Post-training dive inactivity in Western Australia

A lack of recent diving experience is often cited as relevant in analyses of diving fatalities. The purpose of this study was to measure diving inactivity amongst trained scuba divers within Western Australia and to identify reasons for extended diving inactivity.

In March 2005, self-administered surveys were mailed through 22 diving training centres to Western Australians who had completed a scuba diving course within the previous five years (n = 2,077).

Three-hundred-and-five of 505 returned questionnaires were suitable for analysis. Within two years of completing scuba training, one in five divers had not dived for at least one year, with one half of these making only one post-course dive. Compared with active divers, inactive divers were younger, more likely female, owned less dive gear, were less likely to own a boat and completed fewer additional dive courses. Reasons cited for not diving were a lack of time, diving equipment, someone to dive with and/or money.

Divers likely to spend extended periods between dives, without intending to permanently give up diving, may benefit from additional support during their first post-course year.