Annual Diving Report - Divers Alert Network

5. BREATH-HOLD DIVING
Details on the diving environment were available for 87 percent (n=20) of the known cases. The
vast majority (90 percent) occurred in the ocean. One case occurred in a swimming pool and one
in a freshwater lava tube.
Categorical descriptions of the primary activity of the incident victim were available in 96 percent
of the known cases (n=22). The breakdown in shown in Figure 5.2-1. Snorkeling is the most
commonly applied designator. Snorkelers may remain completely on the surface or participate in
some breath-hold diving from the surface. Freedivers typically wear a mask and some form of fin
or fins and direct their activity to breath-hold diving from the surface. Increasing dive depth and/or
breath-hold time are common goals. The nature of the dives will vary dramatically with the
individual skill and training level of participants. Spearfishing incorporates the act of underwater
hunting for food into the breath-hold exercise. Collecting refers to underwater hunting without
spear devices. Maximizing depth is generally not the primary motivator for either spearfishing or
collecting. The challenges of the hunt, however, can encourage divers to push their limits.
Percent of Cases
40
30
20
10
0
Snorkeling Spearfishing Collecting Freediving
Breath-Hold Activity
Figure 5.2-1 Distribution (percentages) of described primary activity for breathhold
incident victims in 2004 (n=22).
Figure 5.2-2 describes the information known regarding gender and age. Gender was available in
all cases (n=23). All but one of the victims was male (96 percent; n=23). Age was available in 96
percent (n=22) of cases. The average age of victims (± standard deviation) was 41±16 years,
ranging from 14 to 77 years.
60 Annual Diving Report: 2006 Edition