Jump to content

Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 2011 6 4 Andres J. A. Spain 6 Zamakona Shipyards, Port of Santurce, Bilbao, cleaning the propellers of a Tug. Julio Da Costa was in the nozzle with his colleague, J A Andres outside, when the propellers were started. Andres was injured but blown away, Da Costa was killed when sucked into the blades. Reportd by GPS Buceo
  3. 1885 5 4 Maynard Richard Australia S/S Air Yesterday the inquest on the body of a diver named Richard Maynard, who died in the Sydney Hospital on Monday afternoon, was resumed concluded at the Coroner's old office, King-street, before the City Coroner, Mr. H. Shiell, J.P. It will be remembered that on Monday last the deceased was employed at the Circular Quay searching for some cargo which had fallen overboard from a vessel. After he had gone down into the water, another diver, named Henry Christian, happened to pass by the spot where air was being pumped down to him; and, noticing that something seemed to be wrong with the air-piping, he informed those in charge of the fact, and tee deceased was brought up to the surface. The man was then in an unconscious state. He was taken to the Sydney Hospital and attended to by Dr. Lowes, but he died shortly after being admitted to the institution. The medical evidence showed that death resulted from cerebral congestion and asphyxia. After hearing the evidence of a number of witnesses, the jury returned the following verdict: "We find that the deceased died from the combined effects of cerebral congestion and asphyxia, the result of the absence of sufficient air to maintain life whilst carrying out his occupation as a diver." The jury also appended the following as a rider to their verdict:-"We desire to add that we consider it to be the positive duty of all vendors of diving gear, and persons letting such gear for hire, to see that it is in sound order." The Sydney Morning Herald
  4. 1894 1 22 Nelson David UK S/S Air Yesterday afternoon a diver, named David Nelson, elderly man, residing at Kings Wear met with a singular death whilst engaged in his occupation in Dartmouth Harbour..." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  5. 2012 8 23 Hernandez Duva Columbia Working with 7 other divers on the Luxembourg flagged Jan de Nul dredger "Charles Darwin" (Launched 2010, 180 metres long, 40 metre beam, twin trailer suction dredges each with 3,400 KW of power) off the Port of Santa Marta. Described as 'human error' - they started the turbines with divers in the water. Two divers caught, his partner, Pardo Echavarria recovered to the surface 20 minutes later, apparently still alive but died, Duva Hernandez suffered broken legs, taken to hospital. No other details. Reported by El Informador
  6. 1869 0 0 Jurgens or Ingen Louis USA Neptune Submarine Telegraph Company Topsides Working on demolishing the wreck of the steamer 'Scotland' which sank off New York in about 30' of water. Set charges but the submarine detonation apparently set off a sympathetic explosion of a second charge on the diving boat. Four killed including the diver who had previously set the charge. One of the survivors was a man by the name of Sterne who had been a gunner on the 'Monitor' during the battle with the 'Merrimac'. New York Times.
  7. 2012 8 12 Udoh Godwin Nigeria OMAK / Eidesvik 35 S/S Air Working off the "Atlantis Dweller". Diving contractor was OMAK (Not IMCA) a "Local content' initiative Nigerian subsidiary of Eidesvik AS (IMCA member) set up in Port Harcourt, (subcontracted to Fugro), the diver was locally qualified (PTI in Rivers State) and had a local medical (No evidence to say either had an effect on the incident), his first dive after arriving on board, dive was to 35 msw, Dive time line seems to have been:- 16:16 left surface, 16:31 to 16:36 "about 15-20 minutes into dive displayed signs of distress/panic", 16:39 stand-by left surface and freed umbilical of unconscious but breathing diver, 16:50 Divers left bottom, 16:58 Unconscious diver appears to stop breathing, 17:01 Divers on surface, 17:03 In DDC with DMT, 17:08 Second DMT locked in, 17:53 CPR discontinued 'after 45 minutes'. When helmet was removed on surface, interior was dry and it was reported he had white froth around his mouth. The Police autopsy states death due to drowning, the hospital death certificate says asphyxia leading to cerebral hypoxia and myocardial infarction). Oil Company Incient Report.
  8. 1996 0 0 Noordhof Ellard Netherlands GB Diving 0 S/S Air Working off a jack up, umbilical caught on wellhead, asphyxiated on the surface
  9. 1978 0 0 Riddett Richard 'Dick" Taiwan Samson Ocean Systems Working for Samson Ocean Sustems out of Singapore, reported as having died on a rig offshore Taiwan. No other deails. Old Divers Noticeboard
  10. 1978 0 0 White or Whitehouse? David UK Reg Clucas (Civil Engineering) Working for hydrospace in India, went on leave to the UK (via Sharjah) and was killed in a burning explosion underneath a small barge or tanker during his field break. PC. Has anybody got aditional details?
  11. 2002 3 7 Thomas Darrin Paul USA Divcon 6 S/S Air Working beneath the 'Horseshoe' riverboat casino on the Red River, Baton Rouge, with dredging equipment when he lost comms with the surface. A standby diver was slow entering the water and once in the water was unable to locate the diver. The diver's body was recovered by civil rescue divers called to the scene. Reported in “The Advocate�
  12. 1997 5 22 Rayment David William Canada Working at Ganges Harbour on Saltsprint Island (Between Vancouver Island and the mainland), died, trapped underwater, pinned against the broken wharf he was working on by his collapsed crane. Awarded the Medal of Bravery for his part in trying to save people trapped under an overturned boat in 1993. His best friend said:- "It's ironic he was killed in the same situation, by being trapped underwater".
  13. 2007 1 0 Horgan Nad USA ? 0 Topsides Working as a tender, "Broke his hip and femur working on a lift boat a couple of months ago, two ops, told by doctors that he will never work again"
  14. 2002 12 13 Not Recorded Liberia Rescue diver Wooden Ferry 'Papa Friends 2000' Lake Piso/Mofo river, rolled over and sank with over 200 onboard (max capacity reported as 100), returning from the funeral of a local footballer , at least 60 dead, but over 100 others not accounted for. Fatalities included a diver trying to rescue people from the wreckage. Reported by BBC, Telegraph, etc.
  15. 1922 11 17 Couch Anna USA Rockefeller Institute Chamber Woman undergoing oxygen therapy in a chamber,, fire reported as caused by a short circuit, her bed and bedding erupted into flames. “In the highly oxygenate atmosphere the flames spread so swiftly and burned so fiercely that there was no chance for the patient� A nurse with her in the chamber survived unhurt. New York Times
  16. 1943 6 24 Moore Louise USA WOMAN DIVER. Louise Moore, 21-year-old Jacksonville (USA) girl, has a war job that is probably unique for a woman-that of a diver engaged in the work of salvaging sunken ships. "There is nothing to worry about in deep-sea diving if the diver is careful," she explained. "And it certainly is a thrilling occupation!� Her first salvage dive, at Cocoa, Fla., was a two-hour Inspection of a sunken freighter. "That would have been just routine work," she said, 'except that four huge tiger sharks insisted on sticking around and watching me. They kept circling around me the entire time until I neared the surface. At times they were so close I could have put out my hand and touched them-but I didn't." The feminine diver said they made no move to attack her and she was confident they wouldn't. Other sharks and other fish, big and little, watch her as she goes about her job of salvaging. She began professional diving at the age of 15. Prior to the war, however, her experience was limited to inspection work and the recovering of lost articles. She prefers salvaging to all types of diving. Miss Moore believes that she and her sister, Mrs. Fannie Peterson, 23, also of Jacksonville, are the only working professional divers in the United States. Their father worked at that profession for for many years, and two older brothers, Warren and William, have many diving years to their credit. A younger brother, Stanley, worked with Louise in Cocoa, Fla., in the recent salvage of a large British freighter that was sank off the coast after being torpedoed by a Nazi submarine. Reported in The Northern Miner, Charters Towers, Qld.
  17. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 2 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air William Storey, the incident:- Liverpool diver William STOREY, of 8 Toxteth St, a man of middle age and great experience, was engaged in the pursuance of his risky occupation when he met with his death under strange and peculiar circumstances. STOREY was working with two other men at the steamship ‘Gulf of Taranto’ lying in the Hornby Dock. The valve in the hull of the vessel required repair, and to enable this work to be carried out it was necessary that a "pad" should be fixed on the hull, so that the valve might be removed for repair without risking the flooding of the ship. This is the work that STOREY had to accomplish. A platform was lowered alongside the vessel, and STOREY, properly equipped in his diving-suit, went below. He signalled to the man in charge of the life-line to lower the stage. The next signal called for the "pad" A few minutes after the "pad" was lowered, yopsides received the signal "All right" which meant that the valve could be removed any moment. On board the vessel was the superintendent engineer of the Gulf Line of steamers, and as soon as the word was received from the divers the valve was unscrewed he called attention to the fact that the "pad" was leaky. Water was spurting in then the next moment a portion of the pad and the diver's arm were forced through the aperture. About this moment STOREY signalled to be drawn up, but the pressure of the water increased tremendously by the suction through the now open valve, jammed him tight against the vessel, and hauling him to the surface proved a matter of great difficulty. Mr M'KAY forced the diver's arm out through the aperture again, but the combined efforts of three men, instead of the customary one were necessary before the poor fellow was got out of the water. Storey was then unconscious and apparently dead, the sleeve of his diving-dress considerably torn, having been damaged by the violence with which his arm had been forced through the valve hole. When his headgear was removed it was found that he had been bleeding badly from the ears. The Bootle Fire Brigade horse ambulance was promptly summoned and STOREY was taken to Bootle Hospital. Upon arrival he was examined by the house-surgeon, who pronounced life extinct. Appearances hardly point to drowning and it seems more probable the unfortunate diver was either suffocated when his dress was torn open at the sleeve, or that the life was crushed out of him against the side of the vessel when the valve was removed without the "pad" apparently being properly secured
  18. 1989 11 8 Rig 'Interocean II' UK Whilst on tow to a new location in the Southern North Sea ran into a gale with 85 mph winds and 25 foot seas. Lost one of its towlines, the coast guard was notified and two helicopters were scrambled from Bristow's North Denes base in Norfolk to extract 43 of the rig's 51 crew. The first chopper reached the rig 30 minutes later to find the rig pitching and rolling, with the helideck tilted at 10 degrees. In driving rain, with the rig heaving up to 25 feet, the first 10 crew were airlifted and flown to a neighbouring platform. The second chopper arrived to find the rig corkscrewing in heavy seas, resulting in the need for the pilot to reverse his chopper onto the helideck. After two more extractions, only 11 men were left on board, of which eight were expecting to remain behind as a skeleton crew. The first chopper returned for the last extraction but was unable to find the rig as the final towline had parted, allowing the rig to drift away. It became obvious that this would be the last landing attempted and the remaining crew were advised to abandon the rig due to the increasingly difficult conditions. The last 11 men had to crawl across the helideck before the chopper departed. Several minutes later, the Interocean II capsized and sank as a result of structural failure and flooding. Helicopter pilots all received the Queen's Award for Gallantry for the courage shown during the rescue. Reported in the Times
  19. 0 0 0 Not Recorded UK Standard gear When working in the river Severn by Gloucester Quay, a diver was killed when an explosive charge was detonated prematurely.
  20. 2014 10 21 Lopez Cruz Jose Joaquin E.ON Power Generation Plant. Los Barrios, Cadiz, Spain Satemar Compania De Trabajos Submarinos When diving to perform a photographic underwater inspection in a siphon inlet on the E.ON coal-fired power plant refrigeration system the diver was sucked into the inlet.
  21. 1981 5 16 Not Recorded USA S/S Air West Delta, Block 31, OCS 0016, Platform H, Exxon. "A contract diver was oxy arc cutting well conductors in approximately 45 feet of water when an explosion of unknown origin occurred. A back up diver was sent down. The diver was found unconscious and tangled in his hose with his diver hat and harness off. He was brought to the surface unconscious. 1 fatality. OCS Incidents data 1956-1990, page 250.
