Table 1. Predisposing factors for a scuba diving fatality .

Predisposing factors

Definition: A predisposing factor (as used here) is a relevant factor that was present prior to the dive, and/or prior to the trigger occurring, and which is believed to have predisposed to the incident and/or to key components in the accident chain (e.g., the trigger or disabling agent).

Health-related: May include factors such as a history of cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, diabetes as well as factors such as mental or physical fatigue.

Organisational/training/experience/skills-related: Includes factors that may have impacted a diver’s practical readiness to dive. Factors such as the suitability of training course design and conduct and the overall dive organisation by a dive operator are included as well as the level of skill and/or experience of the diver relevant to the circumstances.

Planning-related: Applies to obviously poor pre-dive planning decisions, whether made well before the dive or immediately prior. This includes factors such as a decision to dive in conditions that were obviously unsuitable, or should have reasonably have been assessed as unsuitable or a decision to dive alone, among others.

Poor communication or coordination: If communication between buddies and/or the dive supervisor (prior to or during the dive) is poor, the opportunity of misunderstandings and unexpected and inappropriate actions is increased.

Absence of appropriate equipment; using obviously faulty equipment: Although this is somewhat planning-related, this particular category is equipment-specific.

Activity-related: Some activities (e.g., spearfishing/seafood collecting, penetration diving) are associated with particular inherent risks. For example, spearfishing is well known to attract sharks and can predispose to an accident triggered by the arrival of an aggressive shark. Penetration diving can predispose to an incident triggered by entrapment.

Unsafe supervision: This can apply to supervision by the divemaster overseeing a dive, an instructor supervising students or to a diver's interactions with his buddy.

Other: Includes anything that cannot appropriately be allocated to one of the defined categories. This category should be used sparingly and only after a serious attempt to utilise an existing category.

Unknown/none: There is insufficient information on which to make a reasonable suggestion of a possible predisposing factor.