How risky is diving?

[Darian Dunn]

I don’t have any statistics, but diving seems very safe. Has anyone seen any statistics on how diving compares?

So, what are the odds that the moron in your class will end up killing/hurting him/herself?


Thanks

 

[Paul168341]

Diving is statistically safer than bowling.
But then, bowling involves large, heavy spheres and mass quantities of alcohol.

Morons hurting/killing themselves is a mathmatical constant. No matter what they do, morons are morons and the probability doesn't change.

 

[MSilvia]

I don't know about the statistics, but when you dive, even if it seems safe, you're entering an environment where you can't survive without the right equipment and training. While accidents may happen frequently while bowling, the potential accidents that occur while diving can be a lot more serious. I don't know what kind of statistics you're looking for , but the bottom line is that the safer you act, and the better prepared you are, the safer you'll be.

 

[KC_Scubabunny]

Darian,

Divers Alert Network (DAN) publishes a report every year. You can purchase off their website at www.diversalertnetwork.org if you are not a member or simply log in and access if you are.

DAN is the most well respected provider of Dive Medicine and health safety information related to diving.

As you have heard already, diving is a much safer support statistically than say football or baseball. I have also heard that it compares with bowling but I also echo MSilvia's comment that as divers, we can each make it safer for ourselves by knowing our limits and diving within them. All too often diving fatalities are reported on this board and all too often they are new divers or divers diving beyond their training or limits.

Dive Safe!

KC_Scubabunny

 

[MSilvia]

It may well compare with bowling if you look at the number of injuries per participant, but where bowling injuries might be things like sprains, strains, and smashed toes, they probably don't get many drownings, pulmonary expansion injuries, or embolysms. How many bowlers ever had to spend the day in emergency decompression? Do bowlers need their own rescue insurance companies?

I'm sure there are lots of available statistics, but what are you looking for? deaths per participant? Hospitilizations? Accidents of any sort? per participant hour? by location?

I've heard it said that your odds of being attacked by a shark are less than of being hit by lightning... sure, if you live on a farm in the Midwest. Is this also true of surfers in Florida? This statistic is based on incidents out of the population in general. You need to be mindful of the sample population you're interested in (for example) if you want the stats to be meaningful.

If you want to check out quantitative analysis of relative safety, make sure the numbers describe what they seem to.

 

[dvleemin]

Well,
I've read you're more likely to be killed driving to the ocean, than diving in it. Thats one of those statistics I actually believe is quite possible.

Darryl

 

[MSilvia]

I don't doubt that... for the most part people are way more dangerous than fish. I didn't mean to give the impression that diving wasn't relatively safe... I believe it is, but it's important to remember that when accidents do happen, they can be considerably more serious than in other sports. (driving not being one of them)

 

[devilfish]

Accurate statistics are very difficult to establish. There are no exact accurate numbers how many divers there are and how many of those divers are active. Agencies report certifications. That involves multiple specialties. Every time an agency issues a card it represents another diver. Furthermore, many divers have multiple agency certifications. A diver may be certified by one agency, taken a specialty from another agency, and yet another specialty from another agency. Each card represents another diver. The only way to establish accurate safety statistics of the sport, exact number of divers would be needed in comparison to incidences.
Diving however if participated with good training, good health and prudent approach is much safer than driving on RT17 at rush hour.

 

[Spectre]

Originally posted by KC_Scubabunny
Divers Alert Network (DAN) publishes a report every year. You can purchase off their website at www.diversalertnetwork.org if you are not a member or simply log in and access if you are.

Has anyone had any luck actually getting to it? Everytime I try,
it tells me to log in. I log in, and I head back to the main page
and try to download it, and it takes me back to the members
login page...

 

[Spectre]

Originally posted by funky__monks


Has anyone had any luck actually getting to it? Everytime I try,
it tells me to log in.

Nevermind... there is something flakey with I.e. I can get to
the info via netscape.