  22. 1978 0 0 O'Grady Rodney USA Taylor Diving, Brown and Root 266 Went up the inlet of the jet sledge system on a 'Root and Scoot' jet barge (They never shut down the pumps completely because "it took too long to re prime then"). Another report, Paraphrased and (much sanitized TC) appeared on the 'Offshore Diver' website: “He was doing a routine ditch check when they ran up the RPMs on the impeller below deck. Bid blenders is what they are. They created the suction so all the jetted mud would go up to the barge via an approx. 14" hose and to the impeller, then shot overboard. I heard tell it was one of the newer guys that had just got on the barge that season. Paying no attention....he rev'ed up the impellers right when Rodney was checking if there was water under the pipe. Just a short yell, that was all. The steel stingers on either side of the pipe were oval-ish shaped, and again, about 14-16" wide. Well, poor Rodney, who was a regular on the 266 went right up the stinger to the heavy (like weatherford) walled hose and into the impeller, where he was ground to fish food and pumped overboard. The barge crew stopped all activity and had a closed door meeting, no divers. (Deleted, TC). The couple of tenders and the one barge diver left where called in. That's why they called us...to search the sea floor for Rodney, what was left of Rodney. That's where I leave it. Rodney wore a Miller, they are pretty tough. The casket was small. Use your imagination. We should have been allowed to Keel haul the dumb yokel that killed him. But he was gone already. I never went back there. Used to like going there as a tender as they dove us on ditch checks a good bit, even to 180' on air. I should count my lucky stars. Long to short: (Allegedly) big cover up. (Deleted) Two years later I was in sat on the Phillips SS only about 10k from the Byford Dolfin when the guys were killed. I remember the LST calling in and having us shut the hatch to the bell (it was overhead, we'd just leave it down!) and set-up the hatches to the living areas so that if the bell blew off due to some numb-skull opening the trunk they would slam shut. Open and inch or two was cool for gas circulation. So, that's where lock out tag out came from and where bell interlocks came from, I like to think so Rodney did not die horribly for absolutely nothing�
  23. 1994 2 20 Copeland Dave USA 87 Went crazy, took his hat off, stand-by unable to control him
  24. 1999 10 8 Downie Ramsey MacDonald USA Welder diver, 'died in an industrial accident' at Los Angeles Harbour, no details
  25. 1854 6 1 Tope, First entry, the incident John USA Wells, Gowan and Green 12 S/S Air We learn that Mr. John Tope, one of the divers employed by Messrs. Wells, Gowan & Green, in their operations on the Lake, lost his life while experimenting with a sub-marine armor, a few days since. The circumstances attending this lamentable casualty, as related to us by Mr. Green, are substantially as follows: It appears that Mr. Tope was desirous of testing a sub-marine armor preparatory to commencing operations on the wrecks which the Company design raising this Summer, and on Friday afternoon last, in company with three others, started from Cattaraugus Creek in a small vessel of about twenty tons burden, and proceeded some distance from the shore, where the water was about forty feet deep. Mr. Tope descended into the water three times. The first and second time he went down some fifteen or twenty feet, each time signalizing to those above to raise him. In both instances he remarked that the foul air did not escape fast enough to allow him to breathe freely. Previous to going down, the third time detached the spring from the valve which allows the impure air to escape from the helmet, and desired the man who held the signal line to observe carefully when he should reach the bottom, (some forty feet) and be prepared to answer his signals. He then entered the water, and had descended about thirty feet, when those above thought the armor felt unusually heavy. The signal line was immediately jerked to ascertain whether anything was wrong, but receiving no answering signal, the diver was immediately raised from the water. New York Times
  26. 2008 0 0 Not Recorded USA Seamar Divers We are pleased to announce that one of our clients, a commercial diver who works offshore, has obtained a settlement against his employer and a lift boat company following serious injuries he sustained while diving offshore. Our client was employed by Seamar and worked on a lift boat.  According to their websites, Seamar Divers provides offshore commercial divers, subsea construction, and subsea fabrication services to the oil and gas industry.  Montco Offshore provides lift boats to the offshore industry. Our client was hurt when the Seamar supervisor failed to monitor the dive properly, resulting in our client getting "the bends."  The Montco crane operator brought him up too quickly and dropped him too hard on the deck of the lift boat, resulting in severe orthopedic injuries. Vujasinovic & Beckcom (Injury Lawyers) website
  27. 1982 44 27 Rivera Anibal Argentina S/S Air Vomited underwater. Died. No details. PC
  28. 2000 0 0 Not Recorded IMCA 8 S/S Air Vomited inside his helmet and clogged up his demand valve. He pulled the helmet off his head in a rush, undid his bail out bottle harness, unhooked his umbilical safety hook from his body harness but failed to free himself from his bail out bottle pressure gauge hose. Drowned. Appears to have tried to open the bail out bottle air supply in mistake for the free flow air valve, breathing rate before the accident was very fast and shallow, and could have led to a build up of CO2 in his mask. The post accident investigation revealed he had no offshore diving experience. The logbook presented was new with no dive records; the old book was requested but never received. The diver’s experience was apparently related to lobster fishing and gold digging in rivers; this only came to light after the accident ( IMCA SF 01/01).
  29. 2017 4 15 Pohanka-Kalama Lori Ann USA SAR Volunteer SAR diver with the Morgan's Point Resort Police (North of Austin, Texas), in a creek at fort Hood searching for a man who disappeared during flash flooding, 'Got into trouble', pulled from the water by team members and taken to White Hospital in Temple but died the following morning. KXAN (Austin)
  30. 2002 10 14 Fedin Sergy USSR Topsides Village of Slavyanka, Diving compressor operator, cylinder failed during pumping operations, lost one leg, other severely injured. Undersea Review
  31. 2007 9 10 Anh Duong Trong Vietnam Surface diving Vietnamese, aged 16, stabbed through the heart by a metres long needle fish (type of gar with a 150mm beak) whilst diving for sea cucumbers
  32. 1906 4 11 May George Australia Topsides VICTORIA. MELBOURNE. April 12. “George May, a diver, residing at Footscray, was killed last night at Williamstown by being run over by a train. His body was found on the line this morning shockingly mutilated�. Reported in the Kalgoorlie Miner, WA
  33. 2013 3 0 Adams Challenger USA Adams/Epic Divers Saturation Vessel reported (industry rumour in March 2013) to have had two DP run offs, one with bell down and diver deployed (diver recovered to bell and bell to surface safely), one with bell on surface. Initially reported by DPO as computer problem, later confirmed as operator error/cover up. Waiting on official reports. PC
  34. 2006 8 1 Erter Ryan USA 44 Vermillion VR 250, Remington Oil and Gas No formal reports are available yet. Diver apparently died in the deck chamber after recompression for suspected DCS ( on surfacing, complained of headaches and blurred vision) following a normally executed dive to approximately 150 FSW. Employer has released no information regarding the accident and the diving community awaits the reports from the Coast Guard and the MMS
  35. 1985 9 11 Not Recorded USA Vermilion, Block 331, OCS-G 2572, Platform A, Marathon. "A diver was securing a buoy to a subsea template. His hand was entangled in a rope that went around the cable. As the boat surged, his hand was pulled through a snatch block cutting off the last joint of his finger". OCS Incidents 1956-1990, page 272
  36. 2009 8 28 Gillies Alasdair UK Eilean Glas Salmon Ltd 15 SCUBA ver to go down with him, but he was on leave the day of the accident, and there was no-one else equipped to go to the diver’s assistance. The contractor admitted that while operating as diving contractors in the loch to clean out dead fish from cage nets, carry out maintenance work, and install a predator net, it failed to issue diving rules or lay down emergency procedures. It also admitted failing to appoint a diving supervisor; failure to provide a logbook; and failing to ensure that the divers employed had their personal logbooks signed daily by a supervisor, failing to test and examine Scuba air cylinders to ensure they were safe for diving; to control access to diving equipment in a store; and to prepare a written health and safety policy for employees. Contractor fined ₤1,000.
  37. 2020 9 21 Madrid Eustoquio Curacao Curacao Industrial Diving Venezuelan. Curacao, Damen Ship Repair, Pier B, (Double fatality with Orlando Andreas Medina Gonzalez), one diver drowned, the second taken ashore alive but died, initial reports indicate 'unauthorised (SCUBA) equipment. No other details. Reported by SubaQuatica Magazine: https://www.subaquaticamagazine.es/dos-buzos-mueren-en-accidente-en-damen-shiprepair-en-curazao-el-caribe/
  38. 2020 9 21 Medina González Orlando Andrés Curacao Curacao Industrial Diving Venezuelan. Curacao, Damen Ship Repair, Pier B, (Double fatality with Eustoquio Madrid), one diver drowned, the second taken ashore alive but died, initial reports indicate 'unauthorised' (SCUBA) equipment. No other details. Reported by SubaQuatica Magazine: https://www.subaquaticamagazine.es/dos-buzos-mueren-en-accidente-en-damen-shiprepair-en-curazao-el-caribe/
  39. 1947 0 0 Dumas Frederic France 94 SCUBA Using the Aqualung, made an air dive to 307' in the mediterranean.
  40. 1979 0 0 NEDU USA USN 549 Saturation Using the 'Ocean Simulator Facility (OSF), NEDU divers completed a 37 programme to a maximum depth of 1,800'
  41. 2007 3 15 USCG Safety Alert USA USCG Topsides USCG Safety alert regarding increase in commercial diver fatalities and injuries (I think the only diving related alert ever issued in the USA, TC)
  42. 1964 0 0 Geiger Leroy USA Military Rebreather US Navy, UDT 21 (Underwater Demolition Team, precursor to SEALs). Died when his Emerson O2 rebreather rig malfunctioned. Body recovered. PC
  43. 1924 7 3 Smith Cilord USA Military S/S Air US Navy training dive a North Island torpedo base (California? TC), reported as “Hauled up, cause of death strangulation, Navy Board to Review�
  44. 1974 7 19 Brening Fred USA 15 SCUBA US Navy dry dock at Brooklyn Navy Yard. Civilian commercial diver entered pump well to repair pump, "a 5 minute job", trapped by differential pressure for 17 hours, body recovered the day after. Reported in the Virgin Islands Daily News.
  45. 1916 0 0 USS F-4 USA 93 S/S Air US Navy divers Crilley, Loughman and Nielson dive to 304' on air during salvage of the US Submarine F-4 using an early version of the Mk V Morse and Schrader dress (Without communications) The finalised version was adopted by the US Navy 1917 and used until introduction of the Mk 12 in the late 1970s
  46. 1976 8 20 Yore USN Thomas John "TJ" Denmark Military US Navy diver, reported as 'Lost at sea off Greenland 20th August, declared dead 30th September". No other details. Navydivers.net
  47. 1956 3 23 Joost Russell USA Military US Navy diver training, taking a test one month into his course, died, no details. Chicago Tribune
  48. 1924 0 0 US Navy USA S/S Mixed Gas US Navy and Bureau of mines sponsor experimental heliox dives
  49. 1945 2 17 Hammerberg B'suns mate 2nd class Owen Francis Patrick USA Military 12 S/S Air US Navy aged 24, post Pearl Harbour Salvage operations, awarded the medal of honour. His citation reads:- "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a diver engaged in rescue operations at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, 17 February 1945. Aware of the danger when 2 fellow divers were hopelessly trapped in a cave-in of steel wreckage while tunneling with jet nozzles under an LST sunk in 40 feet (12 m) of water and 20 feet (6.1 m) of mud. Hammerberg unhesitatingly went overboard in a valiant attempt to effect their rescue despite the certain hazard of additional cave-ins and the risk of fouling his lifeline on jagged pieces of steel imbedded in the shifting mud. Washing a passage through the original excavation, he reached the first of the trapped men, freed him from the wreckage and, working desperately in pitch-black darkness, finally effected his release from fouled lines, thereby enabling him to reach the surface. Wearied but undaunted after several hours of arduous labor, Hammerberg resolved to continue his struggle to wash through the oozing submarine, subterranean mud in a determined effort to save the second diver. Venturing still farther under the buried hulk, he held tenaciously to his purpose, reaching a place immediately above the other man just as another cave-in occurred and a heavy piece of steel pinned him crosswise over his shipmate in a position which protected the man beneath from further injury while placing the full brunt of terrific pressure on himself. Although he succumbed in agony 18 hours after he had gone to the aid of his fellow divers, Hammerberg, by his cool judgment, unfaltering professional skill and consistent disregard of all personal danger in the face of tremendous odds, had contributed effectively to the saving of his 2 comrades. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country". Navydivers.net
  50. 1982 1 16 Bloomer, USN PO2 Charles W USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  51. 1982 1 16 Bond, USN PO3 Richard D USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  52. 1982 1 16 Fitz, USN FN Rodney L USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  53. 1982 1 16 Robinson, USN ENS William C USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  54. 1982 1 16 Shelton, USN SA Leslie C USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  55. 2007 10 7 Not Recorded Greece SCUBA Unidentified 44 year old Greek diver, one of a team gathering evidence for the judicial enquiry into the sinking of the "Sea Diamond" cruise ship that hit reefs and sank off Santorini, "ascended too rapidly, decompression illness, rushed to hospital, pronounced dead"
  56. 1950 4 21 Borden Ralph E USA 5 S/S Air Unemployed war veteran, aged 40. Reported as :- “Four boys aged about 13 were looking for a swimming hole along the Muddy Run Creek when they came across the veteran standing by the bank with a diving suit and pump. He told them he had heard a tale from an old man about a barrel of gold bars lying under 15' of water. The boys agreed to operate the pump but after about 15 minutes got tired and pulled him up but he was dead.� . He was pronounced dead of drowning. The Evening Independent
  57. 1968 0 0 Edwards John USA Taylor Diving and Salvage Underwater Oxy Arc Explosion, seriously injured but recovered after a year in hospital, never dived again. Second diver burning on a damaged conductor, improper vent. PC
  58. 1999 8 9 Mercer Scott USA Titan Marine Underwater oxy arc explosion, improperly vented tank. Offshore Diver. Also reported as "Diver was killed from a build-up of gases while welding on a salvage operation. Diver had not vented for gases to escape. USCG Findings: 1) Mercer was the diving supervisor of this operation. He was diving at the time without leaving a designated individual as supervisor topside while he was in the water, directly against industry policy. Mercer was Titan’s representative on the ADC BoD and therefore should have especially known industry policy better than anyone. 2) All areas were suppose to be vented first before any welding started. However, there was no records kept and consequently, Mercer begin welding in one of those areas that had not yet been vented. NAOCD/cDiver
  59. 2005 1 2 Eke Anthony James Romania Titan Underwater cave in during salvage of the 'Rostok' from the Danube (Second later fatality, Whitekettle, 21/11/2005)
  60. 2003 3 22 Whelan Peter UK BNFL 3 S/S Air Umbilical sucked into support vessel jet propulsion intake, took 25 minutes to cut him free, on bail out, HSE prosecution, £30,000 fine.
  61. 1997 0 0 Not Recorded Netherlands S/S Air Umbilical snagged on lifting basket, tried to cut umbilical but prevented by steel comms cable
  62. 1998 4 1 SI 1997/2776 UK, DAW, Diving At Work Regulations came into force with 5 associated ACOPs
  63. 2012 9 12 Not Recorded USA Ocean Corps, Houston Two trainees, one aged 18 or 28, the other 34, reported as 'hospitalised in a critical condition'. The accident occurred at around 10:00 or 11:00 hours, commercial diver training (Inspection/NDT training) in a tank, recovered from the tank, one unconscious, the other conscious, transferred by 'LifeFlight' helicopter to hospital. Apparently "Diving in the indoor tank on SCUBA on their first day of unsupervised diving. The instructor was helping another student when other students noticed something was wrong". No other details. KHOU news
  64. 1992 0 0 Not Recorded USA SCUBA Two reported deaths off Maine during professional sea urchin harvesting
  65. 2007 9 16 Not Recorded Canada SCUBA Two recreational SCUBA divers died after being sucked into the water inlet of the Sir Adam Beck hydro-electric plant above Niagara falls.
  66. 1996 0 0 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Two pearl divers died as a result of carbon monoxide being sucked into the air compressor and down their air hoses. A new compressor had been installed, but the appropriate air intake pipe had not been attached because a necessary part was being repaired. The carbon monoxide came from the vessel’s engine exhaust which was situated close to the air compressor intake. NOHSC. Quoted in a Report into Work-related deaths as a result of incidents involving workers employed in the fishing industry in Australia were studied as part of a larger study of all work-related traumatic deaths from 1989 to 1992. For further information regarding work-related deaths see: National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. Work-related traumatic fatalities in Australia, 1989 to 1992. Ausinfo: Canberra, 1998
  67. 2010 3 30 Not Recorded South Korea South Korean Navy 24 SCUBA Two members of the 170 divers in the underwater demolition teams injured attempting to rescue potential trapped survivors in the hull of the 1,200 tonnes Naval vessel “Cheonan� (Sank late 26th after an explosion split her in two 105 miles from the west coast port of Incheon just south of the disputed border line, 58 crew rescued, 46 missing). Reported as being hospitalised on the same day as a colleague, warrant officer Joo-Ho Han, died. AP. Later reported that the Cheonan was sunk by a mine or torpedo.
