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.