The Annual Diving Incident Report for 2024, which recorded a total of 239 incidents and sadly twelve fatalities throughout the UK, has now been released.
As part of its role as National Governing Body, BSAC reports annually on diving incidents in the UK from all diver training agencies. The report is compiled by BSAC Incident Advisor, Jim Watson and data analyst, Ben Peddie.
The Incident Report and its data analysis aims to promote diver safety as well as understanding any trends that can support all the diving agencies in their diver training programmes and safety advice.
The 2024 report covers incidents from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024. During this period, a total of 331 incidents were recorded in the UK and overseas, which sadly included twelve UK incidents resulting in twelve fatalities.
It is notable that the report again shows a higher number of incidents in September than in recent years. However, unlike September 2023, the weather was not as favourable in September. The report comments that these incidents are, for the most part, linked to diving at inland sites.
The report also continues previous analysis on incidences of IPO in the reports over the years. Improvements in training programmes mean that divers are becoming increasingly aware of IPO leading to earlier identification and resolution of the problem, thereby reducing the seriousness of an incident. Of the seven confirmed, and one possible, cases of IPO recorded in the report none, thankfully, resulted in a fatality. Those medically confirmed cases also reflect increased awareness of the condition in the medical community. The report also highlights the importance of getting medical advice to eliminate the risk of an IPO before diving again.
Other key features of the 2024 report include:
- Number of incidents continues to be closely linked to the amount of diving, with diving activity returned to pre-pandemic levels.
- Advice to ensure that divers have completed drysuit training and that drysuits fit well, especially around the feet and legs, to avoid loss of control of the fins and/or inversion.
- Experience and qualifications do not necessarily protect from the possibility of becoming a diving casualty.
The full BSAC Incident Report 2024 is now available for members and clubs to download. You can access the report at bsac.com/incidentreport
Learn more
BSAC Incidents Advisor will present the main findings of the Report during an online webinar on Tuesday 11 November at 8pm.
Help us to keep diving safe
If you have been involved in or witnessed an incident, please report it – in confidence – and help BSAC to continue to shape a safe future for diving.
Whether you are a BSAC diver or dive with another agency, a recreational or technical diver or if the incident happened in the UK or overseas, BSAC wants to hear about it.
Report an incident
To report an incident and help improve diving safety, use the form online at bsac.com/reportanincident
