Is it getting worse or are we hearing more about it?

[gerbil]

Just noticed on the BBC that some British divers have gone missing in Bali. I dont want to talk about that (although if the reports are acurate then my concerns go out to any one involved) as such but it got me thinking. Are there more incidents or is it that we hear more about it?


p.s. this is not about standards/types of diving if you get my drift and a chance to get on any ones goats or hobby horses in fact can we please leave all metaphorical animals out of this

[ratcliffe]

I think it is a combination of things:

1. There are more people diving than probably ever before, so by default if the percentage of people/incidents remains the same, then there will be more incidents

2. Communication is so easy these days so anything is reported more quickly and widely

3. A forum like this picks up on anything diving related, cross agency etc, wheras in the old days BSAC divers would only hear about BSAC incidents in the main etc etc.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by ratcliffe

I think it is a combination of things:

1. There are more people diving than probably ever before, so by default if the percentage of people/incidents remains the same, then there will be more incidents

2. Communication is so easy these days so anything is reported more quickly and widely

3. A forum like this picks up on anything diving related, cross agency etc, wheras in the old days BSAC divers would only hear about BSAC incidents in the main etc etc.

H'mm I think diving fatalities have always been picked up on by the news, BSAC divers or not. They are not usually a word of mouth thing. Although there has been at least one this year that passed almost without comment, but it was on some dive sites.

[ratcliffe]

Yes, I was using BSAC as an example in point 3, just saying that you tended to hear about things within your own organisation, whether it be BSAC, PADI, SAA etc.
A lot of the boundaries are being broken down these days making communication easier I guess.

[Stevie H]

But some countries, who rely on tourism do try to keep a lid on things! Some accidents come to light a lot quicker in certain areas of the world than in others...

[Mark Chase]

I have read the plaques at the Blue Hole but i have not head about most of the deaths they refer too. QED we dont hear about them all.

Just remember more people died last year from vending macheen accidents than died due to diving (bassed on UK figures for diving and USA figures for Vending macheen accidents).


ATB

Mark

[ratcliffe]

I appreciate this is a serious thread, but that comment about Americans and vending machines really made me snigger.

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by Stevie H

But some countries, who rely on tourism do try to keep a lid on things! Some accidents come to light a lot quicker in certain areas of the world than in others...

A few years ago, IIRC, five Japanese divers and their guide got swept away in Palau never to be seen again. That one definitely got swept under the carpet although it certainly helped that the divers were Japanese rather than Europeans or Americans.