Number of certified divers

[Jeff Toorish]

Hello All,

Does anyone here know how many certified divers there are in the US?

Jeff

 

[Scubagolf]

"Estimates range from 1.5 to 3.5 million in the United States." [Ref: http://www.scuba-doc.com/bluorb.htm]

"With over 4 million sport divers in the United States alone, diving candidates with chronic disorders frequently appear in their physician’s office requesting medical clearance for sport diver training." [http://www.scubamed.com/tuum_prg.htm]

"[T]he total number of active scuba divers is unknown; estimates range from 1.5 million to 3.5 million in the United States alone." [http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/communications/diving/panicq&a.htm]

PADI Diver Statistics
How Many Active Divers Are There in the US?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions PADI Americas receives. Unfortunately, there is presently no concrete answer. Estimates range from 1.6 to 2.9 million.
[http://www.padi.com/english/common/padi/statistics/6.asp]

 

[serambin]

"Estimates range from 1.5 to 3.5 million in the United States." [Ref: http://www.scuba-doc.com/bluorb.htm]

"With over 4 million sport divers in the United States alone, diving candidates with chronic disorders frequently appear in their physician’s office requesting medical clearance for sport diver training." [http://www.scubamed.com/tuum_prg.htm]

"[T]he total number of active scuba divers is unknown; estimates range from 1.5 million to 3.5 million in the United States alone." [http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/communications/diving/panicq&a.htm]

PADI Diver Statistics
How Many Active Divers Are There in the US?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions PADI Americas receives. Unfortunately, there is presently no concrete answer. Estimates range from 1.6 to 2.9 million.
[http://www.padi.com/english/common/padi/statistics/6.asp]

So, like . . . how many is that?

Stan

 

[miketsp]

So, like . . . how many is that?

Stan

In layman's terms, lots, give or take quite a few.

There's no way of knowing. There are many agencies plus many holiday certifications outside the USA.

 

[spectrum]

"[T]he total number of active scuba divers is unknown; estimates range from 1.5 million to 3.5 million in the United States alone." [http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/communications/diving/panicq&a.htm]

So with a 95% drop out rate for the sport just imagine how many are inactive!

And what do you suppose the threshold is for active?

I meet as many divers who don't dive as I do those that do. :11:

Pete

 

[shiro85]

DEMA does try to compile some information, as its their business to do so ... and sometimes, its more effective to "Follow The Money" to see how large/small a particular activity is.

For example, DEMA estimated that the sum of non-duplicate NAUI, PADI, SDI & SSI new OW Certified divers in 2004 was 173,225.

In 1999, the total size of the industry was $711M. if we assume its now around $750M/year and we assume that each active diver spends roughly $3K/year in dive equipment, maintenance and dive travel, then simple division would suggest that there's only around 250,000 active divers.

Similarly, the average "lifespan" of diver activity is around 5 years, which with the usual 75% immediate drop-out would suggest that there's only around 5 * (1-.75) * 175,000 = very roughly a quarter million divers are actually active.

Insofar as trying to reach a claimed "3.5 million divers" value, at 175,000 new dives certified per year, they would have to have sustained that rate of OW certification for the past 20 years to have reached that number.

 

[NYPI]

In 1999, the total size of the industry was $711M. if we assume its now around $750M/year and we assume that each active diver spends roughly $3K/year in dive equipment, maintenance and dive travel, then simple division would suggest that there's only around 250,000 active divers.


Please revise above to:

$3K/year in dive equipment, $3K/year in maintenance, $3K/year in dive travel.

LOL

Mike

 

[Walter]

Noone knows.

 

[Sideband]

There are exactly 12.
Disclaimer:
All estimates rounded down to the nearest number whose value is exactly 12

Joe

 

[Heffey]

So with a 95% drop out rate for the sport just imagine how many are inactive!

And what do you suppose the threshold is for active?

I meet as many divers who don't dive as I do those that do. :11:

Pete

Hey Pete,
I have heard that 95% number before and have always thought it to be strange. No one knows how many certified divers there are but they know the dropout ratio. They must use the "New Math" to derive that percentage.
Jeffrey