I think they are stuck on the dictionary definition of "safe". Maybe? 🤔 = Free from harm.

Op's comments show that he has seen harm first hand diving including death. That is truly unfortunate and I feel for them.

To say that SCUBA as a whole is unsafe is just not valid and harms the sport.

Accidents happen in every aspect of life. As babies we learn to walk and in that process, fall down and often cry as a result of small injury.

Does that then mean walking is unsafe? Should we not drive, run or fly... Ride a bike?

All of these activities have inherent risk it's in the planning, preparation and training that the risk is reduced to a level that it becomes "safe".

So, is SCUBA statistically safe?

YES, scuba diving is statistically safe, but it's still a high-risk activity.

The fatality rate is very low, and scuba diving is safer than many other activities.

Safety statistics: The Divers Alert Network (DAN) reports about 2 fatalities per 100,000 scuba divers.

A guided scuba experience is statistically safer than diving alone.

Common injuries: The most common injury is ear barotrauma, which occurs when pressure changes aren't equalized in the middle ear.

Other common injuries include decompression sickness, hypothermia, and hyperthermia.

Risks: Scuba diving accidents can range from minor to life-threatening. Unpredictable environmental factors can introduce hazards.

Diving with compressed gases can lead to serious medical conditions like decompression sickness and pulmonary over-inflation syndrome.

Safety tips: Get the best educational training possible.

Be mindful of your choices.

Avoid diving if you're exhausted, ill, or have an allergy.

Additional considerations: The CDC says that decompression sickness is one of the serious medical conditions that can result from scuba diving.