# A Temporal Comparison of 50 Years of Australian Scuba Diving Fatalities

## TL;DR

This study analyzed 50 years of scuba diving fatalities in Australia, finding that while drowning rates decreased, cardiac-related deaths increased due to an aging and more obese diver population.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed temporal analysis of scuba diving fatalities in Australia over 50 years, highlighting demographic and cause-of-death trends.

## Key findings

- The proportion of male divers decreased from 83% to 76%, and the median age of casualties increased from 33 to 47 years.
- Primary drowning incidents decreased (47% to 36%), while cardiac-related disabling conditions more than doubled (12% to 26%).
- The percentage of certified divers and buddy-diving incidents increased, while out-of-gas incidents decreased.

## Abstract

Australian scuba fatalities over 50 years were examined to determine temporal changes over two consecutive periods, 1972–1999 and 2000–2021. The Australasian Diving Safety Foundation database and National Coronial Information System were searched to identify scuba deaths from 1972 to 2021. Historical data, police and witness reports, and autopsies were recorded and comparisons made between the two periods. Of 430 total deaths, 236 occurred during 1972–1999 and 194 during 2000–2021, with average annual fatalities of 8.4 and 8.8, respectively. The proportion of males reduced (83% to 76%) and median ages rose (33 to 47 years) with a large rise in the percentage of casualties among people aged 45 years or older (24% to 57%). There were increases in certified divers (64% to 81%) and in the proportion of divers who were with a buddy at the time of their incident (17% to 27%), as well as a decrease in out-of-gas incidents (30% to 25%). A reduction in primary drowning (47% to 36%) was accompanied by more than a doubling of cardiac-related disabling conditions (12% to 26%). The substantial increase in casualties’ ages and of the proportions of casualties aged 45 or more and of females between the periods indicate the inclusion of a broader cohort of participants and ageing of longtime divers. The reduction in primary drowning was likely due to increased training and improvements in equipment, particularly BCDs and pressure gauges. The rise in cardiac-related deaths was due to an older and more obese cohort. Improved health education and surveillance and improved dive planning are essential to reduce such deaths.