Around 1500 people a year win at least $1million playing the Lotto in America alone.

[Scuba7]

Around 10 people get killed worldwide by sharks.

So your odds are pretty good when it comes to sharks.

Just for anyone who is new to, or wants to take up diving.

 

[scubadiver888]

I don't know whether or not your summary is correct or not but I have a problem with your statistics.

Your statistics don't take into consideration many important factors such as how many lottery tickets are sold. Or how many people go scuba diving in an area with sharks. For example, if 1,500,000,000,000 lottery tickets are sold per year then winning the lottery is 1:1,000,000,000 chance of winning. On the other hand, if 100,000,000 dives involve sharks or at least the chance of shark attack then you have a 1:10,000,000.

 

[Skittl1321]

On the other hand, if 100,000,000 dives involve sharks or at least the chance of shark attack then you have a 1:10,000,000.

Keep in mind though, most people killed by sharks are not divers. (Beach-goers, surfers, snorkelers, etc).
So you either need to look at the population of all people who enter the water (not just divers); or reduce the numerator when considering the fraction of divers killed.

Then you can look at divers who were hunting, vs those just floating around.

 

[kimbalabala]

Picky, picky, picky! For the record, I'm not a statistic for either winning the lotto or shark bites.

 

[maj2]

I do not necessarily disagree with the conclusion... just the manner in getting there.
I am regularly reminded that if you torture numbers enough, they will tell you whatever you want to hear.

 

[Pinecube]

You can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forfty percent of all people know that. - Homer Simpson

 

[drbill]

As for the lottery, I've used the $1 million I've saved by not buying any lotto tickets to actually dive for 53 years! As for the sharks, only one attack in that same time period... by a totally harmless horn shark that tried to gum my wetsuit

 

[nimoh]

I have seen a similar comparison with the number of diving fatalities and the number of people that die in car accidents. That comparison also fails to take into account participation numbers and exposure.

 

[Mike126]

Ok so statistically speaking, from very reliable sources, if you don't dive with a BPW you will die and a shark will eat you.... If you don't believe me go look at the BCD forum! I think the same is confirmed with not diving with a 7' hose...:cool2:

 

[nimoh]

Ok so statistically speaking, from very reliable sources, if you don't dive with a BPW you will die and a shark will eat you.... If you don't believe me go look at the BCD forum! I think the same is confirmed with not diving with a 7' hose...:cool2:

Partly true. If you don't dive with a BP/W and long hose, you will die. That is an indisputable fact, however there is no guarantee that a shark will eat you