So you know, only one in competition (Mevoli). I'm very well aware than many die in less well catered environments. I've lost spearfishing friends, and I've been part of search and rescue operations more than once unfortunately. I've also rescued people during freediving training sessions where they felt that they could push their limits because there was adequate safety. But that was always the same story: a little bit deeper, a little longer...

I stand by my point that if you use well known safety measures you reduce the risk level a lot. Specifically from your list: Mestre did not have proper safety (a total shit show from Pipin), Musimu was training alone, Leferme has a inadequate setup for what he was doing, Molchanova was diving alone in >30m (should have been a joke for her, but anything can happen). We'll never know for Adel Abu Haliqa.

I'm not even sure why I argue about that on the internet. I should go diving...

Like I say above, there is no good reason to look at competitions in particular. As there is no good reason for training dives to have worse safety than official events.

Also, the statistics I quoted include competitions. The point is that, safety or no safety, if you black out during a dive, there's a strong chance you'll drown.

>> I'm very well aware than many die in less well catered environments. I've lost spearfishing friends, and I've been part of search and rescue operations more than once unfortunately.

I'd expect anyone with such experience to not take matters of safety lightly, nor dismiss the grave danger of a blackout -with smilies.

Is there some hope that treating the seriousness of the difficulties one can come into during a freedive lightly, could bring more people to the sport? If the only effect of bringing more people to the sport is that more people die, then they're better off staying away.