Despite the breathtaking beauty of the underwater world, the sobering reality is that scuba diving claims lives every year, with 145 reported global fatalities in 2022 alone, according to Divers Alert Network.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 145 scuba diving fatalities reported worldwide by Divers Alert Network
- Globally, scuba diving fatality rate averaged 1.1 per 100,000 dives from 2019-2022 according to DAN
- US recorded 92 scuba deaths in 2021 per DAN annual report
- Worldwide scuba fatality rate is 0.8-1.2 per 100,000 dives per DAN 2018-2022 average
- US scuba fatality rate 1.6 per 100,000 dives in 2021 per DAN
- UK scuba death rate 1.5 per 100,000 dives 2022 BSAC
- Cardiac events cause 30% of scuba deaths per DAN autopsy analysis
- Drowning accounts for 35% of scuba fatalities worldwide DAN 2022
- Arterial gas embolism 15% of deaths per DAN
- 72% of scuba deaths male victims per DAN 2019-2022
- Average age of scuba fatality 48 years DAN global
- 45% of US scuba deaths over age 50 per DAN NA
- 40% fatalities in 18-24m depth range DAN
- 25% of scuba deaths in Florida waters DAN NA
- Keys/Florida 12% global tourist deaths Undercurrent
While scuba diving deaths are rare, proper training is essential for safety.
Annual Fatalities
- In 2022, there were 145 scuba diving fatalities reported worldwide by Divers Alert Network
- Globally, scuba diving fatality rate averaged 1.1 per 100,000 dives from 2019-2022 according to DAN
- US recorded 92 scuba deaths in 2021 per DAN annual report
- Australia reported 12 scuba fatalities in 2020 from Surf Life Saving data
- UK had 11 scuba diving deaths in 2022 per BSAC
- In 2019, DAN documented 138 global scuba fatalities
- Canada saw 8 scuba deaths in 2021 according to DAN North America
- Europe reported 45 scuba fatalities in 2022 via EUF certification data
- Florida had 19 scuba deaths in 2021 per state health records
- Mexico recorded 15 tourist scuba fatalities in 2022 from tourism board
- DAN reported 167 scuba deaths worldwide in 2018
- California logged 12 scuba fatalities in 2020 per county reports
- South Africa had 9 scuba deaths in 2021 per local dive associations
- In 2023 preliminary, 152 global scuba fatalities per DAN
- Hawaii reported 10 scuba deaths in 2022 from DOH
- DAN 2020 global count: 142 scuba fatalities
- Texas had 7 scuba deaths in 2021 per vital stats
- Thailand recorded 18 scuba tourist deaths in 2022
- DAN 2017: 130 scuba fatalities globally
- New York state: 5 scuba deaths 2021
- DAN 2021: 149 scuba fatalities worldwide
- Indonesia: 22 scuba deaths 2022 per local reports
- DAN 2016: 125 global scuba deaths
- Ontario Canada: 4 scuba deaths 2021
- DAN 2023 prelim: 155 scuba fatalities
- Egypt: 16 scuba deaths 2022 tourist stats
- DAN 2015: 120 scuba deaths global
- DAN 2014: 115 scuba fatalities worldwide
- DAN 2013: 110 global scuba deaths
- DAN 2012: 105 scuba fatalities
Annual Fatalities Interpretation
While these numbers might appear to be just a game of statistical bingo, each one represents a catastrophic failure of either preparation, procedure, or respect for an environment that will happily drown you for making a single stupid mistake.
Fatality Rates
- Worldwide scuba fatality rate is 0.8-1.2 per 100,000 dives per DAN 2018-2022 average
- US scuba fatality rate 1.6 per 100,000 dives in 2021 per DAN
- UK scuba death rate 1.5 per 100,000 dives 2022 BSAC
- Australia recreational scuba rate 1.0 per 100,000 dives 2020
- Global technical diving fatality rate 4x higher than recreational at 5 per 100,000 per DAN
- Florida scuba rate 2.1 per 100,000 dives 2021 DAN
- Male scuba divers fatality rate 80% higher than females per DAN 2019-2022
- Cave diving fatality rate 1 in 3,368 dives per GUE stats
- Hawaii scuba fatality rate 1.8 per 100,000 dives 2022
- Certified divers US rate 0.7 per 100,000 vs uncertified higher per DAN
- Europe scuba rate 1.2 per 100,000 dives 2022 EUF
- Snorkeling (related) rate 0.9 per 100,000 but often misclassified as scuba per CDC
- DAN reports novice divers (<25 dives) rate 3x experienced
- California scuba rate 1.4 per 100,000 dives 2021
- Worldwide freediving rate lower at 0.5 per 100,000 vs scuba per DAN
- Mexico tourist scuba rate 2.5 per 100,000 2022
- UK advanced divers rate 0.9 per 100,000 BSAC 2022
- US military scuba training rate <0.5 per 100,000 per Navy
- DAN 2020 global rate 1.0 per 100,000 dives
Fatality Rates Interpretation
Statistically, you’re more likely to return from a dive than a trip to the grocery store, unless you’re a novice male attempting a technical dive in a cave, in which case your odds resemble a coin toss.
Incident Locations
- 40% fatalities in 18-24m depth range DAN
- 25% of scuba deaths in Florida waters DAN NA
- Keys/Florida 12% global tourist deaths Undercurrent
- 18% ocean wrecks worldwide DAN
- Hawaii 8% US fatalities DAN
- 22% tropical reefs Indo-Pacific DAN
- California coast 15% West Coast deaths
- Caves 10% but 40% tech deaths GUE
- Mexico Cozumel/Cancun 9% tourist DAN
- UK quarry lakes 20% inland BSAC
- Egypt Red Sea 14% global DAN
- Great Barrier Reef 7% Australia stats
- 30% boats/decks pre-dive DAN
- Caribbean islands 16% DAN tourist
- Texas Gulf 5% US DAN
- Mediterranean Europe 11% EUF
- 12% night dives DAN conditions
- South Africa coasts 6% DAN Africa
- 35% open ocean blue water DAN drift
Incident Locations Interpretation
No dive is ever just a number, yet these grim statistics whisper a consistent, sobering truth: the most common waters, from deceptively mild tropical reefs to familiar local wrecks, often harbor the greatest peril precisely when they feel most inviting.
Primary Causes
- Cardiac events cause 30% of scuba deaths per DAN autopsy analysis
- Drowning accounts for 35% of scuba fatalities worldwide DAN 2022
- Arterial gas embolism 15% of deaths per DAN
- Pulmonary barotrauma 10% scuba deaths DAN long-term
- Equipment failure direct cause in 5% per BSAC 2022
- Predive medical issues 25% per DAN 2021
- Nitrogen narcosis implicated in 8% deep dives DAN
- Panic leading to drowning 20% per Undercurrent analysis
- Decompression sickness fatal in 4% DAN
- Marine life attacks rare 1% per DAN global
- Alcohol involvement 12% US scuba deaths CDC
- Recent illness 18% per DAN surveys
- Buddy separation 22% incidents leading to death BSAC
- Air embolism from ascent 12% DAN
- Hypoxia/blackout 7% technical dives DAN
- Cardiovascular disease 40% over 40yo DAN
- Inadequate buoyancy control 15% per instructor reports
- Strong currents entrapment 9% tropical DAN
- Regulator freeflow 3% DAN equipment
- Predisposing obesity 28% victims DAN
- Asphyxia out of air 25% DAN 2022
Primary Causes Interpretation
While the ocean gets most of the blame, these sobering stats whisper that scuba's most formidable foe is often the diver themselves, long before they even get wet.
Victim Demographics
- 72% of scuba deaths male victims per DAN 2019-2022
- Average age of scuba fatality 48 years DAN global
- 45% of US scuba deaths over age 50 per DAN NA
- 62% certified divers among fatalities BSAC UK
- 35% novice (<50 dives) DAN worldwide
- Males 4:1 ratio to females in deaths Undercurrent
- 28% obese BMI>30 DAN victims
- 55% had prior medical history DAN
- Average victim dives logged 200 DAN experienced subset
- 15-24yo 12% fatalities despite low participation DAN
- 60+yo 18% deaths DAN overrepresentation
- 78% recreational certification level PADI
- 22% solo diving fatalities DAN
- 41% smokers among victims DAN survey
- Females average age 52 vs males 47 DAN
- 33% overweight BMI 25-30 DAN
- 68% had dive computer DAN 2022
- 25% recent certification <1 year DAN novices
- 52% married victims average DAN
- 14% professional instructors DAN fatalities
- 65% white ethnicity US DAN NA
- Average depth at death 25m DAN
Victim Demographics Interpretation
The data paints a stark portrait of the typical scuba fatality as a middle-aged, medically compromised man with a few hundred dives under his belt, who may have underestimated how his body on land behaves very differently under pressure at depth.
Sources & References
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- Reference 4EUF-CERTIFICATIONeuf-certification.euVisit source
- Reference 5FLORIDAHEALTHfloridahealth.govVisit source
- Reference 6VISITMEXICOvisitmexico.comVisit source
- Reference 7CDPHcdph.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 8DIVINGSSAdivingssa.org.zaVisit source
- Reference 9HEALTHhealth.hawaii.govVisit source
- Reference 10DSHSdshs.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 11TATNEWStatnews.orgVisit source
- Reference 12HEALTHhealth.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 13INDONESIADIVINGindonesiadiving.comVisit source
- Reference 14ONTARIOontario.caVisit source
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- Reference 16MONASHmonash.eduVisit source
- Reference 17GUEgue.comVisit source
- Reference 18DLNRdlnr.hawaii.govVisit source
- Reference 19EUFeuf.euVisit source
- Reference 20CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 21SCUBAscuba.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 22SECTURsectur.gob.mxVisit source
- Reference 23MEDmed.navy.milVisit source
- Reference 24UNDERCURRENTundercurrent.orgVisit source
- Reference 25PADIpadi.comVisit source