Freediving — breath-hold diving practiced by spearfishermen and ocean enthusiasts — is one of the leading causes of fatal drownings for Hawaii residents, and a largely preventable one. Shallow water blackout, a sudden loss of consciousness caused by oxygen depletion as a diver ascends, has claimed at least 58 lives in Hawaii between 2014 and 2025. Now, lawmakers and safety advocates are pushing for warning labels on spearfishing equipment and new state-level water safety infrastructure.
House Bill 1765, championed by Niki Roderick of the nonprofit FreediveSafe! Hawaii, would require spearfishing gear sold or rented in the state to carry a warning label: “Danger: spearfishing involves breath-hold diving. Prolonged submersion or improper breathing may cause hypoxia, loss of consciousness, or death. Never dive alone.” Roderick, herself a competitive spearfisher, formed the nonprofit after 2020 saw 13 freediving deaths in a single year, including two young men aged 15 and 20.
The broader problem extends beyond freedivers. Between 2020 and 2024, 187 Hawaii residents drowned in the ocean. Despite having approximately 1,000 miles of shoreline and year-round ocean access, the state spends less than 0.01% of its health department budget on drowning prevention. Half of Hawaii’s children cannot swim. A second bill, Senate Bill 3191, proposes creating an entirely new Department of Water Safety and Drowning Prevention to coordinate swim education and community water safety programs statewide.
At Emma’s Project, we believe that every drowning is preventable — whether in a pool, a lake, or the open ocean. Stories like this one from Hawaii remind us that awareness, legislation, and community action are essential tools in saving lives. We commend advocates like Niki Roderick who are working tirelessly to make water sports safer for everyone. Read the full story at Honolulu Civil Beat: https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/02/divers-dying-near-surface-now-call-for-safety-warnings/