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  The 7 Deadly Hobbies: Pastimes Your Insurer Hates
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ContributorJason 
Last EditedJason  Oct 06, 2011 03:23pm
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News DateTuesday, October 4, 2011 01:00:00 PM UTC0:0
DescriptionIt's often said that active hobbies promote healthy living. Some people, however, take their fun to the extreme, engaging in pastimes that put their health -- and even their lives -- at risk. Insurance companies refer to such activities as "hazardous vocations," and charge higher premiums to those who engage in them. Sometimes, they even deny such people coverage altogether.

24/7 Wall St. compiled data from government agencies and the organizations associated with these "extreme" activities to determine which had the highest rates of accident and death. We also looked at several insurance estimates to determine how much premiums would increase for those who listed these activities among their regular hobbies. (We excluded risky activities that are generally performed by professionals, rather than as hobbies, such as rodeo riding or racing sports.)

In terms of strict numbers of fatalities, these hazardous vocations are less likely to get you killed or seriously injured than riding in a car or on a bicycle. Nevertheless, insurers consider them high risk factors.

7. Scuba Diving
Deaths: 150 a year in the U.S.
Causes of Death: Equipment failure, improper ascent/descent, cardiac arrest

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors estimates that there are between 1.6 and 2.9 million active divers in the U.S. In order to dive using scuba gear, a license is required, and training can take anywhere from a few days to several months. According to Larry "Harris" Taylor, Ph.D., a biochemist and diving safety coordinator at the University of Michigan, there are about 150 deaths each year in the U.S. from scuba diving mishaps, which comes to about 1 death for every 200,000 dives. Life insurance companies usually inquire about an applicant's diving history. People who dive to 100 feet or more can pay as much as $5 more for every $1000 on their life insurance premiums. People who dive deeper than 150 feet are usually declined coverage.
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