[DeepThought]

"the organiser feels that a static apnea as done according to AIDA regulations is dangerous, and it is much safer and easier to monitor participants at depth, using scuba divers below the surface." (from the news item)

Sounds very peculiar to me. Where did you get this info? Has the orginizer detailed why this should be safer? Are there any people experienced with competitve freediving involved in this? I'm thinking it will only increase the chance of getting water into a blackoutee's lungs. Also every BO will end up being more hypoxic once the diver will be brought to surface (BO at ppO2 of 1.2-1.3, being treated at the surface with ppO2 of 1.0). You can't really force a diver to breath while his/her head is still submerged even if you shove a regulator into his/her mouth and purge (not to mention the increased chance of getting water inside).