Men’s and women’s competitions are scheduled to take place across four disciplines - beginning with the constant weight apnea with bifins category tomorrow and Thursday (September 23).

Action is then scheduled to move on to the free immersion apnea category on September 24 and 25.

The constant weight apnea without fins discipline is then set to take centre stage on September 26 and 27, with the constant weight apnea event due to conclude action on September 28 and 29.

This will be the second time that Cyprus has hosted the AIDA Depth World Championships following a successful edition in 2015.

Sasa Damnjanovic, a member of the organising team and representative of the AIDA Board said the city was looking forward to the competition despite a difficult build-up, which saw the event only confirmed in May.

"The committee have managed to pull everything together in time for the September 20 deadline," said Damnjanovic, as reported by the Cyprus Mail.

"It’s an effort which has included weeks of backbreaking work - setting up dive sites, arranging hotels and transport for the athletes, putting together judging committees and medical teams, sourcing safety divers, platform coordinators, and line handlers and obtaining all the equipment needed for each dive.

"It certainly hasn’t been easy, but it will absolutely be worth it for the competitors and also for those who want to watch."

Germany’s Jennifer Wendland, who set a world record in the women’s constant weight apnea with bifins discipline in the summer when she descended to a depth of 93 metres at the same location, is among the contenders.

Russian record holder Alexey Molchanov and Cyprus national record holder Pavlos Kourtellas are among the other names to watch as the competition unfolds.

Some competitors have been in the country for more than a month to train and adjust to the local conditions, with Damnjanovic hopeful this will lead to a high level of competition at the event.

"We have actually been welcoming competitors since early August," Damnjanovic said.

"The team from Taiwan and representatives of Hungary and Morocco were amongst the first to arrive and, as they gathered at the departure point each morning, have garnered more than a few curious looks from beach-goers!

"And as more and more of the athletes landed in Cyprus, we’ve been seeing a wonderful exchange of cultures, experiences and ideas.

"Already, as they train every day and familiarise themselves with our seas, many have achieved personal bests!

"So we can’t wait to see the new world, international, and national records that will be set."