  68. 1974 0 0 Not Recorded Japan 10 Saturation Two Japanese divers divers died in a bell fire caused by an electrical short circuit in the internal wiring, deaths due to a combination of O2 depletion and toxic fumes. The system designer committed suicide, Sheffield and Desautels “Hyperbaric and hypobaric Chamber fires, a 73 year analysis�, Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine, 1997, 24 (3): 153-164
  69. 1997 9 0 Not Recorded USA Two Harbours, Minnesota, Lt in the Fire Department, died while conducting commercial diving work for the municipality, presumed heart attack
  70. 2000 11 29 Not Recorded Fiji 130 SCUBA Two Fijian divers, 'one a master diver, the other less experienced' were hired to recover an anchor lost in 130 metres off Gau island. When they failed to surface, another diver attempted to rescue them, began to lose consciousness and inflated his ABLJ, he was admitted to the CWM hospital in Suva, given therapeutic decompression in a chamber and reported as having survived. No other details. Reported in the Fiji Times Online. (NB As far as I can ascertain, the facts are correct – two divers were hired, agreed to, and then attempted to, recover an anchor in 130 metres on air in SCUBA, TC)
  71. 1967 8 18 Not Recorded USA Military Two experienced divers died of bends on Naval mission during a deep sea diving operation. The divers died after being put into a decompressiuon chamber onboard the 'Skylark" (ASR-20, a Penguin class submarine rescue vessel, launched 1946, decommissioned and sold to Brazil in 1973). The precise location of the vessel was not revealed by the Navy. New York Times
  72. 1968 11 9 Joost Berend H. USA University of Miami Marine Sciences 50 SCUBA Two divers, Berend Joost, aged 34 of the University of Miami, and John McGinnis, aged 51 of Ocean-Engineering, were installing acoustic recording equipment at the edge of the Gulf stream off Miami when McGinnis noticed that Joost had dropped to the seabed, he went down to help but Joost had a strong grasp on the rope. Joost's mouthpiece dropped out, McGinnis replaced it but had to surface as had run out of air and suffered from decompression illness (treated, believed OK). A third diver, Jim Nangle, aged 23 and also an Ocean-Engineering technician recovered Joost's body to the surface. Reported in the Toledo Blade
  73. 1968 11 9 McGinnis John USA Ocean Engineering 50 SCUBA Two divers, Berend Joost, aged 34 of the University of Miami, and John McGinnis, aged 51 of Ocean-Engineering, were installing acoustic recording equipment at the edge of the Gulf stream off Miami when McGinnis noticed that Joost had dropped to the seabed, he went down to help but Joost had a strong grasp on the rope. Joost's mouthpiece dropped out, McGinnis replaced it but had to surface as had run out of air and suffered from decompression illness (treated, believed OK). A third diver, Jim Nangle, aged 23 and also an Ocean-Engineering technician recovered Joost's body to the surface. Reported in the Toledo Blade
  74. 1970 0 0 Not Recorded UK Topsides Two divers killed (bodies never recovered) when their zodiac full of explosives exploded during the first phase of diving operations to disperse the wreck of the platform supply vessel 'Tropic Shore' (Sank after colliding with the Britannia Gas Platform) off Great Yarmouth. Contract was awarded by Trinity House. Diving contractor may have been based in Newcastle. No other details. PC
  75. 2008 5 15 Not Recorded Brazil 15 S/S Air Two divers in the water on KM Bandmasks, both lost air supply, one ditched bandmask and tried to surface, held down by umbilical, drowned. The second diver maintained bandmask and waited for air supply to be re-established and was brought to the surface in the basket. No bailouts, stand-by not immediately ready plus other factors.
  76. 1937 1 2 Not Recorded Australia Celebes Trading Co S/S Air Two divers drowned when waterspouts swampeds pearling boat. "Two divers drowned. While the pearling fleet of the Celebes Trading Co was fishing off the SouthEast corner of the Aru Islands, four waterspouts suddenly formed close to the fleet which were trailing slowly. The boats steeered away from the danger but the waterspouts suddenly changed direction and all fout converged into one big waterspout. This giant waterspout engulfed one vessel, the Arcadia, which foundered, and two Malay divers were drowned. Another boat canted over at a dangerous angle, but a second waterspout struck her and drove her upwards again". The Cairns Post.
  77. 2010 12 14 Not Recorded USA 26 Two Bremerton commercial geoduck divers were taken to hospitals Tuesday after their support boat dragged them into deep water in Port Madison. A 50-year-old woman was flown from Suquamish to Harborview Medical center in Seattle at about 1:30 p.m. The woman was in stable condition as of 7:15 p.m. Her diving companion, a 27-year-old man, was driven to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton. The divers were working in about 50 feet of water when strong winds pushed their support boat into deeper water. The divers were tethered to the boat, which dragged them to a depth of about 85 feet. They were then pulled to the surface by workers on the support boat.
  78. 1998 7 29 Not Recorded Turkey Chamber Turkish doctor and 2 SCUBA divers killed in blast in decompression chamber  An explosion in a decompression chamber released a cloud of noxious fumes, killing a doctor and two scuba divers at a hospital, the Anatolia news agency said. The cause of the explosion Tuesday was not immediately known and officials at Capa hospital refused to comment. Associated Press
  79. 2010 9 9 Ispas Lt. Catalin Romania Hunter SRL 40 SCUBA Turkish cargo vessel 'Medy' sank six miles off Constanta breakwater on the 1st September 2010. Private diving contractor put 4 divers onboard an ARSVOM (Navy) vessel to do a pollution survey to establish a contingency plan. First team dived successfully, second team (Ispas and Zarafu) followed, but nether surfaced. Romanian authorities intervened to remove the 22 tons of fuel and about two tons of oil and hired in a specialist Turkish diving contractor. To reach fuel tanks and engine room of the wreck, divers made a hole in the hull and began emptying the fuel tanks. The body of Ispas was found inside the engine room on the 12th December (Drowned, but with 20 bar air pressure still in his cylinder). Attributed to Nitrogen Narcosis. Apparently entered the wreck without using a lifeline (Ispas worked for the Naval emergency services but worked also for the diving contractor, unclear if he was a qualified commercial diver, Zarrafu was a full time commercial diver. No DDC, no medical back-up. The body of Zarafu was recovered on the 23rd December. Reported by Jurnalul.ro
  80. 2010 9 9 Zarafu Cristian Romania Hunter SRL 40 SCUBA Turkish cargo vessel 'Medy' sank six miles off Constanta breakwater on the 1st September 2010. Private diving contractor put 4 divers onboard an ARSVOM (Navy) vessel to do a pollution survey to establish a contingency plan. First team dived successfully, second team (Ispas and Zarafu) followed, but nether surfaced. Romanian authorities intervened to remove the 22 tons of fuel and about two tons of oil and hired in a specialist Turkish diving contractor. To reach fuel tanks and engine room of the wreck, divers made a hole in the hull and began emptying the fuel tanks. The body of Ispas was found inside the engine room on the 12th December (Drowned, but with 20 bar air pressure still in his cylinder). Attributed to Nitrogen Narcosis. Apparently entered the wreck without using a lifeline (Ispas worked for the emergency services but worked also for the diving contractor, unclear if he was a qualified commercial diver, Zarrafu was a full time commercial diver. No DDC, no medical back-up. The body of Zarafu was recovered on the 23rd December. Reported by Jurnalul.ro
  81. 2003 8 19 Zinck James Canada Fish Farm SCUBA Tuna holding pond, Nova Scotia, Owner charged.
  82. 2013 5 26 Jacson 4 AHT Nigeria West African Ventures (Subsidiary of Sea Trucks) Topsides Tug, sank in heavy weather while towing a Chevron tanker off Escravos, Nigeria with the loss of 11 lives. One man, Okene Harrison, the cook, was found alive in an air pocket inside the hull 82 hours later and was rescued by divers. Longstreath
  83. 2008 3 11 DSV "Jillian Morisson" USA Chet Morrison Tuesday evening, engine room explosion on board the vessel, 1 missing, 6 to hospital, 3 later released. Boat had a 12' x 20' hole in deck and sank in 30' of water, later salvaged and taken to New Orleans boatyard
  84. 2013 8 6 Quiroga Sergio Daniel Uruguay Belfi-Techint or Stora Enso 7m Unknown Tuesday August 6th 2013 - Uruguay. Quiroga, Sergio Daniel, 2nd Corporal, aged 40, married, three children, Uruguayan Navy Diver with 21 years in the military, 16 as a diver, subcontracted to work for Belfi-Techint (working for main contractor Montes del Plata or for a Swedish company Stora Enso - conflicting reports or maybe just one of those multi-national organisations), on construction of a new dock in Puerto de Conchilllas (region of Colonia, 240 kilometres NW of Montevideo) , depth 7 metres, lifting/shackle operation, lines entangled, trapped underwater, drowned (not clear if S/S air or SCUBA plus communication line).
  85. 2004 3 15 Bennett John Korea 45 SCUBA Trimix salvage operation
  86. 1973 9 0 Not Recorded Congo 70 Chamber Trimix bounce dive to 70 metres, three divers (Triple fatality, but names unknown). During chamber decompression stops on 40/60 nitrox at 9 metres a fire started in the DDC. Divers transferred to the lock but could not close the door because of hoses. Hoses caught fire. The divers died of asphyxia (No skin burns). Fire probably started by a book being used internally to shade an externally mounted light that was known to get very hot. PC
  87. 1977 10 3 Murphy R L UK Taylor Diving and Salvage 30 S/S Air Trench barge 316, dredging operation, Snagged subsea on stinger? Lost comms. Cut umbilical, bailout not activated, asphixia?
  88. 1987 0 0 McNally Fred UK Saturation Trapped in a stranded welding habitat (with Kanute Monstra), became hypothermic, both were rescued by Neil 'Wiggy' Wiggins (who had previously rescued George Lawson after an oxy arc explosion on the Kingsnorth Explorer in May 1984). Neil Wiggins was presented with the Silk Cut award for Nautical achievements ( He died on 23 Dec at the age of 47), MCDOA website. Does anyone remember the details of this incident?
  89. 1987 0 0 Monstra Kanute UK Saturation Trapped in a stranded welding habitat (with Fred McNally), became hypothermic, both were rescued by Neil 'Wiggy' Wiggins (who had previously rescued George Lawson after an oxy arc explosion on the Kingsnorth Explorer in May 1984). Neil Wiggins was presented with the Silk Cut award for Nautical achievements ( He died on 23 Dec at the age of 47), MCDOA website. Does anyone remember the details of this incident?
  90. 1904 4 13 Hoar William J USA 23 S/S Air Trapped by differential pressure on the mouth of a pipe in the Bointon resevoir (Jersey City Water Supply Co.), they kept pumping air to him for 96 hours. Led to calls for divers to be given telephone communications instead of signal rope
  91. 2007 10 6 Lesme Dominguez Crisaldo Argentina Salbupar SRL Surface Swimmer Translated and paraphrased from Spanish news reports. "Finally yesterday the diver found dead on Saturday in Parana river in the neighborhood near San Pedro Pescador was identified as Paraguayan Crisaldo is Lesme Dominguez, 35. His body was identified by his brother, Vicente Crisaldo Lesme, According to reports, Dominguez Lesme Crisaldo worked as a tactical diver for Salbupar SRL (Salvage and Diving of Paraguay). His body was found on Saturday around 5 pm near the Parana . The corpse was wearing snorkeling gear with goggles on his face and fins. Paraguayan authorities stated:- "Death by drowning" . Reported in Diario Norte
  92. 2012 7 3 Antonov Rosen Bulgaria SCUBA Training to dive (Described as a professional SCUBA duver) with the institute of oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science near Varna on the Black Sea Coast (Programme specifically for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant). Second fatality in two months associated with this power plant (Radoslav Stoyanov or Dimitrov, 5th May 2012). No details. Reported by Publics.bg
  93. 1982 0 0 Not Recorded USSR Military 50 Training dive in Lake Baikal. Reported that during the dive they saw “a group of humanoids dressed in silvery suits�. They tried to catch them, in the process 3 trainees died and 4 were injured. Reported lifted from declassified Soviet “UFO encounter� records in 2009 (Whether you believe narcosis/bad gas/a training error or “Aliens� is up to you, TC)
  94. 2007 6 4 Not Recorded Norway Technip Topsides Trainee Diving Supervisor on the DSV Wellservicer, (Possible Heart attack?), plus fire in aft engine room when alongside in Stavanger, put out by Stavanger fire brigade after 70 minutes.
  95. 1875 10 4 Grelee Harry W USA 4 S/S Air Town of Lowell, swept under a projecting timber by fast current, air hose kinked, signalled surface that he was in trouble but they were unable to pull him out. 'His lifeless body was extricated and brought to the surface by his brother'. Reported in the New York Times.
  96. 1958 8 23 Sambo Kallu Australia S/S Air Torres Strait Islander, diving off the Native Affairs Department lugger 'Macoy' died on 'death Reef, off Darnley Island. 120 miles north-west of Thursday Island. Described as the fifth diver fatality off Darnley Island that year, all fatalities put down to 'diver's paralysis'. Reported in The Age
  97. 2007 9 22 Titanic Key UK White Star Titanic sank 15/4/1912 with a loss of 1522 lives. Keys to the crows nest binocular locker auctioned in Wiltshire (In the possession of second officer who did not sail at last minute) A lookout reported at the enquiry that they would have been able to see the iceberg earlier if they had had binoculars
  98. 1895 12 0 Not Recorded Australia Topsides Thursday island. “A diver named John Anderson reported on Saturday that three mainland natives, who formed part of the crew of his lugger Dart, mutinied when anchored out of sight of all land to the westward of Badu. The balance of the crew was composed of two Malays and one Cooktown native. Just before daylight the three Binghies attacked the two Malays and Anderson with shell-knives. Anderson grappled with his man, and both fell overboard, but Anderson got safely back to the lugger. The Cooktown native assisted the Malays, and eventually the two assaulters were either thrown or jumped overboard. The three natives were evidently afraid to attempt to return to the lugger, and relied for deliverance upon the extremely remote chance of reaching some land. If they were saved it would be little short of a miracle�. The Brisbane Courier
  99. 1895 9 10 Diegon Australia S/S Air THURSDAY ISLAND, Tuesday. “A Manilla diver named Diegon died at Darnley Island from paralysis, caused by diving in deep water. The Northern Miner, Charters Towers, Qld.
