While the idea of descending deep underwater on a single breath might seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with the sport, statistically, freediving is a very safe "extreme" sport. The perception of freediving being dangerous is common among people who have never tried it, which might contribute to it being perceived as scary.
However, when looking at the data, the reality paints a different picture regarding its safety. According to available statistics, serious incidents, particularly in organized settings, are rare.
Freediving Safety Statistics
The provided reference highlights the safety record, especially in competitive environments:
- Many people think freediving is a dangerous activity, which could make it seem scary.
- Statistically, freediving is classified as a very safe "extreme" sport.
- In competitive freediving globally, which involves rigorous conditions and depths, there has been only one recorded death in around 80,000 competitive freedives.
This statistical data suggests that while the perception of danger might lead to fear, the actual risk level, particularly when proper safety protocols are followed (as is the case in competitive freediving and responsible recreational freediving), is significantly lower than commonly assumed.
Therefore, while the concept might initially feel scary due to misconceptions about its danger, the sport's safety record, based on available statistics like those from freediving competitions, indicates it is statistically very safe.
