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Statistics of Shark Attacks on Divers

This figure shows victims' various diving activities at the time of attack. SCUBA divers are attacked the most frequently of any category of diving recreationalists. This tendency is most likely due to the fact that SCUBA diving is the most popular form of subsurface recreation, followed by free diving. (Updated February 10, 2012)

Activities of Others in the Area of Unprovoked Attacks on Divers 1820-2010
(N=123 of at least one of the activities going on;
individuals may be represented in more than one category)

Activity	Attack (#)
Diving	97
Normal Bathing/Swimming	9
Wading	7
Splashing or Horseplay	4
Surfing	3
Boating	1
Being Unusually Loud	1
Thrashing or Flailing	1

These data list the various activities going on in the water near a shark attack. (Updated February 17, 2011)





As you can see, many of the attacks on divers occurred less than one hour after entering the water. This is mostly due to the fact that divers do not spend as long in the water compared to other water activities. The next graphs depict the activities of divers being struck less than an hour after entry into the water and more than an hour after entry into the water. (See Diving Activities of Victims of Unprovoked Attacks for more information). (Updated February 10, 2012)





These are the relative percentages of divers who participate in the listed activities who were attacked less than an hour after entry into the water. (Updated February 10, 2012)





These are the relative percentages of divers who participate in the listed activities who were attacked over an hour after entering the water. (Updated February 10, 2012)





This graph reflects the behavior patterns of humans. Nearly all shark attacks occur between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM and during the weekend, NOT because of the shark's daily activity cycles, but because these are the times of the day when divers go out in the water. (Updated February 10, 2012)





These graphs reflect the behavior patterns of humans. Most shark attacks on divers occur between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and during the weekend. This trend is NOT a reflection of the shark's daily activity cycles, but because these are the times when divers go out in the water. (Updated February 10, 2012)

© International Shark Attack File Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida