Is anyone keeping track?

[ghostdiver1957]

A thought popped into my head just now and so I thought I'd throw it out there.

Does anyone know which training agencies divers have the most diving accidents / deaths?

Is it SSI, PADI, NAUI, BSAC, IDEA, YMCA, NASDS, SDI TDI or some other group. Does anyone know of statistics such as these being kept? It would be good to know and might set straight the debate between which agencies have the best training programs. Of course I understand that some agencies certify far more divers than others, but I'd like to see that X agency has certified X number of divers and had X number of accidents and X number of deaths. It could even be broken down by state etc... any thoughts?

 

[daniel f aleman]

That's like asking: which automobile manufacturer in the USA has the most accidents? Well, GM has 35% of the market, Ford 20%, Chrysler/Dodge 10%, and everyone else 35%.

Anytime you're talking about a wide statistical analysis (especially concerning totals) it ends up being about market share.

 

[aquaoren]

I would never trust any statistic, I haven't made up myself.

 

[Don Burke]

That would be pretty complex since many divers are certified through several agencies.

For instance, I took OW through SSI and have not taken an SSI course since. If I get bent next week, would it be scored as an SSI hit?

 

[NJScubaDoc]

You know they say 34.5% of all statistics are made up
hehe

 

[Kevfin]

There are lies, damned lies and statistics...
Mark Twain

 

[matt_unique]

I would assume PADI simply because they have the largest market share. Just as others referenced with car manufacturers, boats, etc.

--Matt

 

[String]

Its nigh on impossible to work out.

Without knowing the exact number of dives performed you cant get any meaningful stats like that.

So many other factors like the bigger certifies would have higher injuries/deaths purely through the volume of people. Others such as tech agencies or those agencies that dive mainly in poor conditions maybe expected to have a high % per member than tropical concentrating and so on.

Until every person logs every single dive (truthfully) and submits to some central agency (which is never going to happen) producing any statistics to compare agency rates wont work.

 

[diversteve]

You can't honestly think they'd tell you. That's like asking GM how many recalls they've had. Bad PR.

 

[String]

Some agencies do collect stats. But the way others work i suspect its impossible for them to get stats and a lot of agencies have no further contact with a diver once certified.