Western Australian recreational scuba diving fatalities, 1992 to 2005.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate recreational scuba diving fatalities within Western Australia (WA) between 1992 and 2005.


METHODS
Coroners reports for 24 diving fatalities were reviewed to determine anthropometry, certification status and breaches of safe practices for each.


RESULTS
Certification status was known for 20 divers and of these six (30%) were uncertified. Certified divers breached significantly fewer safe diving practices than uncertified divers (p<0.01). Existing regulatory mechanisms require training certification only for dives made from commercial dive boats, yet the number of deaths involving shore dives or private craft (n=15) were triple the number diving from commercial boats (n=5).


CONCLUSIONS
Uncertified divers are less regulated and breach more safe practices than certified divers.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend changes to existing regulations governing dives made from shore and private craft in WA, requiring that all divers be certified.
Buzzacott
Peter
P
School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Australia. pbuzzacott@meddent.uwa.edu.au
Rosenberg
Michael
M
Pikora
Terri
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002568:Certification; D004242:Diving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004332:Drowning / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult