Scuba diving fatalities are reported worldwide, but the pattern of risk depends on where you dive and who’s in the water. From 2019–2022, DAN reports a global fatality rate averaging 1.1 per 100,000 dives. We also look at troubling breakdowns by age and sex, plus what shows up most often in incident analyses—like drowning and cardiac events. Then you’ll see how depth and popular regions can concentrate risk, including 18–24 m dives.
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
- 40% fatalities in 18-24m depth range DAN
- 25% of scuba deaths in Florida waters DAN NA
- Keys/Florida 12% global tourist deaths Undercurrent
- 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
In 2022, scuba deaths remained uncommon but still hit hardest from drowning, heart events, and gas problems.
Related reading
01 · Category
Annual Fatalities30 stats
01
In 2022, there were 145 scuba diving fatalities reported worldwide by Divers Alert Network
02
Globally, scuba diving fatality rate averaged 1.1 per 100,000 dives from 2019-2022 according to DAN
03
US recorded 92 scuba deaths in 2021 per DAN annual report
04
Australia reported 12 scuba fatalities in 2020 from Surf Life Saving data
05
UK had 11 scuba diving deaths in 2022 per BSAC
06
In 2019, DAN documented 138 global scuba fatalities
07
Canada saw 8 scuba deaths in 2021 according to DAN North America
08
Europe reported 45 scuba fatalities in 2022 via EUF certification data
09
Florida had 19 scuba deaths in 2021 per state health records
10
Mexico recorded 15 tourist scuba fatalities in 2022 from tourism board
11
DAN reported 167 scuba deaths worldwide in 2018
12
California logged 12 scuba fatalities in 2020 per county reports
13
South Africa had 9 scuba deaths in 2021 per local dive associations
14
In 2023 preliminary, 152 global scuba fatalities per DAN
15
Hawaii reported 10 scuba deaths in 2022 from DOH
16
DAN 2020 global count: 142 scuba fatalities
17
Texas had 7 scuba deaths in 2021 per vital stats
18
Thailand recorded 18 scuba tourist deaths in 2022
19
DAN 2017: 130 scuba fatalities globally
20
New York state: 5 scuba deaths 2021
21
DAN 2021: 149 scuba fatalities worldwide
22
Indonesia: 22 scuba deaths 2022 per local reports
23
DAN 2016: 125 global scuba deaths
24
Ontario Canada: 4 scuba deaths 2021
25
DAN 2023 prelim: 155 scuba fatalities
26
Egypt: 16 scuba deaths 2022 tourist stats
27
DAN 2015: 120 scuba deaths global
28
DAN 2014: 115 scuba fatalities worldwide
29
DAN 2013: 110 global scuba deaths
30
DAN 2012: 105 scuba fatalities
Interpretation
Annual Fatalities Interpretation
For the Annual Fatalities category, the reported global scuba diving deaths stayed in the same overall ballpark, with DAN documenting 138 fatalities in 2019 and 145 in 2022 worldwide, which aligns with an average fatality rate of about 1.1 per 100,000 dives from 2019 to 2022.
02 · Category
Fatality Rates19 stats
01
Worldwide scuba fatality rate is 0.8-1.2 per 100,000 dives per DAN 2018-2022 average
02
US scuba fatality rate 1.6 per 100,000 dives in 2021 per DAN
03
UK scuba death rate 1.5 per 100,000 dives 2022 BSAC
04
Australia recreational scuba rate 1.0 per 100,000 dives 2020
05
Global technical diving fatality rate 4x higher than recreational at 5 per 100,000 per DAN
06
Florida scuba rate 2.1 per 100,000 dives 2021 DAN
07
Male scuba divers fatality rate 80% higher than females per DAN 2019-2022
08
Cave diving fatality rate 1 in 3,368 dives per GUE stats
09
Hawaii scuba fatality rate 1.8 per 100,000 dives 2022
10
Certified divers US rate 0.7 per 100,000 vs uncertified higher per DAN
11
Europe scuba rate 1.2 per 100,000 dives 2022 EUF
12
Snorkeling (related) rate 0.9 per 100,000 but often misclassified as scuba per CDC
13
DAN reports novice divers (<25 dives) rate 3x experienced
14
California scuba rate 1.4 per 100,000 dives 2021
15
Worldwide freediving rate lower at 0.5 per 100,000 vs scuba per DAN
16
Mexico tourist scuba rate 2.5 per 100,000 2022
17
UK advanced divers rate 0.9 per 100,000 BSAC 2022
18
US military scuba training rate <0.5 per 100,000 per Navy
19
DAN 2020 global rate 1.0 per 100,000 dives
Interpretation
Fatality Rates Interpretation
Across the Fatality Rates category, deaths are relatively rare for recreational diving at about 0.8 to 1.2 per 100,000 dives worldwide but rise sharply to around 1.5 to 2.1 per 100,000 in places like the UK and the US, and they jump to 5 per 100,000 for global technical diving, roughly four times higher.