  100. 1893 8 20 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Thursday Island, Sunday. "Another Manila diver has died in the hospitalfrom the effects of diving in deep water" The Argus, Melbournes, Vic.
  101. 1895 7 18 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Thursday Island, July 18. "A Japanese diver has died as a result of working in water which was too deep" Reported in the Advertiser, Adelaide. Dual report for Chobe on July 19th?
  102. 1894 4 0 Lynch Ben Australia S/S Air Thursday Island, April 6. "A coloured diver died at Darnley Island last week as a result of diving in deep water". Reported in the South Australian Register, Adelaide, SA.
  103. 1891 2 11 Francis Cranky Australia Topsides Thursday island, A high tide, two vessels lost, their crews drowned. "Thursday Island, Wednesday, Heavy gusty squalls still prevail here. It is reported that the lugger 'Kingfisher' has been wrecked off Mount Adolphus island and the crew drowned. The 'King Kow' was also wrecked on the fishing grounds near Dalrymple and a diver known as 'Cranky Francis' and three men were drowned. The tide rose yesterday beyond all previous marks". Reported in the Australian Town and Country Journal, NSW.
  104. 1896 7 13 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Thursday Island (Provincial Press Agency), July 13. "The lugger 'Muriel' has returned to port with the body of a Japanese diver who had died from paralysis while working in too deep water, making the second death from the same cause". Warwick Argus, Qld
  105. 1965 0 0 Sealab II USA 63 Saturation Three teams of 10 men dived to 205' for 15 days, one man (Astronaut Scott Carpenter) stayed at depth for 30 days.
  106. 1979 6 3 Rig 'SF 135' Mexico PEMEX Three leg semi-submersible. Drilling on IXTOC 1, blow out, major oil release, rig sank. Diver Allan Andersion died on the 15th August during attempts to shut in the well. Well was finally capped 23/3/1980
  107. 1980 1 17 Rig 'Sea Quest' Nigeria Texaco Three leg semi Submersible, built 1967 Harland and Wolff, Belfast as the Sedco 135C, made the first commercial oil find on the UKCS (Arbroath Field in 1969), drilled both Montrose and Forties Fields. Renamed Sea Quest, drilling off Warri, blow out, crew evacuated, caught fire, towed out to sea and scuttled in deep water.
  108. 1942 12 8 Leone Sgt Salvatore Gibraltar Military Submarine Three Italian Navy divers were killed by depth charges by British harbour defences at Gibraltar during an attack by “Human Torpedoes� from a mother ship (the ‘Olterra’). Among the dead were Lt Licio Visintini, commander of the torpedo unit, Petty Officer Giovanni Magro and Sergeant Salvatore Leone, from Sicily. Sgt. Leone's body was never found, he was awarded the Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare and a memorial was erected in the Community Gardens in Taormina (his home town in Sicily) on the 50th anniversary of the attack. The memorial includes a rebuilt torpedo ('maiale', Italian for 'pig', a reference to it's poor handling) and a description of the events. Wikipedia and other historical sources
  109. 1942 12 8 Magro PO Giovanni Gibraltar Military Submarine Three Italian Navy divers were killed by depth charges by British harbour defences at Gibraltar during an attack by “Human Torpedoes� from a mother ship (the ‘Olterra’). Among the dead were Lt Licio Visintini, commander of the torpedo unit, Petty Officer Giovanni Magro and Sergeant Salvatore Leone, from Sicily. Sgt. Leone's body was never found, he was awarded the Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare and a memorial was erected in the Community Gardens in Taormina (his home town in Sicily) on the 50th anniversary of the attack. The memorial includes a rebuilt torpedo ('maiale', Italian for 'pig', a reference to it's poor handling) and a description of the events. Wikipedia and other historical sources
  110. 1942 12 8 Visintini Lt Licio Gibraltar Military Submarine Three Italian Navy divers were killed by depth charges by British harbour defences at Gibraltar during an attack by “Human Torpedoes� from a mother ship (the ‘Olterra’). Among the dead were Lt Licio Visintini, commander of the torpedo unit, Petty Officer Giovanni Magro and Sergeant Salvatore Leone, from Sicily. Sgt. Leone's body was never found, he was awarded the Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare and a memorial was erected in the Community Gardens in Taormina (his home town in Sicily) on the 50th anniversary of the attack. The memorial includes a rebuilt torpedo ('maiale', Italian for 'pig', a reference to it's poor handling) and a description of the events. Wikipedia and other historical sources
  111. 2005 8 31 Mars TLP USA Shell The TLP housed both production and drilling facilites, including the Helmerich & Payne H&P 201 drilling rig. The installation was shut-in prior to the hurricane. Katrina toppled the derrick, which caused major damage to the rig floor and substructure. Later inspection found no underwater damage at the platform, but the topside damage was extensive and the platform was expected to remain unproductive until repairs were completed in 2006. Oil Rig Disasters
  112. 2011 9 26 HSE Prosecution UK The supervisor of a diving project at Ramsgate Royal Harbour Marina was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Diving at Work Regulations for failing to ensure a standby diver was ready to enter the water in the event of an emergency. Concerns were raised about the standard of his operation by a fellow diving supervisor on a neighbouring quayside. The Health and Safety Executive investigated and found that the standby diver was not in a state of immediate readiness to provide assistance to the diver in the water (The standby diver should have been fully dressed and kitted up to enter the water with his diving helmet in hand or close by. However, he was only in his dry suit, which put the diver in the water at serious risk had he required urgent assistance). DG had previously been served with a Prohibition Notice by HSE in October 2010 for a similar failing as a diving supervisor. His employer had spent time retraining and mentoring him before allowing him to continue in his role, but he ignored the guidance given. After the hearing, the HSE Inspector said: "The diving supervisor has a critical role to play in ensuring that a dive is conducted in such a way that the safety of the divers in the water is protected at all times. It is reasonably foreseeable that a diver may require urgent assistance from a standby diver should an emergency unfold, and therefore, the standby diver should be ready and able to enter the water in seconds. Yet that did not happen on Mr Gill's watch, and this clearly compromised safety. He should have known better having previously been warned about his conduct as a supervisor, but he ignored the trust, training and guidance of his employer to repeat the same failings." HSE Press Release in January 2013
  113. 1908 9 1 McLachlan Alexander Australia Topsides The ravages of the great blow off La Grange Bay have been repaired, and Broome has practically forgotten the incident. Widespread sympathy was ex-pressed with sufferers by the disaster, and in the case of Mrs. McLachlan, whose husband, the well-known Freemantle diver, was drowned off his own lugger, a sum of £200 was promptly raised and placed at her disposal. It came at a time of sore need, as she had just passed through a maternity ordeal, and the loss of the breadwinner was a terrible blow. Most of the vessels lost during the tornado have been replaced, and pearling operations are now in full swing. reported in The Western Australian, Perth. Suspected named report for diver killed in the storm reported in April of 1908.
  114. 2005 8 29 Rig 'PSS Chenul' USA The PSS Chemul semi-sub was under construction for PEMEX in the Bender Shipbuilding yard near Mobile, Alabama. It broke loose from its moorings during the hurricane was pushed upstream by the storm surge, where it eventually became wedged under the Cochrane Bridge. The rig remained pinned under the bridge for several hours, causing the closure of the bridge. After inspection, the innermost lanes of the bridge were re-opened, with the completion of repairs planned for the end of 2005. Oil Rig Disasters
  115. 1949 9 24 Fois Lani Australia Topsides The pearling lugger 'New Moon', valued at £3,000, was lost in rough seas off Mangrove point, 130 miles South West of Broome. Lanis Fois, a 33 year old Koepanger river diver, is missing, believed drowned. The other members of the crew have been rescued. Reported in the Canberra Times.
  116. 1987 8 12 Not Recorded Saudi Arabia Navy The official Saudi Press agency meanwhile reported that a Saudi Navy frogman was killed and a second wounded when they got too close to a mine being detonated after it was pulled from the Persian Gulf.It said the accident occurred in water 180 miles to the Northwest of Ras Tanura". The Telegraph.
  117. 1984 11 16 Vessel 'Brigitta Montanari' Yugoslavia 82 The Maltese flagged, Italian owned, chemical tanker, the Brigitta Montanari (Built 1975, 68 metres in length, 1297 GRT) carrying 1,390 tonnes of vinyl chloride monomer (‘VCM’, toxic, explosive and carcinogenic) sank in a storm in the Adriatic Sea on 16 November 1984 in 82m water depth 15 miles off the coastal town of Sibenik (Yugoslavia) with the loss of 3 of its 12 man crew. The sinking was attributed to a loss of stability (improperly loaded cargo, raised metacentre) following a sudden change of course. The VCM was carried in four tanks, two below deck (each 523 tonnes) and two above deck (202 and 247 tonnes). The wreck was known to be leaking toxic chemicals adjacent to the Kornati national park, an area popular with tourists. An initial salvage operation in 1985 was suspended after the death of two Navy divers (Dragutin Siljevinac and Hussein Hadzic) and injury of a third (Dragisa Koprivica) in an uncontrolled bell ascent incident (Lost bell weights) on the 25th September 1985. During successive salvage campaigns the wreck was righted (It had sunk on it’s starboard side), lifted to between 25 and 30 metres water depth (Above that depth the VCM goes from liquid to gaseous phase), and moved to a sheltered area. The VCM was then displaced by seawater and pumped into surface vessels. Following the aborted salvage using saturation divers in 1985, subsequent dives were completed using either gas bounce or air (Over 150 heliox bounce dives were undertaken below 55 metres, the dive between 30 and 55 metres were done using the same bell system on air). There does not appear to have been any follow up study on diver’s health after their exposure to VCM throughout the salvage operation. Centre of Marine Research, Zagreb
  118. 2013 5 26 Harrison Okene Nigeria West African Ventures (Subsidiary of Sea Trucks) 30 Topsides The Jacson 4 sank in heavy weather off Escravos during a tanker towing operation. The cook was found alive in an air pocket in the upside down wreck on the seabed in 30 or 35 msw by divers 82 hourds later. He was rescued by DCN divers and recovered to the saturation diving system, successfully decompressed (32 hours), bend watch and then flown ashore by helicopter to his family. Longstreath
  119. 1984 0 0 Gray Kevin Saudi Arabia Wharton Williams The Isle of Man's hyperbaric Chamber has been operated by the Kevin Gray Memorial Trust since 1984 when Manx local commercial diver Kevin Gray died while working in Saudi Arabia. Following his death, his employer Wharton Williams donated one of its chambers to the Island for divers in the Irish Sea.
  120. 2005 8 29 Hurricane Katrina USA The final toll for Katrina was 47 platforms destroyed with 20 suffering extensive damage, 6 rigs broken from moorings and set adrift, 3 platform rigs destroyed and 1 jack-up capsized (Rowan New Orleans), with 2 jackups, 
5 semi-subs and 2 platform rigs suffering extensive damage. Minerals Management Service
  121. 2004 9 15 Rig 'Ensco 64' USA Ensco The Ensco 64 was drilling the Main Pass 280 #5 well. As the rig was lying directly in Ivan's path, the Ensco 64 was secured and evacuated prior to the storm, which included laying down drillpipe from the derrick, setting a storm packer and skidding the drilling package back in. As a result of Hurricane Ivan, the Ensco 64's main hull was sheared off its legs before being set adrift with the remains of two legs hanging below. The third leg was completely lost and the derrick and drillfloor were toppled onto the upper hull. The rig was eventually found 40 miles south of its pre-Ivan location. The rig was stacked in Brownsville, Texas until April 2005, when it was declared a constructive total loss for insurance purposes. In July 2005, Ensco sold the rig to Blake Drilling & Workover Co., who planned to renovate the rig and rename it "Blake Champion" Oil Rig Disasters
  122. 2013 1 18 DSV "Hallin Penrith" Myanmar The DSV “Hallin Penrith� sank on the 18th of January after being holed on the evening of the 17th. Hallin stated that they were convening an internal enquiry with the assistance of 3rd party experts to establish exactly what happened. Notwithstanding the fact that the inquiry is still in progress to determine the full facts, it initially appears that Penrith hit an unchartered rock while going at 10Kts offshore Myanmar. At the time of the incident Penrith was contracted to support survey work connected with pipelay work offshore Myanmar. All 42 crew and client personnel abandoned ship to the life rafts initially, and were evacuated thereafter to the clients pipelay barge. There were no injuries to personnel other than 2 minor first aid cases suffered in the initial impact. The crew are in the process of being repatriated. Penrith is fully insured and whilst extremely regrettable, this incident will not unduly impact the company financially or put anyone’s job at risk. Longstreath<br />Update: It is understood that Hallin received a full insurance settlement after the incident.
  123. 1904 4 15 Ride John USA S/S Air The diver who blocked the valve and eventually recovered the body of William Hoar working upstream of it in the water flow.
  124. 1973 0 0 Not Recorded USA SCUBA The diver was working alone, under ice, installing a bubbler system in a marina. The area between and outside the three docks was ice covered with open water in the boat wells (due to the bubbler system). The victim, stating that he wanted to finish the job that day, entered the water wearing double tanks and a variable volume dry suit. He left a friend on the dock as observer and used no safety line as he feared getting tangled under the docks. The victim surfaced in one of the wells on the center dock and stated that he was going to one of the other docks to do some work. He was not seen again. His body was recovered from under a large ice sheet near the shore of the marina. His back pack and weight belt were still on, but the tanks, which had been wired to the backpack were found 20 feet away. The regulator mouthpiece was floating above the empty tanks. Reported in the statistics of the University of Michigan, Michigan Sea Grant Program, 1979.
