Deaths and injuries:
Causes of Death: Equipment failure, improper ascent/descent, cardiac arrest

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors estimates that there are between 1.6 and 2.9 million active divers in the U.S. In order to dive using scuba gear, a license is required, and training can take anywhere from a few days to several months.

According to Larry "Harris" Taylor, Ph.D., a biochemist and diving safety coordinator at the University of Michigan, there are about 150 deaths each year in the U.S. from scuba diving mishaps, which comes to about 1 death for every 200,000 dives. Life insurance companies usually inquire about an applicant's diving history. People who dive to 100 feet or more can pay as much as $5 more for every $1000 on their life insurance premiums. People who dive deeper than 150 feet are usually declined coverage.