def count_increases(depths: list):
    """
    Count the number of times a value is greater than the previous value.

    :param depths: list of depths
    :return: number of times depth increased
    :rtype: int
    """
    increases = 0
    previous = None

    for depth in depths:
        depth = int(depth)
        if previous and depth > previous:
            increases += 1
        previous = depth

    return increases