How many people have been scuba diving?

[chachee99]

I've wondered this question for a while now and cannot get an answer. Based on the World's current population, approximately how many percent of people have explored the aquatic world at least once in their life? I am not counting those who have snorkled, because snorkling and diving are complelely different activities and experiences.

My guess is under 5 percent of the World has even witnessed the wonders of the aquatic life with their own eyes. My number is based upon the number of people I meet with any level of certifiation. To be honest, most people I meet who live in urban areas and large cities have never been scuba diving. Many say snorkling, but that's not the same. Remember 5% is just a rough guess. What's your answer? You can just guess like I did. But, if you have some data to back up your answer that would be great.

BTW, scuba diving in a pool or aquarium doesn't count either.



What do you

 

[Puffer Fish]

I would put the number at something under .03%...perhaps about half of that. I doubt there are 1,000,000 people living that have ever been diving. My guess would be around 600,000..and with the billions living, that would be around .015%

 

[Caver95]

I would put the number at something under .03%...perhaps about half of that. I doubt there are 1,000,000 people living that have ever been diving. My guess would be around 600,000..and with the billions living, that would be around .015%

That number might be close to the number of dive masters padi has turned out I was number 185707.
I think there are something like 10-12 million cert divers around the world.

 

[ukslim]

Well, "in 2000, PADI issued its 10 millionth diving certification" (Google it - I'm too new to be allowed to post URLs! ). That was in 34 years of operation. They've had another 8 years since then, so let's assume at least 12.5 million PADI certifications.

I'm too new to this to be able to extrapolate that across other agencies. Nor do I know what the average number of PADI certifications per person is (I guess there are millions of people with OW and no more, making an average of below 2.0). Plus there's the people who've dived without certification, or failed to complete certification.

So, finger in the air, I'm going to double that original number - 20 million.

As of November 2008, the world's population is estimated to be about 6.7 billion (6,700,000,000). (Wikipedia).

20 million / 6.7 billion =~ 0.3 percent

I suspect that at least 90% of the world's population would struggle to pay what we spend on air, let alone all the other kit.

 

[Bratface]

I agree, not very many. I find it astonishing when non-divers ask me what is there to look out down there. Some people actually believe the ocean is just a body of water.

 

[Guba]

Now factor in all the people who have done "resort dives" as well as "discovery dives" but who never pursued certification. That would increase the numbers a bit, but maybe not significantly.

My question is probably easier and I might be able to find it if I was just better at using search engines...How many certified divers are in the US right now, and what do you think the percentage is that is active? (Okay, so that's two questions--give me a break.)

 

[chachee99]

I agree, not very many. I find it astonishing when non-divers ask me what is there to look out down there. Some people actually believe the ocean is just a body of water.

I get that question a lot too. Some people think there is not a lot to see. But then those are the same people that believe that there are sharks in water just waiting to eat divers any chance they get. Yes, Jaws was a powerful movie.

Anyways, it seems that my original 5% guess was way out. I didn't know Padi had over 12 million certified divers. Is that figure the total number of new divers or the total number of certifcations they have issued? Example, open water, advanced, Nitrox, divemaster, etc.

 

[Walter]

I've wondered this question for a while now and cannot get an answer.

And you never will. Not only does no one know, but there's no way to know.

 

[KyDodenhoff]

So wise Walter is!

 

[Puffer Fish]

I think that number may be correct, but it does not reflect 10 million people. I have 4 of those 10 million, and I'm NAUI...in addition, not everyone is still alive since they started...but walter is most likely correct.

Well, "in 2000, PADI issued its 10 millionth diving certification" (Google it - I'm too new to be allowed to post URLs! ). That was in 34 years of operation. They've had another 8 years since then, so let's assume at least 12.5 million PADI certifications.

I'm too new to this to be able to extrapolate that across other agencies. Nor do I know what the average number of PADI certifications per person is (I guess there are millions of people with OW and no more, making an average of below 2.0). Plus there's the people who've dived without certification, or failed to complete certification.

So, finger in the air, I'm going to double that original number - 20 million.

As of November 2008, the world's population is estimated to be about 6.7 billion (6,700,000,000). (Wikipedia).

20 million / 6.7 billion =~ 0.3 percent

I suspect that at least 90% of the world's population would struggle to pay what we spend on air, let alone all the other kit.