How dangerous is it`?

[henjon]

Freediving is without a doubt a dangerous sport to indulge in.. But so is walking across the street.

I am new to the sport, and have spent, and still spend alot of my time simply reading about techniques and safety procedures and about accidents and deaths in order to better understand what went wrong i those traggic cases.

But still when reading articles and such from papers and people who are outside the sport, i hear different numbers beeing mentioned.. Like at least 50 people die from freediving each year in europe alone. or so and so many die during world cup preperations, and so on... But are theese numbers simply bogus? or outdated? Does anyone really have any idea about actual freediving death statisstics?

Thanks in advance.

Henrik, Denmark

 

[Panos Lianos]

These numbers probably have to do with people who spearfish alone.

 

[fcallagy]

I could stand to be corrected as I am relitively new to the sport as well. afaik Audrey is the only recent death in comp/record attempt most deaths in the as said above may have to do with spearfishermen struggling with a fish or freedivers training alone in pool or open water.

 

[naiad]

I agree that most fatal accidents are among those who spearfish alone or train alone.

 

[Waterysmile]

So the ultimate killer is training alone for spearfishing competitions?

Being sensible, taking precautions and listening to danger signals are good ideas.

 

[Sagara]

I have never had a chance to do any spear fishing... Could someone please explain to us neophytes why spearfishing is so much more dangerous than regular old diving? Thank you!

 

[Bill]

Sagara
Two reasons that come to mind are, someone else (fish) is calling the shots and you are not concentrating on the dangerous part. Maybe that's only one reason, distraction. Then the second reason would be the fact that you don't want your buddy near when you're trying to shoot a fish.

Aloha
Bill

 

[BennyB]

So the ultimate killer is training alone for spearfishing competitions?

No, the ultimate killer is water. Don't ever assume you'll be ok because of reason a, b or c (eg. "my buddy is watching, the lifeguard is watching, i'm not chasing the fish underwater for too long, I dived that depth before etc). If you're in the water then there is always an inherent risk.

Always have a healthy respect for the water, it can throw just about anything at you.

But you're absolutely right, minimise your risk as much as you can. Have a competent buddy and dive within your limits. I bet the vast majority of those deaths could have been avoided with the power of hindsight.

Enjoy your dives

 

[SEDATE]

Last week., i mean within a week 3 person died as spearing .,it was 2 but 1 person also died in istanbul as spearing in current too this year totally 8 person dead
my idea spearfising more dangerous than freediving...it is death statisstics as mentioned forum or papers..but totally over 15-20., cos' every small village many fishers diving to deep and dies..but only knows god and their families

 

[JPPLAY]

Spearfishing can be dangerous but so can freediving. The only deaths in Canada are all freedivers one being friends of Kirk from Preformance Freediving. So take the risk seriously if you freedive or spearfish.

 

[SEDATE]

you right., i remembered now., a freediver also dead 3 months ago.,