  125. 1998 4 16 Not Recorded USA Intercoastal Diving The diver died around 8 am while working at Duke Power's dam at lake Hickory. The divers were under contract to inspect the 70 year old dam. No details. Star News
  126. 2002 12 10 Not Recorded USA 9 S/S Air The dive-boat crew said the diver had been diving for sea cucumbers at a depth of about 30 feet in Canoe Cove near Cedar Point off Metlakatla Island. The diver was the only man in the water when the accident occurred. Just before the accident took place the weather was overcast with winds of approximately 15 knots. However, after the diver had been in the water about 30 minutes, and receiving air through an air hose connected to an on-board compressor, the weather suddenly turned and strong winds, estimated at more than 50 knots, developed. The anchor began to drag, forcing the vessel toward the rocky shore, so a crewman tugged on the air hose line, signalling the diver to abort the dive. But the diver tugged back, indicating his desire to continue his quest for sea cucumbers. A short time later, worried that the vessel was getting precariously close to the rocky shore, the crewman again tugged on the air hose. This time, the diver failed to signal, nor did he surface. Shortly thereafter, the air hose line became taut, indicating the possibility of a problem with the airflow. About five minutes had elapsed since the crewman had signaled the diver to surface, so a crew member immediately donned his dive suit and entered the water. He was too late. The diver was found underneath the vessel, unconscious, his diving mask pulled from his face. He was pulled from the water and CPR applied immediately. Medical technicians arrived shortly and they administered advanced CPR and life-saving measures, also to no effect. There was no evidence of foul play and the diver's death was deemed an accidental drowning. According to the Metlakatla sergeant, the diver had a cut on the bridge of his nose and what appeared to be a bump near the back of his head, suggesting he may have hit his head on the dive boat's keel or a rock. An examination of the dive equipment was conducted and everything appeared in good condition. USCG Report.
  127. 1992 11 20 Mavrostomos Theo France Comex Saturation The deepest trial saturation dive on record, in Toulon with the Hydra programme reaching 701 metres using Hydreliox. The deepest Hydreliox working dive is still Comex with a simulated pipeline intervention in the Mediterranean in 1988 with the Hydra 8 dives to 534 metres (The 'Atlantis' trials (Duke University, USA,) reached 686 metres in 1981, Comex ran a series of deep diving programmes (Physalie, Janus, Sagittaire, Hydra, etc) mostly in France and finally Aurora at the NHC in Aberdeen reaching 470 metres in 1993In September 2010). In September 2010, 4 Chinese divers were reported to have reached a storage depth of 480 metres with an excursion to 493 metres on Heliox.
  128. 1854 6 1 Tope, third Entry, the investigation John USA Wells, Gowan and Green 12 S/S Air The deceased was a diver of five years’ experience on the Atlantic sea-board, and recently came here from Boston, where he leaves a wife and four children to mourn his death. Those who were with him during the day say that he appeared to have a premonition that some catastrophe would happen to him but could not be dissuaded from trying the experiment, in which he acted on his own responsibility, Mr. Green being in this city at the time. The accident at the wreck of the Erie last year, when Macdonald lost his life, was similar to this, though the victim in that case had but little experience as a diver. Too much care cannot be observed by those who follow this hazardous business. It requires cool judgment and great presence of mind on the part of the diver. Mr. Green informs us he has often experienced the same sensations while in the water, but always rose promptly to the surface until the dizziness had vanished and the armor thoroughly inflated. As long as the air circulates throughout the armor there is no danger to be apprehended. The body of the deceased below the neck appeared as if the blood had been entirely forced out of it, presenting an appearance as white and clear as a piece of sculptured marble. Since writing the above, we learn that Mr. Tope had connected a length of gutta percha hose to the helmet at the place occupied by the escape valve, one end of the hose, remaining above the surface of' the water. This was an improvement of his own which he desired to test, and before going down the last time he had taken the valve out entirely, though he was told frequently that such an experiment would prove fatal to him, and was warned by Mr. Green not to attempt it. On learning of the accident, Mr. Green had the body brought to this city, and Messrs. Wells & Gowan deposited it in a metallic burial case, and Mr. Wells proceeded with it to Boston last evening. The unfortunate man was held in high estimation by his employers, and his loss is deeply regretted. New York Times
  129. 1985 9 0 Not Recorded Yugoslavia 79 The Brigitta Montanari sank in a storm on Nov. 16, 1984, near the Yugoslav town of Sibenik. The vessel was carrying vinyl chloride, a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical. Two salvage divers were killed during salvage attempts in 1985. The vessel started leaking toxic chemicals in 1987. No details.
  130. 1987 0 0 Not Recorded Canada The book “Edmonton – Secrets of the City� by Charlene Rooke published in 2001 refers to 'a diver killed whilst servicing the submarine ride in 1987'. This is a reference to West Edmonton Mall, built in 1981 as a shopping mall that has evolved more into a 'family entertainment complex'. No other details.
  131. 2008 8 15 Not Recorded USA Fisherman SCUBA The body of a missing diver was located by fellow divers underwater after an extensive search by the Coast Guard and Navy crews 38-miles east of St. Augustine, The crew of the commercial fishing vessel 'Animal Control' sent a second diver in the water who located the missing man's body. The crew radioed the Coast Guard rescue coordinators at Sector Jacksonville for help after the missing diver did not resurface from what was supposed to be a 45-minute dive. The diver's body is being transported by a Coast Guard rescue boat crew to Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville where it will be turned over to the Duval County Medical Examiner later this evening. The fishing vessel Animal Control is headed back to St. Augustine. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the accident. Reported by the USCG in Military.com. No other details/reports
  132. 2015 2 3 Kinuthia Francis Kinuthia Kenya SAR diver SCUBA The body of a Kenyan diver who drowned in Kiambere Dam has been recovered after a four-day search. Francis Kinuthia Kinuthia's body was seen floating on Friday. The 52-year-old, who was based in Kamburu Dam, drowned last Tuesday. He had accompanied other divers to search for the body of 19-year-old Patrick Njue. Njue drowned in the dam while fishing on February 1. His body was recovered last Wednesday. Mbeere South police boss Mathew Ekakoro said Kinuthia's body was taken to Embu Level Five Hospital mortuary. He said the deaths were unfortunate. Ekakoro urged fishermen and residents living near the dam to be careful when carrying out their activities. He urged them not to sit on the banks of the dams or allow children to play in the area as it is infested with crocodiles. The Star/AllAfrica
  133. 2018 5 5 Seet Choon Heng (Jake) Singapore Mola Subsea Services SS/Air The body of 33-year-old Jake Seet Choon Heng, who went missing off the waters of Sentosa on Saturday (5 May), has been found. The police were alerted to a body found floating in the sea off Sentosa at 6.36pm on Monday. The body was that of a 33-year-old man who was reported missing on Saturday. The police are investigating the unnatural death. Seet, a 33-year-old commercial diver, went missing while conducting underwater operations for the vessel Jork at the Western Anchorage near Sentosa on Saturday. He is understood to be employed by Mola Subsea Services, which provides commercial diving services for vessels at major ports and anchorages within Singapore. On Monday, his sister Jacqueline Seet made an urgent appeal for “all parties to do their utmost” to bring her brother home. In a media statement, she added that neither the authorities nor her brother’s employer had promptly informed their family about his disappearance. Yahoo News Singapore has reached out to Seet’s employer for comments. Jake Seet leaves behind two sons aged six and three. According to his sister, his wife is due to give birth to their third child, a daughter, next month. Jasper Lei, 35, associate marketing director at Propnex Realty and a former colleague of Seet’s, described him as a “very fit and experienced diver” with more than 10 years of experience. While Lei expressed deep “shock” over Seet’s passing, the former commercial diver also noted that safety on the job could be compromised at times, due to the urgency of the task at hand and “limited manpower issues”. Lei and a friend started raising funds for Seet’s family on Monday night and have collected about $3,200 so far. “Jake came from a humble family, his wife is definitely devastated by the loss,” Lei added. “With two kids plus an unborn child, the future is really challenging for them.” This story was updated to include quotes from Jasper Lei and other information. Taken from Singapore News: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/body-missing-singaporean-diver-jake-seet-found-off-sentosa-024851489.html
  134. 1939 6 1 HMS Thetis UK Military 45 Submarine The “Thetis� arrived in Liverpool in May 1939, sea trials started on 1st June in Liverpool Bay with a tug in attendance. 59 crew, 2 caterers plus an additional 44 men aboard, bringing the complement up to 103. The boat began a dive but refused to go down. After other attempts and making some adjustments, with no other vessels in sight, the Captain ordered some of the Torpedo Tubes to be flooded. This action was not entirely successful, and suspecting that one tube had failed to flood, a valve on the tube hatch was opened to check for water. Nothing came out, and assuming the outer tube door had jammed, the hatch was opened. The valve was faulty, it was fouled with paint, and rush of water began to flood the compartment. The Torpedo room crew retreated to the next compartment and closed the hatch but it failed to work and the men from both sections retreated into the next chamber and the hatch closed. With two bow sections flooded and at a steep angle, they blew all the boats ballast tanks. The submarines bow struck the bottom, 150 feet below, leaving 18 feet of the stern above the surface. The nearest escape hatch, was just 20 feet below the surface, but following standard practice, it was not used until the vessel had been located. But the surface tug had lost track of the Submarine and it took over 17 hours for the Destroyer " Brazen " to find them, but with an emergency supply of air for just 24 hours, the extra men on board used it up at twice the rate. With rescue vessels on hand, 8 men evacuated (four drowned) before the hatches failed and the stern flooded forcing the tugs to cast off. Thetis sank with her remaining 95 men trapped onboard. Bad weather followed, making any attempt at salvage impossible. Salvage stated on 24th August (a navy diver, PO Henry Perdue, died during the operation 24/8/1939). The Submarine was recovered and refitted as the “Thunderbolt�, but suffered heavy damage during a depth charge attack in the Mediterranean and sank in over 3,000 feet of water. The only Submarine to sink twice, she cost the lives of 152 Officers and men in total. UK press and navy archives
  135. 1934 7 5 Etem Philippines Free diver The ‘Pear of Allah� or “Pearl of Lao Tsu�, the world’s largest known pearl.. Paraphrased from the book by Wilburn Cobb. “A Palawan island tribe on a conch fishing expedition, realised one of the group, Etem, was missing. Suspecting a giant octopus, they unsheathed their knives and dove down in search of their missing comrade. On the fourth dive they found Etem already dead, his left hand trapped between the shells of a giant Tridacna clam. With the aid of ropes, the men hoisted their dead comrade and his deep-sea murderer into one of the canoes. As the death needed to be fully explained to the authorities, they took the boy just as they had found him with his left hand still in the grip of the giant shell to chief who acted as the local notary public. The boy was buried, but three days later as the chief watched his men remove the meat from the shell, he saw an enormous pearl (It weighs over 14 lbs). Two years later it was given to Cobb as a gift after he saved the Chief’s son from dying of malaria. Contrary to some reports, not a Surface Supplied diver but native free diver – a factor which contributed to the tragedy. Also reported by Ocean Watch and others.
  136. 2002 12 3 Not Recorded Australia The 22-year-old man was diving for sea cucumber on Kelso Reef, 80km north of Townsville on the Great Barrier Reef was injured when boat propeller sliced open his buttock. Treated in hospital, no details, Reported by AAP
  137. 1897 7 7 Imoto Australia Topsides The "Torres Straits Pilot" says the lugger ‘Mamoose’, owned by Maeshiba was upset in a squall on the morning of the 7th instant, off the island of Moa, and the men on board were thrown into the water. There were six of them, all Japanese, and the diver, Imoto, was drowned. An inquiry into the matter was held before Mr. Douglas, on Thursday, The North Queensland Register, Townsville, Qld.
  138. 1968 0 0 Asbury Steve USA Taylor Diving? Tender, drowned off the BAR 282 after a night dive stinger check'. OD
  139. 1986 0 0 John Johnny UK SCUBA Tenby (South Wales), amateur diver inspecting the moorings of a pleasure craft for a friend. Failed to surface. Cause of death 'aspiration of vomit into lungs'. 'At work'? Yes, but 'at work for pay'? Probably not, just doing doing a favour for his friend. Personal communication, no other details
  140. 2006 0 0 Not Recorded USA Gee and Jensen, Cape Canaveral, FL Tangled in piles – were these recreational death(s)? No details
  141. 2008 5 10 Not recorded Sri Lanka SCUBA Tamil Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan navy ship "Invisible" with an underwater explosion at about 2:15 a.m. and the vessel sank, said navy spokesman Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake. The 213-foot (65-meter) craft was empty of cargo, he said. "We suspect the blast was carried out by a suicide diver" he said. BBC News.
