Safety first - Blackout Rescue Session

Pool Freediving Safety considerations

In the world of freediving, the first rule is clear: never dive alone.

However, from my perspective, this rule alone isn't enough to create a truly safe and effective dive environment.

I recently watched several competition events, paying close attention to the safety measures in place(Dive 1 - Blackout and Dive 2 - Blackout). The safety divers did an excellent job, reacting calmly to blackout situations and rescuing the diver in distress. However, from an observer’s point of view, some of these situations seemed to lack control.

This brings me to a couple of questions regarding rules to follow during pool freediving sessions, especially for submaximal dives:

• What are the safety best practices?
• How should I handle a blackout during training sessions?
• What experience of the buddy is sufficient to feel comfortable during pool freediving sessions?
• Is safety from the surface better than safety from the pool bank?

Read the article to dive deeper into the insights and key takeaways from my experience.

Context Behind My Freediving Training

Before diving into these open-ended questions about safety in the pool, I want to first share the context of my own training—because the answers to these questions are deeply personal and depend on individual circumstances. I encourage you to ask yourself the same questions and reflect on your own setup and experience.

Take, for example, the question: Is surface-based safety better than safety from the pool deck? It sounds simple at first. For someone like me—90kg, wearing a 7kg neck weight—getting pulled to the surface isn’t easy, especially if my buddy doesn’t have fins. But once you watch the video below and consider all the factors, you’ll see that the answer isn’t black and white. It depends.

I usually train in a pool with a depth ranging from 1.4 to 1.8 meters, which allows me to stand comfortably on the bottom (I’m 189 cm tall). Since I only train DNF, I don’t bring fins at all, and any rescue from the surface would require additional equipment and planning. These are the kinds of details that shape my approach to safety—and they could shape yours too.

When Can a Blackout Happen?

Blackouts aren't just a risk during max attempts—they can happen even during other dives. In my case, I frequently train with hypoxic exercises like STOP-GO drills and residual volume (RV) dives, which increase the risk even further. I’ve accepted that risk, but it made me take a closer look at my safety setup. Are my current procedures truly effective? Can my buddy perform a clean, focused rescue—or would the process be bogged down by distractions or impracticalities?

One important lesson I’ve learned: a blackout doesn’t always happen at the surface. It can occur underwater. So ask yourself—are you (or your buddy) prepared to retrieve a diver from the bottom and keep their airways clear above water? Think about the small things that could make a big difference in an emergency, like trying to help without goggles or slipping around in flip-flops. These details matter when seconds count.

Freediving Blackout Rescue: A Practice Session

After reflecting on safety-related questions, I realized I needed to test the answers in real-life scenarios—specifically within the context of my own training. So, I planned a dedicated blackout rescue training session with my buddy, recording everything to analyze our current safety approach. Our goal wasn’t to create a perfect demo, but to observe what worked, what didn’t, and how we could improve. Because to truly dive relaxed, you need a training environment where trust, safety, and well-tested procedures go hand-in-hand.

This video isn’t a how-to guide or a role model for freediving safety—it's an honest look at our improvised session and the lessons we took from it. I’ve added my own commentary throughout, and I’d love to hear your thoughts as well.

In the first scene, you'll see an underwater blackout in a shallow pool. The safety jumps in, rescues the diver, and performs the blow-tap-talk protocol. One key observation: not removing the neck weight made the reach and lift more difficult. In the second scene, after removing the weight, the rescue is noticeably easier—and supporting the diver with a knee really helps keep the airway clear during the rescue procedure.

Scenes three and four show similar rescues from the pool bank, this time in the deeper end. It introduces new challenges, but both divers are tall enough to manage. Without fins and wearing wetsuits, entering the water from the bank proved tricky—a feet-first jump followed by a duck dive worked better than a head-first dive.

You’ll also notice that having something like a lane rope or ladder nearby can really help when performing the blow-tap-talk.

In scene six, we attempt a rescue from the surface on the 1.8-meter pool end. Descending to the diver was easier from the surface, but manoeuvring with long fins in a confined space was tough. In hindsight, short fins or no fins would’ve been better for this depth.

Finally, scene seven highlights a situation I believe should be avoided. A diver blacks out underwater in the second lane, but luckily the first lane was free, allowing the safety to jump in. In a real scenario, this lane might be occupied—making entry far more difficult. To make matters worse, when blow-tap-talk fails and the diver needs to be moved to the pool edge, navigating across lanes adds unnecessary complications.

Final Thoughts: Train for the Unexpected

One of the most important takeaways from our rescue session is this: regularly practicing different safety scenarios with your buddy is essential. It’s not just about checking a box—it’s about being truly prepared, identifying potential obstacles, and creating a training environment where both of you feel confident and safe. Talk through your rescue procedures, adapt them to your unique setup, and make sure you’re both on the same page.

My buddy and I made a commitment to simulate a blackout at least once a month. We notify the lifeguards in advance, then stage a surprise blackout during a training session to keep our responses sharp and our protocols fresh. These tests help us stay prepared, and also expose what needs improving—before it matters most.

And don't forget: safety is a shared conversation. Talk openly with your dive buddies, new partners, and others in the freediving community. Every diver brings different experiences, and their insights might highlight things you hadn’t considered. That kind of dialogue strengthens the safety culture we all rely on.

Testing your safety setup regularly—especially when training with a new buddy—can make all the difference. What works with one partner might not work with another. What if your usual buddy is 90kg, and the next one is 60kg? Would your current procedures still hold up? Would you adjust your training intensity to reduce risk?

These are the kinds of questions we all need to ask ourselves. Because when you’re confident in your safety, you’re free to focus on what we’re really here for: calm, mindful, and enjoyable dives.

Dive safe—and let me know in the comments: when was the last time you tested your safety procedures in the pool?

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