How many scuba divers are there?

[MXGratefulDiver]

I think the only thing the agencies can really tell you is how many certifications have been issued. Of those certifications, they have no idea how many of those people are actively diving.

Many, MANY people get certified for that one trip ... then never dive again. They may, in fact, be a majority of the people who ever take scuba lessons.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[GrandpaScuba]

Most analysts (agencies, etc.) that I've encountered consider any dives on a yearly basis to be "active". Or, the other criteria I've encountered is "at least 5 or 6 dives per year".

 

[RonFrank]

From my understanding, military divers, while better trained than most divers in the world, are not certified by any recognized agency, and would likely be ignored from any agency counts.

Here is a quote: As of 2001, NDSTC had a staff of 160 males and 10 females processing over 1,500 students per year in a several different programs. At any given time there are 150-200 students on board, classed-up in their various diving specialties.

Ironically after very demanding training, these divers would have to go through an OW class to be eligible to dive on a commercial boat or get air fills? I could be wrong on this but I seem to remember a Navy diver recently having to go through OW with A1 because he was not certified? :no

 

[Walter]

Thanks Walter for your sarcasm. I was asking a serious question.

Let's try to keep this on topic please.

It is on topic. There are no legitimate numbers.

 

[Harshal]

Considering all the agencies from recreactional to technical, including professional, how many divers do you think there are? Of that number, how many, or what percent do you think do more than 20 dives a year?

Do I have to do more than 20 dives a year to be counted as active diver ?????

 

[mdb]

It is on topic. There are no legitimate numbers.

Perhaps-but there are informed estimates. I've been tracking it for 30+ years, number of divers, talking to all the certification orgs. seeing the sales $ at wholesale. hearing privately how many certs etc. Asking 100's of LDS folks how many students they have each year. It is not to say that any number is right or wrong. Two million "active" divers-having been diving in the last twelve months-is a figure that keeps coming up. Sad indeed with the world population 6.7 billion and the US @ 300 million-estimates of course.

 

[Walter]

Do I have to do more than 20 dives a year to be counted as active diver ?????

I wouldn't consider someone who makes 20 dives/year an "active" diver.

 

[Paco]

Do we know how many certifications are issured in a year? I thought I read somewhere that it was a rather large number. Of course the number of active divers that result from the certifications is rather small.

 

[ONESPEED]

Thanks Walter for your sarcasm. I was asking a serious question.

Let's try to keep this on topic please.

Is there a thread that needs hijacking?

 

[simbrooks]

I would currently consider myself inactive asi havent been wet since last summer and in the past few years reasonably active (100 dives/year).

I would hazard a guess that less than 5% of the total certified divers are even slightly active - but again that's just a feeling, a number from nowhere.