The International Association for Development of Apnea (AIDA, from French: Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée) is the world wide rule- and record-keeping body for competitive breath holding events (freediving). It aims to set standards for safety, comparability of Official World Record attempts and freedive education. AIDA International is the parent organization for national clubs of the same name.

AIDA has a star system for grading their freedive students certifications:

Freedive certifications

Specialites certifications

AIDA has 3 levels of Instructor qualifications and certifications:

Instructor certifications

AIDA recognized world records as of December 31, 2009

Deep freediving using bifins or a monofin.

Men

Women

Deep freediving using swimming strokes only, no fins allowed.

Men

Women

Deep freediving, allowing pulling along the vertical depth rope.

Men

Women

Deep freediving using a weighted sled for descent, pulling along the depth rope for ascent.

Men

Women

Unrestricted deep freediving, all propulsion means allowed, traditionally using a weighted sled for descent and inflatable balloon for ascent.

Shakura S'Aida is a Canadian blues and jazz vocalist, songwriter and actress. She is sometimes credited as simply Shakura, and should therefore not be confused with the Colombian pop star Shakira.

She was born in Brooklyn and lived in Switzerland before moving to Canada.

S'Aida was lead singer of the 13-piece world music ensemble Kaleefah before embarking on her solo career. She has also performed as a backing vocalist for Rita MacNeil and Patti Labelle, as well as with jazz musicians such as Jimmy Smith and Ruth Brown. She has also been nominated for several Juno Awards for her music.

As an actress, she starred in a Toronto production of George Boyd's Consecrated Ground in 2004, as well as Sudz Sutherland's Doomstown in 2006.

Aida Muluneh (born 1974) is an Ethiopian photographer and artist.

Muluneh received her BA in film, radio, and television from Howard University in 2001. She has worked freelance since then, also founding DESTA (Developing and Educating Societies Through the Arts). Her work has been exhibited at the National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC.

Aida Muluneh often turns her attention to women of the African diaspora, emphasizing the links and disjunctures between generations, commemorating the sorrows and celebrating the victories in their lives. Her subjects convey graceful, yet strong, approaches to the vicissitudes of life within the African diaspora. In the nextcoming issue of the contemporary art magazine Crudelia? within the special about Contemporary African Art an entire page is devoted to this interesting artist, on cure of Marta Massaioli.

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.

In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.

John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.