Tobago has once again taken centre stage on the international extreme sports scene after hosting the opening event of the DØDS Diving League World Tour 2026, attracting thousands of spectators to the fishing village of Charlotteville for a weekend of high-risk freestyle diving competition.

The event marked the second consecutive year Tobago hosted a major DØDS competition, following last year’s world tour finals on the island.

Competitors from around the world gathered for the season opener, which combined freestyle death diving with Tobago’s vibrant culture and tourism appeal.

Norway’s Herman T. Solstad emerged victorious in the individual category, finishing well ahead of the field with a finals score of 9.00. Fellow Norwegian Olav Eikenes placed second with 7.56, while Tore Våge secured third place with 7.12.

Solstad also teamed up with Simen “Fisk” Mathisen to capture the teams category title for Nordic Legends, taking home the symbolic Ø trophies.

The highest-placing Tobagonians were Varian Benjamin and Delroy Baptiste, who finished 16th and 17th respectively against a strong international field.

The competition was broadcast live on the DØDS Diving League’s YouTube and Facebook platforms and is expected to reach audiences in more than 60 countries through ESPN distribution.

Ahead of the tournament, renowned dødser Simen Fisk conducted three DØDS Academy training sessions aimed at developing local diving talent in Tobago and preparing athletes for the competition.

Visiting athletes also experienced several aspects of Tobago’s tourism product, including trips to Black Rock and the island’s traditional goat racing events in Buccoo.

The DØDS Diving League World Tour now heads to Europe for its next stop at Aquafolies 2026 in Malafretaz, France, scheduled for June 20.