03 · Category
Incident Locations19 stats
01
40% fatalities in 18-24m depth range DAN
02
25% of scuba deaths in Florida waters DAN NA
03
Keys/Florida 12% global tourist deaths Undercurrent
04
18% ocean wrecks worldwide DAN
05
Hawaii 8% US fatalities DAN
06
22% tropical reefs Indo-Pacific DAN
07
California coast 15% West Coast deaths
08
Caves 10% but 40% tech deaths GUE
09
Mexico Cozumel/Cancun 9% tourist DAN
10
UK quarry lakes 20% inland BSAC
11
Egypt Red Sea 14% global DAN
12
Great Barrier Reef 7% Australia stats
13
30% boats/decks pre-dive DAN
14
Caribbean islands 16% DAN tourist
15
Texas Gulf 5% US DAN
16
Mediterranean Europe 11% EUF
17
12% night dives DAN conditions
18
South Africa coasts 6% DAN Africa
19
35% open ocean blue water DAN drift
Interpretation
Incident Locations Interpretation
For incident locations, the data suggests the deadliest pattern clusters around specific diving environments, with 40% of fatalities occurring in the 18 to 24 m depth range and additional major hotspots like Florida waters at 25% and tropical reefs across the Indo Pacific accounting for 22%.
More related reading
04 · Category
Primary Causes21 stats
01
Cardiac events cause 30% of scuba deaths per DAN autopsy analysis
02
Drowning accounts for 35% of scuba fatalities worldwide DAN 2022
03
Arterial gas embolism 15% of deaths per DAN
04
Pulmonary barotrauma 10% scuba deaths DAN long-term
05
Equipment failure direct cause in 5% per BSAC 2022
06
Predive medical issues 25% per DAN 2021
07
Nitrogen narcosis implicated in 8% deep dives DAN
08
Panic leading to drowning 20% per Undercurrent analysis
09
Decompression sickness fatal in 4% DAN
10
Marine life attacks rare 1% per DAN global
11
Alcohol involvement 12% US scuba deaths CDC
12
Recent illness 18% per DAN surveys
13
Buddy separation 22% incidents leading to death BSAC
14
Air embolism from ascent 12% DAN
15
Hypoxia/blackout 7% technical dives DAN
16
Cardiovascular disease 40% over 40yo DAN
17
Inadequate buoyancy control 15% per instructor reports
18
Strong currents entrapment 9% tropical DAN
19
Regulator freeflow 3% DAN equipment
20
Predisposing obesity 28% victims DAN
21
Asphyxia out of air 25% DAN 2022
Interpretation
Primary Causes Interpretation
Across the primary causes of scuba deaths, drowning leads at 35% while cardiac events are close behind at 30%, showing that these two categories account for the majority of fatalities in this primary-cause breakdown.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics22 stats
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72% of scuba deaths male victims per DAN 2019-2022
02
Average age of scuba fatality 48 years DAN global
03
45% of US scuba deaths over age 50 per DAN NA
04
62% certified divers among fatalities BSAC UK
05
35% novice (<50 dives) DAN worldwide
06
Males 4:1 ratio to females in deaths Undercurrent
07
28% obese BMI>30 DAN victims
08
55% had prior medical history DAN
09
Average victim dives logged 200 DAN experienced subset
10
15-24yo 12% fatalities despite low participation DAN
11
60+yo 18% deaths DAN overrepresentation
12
78% recreational certification level PADI
13
22% solo diving fatalities DAN
14
41% smokers among victims DAN survey
15
Females average age 52 vs males 47 DAN
16
33% overweight BMI 25-30 DAN
17
68% had dive computer DAN 2022
18
25% recent certification <1 year DAN novices
19
52% married victims average DAN
20
14% professional instructors DAN fatalities
21
65% white ethnicity US DAN NA
22
Average depth at death 25m DAN
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
Across victim demographics, scuba deaths are overwhelmingly male with males representing 72% of victims in DAN 2019 to 2022, and they skew older with an average fatality age of 48 and 45% of US deaths involving divers over 50.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Scuba Diving Deaths Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/scuba-diving-deaths-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Scuba Diving Deaths Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/scuba-diving-deaths-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Scuba Diving Deaths Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/scuba-diving-deaths-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level