🌊 On September 26, 2025, Alexey Molchanov descended to 126 metres (413 ft) on a single breath using bifins — claiming his 40th AIDA World Record at the 35th AIDA Freediving World Championship in Limassol, Cyprus. This is not just a number. It is the deepest bifin dive in human history.
The dive was completed in the CWTB (Constant Weight Bifin) discipline at the AIDA World Championship in Cyprus. It matched the record set earlier in 2025 by French athlete Arnaud Jerald, meaning two athletes now share the title at the same depth — a historic first in competitive freediving.
The Dive: What Happened at 126 Metres
Alexey entered the water in Limassol, Cyprus, on September 26th, 2025. Throughout his descent, coaches watched as he maintained a textbook arrow position — streamlined, relaxed, and conserving every drop of oxygen. Commentators noted how "fresh" he looked at depth, a testament to years of mental training using attention deconcentration techniques developed through the Molchanovs methodology.
At the surface, the crowd erupted. His 40th world record was confirmed official. The CWTB discipline requires the athlete to descend and ascend using only their bifins with no propulsion aids and no change to ballast weight, making every metre a test of pure human capacity.
The athlete descends and ascends using only their bifins for propulsion — no monofin, no pulling on the rope, no changing ballast. It is considered one of the most technically demanding disciplines in competitive freediving, requiring exceptional fin technique, equalisation at depth, and breath-hold endurance.
Record Progression: Molchanov vs. Jerald
CWTB 126m — Shared World Record
| Athlete | Nationality | Depth | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnaud Jerald | France | 126m | Early 2025 |
| Alexey Molchanov | International | 126m | Sep 26, 2025 |
Both records are officially recognised by AIDA at equal depth — a historic first in the CWTB discipline.
Who Is Alexey Molchanov?
Alexey Molchanov — 40-time AIDA World Record holder
Alexey Molchanov is widely regarded as the greatest competitive freediver of all time. The son of the late Natalia Molchanova — herself one of the most decorated freedivers in history — Alexey has dedicated his life to pushing the boundaries of human breath-hold performance. He founded Molchanovs, a global freediving education and equipment brand built on his mother's teaching philosophies and continuously updated with modern science.
The 40 world records he now holds span multiple AIDA disciplines. Beyond competition, Alexey teaches a Foundational Breathwork course drawing on 20 years of personal exploration — blending freediving methodology with evidence-based respiratory science for athletes and non-athletes alike.
What This Record Means for Freediving
🧠 Key Takeaways from the 126m Dive
- Bifin technology has arrived at the elite level — once considered slower than monofins, bifins are now reaching depths that were unimaginable a decade ago
- Mental training is as important as physical — Alexey's calm appearance at depth reflects years of attention deconcentration practice, not just lung capacity
- The CWTB ceiling is not set — both Molchanov and Jerald are still actively competing; the record will move again
- Bifin freediving is more accessible — unlike the monofin, bifins are the same fins used for spearfishing and recreational freediving, meaning everyday divers use the same category of tool as the world record holder
Inspired to Start Your Freediving Journey?
You don't need to dive to 126m to experience the transformative power of freediving. Whether you're a beginner looking to extend your breath hold, a spearfisher wanting to dive deeper and safer, or a competitive athlete chasing personal records — the right training and equipment make all the difference.
- Start with a quality pair of freediving bifins suited to your level — blade stiffness should match your leg strength and experience
- Invest in a proper low-volume mask to reduce equalisation effort at depth
- A thin open-cell wetsuit (1.5mm–3mm) dramatically improves comfort and streamlining in warm water
- Train breath-hold on land first — CO2 tolerance and relaxation are built out of the water
🤿 Ready to go deeper? Browse our full selection of freediving bifins, masks, wetsuits, and training tools — used by freedivers at every level from first dives to personal records.
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