Russian Scuba Embargos

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, freediving company Molchanovs International has announced it will no longer sell gear in Russia, and co-founder Alexey Molchanov, son of deceased Russian freediving champion Natalia Molchanova, has stepped down as CEO. (Natalia Molchanova disappeared while giving freediving lessons off the Spanish island of Ibiza in 2015.) The company is shutting down its Russian website until further notice.

AIDA International and the World Underwater Federation (CMAS) are considering banning Russians and Belarussians from freediving competitions.

IANTD, the technical diving training agency, has suspended all activities with its Moscow-based Central and Northern Asian licensee, removing it from its standards and access to its Global Database System and terminating their business relationship.