Sports and recreation
Scuba diving
Estimated population-level acute risk associated with a single recreational scuba dive.
Base risk estimate
5 micromorts per dives
Population-level estimate. Not a personal prediction.
Assumptions
Assumes a recreational dive within sport diving limits (no-decompression, <40m) with a certified diver and buddy system, in conditions typical for recreational diving.
Limitations
Risk varies by depth, dive conditions, equipment maintenance, diver fitness, dive site remoteness, and whether decompression diving is involved. DAN membership may underrepresent higher-risk diver populations.
Source notes
DAN and BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) independent member surveys confirmed approximately 5 fatalities per million dives (5 micromorts per dive). DAN Annual Diving Report 2021 Edition (NCBI Bookshelf NBK616847) documents North American recreational diving fatalities. Also consistent with Denoble PJ et al. analysis of DAN fatality data.
Last reviewed
5/31/2024