Divers Alert Network reported 145 scuba diving fatalities worldwide in 2022, and early totals point to 152 global deaths after that. Rates vary by region and depth, with 40% of fatalities occurring between 18 and 24 meters. The strongest patterns show up in causes tied to the diver’s body under pressure and rescue outcomes after the incident.
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, DAN reported 145 scuba diving fatalities worldwide, averaging about 1.1 per 100,000 dives.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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Inadequate buoyancy control 15% per instructor reports
18
Strong currents entrapment 9% tropical DAN
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Regulator freeflow 3% DAN equipment
20
Predisposing obesity 28% victims DAN
21
Asphyxia out of air 25% DAN 2022
Interpretation
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.
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
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
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