) Finswimming Championships in the United Kingdom, which are traditionally held at the Edenbridge Leisure Centre, Edenbridge, Kent in November.[ citation needed ] As of 2007, the annual National Long Course (50 m pool) Finswimming Championships have been held; the first being held in Aldershot, Hampshire. [ citation needed ]
British finswimmers compete at international level including events offered within Europe at both national and continental level, and events offered within the sporting framework associated with the Commonwealth of Nations. [13] [14] [ citation needed ]
Underwater hockey (UWH), also known as Octopush is a globally played limited-contact sport in which two teams compete to manoeuvre a puck across the bottom of a swimming pool into the opposing team's goal by propelling it with a hockey stick.
The British Sub-Aqua Club or BSAC has been recognised since 1954 by UK Sport as the national governing body of recreational diving in the United Kingdom.
Finswimming is an underwater sport consisting of four techniques involving swimming with the use of fins either on the water's surface using a snorkel with either monofins or bifins or underwater with monofin either by holding one's breath or using open circuit scuba diving equipment. Events exist over distances similar to swimming competitions for both swimming pool and open water venues. Competition at world and continental level is organised by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS). The sport's first world championship was held in 1976. It also has been featured at the World Games as a trend sport since 1981 and was demonstrated at the 2015 European Games in June 2015.
The Sub-Aqua Association or SAA is a diver training organization for scubadivers in the United Kingdom. The SAA and other UK-based diving groups have traditionally used a club-based system with unpaid instructors, while other training agencies organise most of their training programs through professional instructors and dive shops. The other major club-based diving organizations in the UK are the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) and the Scottish Sub Aqua Club, and the principal non-club-based organisation is PADI.
Underwater sports is a group of competitive sports using one or a combination of the following underwater diving techniques - breath-hold, snorkelling or scuba including the use of equipment such as diving masks and fins. These sports are conducted in the natural environment at sites such as open water and sheltered or confined water such as lakes and in artificial aquatic environments such as swimming pools. Underwater sports include the following - aquathlon, finswimming, freediving, spearfishing, sport diving, underwater football, underwater hockey, underwater ice hockey, underwater orienteering, underwater photography, underwater rugby, underwater target shooting and underwater video.
The Texas Finswimming Association (TFA) is the official governing body for competitive and recreational finswimming in Texas. The TFA consists of competitive teams, high schools, colleges, individual athletes, supporters, and others who are interested in advancing the sport of finswimming in the Lone Star State.
Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) is an international federation that represents underwater activities in underwater sport and underwater sciences, and oversees an international system of recreational snorkel and scuba diver training and recognition. It is also known by its English name, the World Underwater Federation, and its Spanish name, Confederación Mundial De Actividades Subacuáticas. Its foundation in Monaco during January 1959 makes it one of the world's oldest underwater diving organisations.
The Finswimming World Championships is the peak international event for the underwater sport of finswimming. These are conducted on behalf of the sport's governing body, Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) by an affiliated national federation.
The Nederlandse Onderwatersport Bond, (NOB) is the national governing body for recreational diving and underwater sports in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1962. In 2008 there were 290 scuba diving clubs and schools with a total of 20.000 members. The NOB is a member of CMAS Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques. The aim of the NOB is to develop recreational scuba diving in the Netherlands.
The Australian Underwater Federation (AUF) is the governing body for underwater sports in Australia.
The Spanish Federation of Underwater Activities is the governing body in the field of Spanish aquatic sports. As of 2020, the federation has 909 registered clubs and 30,444 federated athlets.
British Underwater Sports Association (BUSA) is the British affiliate of the Sports Committee of Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS).
British Octopush Association (BOA) is the governing body for underwater hockey in the United Kingdom (UK).
The Underwater Society of America (USOA) is the peak body for underwater sport and recreational diving in the United States.
Neptune Finswimming Club is a finswimming club based in Bristol in the United Kingdom and who is affiliated to the British Finswimming Association.
Diver organisations are membership based organisations where the membership is wholly, or at least in large part, underwater divers, and the organisation is intended to further a mutual interest related to underwater diving or the aquatic environment as it affects divers or diving activity. Some organisations have more than one focus of interest.