  142. 2008 6 21 Not Recorded UK Northern Divers 20 S/S Air Taken from the MAIB report 3/2009 “A diver entered the water from the Belgium registered self-propelled crane barge Norma order to replace a line marking the position of the wreck of a German submarine which had been sunk during World War One off the ‘Varne’ bank in the Dover Strait (Salvage operation to reposition the wreck as it represented a hazard to deep hulled vessels). As the diver descended to a depth of about 20m, the umbilical cord containing an air supply became entangled in the vessel’s aft Voith Schneider propeller, and the diver was dragged towards its rotating blades. The diver’s air supply was also pulled from the deck but the diver succeeded in transferring to a bottled air supply before it severed. The diver was approximately 3m from the rotating propeller when the propeller was stopped by the vessel’s chief engineer. The diver then managed to cut himself free and make his way to the surface from where he was recovered without injury. The investigation identified a number of factors which contributed to this hazardous incident, including: • control system for the vessel’s propulsion had recently been installed, and no procedures for its use had been developed and no familiarisation training had been provided. • the OOW nor the master verified that the propellers were stopped or informed the engine room that diving operations were about to take place. • procedures for diving operations in the vessel’s safety management system lacked detail and were not sufficiently robust. They placed an undue reliance on the effectiveness of procedures followed by the embarked diving contractor. • operations had not been identified as a key shipboard operation by the ship manager or by external audit. “ Full report available from MAIB
  143. 1903 9 1 Clarke George Australia Caisson Sydney, seabed investigation for the proposed North Shore bridge. Three man team working from a bell (Clarke, Dodds, Marling), four hour shift (Midnight to 04:00), at the end of their shift all three complained of feeling unwell, Clarke the worst. Quote:- “About 5.45 a.m. the licensee of the Fig tree Hotel heard someone groaning outside his premises. On investigating he found Clarke lying on the veranda in a critical condition- He carried the sufferer inside. Clarke, however, never rallied, and expired at 8.30 a.m. From the nature of his symptoms it is supposed that he succumbed to excessive air pressure� Adelaide Advertiser
  144. 1903 9 1 Dodds Australia Caisson Sydney, seabed investigation for the proposed North Shore bridge. Three man team working from a bell (Clarke, Dodds, Marling), four hour shift (Midnight to 04:00), at the end of their shift all three complained of feeling unwell, Clarke the worst. Quote:- “About 5.45 a.m. the licensee of the Fig tree Hotel heard someone groaning outside his premises. On investigating he found Clarke lying on the veranda in a critical condition- He carried the sufferer inside. Clarke, however, never rallied, and expired at 8.30 a.m. From the nature of his symptoms it is supposed that he succumbed to excessive air pressure� Adelaide Advertiser
  145. 1903 9 1 Marling Australia Caisson Sydney, seabed investigation for the proposed North Shore bridge. Three man team working from a bell (Clarke, Dodds, Marling), four hour shift (Midnight to 04:00), at the end of their shift all three complained of feeling unwell, Clarke the worst. Quote:- “About 5.45 a.m. the licensee of the Fig tree Hotel heard someone groaning outside his premises. On investigating he found Clarke lying on the veranda in a critical condition- He carried the sufferer inside. Clarke, however, never rallied, and expired at 8.30 a.m. From the nature of his symptoms it is supposed that he succumbed to excessive air pressure� Adelaide Advertiser
  146. 2007 1 12 Verma SK UAE Arab Tanker Services 31 S/S Air Switching gases at first stop, no gas (valve closed on HP bottle but with an 'open' tag)
  147. 2006 1 9 Swing Rope Fatality USA El Paso Oil & Gas Topsides Swing Rope Fatality, GOM, South Timbalier, block 291 Fatally injured while transferring from motor vessel to platform using swing rope, USCG investigating
  148. 1927 11 20 Not Recorded USA S/S Air Swedish, searching for 3 bodies after a motor schooner was sunk after a collision, 4th dive, died, no details
  149. 1945 8 7 Zetterstrom Arne Sweden Navy 160 S/S Mixed Gas SWEDISH DIVER KILLED ATTEMPTING RECORD DESCENT. London, August 8 (AAP) – “Arne Zetterstrom (27), a Swedish navy diver, holder of the deep sea record of 364 feet, was suffocated when ascending from a dive in which he attempted to set a new record of 525 feet. Zetterstrom made his record last December, breathing a mixture of air and hydrogen, largely eliminating the narotic effect of nitrogen�. Reported in the Cairns Post, Qld. Arne Zetterström (1917 – 7 August 1945), researcher into the breathing mixture hydrox for the Swedish Navy. Zetterström first described the use of hydrogen as a breathing gas in 1943. From 1943 to 1944, a total of six ocean dives were made utilizing this mixture with the deepest to 160 meters (96% hydrogen and 4% oxygen). On 7 August 1945, Zetterström experienced technical problems diving from the HMS Belos. His support divers misread his signals and this was followed by a rapid ascent that resulted in severe decompression sickness and hypoxia.
  150. 1952 9 10 Not Recorded USA S/S Air Surfaced at end of dive, either unscrewed face plate or took off helmet, sat on gunnel of small dive support tender boat, it capsised. Diver drowned. No details. Reported in the Chicago Tribune.
  151. 1923 6 1 Doe Arnold R USA S/S Air Superintendent of bridges of the state highway department, inspecting the East Haddam Bridge, 'died about 2:30 o'clock this afternoon from an internal haemorrhage'
  152. 1979 0 0 Not Recorded Egypt Military Suez canal was cleared for vessels by mid-1975. One report states “Only one man, an Egyptian diver, has been killed in the canal clearing. However 100 Egyptian soldiers have died stripping both banks of the canal of nearly 700,000 mines last year�. The Rock Hill Herald.
  153. 1867 10 28 Holt James UK River Tyne Commssioners S/S Air Sudden Death at North Shields. -- On Saturday afternoon, Mr James Holt, the River Tyne Commissioner' diver, died at his residence, in Rudyard Street, North Shields, of concussion of the brain, brought on, it is supposed, by the arduous nature of his vocation, after a, brief illness of twenty-four hours. Deceased, who was a native of Whitstable, had been in the employment of the Commissioners for the long period of twenty-one years, and was much respected for his genial and affable disposition by all who knew and came in contact with him. Shields Daily Gazette
  154. 2005 5 21 Not Recorded USA Subsea pipeline tie-in, crane ops, lost tips of two fingers
  155. 2012 8 18 Olurunwa Nigeria Storm surge hit shanty cabins at the Kuramo Beach, Victoria Island early hours of Saturday morning, "So far, only the body of the local diver earlier found on Saturday has been identified. The local diver identified simply as Olurunwa lost his life in his attempt to save the drowning victims. Reported in the Vanguard
  156. 1924 7 0 Cappadona France S/S Air STINGRAY ATTACKS DIVER. Cappadona, the well-known French diver had an astonishing encounter with a stingray while repairing the Toulon-Antibes cable. The stingray has a terrific, dagger-like tail, which is poisonous. When it saw the diver it dashed at him, striking with its tail and cutting the diving suit in many places, bruising Cappadona's body, but, luckily, not cutting the skin. Otherwise, the diver would have been doomed. Cappadona had pulled out his dagger and struck the stingray between the eyes, and as he did so tugged the "haul up" signal. This saved his life, the diving suit being useless owing to the holes. He was unconscious when pulled to the surface. Cappadona states that the stingray is even more dangerous than the 50-pound devil fish. Reported in The Horsham Times, Victoria, Australia
  157. 1986 4 14 Space Shuttle Challenger USA Stena Stena Workhorse recovered critical pieces of the space shuttle “Challenger� from seabed at 560'
  158. 1877 1 29 Robertson John UK Topsides Steam ship 'Alexandra', built in Stockton on Tees in 1863, en route from Cadiz to Dublin via Liverpool, with 420 tons of wine. Reached Liverpool and discharged 100 tons of wine, sailed for Dublin on the 3rd of January. 08:00 drive shaft broke, continued under sail, caught in a storm which left him with only fore and aft foresails, was being pushe onshore, dropped port anchor which immediately parted, starboard anchor jammed, ran aground in Clogher Bay. Cargo was discgarged by the 12th January, on the same day, the salvage vessel 'Seamen' arrived from Adrossan with three steam pumps and repair crew, including the diver and tender, and temporary repairs made including installing the three pumps on frames in the holds.before two tugs - "Kingfisher" and "Challenger' out of Liverpool - arrived to tow her to Belfast for overhaul with the salvage steamer "Seamew" attached to her stern by a tow rope to steady her during the tow and the three steam pumps running to keep her afloat. Floated off and tow started 10:00 on the 29th JanuaryAlso onboard was a repair crew including diver John Robertson and his attendant from Greenock. Caught in further bad weather from 18:00 hours, the pumps could not keep up, headed for sheltered water and situation improved, continued the tow but vessel began listing to starboard, then settled to the stern and then sank in under 5 minutes. It is thought that 7 persons were lost in the sinking - a shipright, a carpenter, 4 labourers from Clogher Bay and the diver, Anderson. Salvage Captains criticised for taking the vessels into heavy weather away from sheltered water. Plimsol.org/Old Merseytimes.co.uk
  159. 2001 7 25 Novichenko A USSR Stavropolsky region, Aged 41, During the repair work at the Sengeleevsky Water reservoir dam. Sucked in a wall break by the water flow. No details. Undersea Review
  160. 2003 1 25 Humphreys Tracy USA SCUBA Sports divers. Two men died while ice diving in a Lowden quarry, drowned, apparently after their tanks ran out of air as they searched for an opening in the ice. An investigator for the Cedar County medical examiner's office, said Thursday that Kevin Petersen, 31, and Tracy Humphreys, 30, were dropped off at Wendling Quarry Saturday. Their bodies were found Sunday morning, authorities said, with their air tanks empty. One man had PADI advanced open water and rescue level diver's certification but police could find no diver certification record for the other. The two had trespassed to dive in the quarry, which prohibits diving, authorities said. Authorities tested the rental equipment used by them and found the gear was working properly. The only problem was a hole in one pressure hose that would not likely have been the primary cause of the accident. Restrictors on either end of the hose prevent it from leaking air too quickly. Investigators found a rope tied to a tree hanging down into the water, but not tied to the divers. Quote:- "That would have been totally useless if they weren't tied to it, if you could find a rope in the water, you could see the hole anyway." Reported in the Cedar Rapids Gazette
  161. 2003 1 25 Peterson Kevin USA SCUBA Sports divers. Two men died while ice diving in a Lowden quarry, drowned, apparently after their tanks ran out of air as they searched for an opening in the ice. An investigator for the Cedar County medical examiner's office, said Thursday that Kevin Petersen, 31, and Tracy Humphreys, 30, were dropped off at Wendling Quarry Saturday. Their bodies were found Sunday morning, authorities said, with their air tanks empty. One man had PADI advanced open water and rescue level diver's certification but police could find no diver certification record for the other. The two had trespassed to dive in the quarry, which prohibits diving, authorities said. Authorities tested the rental equipment used by them and found the gear was working properly. The only problem was a hole in one pressure hose that would not likely have been the primary cause of the accident. Restrictors on either end of the hose prevent it from leaking air too quickly. Investigators found a rope tied to a tree hanging down into the water, but not tied to the divers. Quote:- "That would have been totally useless if they weren't tied to it, if you could find a rope in the water, you could see the hole anyway." Reported in the Cedar Rapids Gazette
  162. 2007 7 22 Wilson Stephen USA SCUBA Sports diver, aged 36, fatally injured when struck by lightning as he surfaced. Miami Herald
  163. 2005 6 14 Not Recorded Canada SCUBA Sports diver hired to carry out a commercial dive checking moorings, second dive, lifeline slack, no response, recovered unconscious, hospitalised but survived. No qualifications, procedures, team, stand-by etc
  164. 1988 7 13 Hastings Robbie USA SCUBA Sports diver aged 30, died after being stung by a Jellyfish (Portuguese man-of-war). Charlotte Observer
  165. 2008 1 26 Cortina Jose Spain Spanish Navy Spanish, training dive at the Spanish Naval Diving training establishment, Caratagena, diving from the Neptuno, training dive, one other injured (Paz), both given hyperbaric treatment in Santa Maria del Rosell naval hospital, one fatality (Casanova).
  166. 2008 1 26 Paz Julio Spain Spanish Navy Spanish, training dive at the Spanish Naval Diving training establishment, Caratagena, diving from the Neptuno, training dive, one other injured (Cortina), both given hyperbaric treatment in Santa Maria del Rosell naval hospital, one fatality (Casanova).
  167. 2014 2 1 Moreno Franco Israel Italy UCS 10m Spanish, from La Coruna, aged 41. Working on the salvage of the Costa Concordia (Sank off the island of Grigio in January 2912 with the loss of 32 people), subcontracted to Titan, the main salvors, Metal brace being cut off fell on hin crushing his chest and gashing his groin, trapping, brought to surface by fellow diver, apparently still concious but later died of blood loss. Reported in 'The Province', Associated Press and Reuters
  168. 1998 10 12 Not Recorded Tunisia Adriatica Subsea Services 75 S/S Mixed Gas Spanish, aged 33, Bounce diving, Galeazzi type bell, (no DDC, decompression done in the bell). The day before had passed out in the water, recovered by the bellman. Passed out during locking out, recovered dead. Ill fitting unisuit reported as a contributory factor
  169. 2008 1 26 Casanova Gines Acosta Spain Spanish Navy Spanish, aged 29, warrant officer, training dive at the Spanish Naval Diving training establishment, Caratagena, diving from the Neptuno, training dive, two others (Cortina and Paz) injured.
  170. 2012 3 19 Freigeiro Choucino Marcos Spain UCS, Algeceiras 20 SCUBA Spanish aged 28, Hull cleaning operation at the alpha anchotage in Port of Algerceiras on the container ship "Lica Maersk" (Launched 2001, 266 metres long, 37 metre beam, draft 21 metres, capacity 3,600 TEU), brush became detached, dragged the diver to seabed at 100m, body not located. Longstreath/GPS Buceo
  171. 1993 2 12 Herpin Jude USA AOD 42 South Timbalier, Block 0152, 00464, Structure E, Chevron, "Cutting a window in the 10 ¾ inch casing. The surface personnel heard an explosion on the diver’s monitor. A standby diver went into the water immediately and when he reached the other diver he found him unconscious and his helmet off. The injured diver later died in the decompression chamber of cardiac arrest" OCS Incident database 1991-1994m page 65
  172. 2009 4 16 Not Recorded Canada S/S Air South Thompson river, Lafarge bridge, Campbell Creek, near Kamloops. Press report says “ “Emergency crews were called in to rescue four people after a barge overturned, trapping one person underneath, “It sucked,� said one of the four workers stranded in the water. “We flipped and when we got up top, the boss called (the emergency services) and they were there in about five minutes.� The workers were doing regular maintenance of a water intake in the river when one of the ropes securing their barge snapped, the second line securing the barge remained intact, keeping the vessel stationary in the water. The operations manager said it’s unsettling to see workers in the water when they’re not supposed to be — especially at this time of year. All the workers were out of the water before the emergency services arrived and none suffered serious injuries.� No mention of diving, but the accompanying photograph shows two guys on the overturned hull of the barge dressed in dry-suits pulling a commercial, helmeted, surface supplied diver out of the water. Was this an overturned diving operation? No other details.
  173. 2000 11 11 Davis Ted USA Energy Partners or D & W Welding Services 23 South Pass 28, The diver was working on a severed pipeline when he lost communication with the surface. A second diver was unable to locate the first diver. Pressure differential, sucked into a pipe when dredging cleared blocked pipe opening, body reciovered the following day.
