2026 CMAS World Championship Finswimming Open Water Seniors & Juniors: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

The Underwater Sports Association India (USAI) — India's official national body for underwater sports and finswimming — is proud to announce that Indian finswimmers now have the chance to compete on one of the sport's biggest global stages. The 2026 CMAS World Championship Finswimming Open Water — Seniors & Juniors will be held from 30th October to 4th November 2026 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, organised by the Egyptian Diving and Lifesaving Federation (EDLF) under the aegis of CMAS.

As the recognised authority for underwater sports in India, USAI invites all eligible finswimming athletes and teams from across the country to be part of this prestigious world championship — a rare opportunity to race in open water against the very best in underwater sports and represent Indian finswimming on the international stage.

About Underwater Sports Association India (USAI)

Underwater Sports Association India (USAI) is India's official CMAS-affiliated body responsible for the growth, regulation, and development of finswimming and underwater sports across the country. From grassroots training programmes to international representation at CMAS World Championships and World Cups, USAI works to build a strong pipeline of underwater sports India talent — and this championship in Sharm El Sheikh is the latest opportunity for Indian finswimming athletes to compete at the highest level.

Event Overview

A World-Class Open Water Venue for Finswimming

Sharm El Maya Bay is widely regarded as one of the Red Sea's most iconic coastal locations — and it's easy to see why it was chosen to host this finswimming and underwater sports championship. The bay is known for its calm turquoise waters, excellent underwater visibility, and consistently favourable sea conditions throughout the year. Its sheltered coastline and minimal wave activity make it an ideal setting for open water finswimming racing, while its proximity to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport adds convenience for travelling delegations from across the world, including India.

Athletes can expect warm, welcoming conditions during the championship window:

• Daytime temperatures: 26–30°C
• Nighttime temperatures: 18–23°C
• Sea water temperature: 25.5–27°C

Beyond the competition itself, Sharm El Sheikh is celebrated globally for its coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and world-class tourism infrastructure — making this underwater sports championship as much a celebration of the sport as it is of the destination hosting it.

Who Can Compete: Age Categories & Eligibility

The championship follows official CMAS eligibility rules for finswimming:

• World Senior Championships: Minimum age of 15 years
• World Junior Championships: Minimum age of 14 years, maximum age of 17 years

Team composition is also regulated under CMAS rules:

• Each country may enter up to 4 swimmers per distance, plus 1 relay team per category
• For elimination races, each country may enter up to 2 swimmers per distance, plus 1 relay team per category
• Mixed relay teams must be composed of 2 female and 2 male athletes, racing in a fixed start order (men–women–men–women), with composition decided by the team leader

All competitions will be conducted under official CMAS General Rules and CMAS Finswimming Rules — the same rules and standards that USAI applies to underwater sports competitions across India.

Championship Events

The 2026 World Championship features a strong lineup of open water finswimming distances across both Surface (SF) and Bi-Fins (BF) disciplines:

Individual Events (Men & Women):

• 1 km Surface (SF)
• 5 km Surface (SF)
• 1 km Bi-Fins (BF)
• 3 km Bi-Fins (BF)
• 150m Surface Elimination Race
• 150m Bi-Fins Elimination Race

Relay Events (Mixed):

• 4 x 1 km Surfaced Bi-fins (SB) Mixed
• 4 x 150m SB Elimination Race Mixed

This combination of endurance distances and fast-paced elimination sprints ensures the championship tests finswimming athletes across every dimension of open water competition — from raw speed to long-distance stamina, reflecting the very best that international underwater sports has to offer.

Competition Schedule

Here's a quick look at how the championship days unfold:

• Day 0 (30th Oct): Arrival of delegations, registration, and training
• Day -1 (31st Oct): Registration, training, judges meeting, technical meeting, followed by the Opening Ceremony
• Day 1 (1st Nov): 1 km SF (Women & Men), 150m BF Elimination Heats in the morning; 1 km BF (Women & Men), 150m SF Elimination Heats in the afternoon
• Day 2 (2nd Nov): 5 km SF (Women & Men), 4x150m SB Elimination Heats in the morning; 3 km BF (Women & Men), 4x150m SB Elimination Final in the afternoon
• Day 3 (3rd Nov): 150m BF & SF Elimination Finals in the morning; 4 x 1 km SB Senior & Junior relays followed by the Closing Ceremony in the afternoon
• Day 4 (4th Nov): Departure of delegations

Officiating, Fair Play & Athlete Safety

The championship will be overseen by a CMAS Technical Delegate, with all protests handled strictly according to CMAS rules. In line with international standards for underwater sports, anti-doping testing may be conducted throughout the event, in accordance with WADA regulations and the CMAS anti-doping code.

Athletes will also need to meet standard international championship requirements, including valid fitness certification from a certified medical professional and proper documentation of any relevant medical history — ensuring the safety and well-being of every finswimming participant throughout the event.

A Proud Moment for Indian Finswimming

As India's official CMAS-affiliated national body for finswimming and underwater sports, Underwater Sports Association India sees this championship as a significant opportunity to showcase Indian talent on the world stage. Open water finswimming demands a unique blend of endurance, technique, and mental toughness — qualities that Indian underwater sports athletes have increasingly demonstrated at recent international CMAS events.

Eligible athletes, coaches, and state units interested in representing underwater sports India at the 2026 CMAS World Championship Finswimming Open Water are encouraged to get in touch with USAI at the earliest to understand the registration process, documentation requirements, and applicable timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is USAI? Underwater Sports Association India (USAI) is India's official CMAS-authorized national governing body for finswimming and underwater sports.

Who organises the 2026 CMAS World Championship Finswimming Open Water? The championship is organised by the Egyptian Diving and Lifesaving Federation (EDLF) under the aegis of CMAS, the World Underwater Federation.

Can Indian athletes participate in this finswimming championship? Yes. Athletes representing underwater sports India can compete through USAI, subject to CMAS eligibility rules and USAI's national selection and registration process.

Where can I learn more about underwater sports and finswimming in India? Visit the official USAI website at underwatersportsindia.com for the latest news, event circulars, and registration details on finswimming and underwater sports in India.

Stay Connected

USAI will continue to share updates as preparations for the Sharm El Sheikh championship progress. Keep visiting underwatersportsindia.com — the official home of finswimming and underwater sports in India — for further announcements, and make sure your athlete profile is registered and up to date so you're ready when the call for entries goes out.