Most common diving mistakes: this could save your life!

How often is human error to blame?

Several independent reports agree: human mistakes dominate as the root cause of diving incidents.

A comprehensive review of 185 fatal accidents involving Czech and Slovak divers (1965–2025) found that the overwhelming majority were caused by poor decisions, inadequate preparation, or ignoring personal health. Only a very small percentage were due to pure equipment failure (Hovorka & Belica, 2025, Smrtelné nehody českých a slovenských potápěčů ).

The British Sub-Aqua Club Annual Diving Incident Report 2023 recorded 355 incidents (113 overseas), with human error present in more than 70% of cases. Fatalities were most often linked to rapid ascents, poor gas planning, or panic underwater (BSAC, 2023.

Globally, the Divers Alert Network (DAN) Annual Diving Report has repeatedly shown that around 80% of both fatal and non-fatal incidents include human error as a primary or contributing factor (DAN Annual Diving Reports ).

The most common mistakes that cost lives

1. Poor planning and decision-making

Many accidents begin before the diver even enters the water. Choosing a site beyond one’s training, ignoring weather or current conditions, or planning dives that exceed safe depth or gas reserves are recurring patterns.

2. Inadequate equipment checks

Simple oversights – forgetting to open a tank valve, skipping the buddy check, or diving with poorly maintained gear – are frequent triggers of emergencies that could have been easily prevented.

3. Panic and poor problem-solving underwater

When something goes wrong, panic can turn a minor issue into a fatal one. Studies show that divers often fail to apply their training in stressful situations, leading to uncontrolled ascents, out-of-air situations, or drowning.

4. Ignoring health and fitness

Underlying health conditions – especially cardiac problems, obesity, or poor physical fitness – are a common factor in fatal diving accidents. In many cases, divers underestimated their limitations or continued diving despite clear medical contraindications.

What this means for divers

The message from all these reports is clear: diving is not inherently dangerous, but divers can make it dangerous. By recognizing how often human error leads to tragedy, every diver can take steps to reduce their personal risk:

Respect your training limits and gain experience gradually.

Never skip equipment checks and buddy procedures.

Practice emergency drills until they become automatic.

Take health and fitness seriously – your body is your life support system.

Final thoughts

While diving equipment continues to evolve and become more reliable, the greatest safety improvement lies in human behavior. Paying attention to these lessons, learned through hundreds of accidents, could literally save your life.

Stay safe, dive smart, and remember: prevention is always easier than rescue.

Author: Jakub Šimánek

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