  174. 1985 6 14 Not Recorded USA South Marsh, Block 41, OCS0G 1192, Platform A, Chevron. "A diver was installing a caisson centraliser when his thumb was caught and severed between the conductor and centraliser". OCS Incidents 1956-1990, page 270
  175. 1998 7 13 Not Recorded South Korea Military South Korean military commanders put troops on the country's eastern coast on alert and declared a curfew in the area after finding the body of a diver who they said was a North Korean commando. The diver, whose body apparently washed up on the beach, was wearing a wet suit, goggles and two oxygen tanks and carrying a Czech-made submachine gun, a hand grenade, radio transmission gear and an underwater camera, the military said. Nearby, investigators found a cone-shaped aluminum submersible boat that could carry up to five commandos. ''Judging from the objects found, it has been proven that the dead diver was an armed infiltrator,'' said a Defense Ministry spokesman. A month ealier, a furor erupted when a South Korean fisherman caught a North Korean submarine in his drift net. The North Korean commandos on board apparently killed the crew and then themselves, but South Korean officials said that some of the commandos had recently been on South Korean soil. That incident aroused only limited outrage in the South, in part because the submarine was 12 miles offshore when it was caught in the net. North Korea said it had lost power and suggested that it had drifted south. A more serious episode occurred when a North Korean submarine ran aground on the South Korean coast in October 1996 and 19 crew members and commandos slipped ashore. Some 70,000 South Korean troops were deployed to hunt them down, and in the end all the North Koreans were killed or committed suicide except one who was captured and another who was never found. The body discovered this morning was found by a South Korean man walking along the beach near the city of Tonghae, 110 miles east of Seoul. Defense Ministry doctors examined the body and said that the man had died of a heart attack and had been dead between 24 and 48 hours. New York Times
  176. 2006 6 16 Blaauw André USA Superior Saturation South African, first saturation, DSV "Superior Endeavour", closing bottom door at end of bell run, bungee cord caught on bell door, released and struck him in the eye. Permanent loss of sight in one eye.
  177. 2012 3 17 Roussow Pierre India CCC 28 S/S Air South African, experienced sat diver working an air job off the NPCC barge HLS 2000, crane incident, found in the water with helmet off, broken neck. Longstreath
  178. 2005 2 15 Wolmarans André South Africa Subtech Diving and marine SCUBA South African, aged 19, Durban harbour, cleaning the propeller of a fishing vessel, "someone inside the vessel accidentally activate the propeller". He was standing on it at the time, it took police divers 7 hours to find his body. Outdoornewswire.
  179. 1986 5 0 Baranov Boris USSR SCUBA Soldier, Relief force at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Pripyat, Uktraine, 26th April 1986. During tests reactor 4 went into meltdown causing the most significant release of radiation in history. During the immediate aftermath many workers were subjected to fatal doses of radiation in desperate attempts to mitigate the effects. At one stage, in order to reduce the risk of a steam explosion in the flooded baement area, three volunteers (Valeri Bezpalov, Boris Baranov and Alexei Ananenko) entered the flooded area in diving gear to open the sliuce gates manually. All three returned to the surface after completing the work but died later from radiation sickness. GPS Buceo/Wikipedia
  180. 2021 7 27 Walker Staff Sgt. Micah USA Military Surface Swimmer Soldier assigned to 10th Special forces at the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) in Key West, Florida, undergoing the CDQC (Combat Diver Qualification Course) drowned during pool training. "The Staff Sergeant was a student in the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course, and was participating in a conditioning exercise in the pool, which stresses the students’ cardio, respiratory and muscular endurance,” the release said. During the training event, the Soldier submerged and did not resurface. The cadre immediately entered the pool and found him unresponsive, read the release. “The Dive Medical Officer attempted to resuscitate him, and he was transported to the Lower Keys Medical Center Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead following full medical intervention". Second CDQC fatality in under a year (Staff Sgt Paul Olmstead during pre-selection 'martime assessment' 23rd September 2020)
  181. 2002 10 6 Tanker Limburg Yemen Franceship Small boat used in a suicide bombing of a tanker off Mukallah, 1 crew member killed in the explosion.
  182. 1991 12 6 Not Recorded USA SM 0565, P0450, Hildago, Chevron. "While waterblasting sea growth from platform legs, a diver inadvertently passed the waterblaster across his right fool causing a deep laceration. The diver was medivaced to Goleta Valley hospital". OCS Incidents database 1991 to 1994, page 96
  183. 1982 5 28 Hok Leong Way Indonesia Oceaneering Topsides Singaporean, one of 7 passengers who died when a Perlita Air Services 'Puma' crashed into the sea en route to Natuna Island from a Gulf Oil installation. At least three of the passengers (Henry lim Kim Bin, Leong way Hok and Allan Ming) were divers working for Oceaneering Singapore. Straits Times
  184. 1982 5 28 Ming Allan Indonesia Oceaneering Topsides Singaporean, one of 7 passengers who died when a Perlita Air Services 'Puma' crashed into the sea en route to Natuna Island from a Gulf Oil installation. At least three of the passengers (Henry lim Kim Bin, Leong way Hok and Allan Ming) were divers working for Oceaneering Singapore. Straits Times
  185. 2007 9 0 Kok Damien Tan Yee Malaysia Master Tech 30 S/S Air Singaporean, Cable lay, relocating dredge, KM18 band mask, suspected band mask off, possible head injuries, Trained by Singaporean Navy, inadequate equipment, inadequate team size, no quals, 'supervisor' qualified as trainee supervisor only.
  186. 1982 5 28 Bin Henry Lim Kim Indonesia Oceaneering Topsides Singaporean, aged 26, one of 7 passengers who died when a Perlita Air Services 'Puma' crashed into the sea en route to Natuna Island from a Gulf Oil installation. At least three of the passengers (Henry lim Kim Bin, Leong way Hok and Allan Ming) were divers working for Oceaneering Singapore. He was coming ashore to be married two days later, his fiancee was 22. Straits Times
  187. 2007 2 20 Sue Qing Wen Singapore Dolphin Dive & Adventure 35 SCUBA Singaporean, 35m sports diver open water training dive, surfaced, sank, swept away by current, body recovered 3 days later Tank contained 785ppm CO and 12.3ppm H2S. Open verdict.
  188. 1971 8 18 Koh John Kay Lim Singapore Straits Diving Singaporean aged 33, diving to clean a water suction tube at the Jurong power station. Dive team "found Koh stuck to the wire netted entrance of the tube limp and lifeless". Verdict was drowning by misadventure. Straits Times
  189. 1960 5 1 Arakawa Hirochi? Australia 66 S/S Air Singapore Free Press "An Okinawan pearl diver died of divers paralysis near Thursday Island". "The first pearl diving fatality of the season ocurred at the weekend in the Darnley deeps, 55 miles off Thursday Island. Aged 26, Okinawan, diving in 36 fathoms at 2pm from the lugger 'Sedney'. He was brought to the surface in easy stages but was dead when he reached the surface. The Sydney Morning Herald
  190. 1906 5 20 Kraming South Africa S/S Air Simonstown harbour, apparently drowned, helmet off (Siebe Gorman?). Captured in colour illustration on the front page of 'Le Petit Journal', now available as a retro-poster (allposters.com). Newspaper report dated 27th June regarding an inquest held in Simonstown into the death of a diver on the breakwater works. "Another diver named MacPhail was down at the same time, and whilst the two men were standing together MacPhail saw Kraming's helmet suddenly fly off. Kraming caught hold of MacPhail and pulled on the lifeline. Both men were drawn up to within 10 feet of the surface when the hauling stopped and MacPhail was forced to let go his hold with the result that Kraming fell to the bottom again and was drowned. It was conclusively proved that the helmet was properly ajusted when he left the boat to descend but there was no evidence to show how it became unfastened. The magistrate, in returning a verdict of 'death by drowning', commented somewhat severely on the methods prevailing at Sir John Jackson's works and expressed the opinion that an extra man should be furnished to each diver and that only reliable men should be employed on the work. It is said that such an occurrence is unparalleled in connection with diving operations". Straits Times.
  191. 2012 1 9 Not Recorded Singapore SCUBA Ship's husbandry, diving in support of locating a vessel into a dry dock. Surfaced with his diving partner but went back down, failed to surface. located (unconscious?) on the bottom of the dock, failed to respond to treatment, (possible cardiac arrest?)
  192. 1978 5 21 Not Recorded USA Ship Shoal, Block 114, OCS 64, Platform SOB, Odeco. "A diver was removing a valve in the oil storage tank when a nipple on the air compressor broke, reducing his air supply. On syrfacing in the tank, diver removed his helmet and was overcome by toxic fumes and drowned". OCS Incident database
  193. 2011 9 9 Not Recorded UK Sheringham Shoal Offshore Windfarm off Norfolk, diver medivac by helicopter to Norwich Hospital with 'broken ribs, broken arm, traumatised". No other details. Norfolk News
  194. 2008 11 18 Not Recorded Greece Shellfish diver off the vessel 'Agios Dimitrios' with two other crew in the Palaiomanas Gulf, working 2 to 12 metres for two or three dives a day up to two and a half hours each (No decompression). Diver apparently recovered unconscious from the water. Vessel returned to Kalamarias Port and diver transferred to hospital where he was pronounced dead. 'Relevant Port Authorities investigating'. No details. Divers Union of Thessalonika website
  195. 2006 6 18 Reyes Jose Diego Barria Chile Friosur SCUBA Shellfish cultivation, Elena Island, Cisnes Commons, Aysén Regioner, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  196. 2006 5 8 Barria Raphael Chacon Chile Peasuera San Jorge SCUBA Shellfish cultivation, Castro (Teupa chorito cultivation center), Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  197. 2005 8 5 Maldonado Luis Ojeda Chile Los Fiordos SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Quellon, body not recovered. Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  198. 2005 6 9 Cartes Pedro Vivanco Chile Cammachaca SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Guaitecas, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  199. 2005 11 21 Bustamente Pedro Alvarado Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Dalcahue. Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  200. 2008 7 26 Not Recorded S/S Air Shell safety flash, complete failure of stand-by diver basket main lift wire, basket caught by clump weight. Report in preparation
  201. 1995 0 0 Not Recorded Israel Naval Commando Sgt Gal Azoulay, aged 19, died during a training dive for Israeli Naval Commando in December 2009 (Simulation of combat dive in enemy port) Reported at the time as the first fatal accident in training for the unit since 1995 but can find no details of the 1995 accident in the public domain, details needed, TC
  202. 1967 0 0 Miller USA Military Serving on the USN "Skylark" (ASR 20, submarine Rescue vessel) that may have been operating in the Meditterrranean or UK waters at the time, killed in a divng accident along with fellow Navy Diver Sprinkle. No details. Reported in navydivers.net
  203. 1967 0 0 Sprinkle USA Military Serving on the USN "Skylark" (ASR 20, submarine Rescue vessel) that may have been operating in the Meditterrranean or UK waters at the time, killed in a divng accident along with fellow Navy Diver Miller. No details. Reported in navydivers.net
  204. 1989 8 28 Not Recorded UK Topsides Seriously injured at the RN Submarine Base Faslane, Civilian diver, in a hut on a barge, preparing to dive, his team-mate David Foley was killed when a crane jib fell onto the hut. During the inquest, the court heard that a steel rope snapped, causing the steel jib to fall and crush a cabin on an off-shore barge where Mr Foley was changing into his wet suit. Mr Foley was killed instantly and another diver was injured. A pulley on the crane split and steel guide guards were later found to have been cut. Glasgow Herald
  205. 1974 0 0 Smith Roy Inmam USA Underwater Services Serious and permanent injuries on board a B & R barge “H S Lindsay�, court case 1965
  206. 1993 2 0 Rig 'Actina' Vietnam Semi Submersible. Blow out
  207. 1982 2 15 Rig 'Ocean Ranger' Canada Odeco Semi Submersible,drillig well J-34, Hibernia field for Mobil, sank in a storm off Newfoundland, wave broke porthole/window, seawater in ballast control electrics, listed, rolled over and sank, 84 fatalities, no survivors
  208. 1995 8 1 Rig 'Ocean Developer' Angola Semi Submersible, sank during towing
  209. 1985 10 6 Rig 'West Vanguard' Norway Statoil/Smedvig Semi Submersible, drilling Haltenbanken for Staoil, blow out, 1 fatality. Rebuild and sold to Diamond Offshore
  210. 1988 9 22 Rig 'Ocean Odyssey' UK Arco Semi Submersible, drilling block 22 (Central Graben, Shearwater), HPHT well, blow out and fire, 1 fatality (Radio operator sent back from lifeboat to continue communications), 58 evacuated by TEMPSC, 8 jumped into the sea and were picked up by the stand-by vessel. Rig was subsequently converted into a satellite launch pad (Sea Launch) based at Long Beach, California
  211. 1989 4 0 Rig 'Sedco J' South Africa Semi Submersible, capsised during tow
  212. 1984 0 0 Rig 'Treasure Seeker' Norway Semi Submersible, blow out, shallow gas
  213. 1984 2 22 Rig 'Vinland" Canada Shell Semi Submersible, Blow out during drilling of Uniacke G-72
  214. 2001 3 15 Rig P 36 Brazil Petrobras Semi Submersible, (Built in Italy, 'Spirit of Clumbus', converted to an FPU to operate in the Roncador field), explosions in tanks in the columns, listed, further explosions (which killed 11 members of the fire fighting team), rig eventually sank 5 days after the initial explosion in 1300 metres water depth.
  215. 1998 7 0 Rig 'Glomar Arctic IV' Rig Disaster Semi Sub, explosion, 2 fatalities
  216. 1985 1 0 Rig 'Glomar Arctic II' UK Semi Sub, explosion in pump room, 2 fatalities
  217. 1976 3 1 Rig 'Deep Sea Driller' Norway Semi Sub, drifted and grounded in a storm, 6 fatalities.
  218. 1984 0 0 Rig 'Ali Baba' Semi Sub, broke moorings, went adrift and then went aground.
  219. 2004 8 20 Rig 'Jim Cunningham' Egypt Semi Sub, Blow
  220. 1979 11 10 Andrieux Philipe Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex 130 Saturation See 'Wodeco V lost Bell' for details, the three divers in the bell, rescue stand-by diver and a nurse die in this incident.
  221. 1979 11 10 Laubouet Philipe Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex 130 Saturation See 'Wodeco V lost Bell' for details, the three divers in the bell, rescue stand-by diver and a nurse die in this incident.
  222. 1979 11 10 Leca Joseph 'Jo' Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex 130 Saturation See 'Wodeco V lost Bell' for details, the three divers in the bell, rescue stand-by diver and a nurse die in this incident.
  223. 1979 11 10 Lemarchand Gilles Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex 130 Saturation See 'Wodeco V lost Bell' for details, the three divers in the bell, rescue stand-by diver and a nurse die in this incident.
