Is Catherine Zeta-Jones Being Daft Or is Scuba Diving Really Dangerous?

I couldn't help but notice a curious item in the* Training - to dive safely, and further/continued
"celebrities talking crap" section of the news thistraining to deal with problems and accidents
week. Some Hollywood actress named Catherine* Experience - for improving judgment and increasing
Zeta-Jones stated emphatically that she refused toconfidence
follow her husband (some 1970s cop show star)* Good judgment - diving within your ability and
scuba diving. Reason cited was that she was afraidcomfort level
of what might be lurking below in the waters. SheDiving is equipment intensive
said she admired her husband for his bravery inAs humans can't breathe underwater, we rely a
pursuing his pastime.great deal on the equipment. Divers must:
If it's so dangerous, why would someone let her near* Maintain their equipment properly - having it
and dear one go scuba diving? Unless of courseserviced professionally when required
you're happy to have them risk life and limb. Imagine* Be familiar with their equipment. This means
the conversation at the Saturday morning breakfastknowing how it works and how to best deal with
table "Hey, I think you're so brave for teachingemergencies.
yourself bungee jumping" or "I really admire yourCreatures lurking below?
gusto in going landmine sweeping with home-madeYes there are dangerous creatures. The Titan
equipment... by the way, have you updated our lifeTriggerfish has given me great fright on many
insurance policies?"occasions but it's the Cleaner Wrasse that has been
Seriously though, how "dangerous" is scuba diving?my nemesis. But ask people who haven't ventured
Of course there are some risksbelow and they'll say they are petrified of incredible
All activities have some risks. Only a foolish personsounding creatures such as the Megalodon Shark and
would think they could strap a tank of compressedthe Giant Octopus.
air on their back, jump in underwater without theIt's quite baffling to hear people STILL cite Jaws (the
necessary precautions and training be fine. You needfilm is 35 years old!) as a reason for their fear of
to be in good physical and mental health toentering the water. That fish was one influential
participate in diving.rubber shark to have had such an enduring effect on
According to a 2006 report on diving fatalities by thepopular culture and the collective psyche of would-be
Divers Alert Network, there are strong contributorsocean goers. The tragic side of the Jaws hysteria has
to diving-related deaths such as obesity, age andbeen the anti-shark sentiment that contributed to the
errors in judgment. The initial triggering event thatneedless destruction of many sharks.
began the sequence leading to death was mostLets put things in perspective. Very few people are
often insufficient gas (14 per cent), followed byeaten by sharks. A holiday-maker to the warm
rough seas and strong current (10 per cent), heartclimates might want to spend more time ensuring
disease (9 per cent), entrapment (9 per cent), andtheir vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis are taken
equipment problems (8 per cent). The equipmentcare of. More than a million people die from malaria
problems may have been procedural or hardwareevery year and thousands of tourists are stricken
related. The triggering event could not be establisheddown with a variety of serious illnesses while
for 20 per cent of the cases.travelling.
Scuba diving is as dangerous as you make itWe can conclude that most healthy people with good
Accidents can almost always be attributed to humanjudgment can dive safely and enjoy themselves. As
error - or to a series of errors. Life is about riskfor the fear of rubber sharks and giant tentacles,
management and in scuba diving, reducing riskssome people need excuses and drama.
require: