Australian snorkelling-related deaths on the rise

New research has revealed that the number of snorkelling-related deaths increased over a 10-year period.
The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, analysed 140 snorkelling-related deaths between 1994 and 2006 for which forensic details were available for 130. Among 16 dive-related deaths in 2006, 10 of them involved snorkellers.
The study, conducted by the Divers Alert Network's John Lippmann and the University of Queensland's Professor John Pearn, showed that the most common cause of death for snorkellers was from cardiac or suspected cardiac causes and those who died were typically sober, middle-aged or older males who were undergoing the activity as part of a supervised group.
The second most common cause of death was surface drowning which occurred in relatively inexperienced snorkellers. Many aspirated water from their snorkel due to a lack of skill while others were unable to cope with the adverse sea conditions.
Those who died from surface drowning were often poor swimmers.
However, highly experienced snorkellers represented at least a quarter of the drowning deaths. These deaths often involved hyperventilation before extended breath-holding with subsequent blackout before or shortly after surfacing.
The report suggests snorkelling operators pay careful attention to participants' health and fitness, level of anxiety, swimming ability and fitness. Better supervision and training of supervisors in rescue and resuscitation techniques will also go a long way in providing a safer environment for those who snorkel.
Snorkelling is a popular aquatic activity in Australia. As an indication, it is estimated that there were more than 2.2 million snorkelling dives conducted on the Great Barrier Reef alone in 2007. Generally considered a safe activity, a 1999 report on a 10 year survey on snorkelling-related deaths in Australia showed that while there was an overall decrease in overall drowning-related deaths during that time, the number of snorkelling-related deaths increased.
The study was published in Volume 4, Issue 197 of the Medical Journal of Australia and can be found online

https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2012/197/4/snorkelling-related-deaths-australia-1994-2006