  224. 1899 8 18 Baldwin William USA 45 S/S Air Second attempt to reach the wreck of the British ship 'Andelana' lying in 190' of water near Tacoma Harbour. “Death was due to some accident in the pumping gear which supplied the air� Reported in the Evening Telegram
  225. 2007 2 0 Not Recorded Singapore Acergy Saturation Seaway Hawk, Singapore, Medlock door failed during pressure test, one technician seriously injured IMCA SF 08/07
  226. 1910 3 3 Deers Louis Australia Freemantle Harbour Trust S/S Air Searching for an anchor lost from the Currie liner "Itonus" diving from the launch 'Penguin'. 'Some time after the descent he failed to respond to signals and was at once raised to the surface. His gear was stripped off and he was seen to be in a bad way. A doctor was summoned who on examination of the body pronounced his life was extinct. The deceased leaves a wife and three children. Reported in The Kalgoorlie western Argus.
  227. 1969 2 0 Sealab III USA Military 186 Saturation Sealab III diving to over 600 feet, programme aborted after the death of a diver (Barry Cannon) in February
  228. 2014 10 11 Not Recorded Saudi Arabia INW 31m SCUBA Seabed survey and marking of subsea assets prior to a jack-up workover rig being mobilised in the KJO Oilfield (Al-Khafji Joint Operations). Failed to surface, body recovered 24 hours later. Longstreath/Emirates 24/7, A report in the Saudi gazzette read:- "DAMMAM – Search and rescue teams from the Eastern Province Border Guards recovered the body of an expatriate diver who drowned in the Al-Khafji area while performing routine work laying down electrical cable signs. Spokesman of the guards, Capt. Omar Al-Aklabi, said the victim was working with a fellow worker who returned to the shore after completing his work, only to find his colleague had not returned with him. He added that search and rescue operations lasted two days and the body was finally located 22 miles from the shore. The case has been referred to investigation bodies"
  229. 1921 6 17 Godfrey Damon S Canada 8 S/S Air Sault Ste Marie, city on the St Marys River, Diver's lines tangled, unable to signal surface, lost helmet seal, gradual flooding of suit, drowned. Reported in the New York Times
  230. 2003 0 0 IMCA SF 01 03 IMCA Saturation Saturation Bell diving off a DP DSV, main bell winch failure (Bell recovered to deck by crane). IMCA Safety Flash SF 01/03
  231. 1985 12 15 DSV Huichol II, ex Kattenturm Mexico Condux, a subsidiary of Protexa, working for Pemex Sank in a storm off Cuidad del Carmem inside a Pemex exploration block. 27+, 32 or 33 fatalities out of POB of 71. Rumoured to have sunk with 4 (Oceaneering?) divers in saturation, unclear if other dive team members perished. Salvage operations started 4 days after the vesel sank, the wreck was lifted by the crane barge 'Tolteca' and 21 bodies recovered during February 1986, vessel was partially lifted and then re-sunk in shallow water outside the Pemex exploration block. Lawyers were still arguing with the insurers about the (incompetent) salvage costs 7 years later. The vessel was built in 1966 as the 'Kattenturm', one of eleven '2500' class supply vessels, fitted with a ASK (Honeywell) DP system (with a single bow thruster) and saturation diving system designed by Hans Keller with a unique 'egg shaped' diving bell in 1976. US court of appeals records
  232. 0 0 0 Not Recorded USA Parker Divers SCUBA San Francisco Bay Area, Salvage/hull scrubbing contractor. Diver killed by a ship's propeller (body never recovered, only fragments of wetsuit and tissue). No details. Mentioned in a blog on OD.
  233. 1893 11 0 Not Recorded Spain S/S Air Salvaging the wreck of the steamer "Cabo Machichaco" which exploded (Carrying a mixed cargo including dynamite) in Santander Harbour in November 1893. Divers had reported that as they salvaged the cargo they wre getting close to the remaining dynamite but it was supposed that the explosive had lost its power after so many weeks in the water. Three divers were down with a support boat carrying 7 men over the location, around 50 men were working on the nearby docks when the cargo exploded killing the divers and men on the boat, a further 30 were reported as seriously injured. New York Times
  234. 1995 0 0 Webb John India CCC Saturation Salvaging concrete coated pipe lost off a materials barge in zero visibility on Bombay High, crushed between pipes during crane operations. When the incident happened, the bellman (On his first sat) was slow into the water and did not flood the bell, could not reach the diver so had to climb back into the bell to release more umbilical, diver's umbilical trapped under pipe, the bellman initially cut the divers umbilical on the wrong side of the pipe and then had to use the divers's own knife (his own knife by then being blunt) to release the diver and take him back to bell. The diver's KMB 17 side block had been knocked off, probably by impact from a swinging pipe caused by a sling coming off, and his umbilcal trappd. Pipe sections were scattered in a loose unstable pile and recovered using modified shackles hooked into the ends of the pipe sections (This method - as opposed to burning lifting holes in each end of the pipes - was adopted because 'the client wanted to speed things up and avoid damaging the pipe'. Longstreath blog.
  235. 2005 1 6 Ohryn Thomas USA Fred Devine diving and salvage 3 S/S Air Salvaging a fishing vessel off California, crushed between FV and derrick, air supply cut off plus crushing injuries.
  236. 1977 2 11 Joseph Pat USA Fred Devine and Salvage 15 Salvage operations on the tanker “Sansitena� in Los Angeles harbour, Berth 46 (Blew up while alongside, 9 dead, 36 injured in the initial blast 17th December 1976) , had been in the water two hours osy arc cutting operations, gas pocket, underwater explosion, reported as “diver stricken with bends when he surfaced after an underwater explosion�. Also reported that he was the second diver injured on that job in four days. Although he remained in the industry, he was never able to dive again after the accident.. Los Angeles Times, PC.
  237. 1898 0 0 Campbell George USA Baltimore Wrecking Company Chamber Salvage operation recovering the cargo of the sunken steamer 'Pewabic' in Thunder Bay off Milwaukee. Working from a bell with partner Peter Olsen. Both men drowned when one of the glass ports failed
  238. 1897 0 0 Olson Peter USA Baltimore Wrecking Company Chamber Salvage operation recovering the cargo of the sunken steamer 'Pewabic' in Thunder Bay off Milwaukee. Working from a bell with partner George Campbell. Both men drowned when one of the glass ports failed
  239. 1985 9 25 Hadzic Hussein Croatia Navy 82 Saturation Salvage of the chemical tanker, the Brigitta Montanari that sank on the 16th November 1984 (See separate entry) carrying vinyl chloride monomer (‘VCM’, toxic, explosive and carcinogenic) in 82m water depth. Known to be leaking toxic chemicals, the only salvage resource available was the ‘Sapasilac’, Yugoslavian Navy submarine deep rescue unit. Built as the PS-12, 55 metres in length, 1,490 GRT, at the Tito shipyard in 1976. She was initially fitted out with a 600m depth rated rescue submarine (‘Mermaid IV’, 8 metres long, capable of carrying 10 personnel including crew), a three man, 300 metre diving bell that was also rated as an atmospheric observation chamber and a 30 man surface recompression chamber. Two further rescue vessels were built in 1977, one was sold to Libya, the ‘Al Munjed’, the other to Iraq, the ‘A-81’ - Sunk during the second gulf war. The later vessels had modified funnels (to reduce overheating of the hyperbaric chambers). The vessel has had the submarine and diving systems removed and was still in service with the Croatian Navy as the patrol vessel OB-73 ‘Faust Vrancic’ in 2010). During a bell run to assess the wreck of the Brigitta Montanari, the salvage vessel was moved to clear the bell from above the hull but the bell weights (suspended on chains below the bell) caught on the wreck and were ripped off causing an uncontrolled ascent the buoyant bell. The two divers who were locked out (Dragutin Siljevinac and Hussein Hadzic) were dragged to the surface by their umbilicals and although rescued from about 30 metres, both subsequently died in the chamber. The bellman (Dragisa Koprivica) spent 4 weeks in the chamber but survived and carried on a career as a diver. Centre of Marine Research, Zagreb
  240. 1985 9 25 Koprivica Dragisa Croatia Navy 82 Saturation Salvage of the chemical tanker, the Brigitta Montanari that sank on the 16th November 1984 (See separate entry) carrying vinyl chloride monomer (‘VCM’, toxic, explosive and carcinogenic) in 82m water depth. Known to be leaking toxic chemicals, the only salvage resource available was the ‘Sapasilac’, Yugoslavian Navy submarine deep rescue unit. Built as the PS-12, 55 metres in length, 1,490 GRT, at the Tito shipyard in 1976. She was initially fitted out with a 600m depth rated rescue submarine (‘Mermaid IV’, 8 metres long, capable of carrying 10 personnel including crew), a three man, 300 metre diving bell that was also rated as an atmospheric observation chamber and a 30 man surface recompression chamber. Two further rescue vessels were built in 1977, one was sold to Libya, the ‘Al Munjed’, the other to Iraq, the ‘A-81’ - Sunk during the second gulf war. The later vessels had modified funnels (to reduce overheating of the hyperbaric chambers). The vessel has had the submarine and diving systems removed and was still in service with the Croatian Navy as the patrol vessel OB-73 ‘Faust Vrancic’ in 2010). During a bell run to assess the wreck of the Brigitta Montanari, the salvage vessel was moved to clear the bell from above the hull but the bell weights (suspended on chains below the bell) caught on the wreck and were ripped off causing an uncontrolled ascent the buoyant bell. The two divers who were locked out (Dragutin Siljevinac and Hussein Hadzic) were dragged to the surface by their umbilicals and although rescued from about 30 metres, both subsequently died in the chamber. The bellman (Dragisa Koprivica) spent 4 weeks in the chamber but survived and carried on a career as a diver. Centre of Marine Research, Zagreb
  241. 1985 9 25 Siljevinac Dragutin Croatia Navy 82 Saturation Salvage of the chemical tanker, the Brigitta Montanari that sank on the 16th November 1984 (See separate entry) carrying vinyl chloride monomer (‘VCM’, toxic, explosive and carcinogenic) in 82m water depth. Known to be leaking toxic chemicals, the only salvage resource available was the ‘Sapasilac’, Yugoslavian Navy submarine deep rescue unit. Built as the PS-12, 55 metres in length, 1,490 GRT, at the Tito shipyard in 1976. She was initially fitted out with a 600m depth rated rescue submarine (‘Mermaid IV’, 8 metres long, capable of carrying 10 personnel including crew), a three man, 300 metre diving bell that was also rated as an atmospheric observation chamber and a 30 man surface recompression chamber. Two further rescue vessels were built in 1977, one was sold to Libya, the ‘Al Munjed’, the other to Iraq, the ‘A-81’ - Sunk during the second gulf war. The later vessels had modified funnels (to reduce overheating of the hyperbaric chambers). The vessel has had the submarine and diving systems removed and was still in service with the Croatian Navy as the patrol vessel OB-73 ‘Faust Vrancic’ in 2010). During a bell run to assess the wreck of the Brigitta Montanari, the salvage vessel was moved to clear the bell from above the hull but the bell weights (suspended on chains below the bell) caught on the wreck and were ripped off causing an uncontrolled ascent the buoyant bell. The two divers who were locked out (Dragutin Siljevinac and Hussein Hadzic) were dragged to the surface by their umbilicals and although rescued from about 30 metres, both subsequently died in the chamber. The bellman (Dragisa Koprivica) spent 4 weeks in the chamber but survived and carried on a career as a diver. Centre of Marine Research, Zagreb
  242. 1897 0 0 Not Recorded USA Tom and James Reid 32 S/S Air Salvage of the Cayuga (Sailing from Milwaukee to Buffalo, sank 10th May 1895 on the Great Lakes after a collision with the wooden lumber hooker "Joseph L Hurd" in fog southwest of Grays Reef light, near the Skillagalee Shoals. No loss of life, both crews rescued by the steamer "Mamola"). Because the "Cayuga" was a new steel vessel, the salvage company spent nearly 4 years and nearly bankrupted themselves trying to salvage her. "One diver was crushed to death so badlythat could not remove his helmet" The wreck now lies in 100' of water still attached to four of the pontoon used in the salvage attempt. shipwreckexplorers.com
  243. 1924 8 25 Laurentic UK 27 Salvage of Gold bars off the wreck of the “Laurentic�, sunk off northern Ireland (off Lough Sully) in 1917 by a German submarine “Despite the perils attending what is said to have been the greatest salvage feat on record, there was only one accident, in which a diver suffered a broken leg�
  244. 1934 9 27 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Salvage dive from the vessel 'Bertha'. No details
  245. 2005 8 7 Hernandez Juan Miranda Chile Marine Harvest SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Quinchao, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  246. 2006 4 9 Villanueva Lorenzo Chile Pesquera San Jorge SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Hornopiren, Commercial diver, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  247. 2006 3 21 Seguel Walter Rodrigo Balboa Chile Ventisqueros SCUBA Salmon fish farm, Hornopiren, Commercial diver, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  248. 2011 3 16 Rosita V Chile Salmon Company owned motor vessel 'Rosita V', registration 1871, sailed from Quellon at 15:00 0n 15th March will 11 persons onboard, shipwrecked on rocks 03:00 on Locos Island (15 miles NorthEast of Melinka) in heavy rain and strong wids, 8 persons survived - including all 5 members of the diving team - two crew died, one missing. Not enough lifejackets onboard for all persons, lights and flares did not work, vessel documentation incorrect (Listed as sailing with a crew of 4 but later confirmed it sailed with 11 onboard). "The Maritime Office has launched an investigation" NB Another crewmember aged 23 who was taken off this vessel when moored in Quellon harbour in October 2010 died in hospital. Chilean Press
  249. 2003 6 28 Not Recorded USSR SCUBA Sakhalin district commercial sea cucumber harvesting (мор�кого ежа). One of the divers failed to surface . His body was found some time later.
  250. 2013 4 3 IMCA SF 5/13 UK IMCA On Deck Safety Flash regarding danger of explosion due to build up of internal Hydrogen/Oxygen atmosphere inside battery operated metocean buoys (Relates to death of Stig Erik Lyng in Malaysia in October 2012)
  251. 2013 1 0 IMCA Safety Flash 02/13 UK Saturation Safety Flash regarding a "Serious DP Diving Incident" (Refers to the Bibby Topaz incident on 18th September 2012 that left Chris Lemons isolated on the seabed for 40+ minutes), describes incident, actions taken, ivestigation and reccommendations. One result not mentioned elsewhere was that the DP system manufacturer had developed a CD/software update that would prevent a further or similar incident on a DP similar system.
×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept