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Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 1859 10 0 Not Recorded UK S/S Air "Shocking Death of a Diver. During survey last week of the wreck of the Robert Garden, schooner belonging Dover, recently run down off the South Foreland by collision with the ..." "Last week, at Ramsgae, Maurice, a diver..."No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Dover Express/The British Newspaper Archive. (Possibly dual report for the death of Maurice Alward?)
  3. 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.
  4. 2013 10 23 Guidry Earl USA J & J Diving 5m S/S Air Aged 40, Port Sulphur, Louisisana, airlifting 10 feet below the mud line, he was found with his helmet off, not wearing a bailout, Facebook/Longstreath. Contractor fined $7,000 by US dept. of Labor "Employer did not ensure that an adequate safety assessment was made of underwater conditions prior to a diving operation". No real details.
  5. 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"
  6. 1993 10 13 Locke Stewart UK J Allan Diving Services 3 S/S Air Hired by Customs and Excise to recover £20 million worth of drugs (Cannabis) from the yatch 'Ambrosia' beached on Scotstown beah (Peterhead, Scotland). Diving contractor was fined £1,200 after some kind of legal deal. Allegations during the inquiry that he committede suicide by cutting his umbilical, Sherriff determined it was accidental death with the most probable cause being that he got into difficulties and was forced to cut his umbilical and ditch his helmet. Diving conditions in the rough shallow water were described as 'hazardous'. Criticism by the Sherriff for it only a 3 man team (the diver, a supervisor who doubled as stand-by diver and an unqualified tender), lack of involvement/supervision by Customs and Excise, lack of communication with a police diving team on site. Widow intended to sue (defunct) diving contractor and Customs and Excise. No further details. Reported in the Herald Scotland
  7. 1993 10 16 Roussy Eduardo Canada Oceantech (Quebec) 5 S/S Air Aged 26. Air diving quals from Fort William in 1992, also CSWIP 3.1. Accident occurred 15th October, Inspection dive at the Scott Paper plant on Crabtree dam, uncontrolled ascent and then swept over outfall, helmet still on and lifeline intact but umbilical severed, recued (It took between 5 and 10 minutes to pull him back to the dive site) but died in Montreal General hospital the next day (Life support removed as he was brain dead). Coroner criticised lack of planning, method of work, lack of co-ordination, inadequate risk assessment, lack of emergency response procedures. Cause of death recorded as asphyxiation/acute anoxic encephalopathy following severed umbilical, no physical injuries. No stand-by dressed in. Nobody realised umbilical severed and helmet was left on (disorganised rescue resonse, rest of team not familiar with the helmet locking system and couldn't unclamp it). Coroner noted that "everybody acted in good faith even though they did not know what to do (Factory workers helping out) which unfortunately resulted in a death that could have been avoided if the helmet had been removed quickly". Also home modified Dive Dynamics helmet - had a cross connector added so baliout gas would flow out into the umbilical as well as the hat (No check valve). Quebec Coroner's Report
  8. 2014 10 11 Graves Gary USA 13m SS/Air Aged 36, Diving from the FV 'Momo and Maddie' near Port Hubron (By Kodiak, Alaska), about 6 miles from Old Harbour, Sea Cucumber fishery, diving, initially reported as 'suffering a medical emergency', reported as alive at time of first call, airlifted to hospital, but could not be resuscitated. Reported by the Alaska Dispatch News. Later reports indicate the compressor shut off as he was diving in 40' of water.
  9. 2016 10 4 Chan Phillip Singapore Haw Par Corporation SCUBA Aged 62, heading a team of divers clearing fish from the 'Underwater World' aquarium (opened 1991 but closing down due to more successful competion), stabbed by a stingray, taken to hospital but died from his injuries. Reported as a similar incident to the sting ray incident that killed conservationist/TV presenter Steve Irwin on the Australian Great Barrier Reef in 2006. Reported by the BBC
  10. 2016 10 9 Carvajal Omar Ugalde Chile Fisherman SCUBA Aged 54, diving for shellfish, at Caleta Totoallilos, Decompression incident, taken to San Pedro de Los Vilos Hospital and then transferred to the Naval hospital at Vina del Mar (they have a recompression chamber) but passed away. Reported by Diaria el Dia
  11. 2016 10 19 Fassler James Calvin USA SCUBA Aged 61, cleaning the hulls of boats at the Joyner Marina, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, reported as 'drowned'. No details Reported by Star News
  12. 2015 10 19 Jonathon T USA SCUBA Aged 28, From Apollo Beach, Florida, one of a three man in-water team harvesting eel grass on a mill site cleanup at Port Gamble (Puget Sound, Washington State). The other divers surfaced but could not find their colleague, Body located in 20 feet of water 60 feet from the shore some four hours later. Kingston Community News
  13. 2015 10 7 McGrath Dennis USA Eat Local Fish SCUBA Aged 56, From Scarborough, diving in Portland Harbour removing rope from the propellor of the 65' Fishing Vessel 'Jamie and Ashley'. "While he was working, the engine was running and at some point the prop was engaged' said the authorities. Police divers recovered the body. "It is not clear whether the person who engaged the propeller was aware that the diver was in the water". Reported in the Portland Press Herald
  14. 2017 10 17 Lehner Craig E USA Police 8m SCUBA Aged 34. Buffalo Police department, Police dive team training exercise in the Niagara river off Bird Island Pier, 12:50, lifeline to surface snagged, pulled from various directions butt stayed snagged, two officers attempted to follow his lifeline down but had to cut themselves free (Reported as 12 knot current!). Slid an emergency air tank down but it would not sink, 45' USCG patrol boat arrived at 13:10, tried pulling the lifeline from other directions but the line snapped. 5 days later his body floated to the surface a mile north with 75 feet of lifeline still attached to him, still with tanks and 40lb weightbelt. Reported in the Buffalo News
  15. 2020 10 27 Paxton Alex USA Georgia Power S/S Air "Aged 31, Oliver Dam near Columbus, reported as drowning, 'had to be rescued and transported to Piedmont columbus regional Emergency Room, pronounced dead', possibly Differential Pressure but no details, reported by WTVM OSHA summary stated t 2:30 p.m. on October 27, 2020, Employee #1, Coworkers #1 and #2, and their supervisor, divers employed by a civil engineering construction company, were engaged in a diving operation at a lake dam. They were assigned to conduct inspections and repairs to several gates and chains. During a solitary dive with an umbilical supplying breathing gas and video, Employee #1 climbed down a long ladder to the water's surface. He then descended into the water, sliding down the chain with his right hand while feeling the side of the dam face with his left hand to guide his way down. At a depth of approximately 15 to 20 feet, his left hand came into contact with a 10-inch hole in the dam's face that led into a Penstock Pipe. Differential pressure caused the employee's left arm to be sucked into the pipe up to his shoulder. He cried out and then went silent and unresponsive. The dive supervisor attempted several times to communicate with Employee #1 but received no response. The supervisor instructed Coworker #1, the backup diver, to go into the water. Coworker #1, after reaching Employee #1, reported that Employee #1 remained unresponsive with no signs of breathing. Coworker #1 was unable to free him from the pipe. Several dam employees were called to the scene, and one of the dam operators closed a valve which released the diver from the pipe. Coworker #1 brought Employee #1 to the water's surface, where he was attached to the emergency retrieval system, removed from the water, and placed on the main deck where emergency medical technicians were standing by. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was declared dead. The subsequent investigation reported that mechanical asphyxiation may have been the cause of death. At no time had Employee #1 lost air. OSHA concluded contractor complacency, lack of knowledge of site, lack of risk assessment, no LOTO, did not verify valve closed, ineffective use of flowmeter, client complacency, lack of knowledge of own systems (Did not know which valve to close), flawed LOTO procedures (Logbook showed valve closed but it was not)"
  16. 2012 9 23 Al-Qethami Naif Saudi Arabia Civil Defence Corporal with 9 years diving experience in the civil defence, had been called to recover a cild who had fallen down a well in Rehat, 115 km from Al-Jamoom in the Makkah region. He climbed out of the well carrying the body of the 3 year old and was knocked backwards by a surge of some 400 onlookers, hit his head as he fell into the 25' deep well. Colleagues dived in to pull him out but he failed to respond to treatment. Saudi Gazette
  17. 2012 9 22 Collins Danny USA Fireman 18 SCUBA Captain in the Conway Fire depatment, training dive (grid search) in Hot Springs. Apparently got entangled, brought to the surface by his partner but had breathing difficulties. Flown to Shreveport hospital (Louisiana) for treatment for an embolism. Firefighterclosecalls.com
  18. 2012 9 21 Bridger Michael USA Walt Disney / Silver Bullet Productions SCUBA Aged 48, cleaning inside a tank on a ranch near Palmdale in the desert north of Los Angeles prior to filming on the set of the new "Lone Ranger" movie, reported that co-workers realised something was wrong and pulled him from the water at which stage he went into cardiac arrest. Initially being treated as natural causes (Heart attack). Reuters UK. Update March 2013:- Silver Bullet Productions was fined $61,445 after the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) determined that the company allowed a hazardous situation that resulted in the drowning death of a diver who was cleaning a water tank. According to Cal/OSHA's records, the 48-year-old diver was using SCUBA equipment to enhance water clarity for filming while cleaning the 100-foot-by-80-foot-by-25-foot tank with a vacuum. The regulatory agency states that the diver's "dive buddy" was absent for 10 minutes and, when he returned, he noticed that no bubbles were coming to the surface of the water. OSHA determined the accident was primarily caused by the diver working alone and not being given a prior medical examination to determine his fitness to dive. For not having a designated "person in charge" at the dive location, failing to ensure that all divers were properly trained in CPR and other life-saving measures, not keeping up with the divers' required regular medical examinations and violating basic operational procedures—all deemed "serious" violations, Silver Bullet was fined $45,000. The company was fined another $16,445 for six general violations: not providing documentation of safety and health training for all employees, not keeping records of each dive in the tank, not keeping proper records of all equipment maintenance, not maintaining a required Illness Prevention Program for hazard training, not developing a manual for diver safety and not properly maintaining the compressor for supplying air. Cause of death recorded as drowned after having a heart attack underwater. LA Times
  19. 2012 9 18 Lemons Chris UK Bibby 91 Saturation DPII DSV Bibby Topaz, built 2008, Kongsberg DP system, diving on the Huntington Field template, at 22:09 RBUS DP alarm activated, 22:11 loss of DP control, divers relocated to top of template, vessel starts to drift off, 22:12 Diver 1 pulled off template by tight umbilical, diver 2 umbilical snagged and parted, 22:17 vessel 240 metres East of template, manual control established, diver 2 beacon at template, 22:34, vessel back on auto DP, 22:40 vessel back at template, diver 1 left stage, bell 18 metres from template, 22:46 diver 2 recovered to bell, unconscious, 23:04 diver 2 conscious, 22:13, BLB, 23:39 BLO. Diver 2 on bailout with planned duration of 10 minutes for between 28 and 34 minutes. Survival believed to have been due to rebreather type bailout, high ppO2 in bailout mix, probably rapid onset of hypothermia/reduced breathing rate. Diver made a full recovery. DP fault not identified/publicised, investigation ongoing. Reported in the Press and Journal, Times etc
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 2011 9 25 Hussin Hazri Miri or Malaysia Allied Marine (AME) Surface Swimmer Aged 43, riser installation job from the vessel 'Mas Mulia' (Pipelay barge owned by Target Engineering). Diver acting as a surface swimmer, 11:12 PM (Night operation) installing a pneumo hose and cutting mooring lines in the splashzone. Was hit and submerged several times by 1 metre swell. On returning towards the dive basket was seen floating facedown on the surface, stand-by diver recovered him onboard, CPR was administered, flown to Miri hospital by helicopter but pronounced dead on arrival at 02:30. Borneo Post/PC Later (Longstreath website, April 2013!) reported as 'drowned' but no details or report.
  23. 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
  24. 2011 9 7 Juarez Luis Alberto Peru Asociacion La Bocana Aged 48, working at a scallop hatchery, Pichayo, Parachique, found trapped underwater, no other details. This report also referred to a second fatality in the area on the same day, that of 39 year old Eli Perez Becerra "who died of decompression illness, apparently as a result of mechanical failure of his diving equipment". No other details so cannot confirm if the second death was a commercial fatality. Reported by RPP Noticias.
  25. 2011 9 5 Acergy Discovery Canada Acergy Saturation 05:45, DSV on DP with saturation divers deployed, collided with the Deep Panuke gas platform hitting a leg and the riser caisson
  26. 2011 9 2 Cardenas Jose Jesus Mendoza Mexico SCUBA Aged 34 from Puerto Libertad, living in El Desemboque (Caborca), clam diving off a boat owned by Germain Marin Guzman some 3 km off the beach, surfaced and complained of chest pains, died before he got to hospital. La Policiaca
  27. 2011 9 1 Bentabet Khaled "Ben" France Police diver 12 SCUBA Aged 44, experienced police diver with the Coastal and River Section, part of a team searching a 2.7 kilometre tunnel section of the 10 metre diameter EDF canal between the river Durance and Mees for a handgun, 20 minutes into the dive lost buddy line to partner, disappeared. Body finally located a week later. May have been sucked into a side tunnel. Married with a 7 year old son. Reported by ALPES1, Provence, etc.
  28. 2011 9 1 Not Recorded Tonga Aged 54, reported as having died from decompression after diving for sea cucumbers near the island of Leleka in Ha'apai on the late afternoon of Thursday, September 1. Police confirmed that the deceased from Ngele'ia in Tongatapu died shortly after surfacing from diving. Tonga News
  29. 2010 9 27 Paillacar Victor Javier Chile Fisherman SCUBA Aged 24, scallop diver from the 'Luisa' 30 minutes transit out of Puerta Natales, brought ashore dead after what was described as a 'decompression problem'. No other details. Reported by Polar Radio
  30. 2010 9 24 Not Recorded Croatia Tourists SCUBA A SCUBA cylinder exploded as it was being loaded onto to a diving bost in the Port of Komiza killing a 48 year old Polish woman, three other people were injured and taken to hospital in Split where a 43 year old man who had received head injuries died overnight. They were part of a 12 person group of Polish tourists on a SCUBA diving holiday. AFP
  31. 2010 9 17 Jachal Major Narcis Romania Fireman Aged 33, section leader of three man diving team in the ISU (Emergency services) with two colleagues went down into a well in the village of Radauti Prut to recover a man, overcome by CO fumes from a water pump. One colleague (Sergeant Marius Loghin) died, section leader, Major Narcis Jachal and diver Iulian Todirel were hospitalised first in Darabani City Hospital then transferred to Botsani County hospital. The 33 year old man they went to rescue also died. Discussion after the event centred on apparent lack of training (recognising a contaminated environment) and failure to intiate/use Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment (HBOT) for CO poisoning. Realitea.net
  32. 2010 9 17 Loghin Sergeant Marius Romania Fireman Aged 32, diver in the ISU (Emergency services) with two colleagues went down into a well in the village of Radauti Prut to recover a man, overcome by CO fumes from a water pump, pronounced dead after an hour and a half artifical respiration. Two colleagues (Iulian Todirel aged 25 and the section leader, Major Narcis Jachal aged 33) were hospitalised first in Darabani City Hospital then transferred to Botsani County hospital. The 33 year old man they went to rescue also died. Discussion after the event centred on apparent lack of training (recognising a contaminated environment) and failure to intiate/use Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment (HBOT) for CO poisoning. Realitea.net
  33. 2010 9 17 Todirel Iulian Romania Fireman Aged 25 diver in the ISU (Emergency services) with two colleagues went down into a well in the village of Radauti Prut to recover a man, overcome by CO fumes from a water pump. One colleague (Sergeant Marius Loghin) died, Iulian Todirel, along with and the section leader, Major Narcis Jachal were hospitalised first in Darabani City Hospital then transferred to Botsani County hospital. The 33 year old man they went to rescue also died. Discussion after the event centred on apparent lack of training (recognising a contaminated environment) and failure to intiate/use Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment (HBOT) for CO poisoning. Realitea.net
  34. 2010 9 14 Barrett Mark D USA State Police 23 SCUBA Aged 41, Died during a training dive in Lake Anna, reported as deep diver training with 16 other members of the Virginia State Police search and recovery team, ascending, seen to have difficulty breathing, assisted to surface, CPR, taken to hospital but died. Reported as drowned. First fatality on the dive team since it was established in 1962. The Munz
  35. 2010 9 14 Rine Duane 'Charlie' USA Fisherman 3 SCUBA Aged 51, Long-time crew member on the 164' Herring boat 'Western Venture', pair trawling out of Gloucester, 150 miles offshore. Nets caught around rudder/propeller. Paraphrased report:- "He had dived on the boat before and was willing and able to clear the net from the rudders. Around 7:30 or 8 p.m. he got into the water, immediately cleared the port rudder, but the starboard rudder is more difficult. He was under for around 10 to 15 minutes, and when he surfaced had abandoned all of his dive gear (tank, weight belt, etc.). Conscious and shouting to the crew when he surfaced, but after they lifted him out of the water with the sling he quickly lost consciousness and stopped breathing. The crew of the boat performed CPR for over an hour. They failed to resuscitate him and with no help on the way stopped CPR after 9 p.m. As we drifted by their stern. I could see the crew carrying his body to shelter from the back deck. At 9:30 p.m. the captain of Western Venture told us that we had lost him. When the Venture was able to pick up her gear, they found all of his dive gear tangled in the net. That he became entangled in the net under the boat is a fact. The rest can only be speculated upon." Gloucester Daily Times
  36. 2010 9 10 Lower Rob USA Self Employed 23 Rebreather Aged 29, professional rare fish collector (selling to the aquarium trade) reported as diving to 75m to 100m on a daily basis.. Diving for Masked Angel Fish, a rare species off the island of Kauai. Mild DCS symptoms from a dive the previous day to over 90m depth, he dived to 75m without a viable dive computer (Dive computer failed a few days prior to the accident, reported that the replacement computer either did not support a fixed PPO2 or was not available - conflicting reports). Replacement computer would not have his very high tissue compartment loadings in any case. Surfaced from the 75m with DCS symptoms which became worse on the boat, flown to a chamber and recompressed, stopped breathing in the chamber and failed to respond to reatment. Reported Cerebral Embolism. Reported that he had been tol that his dive practices were extremely hazardous but chose to dive when he knew he did not have adequate decompression data and was already suffering from DCS, also reported to have claimed he could "feel the nitrogen coming out of him", so did not need a deco computer. Reported by reefbuilders, hawaiiskindiver etc
  37. 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
  38. 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
  39. 2010 9 7 Villalobos Roberto Antonio Chile S/S Air Aged 36, one of three brothers (Victor Manuel, Julio Humberto and Roberto Antonio) crewing the fishing vessel "Manchita" out of the port of Ovalle (La Lobera) in Talcaruca inlet harvesting limpets. Victor and Robrto dived, but after 20 minutes it was noticed that Roberto's umbilcal was not moving, pulled to the surface but appeared already lifeless. Taken to port where paramedics confirmed him dead. GPS Buceo
  40. 2010 9 6 Deep Sat Dive China Navy Medical Research Institute 491 Saturation 4 Chinese divers reported to have reached a storage depth of 480 metres with an excursion to 493 metres on heliox. 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 1993. The deepest took place in France in Toulon with the Hydra programme reaching 701 metres in 1992 (the diver was Theo Mavrostomos, 20th November 1992) using Hydreliox. 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.
  41. 2010 9 6 Giogine Augusto Brazil Aged 50, diver charging diving cylinders onboard the trawler 'Luz do Dia' port of Saco de Bananal (Near Rio). 04:30 on a Sunday morning, reported as compressor explosion, a splinter of wood hit him in the neck causing massive bleeding. Reported in Angranews
  42. 2009 9 22 Chandrashekhar Petty Officer Clearance Diver 1 India Indian Marine Commando Topsides Paraphrased from press reports:- “A clearance diver attached to the Indian Navy marine commando (Marco) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district to control the infiltration of terrorists from across the border to Jammu and Kashmir through Wullar Lake, a 65 sq km freshwater lake, in Baramulla. Terrorists attacked the marcos camp. In retaliatory fire, one terrorist was killed and one marco died,� a senior Indian Navy official said. “He is survived by his wife and two children�. Sporting long beards and toting AK-47 assault rifles, marcos can be mistaken for militants and they follow in letter and spirit the adage of the counter-terrorism doctrine: ‘Fight a militant like a militant'. Dubbed as the ‘bearded force’ by the militants, Marcos have a knack of executing covert operations. Officially known as the Indian Marine Special Force, the unit was raised in 1987 out of naval divers to lead amphibious operations. Personnel volunteering for the force have a two-year training programme with a pass rate of only 10-25 percent. “They operate sporting beards and wearing ‘pheren’ (Kashmiri suit), thus making them indistinguishable from the locals,� another navy official added. The Marcos have gained a fearsome reputation among terrorists who refer to them as the Dadhiwali Fauj (bearded army) since Marcos are the only non-Sikh personnel allowed to grow beards, or ‘Jal Murgi’ (water hens) for the speed in which they assault from the water and even ‘Magarmachh’ (crocodiles) for their amphibious capability. OK, not a diving accident, but a diver on site, at work, so included, TC. Reported in the Thaindian News
  43. 2009 9 21 Reeves Larry USA SCUBA A Houston Attorney's website quotes the following regarding Jones Act compensation. “A commercial diver died in such an accident in Florida last week. The diver was at work near a wreck site, about four miles east of Rodriguez Key when he fell unconscious.  He was brought onto the boat, and the other crews alerted the Coast Guard.  The CG rescue boat arrived at the scene, and personnel administered CPR, but the diver never recovered. Investigations into the accident are still going on.� However, this comment appears to link to the death of Larry Herman Reeves, a 67-year-old tourist from Maryville, Tennessee, who died while scuba diving with his wife off Key Largo, Florida. The scuba diver was pronounced dead by the US Coast Guard paramedics who arrived at the scene in response to a call by witnesses. Unless further clarified, this fatality is excluded from the 'count' of working diver fatalities, TC.
  44. 2009 9 19 Gunderson Jerry USA Rebreather Paraphrased from press reports:- “Aged 75, started diving for golf balls in 1953, when he was 19. His passion for diving for golf balls led to the founding of a chain of seven golf-supply stores, was found dead in the centre of the lake at the Deer Creek Country Club in Deerfield Beach on Saturday. Drowned. One of his sons died while diving for golf balls in a lake 27 years ago. "I lost my brother to the water, too," said Jerry Gunderson's other son, Marc, 53 who used to dive for golf balls himself. Jerry Gunderson started retrieving, collecting and reselling golf balls soon after his first dive as a teenager. At first, it was the simple act of fishing out the golf balls in a Lake Worth course in the 1950s, washing them, and reselling them. But he went on to build a Deerfield Beach-based chain of golf-supply stores called International Golf. He sold the business a few years ago and worked as a freelance diver for smaller companies.
  45. 2009 9 18 Chia Gerald Singapore J Diving Services 20 SCUBA Paraphrased from the news report “1st time working for company, 2nd diving assignment for firm, 3rd day on the job, Diver drowns. 21-year-old diver's body found after two days. His badly decomposed body, missing off Western Singapore for two days, bobbed to the surface on Sunday evening; air tank taken by police for probe. In between running his own scuba diving firm, known as Jet Scuba, Mr Chia did freelance work for commercial diving companies. Relatives identified him through the tattoos on his body. The body of Mr Gerald Chia Jia Jie, 21, was found near the oil rig he had been working on, still clad in dark-blue work overalls and with his gas tank and face mask still in place. A Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) boat, part of the search operations that had been under way for more than 50 hours, spotted the body at about 6pm. When Mr Chia went missing at around noon last Friday, he was on only his second assignment underwater for J Diving Services. He had started freelancing for the company only two days before that. He was carrying out installation works on the oil rig berthed in the Jurong West Anchorage at the time, 'his job was to install shackles on the rig, a relatively simple task', said the diving supervisor. 'Seasoned divers would take 15 minutes to do it, and newcomers, half an hour at the most', he added. Mr Chia had gone underwater, about 20m down, with a more experienced partner, as is the practice in the industry. The pair were supposed to surface together, but his buddy told his colleagues later that Mr Chia needed to share oxygen (it was air, simple SCUBA operation, TC) with him, although it was not clear why. Mr Chia took two breaths of air before ascending to the surface. The supervisor said Mr Chia's buddy followed him up, but lost sight of him and started searching for him without success. Friends said Mr Chia, who studied marketing at the Management Development Institute of Singapore, took up leisure diving only a few years ago, but quickly became a qualified dive instructor.� Reported in the Straits Times (Note. Reports, if accurate!! indicate basic sports SCUBA gear (half mask not full face) and only PADI qualified whilst Singapore regulations (TA/WSH) for use of SCUBA at work require minimum full face mask, life line, surface communications, locator beacon and professional qualifications, but this is only speculation pending official reports TC)
  46. 2009 9 17 Not Recorded UK Kaymac Marine 6 S/S Air Aged 27, dredging operation at the new Pembroke power station, in the water 90 minutes and reported feeling unwell, passed out before he reached the surface, recovered to deck, given O2, airlifted to DDRS in Plymouth, later released fit and well. Sequence appears to have been:- Reported feeling funny, was asked to flush hat from bail out, no response, Supervisor switched him to HP supply, pulled back to cage, deck, hat off, O2 administered, came round. From going on to HP to hat off on deck, 3 minutes. HSE investigation. Root cause appears to have been foul road compressor air from air lance buffeting it's way upwards into the helmet past a loose neck dam. Possible additional seabed contamination from Methane and H2S. (NB Road compressor was sited well clear of diving compressors, did not contaminate diving gas, contamination took place at the work site). Team switched to free flow/contaminated water suitable helmets (AH5). Milford Mercury & PC.
  47. 2009 9 16 Heastie Charles Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force Surface Swimmer Paraphrased from press reports: “A 21 year old Royal Bahamas Defence Force marine is clinging to life in a coma after nearly drowning during a training exercise at the community pools in South Beach. The male marine seaman was swimming laps in one of the pools during a scuba diving lesson along with several fellow officers. As his colleagues surfaced at one end of the pool, someone noticed that the marine was motionless at the bottom. His colleagues pulled him out and performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. "It was a dive course. They were taking scuba diving lessons at the Betty Kelly Kenning pools and they were doing breathing exercises, breath holding and snorkel clearing. "When (the other officers) got to the other end, someone shouted out to them that one of their divers was underwater and that's when they got him surfaced and administered CPR until the ambulance arrived," It is unclear if the marine - who has been on the Force for less than five years - had any pre-existing health issues but like all his colleagues, would have taken part in an annual physical last January. A brief press release issued by the Force said the marine was admitted to Doctor's Hospital "following a diving exercise" at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex. The statement added that the marine was in critical, but stable condition. Reported in the Tribune.
  48. 2009 9 16 McCloskey Sgt Ist Class Shawn Afghanistan US Special Forces 0 Topsides Aged 33-year-old , killed by a roadside IED, Special Operations Diver Supervisor (amongst many qualifications) serving in Helmand province. Enlisted into the U.S. Army in January of 2002 as a Special Forces candidate. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in May 2004. (Included for information, a diver, but not working as a diver so not counted as a diving fatality TC). Reported by Fayette County News.
  49. 2009 9 5 Renner Robert “Robbie� USA J. H. Reid SCUBA Aged 42. Paraphrased from initial press reports:- “State police have recovered the body of a SCUBA diver who disappeared while looking for some missing construction equipment in a Monmouth County river. Robert Renner was part of a (Dock builder) crew that's constructing a 65-foot fixed span bridge to replace the aging Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge, but was off duty when he entered the Shrewsbury River on Saturday. He was trying to recover a jack that had fallen from the bridge earlier in the week. Diving solo from a 20' flat bottomed boat, went in with a downline tied to his arm. The rope came loose and he failed to resurface, the two people who were with him in a boat notified authorities shortly before noon. His body was recovered about six hours later. Officials say the area where Renner was diving is filled with debris and known for swift currents, and rescuers had to wait a few hours until they could safely enter the water. The cause of death was not immediately known.� Reported in the Star Ledger, NJ.com.. (OK, Not strictly “at work� so not included in the 'count', a weekend dive, unasked, just trying to do his boss a favour, but included here as a tragic example of why we have commercial standards. TC)
  50. 2009 9 2 Guerro Giovanni Ecuador Inepaca SCUBA Aged 37, Wife and two daughters, Died in a diving accident onboard the fishing vessel 'King'. Had worked 8 years as a diver for the company, had been onboard two months. Family informed but vessel would not be back in port for another 4 days. No details. Eldiario.ec
  51. 2008 9 17 Not Recorded Spain Saipem Topsides S7000, 60 miles off Almeira, MEDGAZ project (Spain to Algeria) J-lay, 24� pipe, 4 dead, 4 injured. Controls failure dropped two off quad sections. See IMCA SF 18-08
  52. 2008 9 9 Jamal Mohammed Borhan Singapore Underwater Contractors pty 11 SCUBA Paraphased from press reports at te time;- “Aged 26, East Petroleum "A" anchorage off Bedok Jetty, Oil tanker "Oliva" hull maintenance and inspection work, the diver went in to undertake an inspection but failed to surface, possibly swept away by strong currents. Married 1 year, 1 month old daughter. Body washed up 30 km away on an Indonesian island beach 12 days after he disappeared. Recreational SCUBA training only. Paraphrased from the later official Company report:- “A contract diver disappeared while completing an underwater inspection of a vessel that was anchored. All of the divers were using SCUBA equipment. Two other divers were replacing starboard ballast sea chest gratings for which the contract diver was completing the inspection. The depth of diving operation was 11 meters and the seabed depth was between 50 and 60 meters. Underwater visibility was fair on the day of the incident. The contract diver was last seen about 25 -30 meters off the starboard aft quarter of the vessel when he disappeared from the view of the other two divers. Despite extensive searches, the diver’s body was not recovered until 21 September, approx. 30 kilometres from the initial location. Contributing factors and insufficient controls related to the incident:- Actual Dive Operation did not comply with Dive Contractor’s risk assessment (diver not attached to a tender line), Diving Supervisor was actually diving, which contravenes local and Group standards. Dive operation undertaken using SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus) in breach of Company and OGP standards, which require surface supplied air. The required diver communications system, tender lines and flotation devices were not provided. One of the divers only had a recreational diving qualification. The Maritime & Port Authority Dive Permit was not complied with�
  53. 2008 9 4 Jolly Brendan Australia Oz Reef Connections S/S Air Australian, aged 31. Diving off Arlington Reef off Cairns. Professional aquarium fish collection (Family business) from the "Shearwater II'. No supervision. Compressor failed to kick in. Recovered unconscious by being pulled aboard. Hookah, no harness, airline under weight belt, no bail out. Torn mouthpiece. Solo aquarium diver, no emergency breathing supply, history of epilepsy. Significant undiagnosed cardiac medical condition and history of epilepsy. Fatal arrhythmia. Queensland Workplace Health and Safety.
  54. 2007 9 25 Myers Mathew USA Sealife Centre SCUBA Aged 44, Marine mammal scientist with the Sealife Centre in Seward, alaska. Training dive, ran out of air, surfaced with instructor, decided to swim to shore (rather than to their anchored boat), unable to release weight belt or inflate buoyancy, submerged, instructor assumed he was trying to release his weight belt but he did not resurface. Pair were diving alone. Body recovered 90 minutes later.
  55. 2007 9 24 L Maciej Poland Tri-Marine 35 SCUBA Aged 29, one of two divers 'performing routine maintenance after a storm' at around 35 metres on the unmanned platform 'Petrobaltic 1" (An ROV was reported as monitoring the divers), apparently passed out and sank towards the seabed, the second diver went down to 45, 55 or 80 metres (depending on which press report you read, and prosecutors were unable to determine depth/profile as both dive computers and work logs were 'all lost') to find him and pulled him to the surface but he failed to respond to treatment (Second diver was transported by Navy helicopter and successfully treated for DCI in a chamber in Gdynia). Proecution a year later claimed no lifelines, insufficient number in the dive team, improper equipment (no communications, use of sports diving equipment for commercial purposes), misconduct. Incorrect diving gas mix was quoted as possible cause of initial loss of consciousness (Was this a nitrox or trimix dive?). Reported in Wirtualna Poland
  56. 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
  57. 2007 9 20 Seamec II Curacao Seamec 07:35 hours, Port of Willemstad, Curacao, Explosion/fire in dry dock, 5 welders killed, plus another 6 injured
  58. 2007 9 17 Hedden Bill USA SCUBA Alligator bit off diver's arm
  59. 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.
  60. 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
  61. 2007 9 6 Harris Robert J. USA Borries Marine S/S Air BILOXI, Mississippi, Diver critically injured Tuesday 4th while dredging under a casino barge. 22 years old, died on Thursday 6th night at Biloxi Regional Medical Center where he had been on life support since the accident at IP Casino Resort Spa. Drowned. Radioed his surface support crew that he was having trouble with his equipment. When co-workers pulled Harris up to the surface, he was unresponsive and not breathing. His S.L. 17 uncamed. He was nearly 300' under the boat.
  62. 2007 9 4 Salabogi Leone Fiji Navy Fijian Navy diver aged 27, Suva Naval Jetty, salvage operation to remove debris, no details. The Fiji Times
  63. 2007 9 3 Acton Steve USA Caldive Saipem 54 Saturation Katrina' salvage ops. "Using a grinder on a fallen structure deck plate, heard a weird noise and that was it". Diver was using a hydraulic underwater grinder to cut a window into 5/8 inch steel plate. There was an underwater explosion. Deck crew on the S-355 barge reported hearing a boom and some individuals stated that they felt the shock wave of the explosion. The videotape that was recording the diver’s movements was non-operational. An unspecified number of minutes elapsed before bell partner reached unresponsive diver 1. Upon reaching diver, the standby opened the free-flow valve on his diving hat. This action caused the diving helmet to become completely detached leaving the diver’s head exposed to sea water, without access to any breathing apparatus. Diver immediately attempted to replace the helmet and hold it in place. During this time a surface standby diver was sent to assist. The bell partner, with or without the assistance of the surface diver, brought the injured diver into the bell, and following assessment while in communication with the diving physician, initiated chest compressions. Injured diver was raised to surface in the bell but pronounced dead.. Investigation ongoing. An interim technical report raised issue of potential for underwater explosion when cutting into a gas pocket with a grinder (underwater grinding 'sparks' not generally raised as an issue in risk assessments
  64. 2007 9 1 Ross Mark Australia DOF 46 year old, fell overboard seismic survey vessel M/V "Geosounder" 03:00 am
  65. 2007 9 0 Alvarado Pedro Pablo Chile Asserma Died while fixing underwater netting on a Chiloé-area salmon farm owned by Norwegian aquaculture company Marine Harvest. Reported that that the diver was in the water approximately 10 minutes when colleagues on the surface detected a problem. A fellow diver then entered the water and found him unconscious at a depth of approximately 20 meters, dragged him to the surface. Taken to, where doctors pronounced him dead. An autopsy determined the cause of death as Acute Decompression Illness, also known as the “bends. (Report incomplete but no other details available).
  66. 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.
  67. 2007 9 0 Skulan Jeff USA Bisso American, DLB "Big Chief". DCI incident, in hospital
  68. 2006 9 25 Not Recorded Spain Brazilian, aged 28, Port of Castellon, inlet pipe/differential pressure incident, died of head injuries (Another diver died in the port in January).
  69. 2006 9 15 Not Recorded Australia Diving school Albury SCUBA Aged 35, Australian Army, undergoing commercial diver training, died during training dive, apparently ran out of air, became entangled in lifeline, did not activate reserve, no real details
  70. 2006 9 4 Irwin Steve Australia Surface Swimmer Australian, TV presenter “Crocodile hunter� stabbed in the chest by a stingray during filming on the Great Barrier reef, cardiac arrest
  71. 2006 9 1 Ireland Patrick USA 61 Saturation Location was West Delta 104? Diver umbilical snagged by Manta Ray a week after Kevin Griffeth. See youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=959CWu0w8dc&mode=related&search=
  72. 2005 9 30 Earnest India Excise Aged 30, fisherman, was regularly engaged by the Excise to assist them in raids on marshy areas. Died on raid on an illicit brewery during a crackdown, drowned while attempting to fish out 'wash' stored in jerry cans and dumped into a marsh for fermentation. The team seized 25 litres of hooch from the area. A spokesman of the Excise Department said Earnest's leg got entangled in the net spread on the marsh bed to hold the cans in position. The body was retrieved with the help of the local people after 25 minutes. Reported in 'The Hindu'
  73. 2005 9 29 Butel Russel August Australia SCUBA Paraphrased from press reports:- “The man killed by a crocodile in the Northern Territory was the second fatal attack in less than a week. Russell August Butel, 55, of Darwin, was taken by a five-metre saltwater crocodile about 11.30am yesterday, only five days after British snorkeller Russell Harris, 37, was also killed by a crocodile in the NT. Mr Butel and a companion were diving near Washon Head on the Cobourg Peninsula, about 150km north-east of Darwin, when the attack happened. Mr Butel, professionally dived frequently in his role as an aquarium fish diver.� He was collecting clown fish. Sky News online
  74. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Adriatic VII' USA Global Santa Fe Evacuated before Rita hit, the Adriatic VII was broken from its legs and set adrift. It was found beached approximately 118 NM from its pre-storm location, in shallow waters off the Louisiana coast. It suffered severe damage, including the loss of its derrick, rig floor package and helideck. After the hurricane, the derrick and other rig debris were not salvaged and were marked by the USCG as an underwater obstruction. The hull of the rig was towed back to the Port Arthur shipyard in Texas for inspection. By September 2006, GSF had decided to dispose of the damaged rig and the Adriatic VII was sold to a third party for approximately $30 million. The legs of the rig were subsequently salvaged by Smit in June 2007. Oil Rig Disasters
  75. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Hercules 25' USA Jack Up, Derrick fell onto rig, Hurricane Rita damage
  76. 2005 9 28 Rig 'High Island III" USA Global Santa Fe Like the Adriatic VII, the High Island was evacuated before Rita and was also broken off its legs before being set adrift. It sustained major damage, including the loss of its derrick was found run aground in a self-created trench in shallow waters off the Louisiana coast. The High Island has gone on to share a similar fate as the Adriatic VII. Its derrick was not salvaged and is now an underwater obstruction. The legs of the rig were salvaged in October 2006 by Smit. The hull of the rig was towed back to Port Arthur shipyard, Texas and sat alongside Adriatic VII. By September 2006, GSF had decided to dispose of the High Island III and was evaluating whether to sell the remains or declare the rig a constructive total loss for insurance purposes. Oil Rig Disastersi
  77. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Fort Worth' USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  78. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Halifax USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  79. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Halifax' USA Jack Up, Beached, wrtten off. Hurricane Rita
  80. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Louisiana USA Jack Up, Hurricane Rita damage.
  81. 2005 9 28 Rig 'Rowan Odessa' USA Jack Up, Beached, reported missing, presumed sunk, Hurricane Rita
  82. 2005 9 27 Hurricane Rita USA Category 5 hurricane, 155 mph winds and 60 foot seas. Rita caused significant damage offshore including 66 platforms destroyed, with 32 more suffering extensive damage, 13 MODUs broke their moorings and were set adrift, 1 jackup rig was sunk, with 7 jack-ups and 2 semi-subs experiencing extensive damage. 
Minerals Management Service
  83. 2005 9 27 Typhoon' TLP USA Chevron After the hurricane had passed, an aerial survey found the Chevron Typhoon tension leg platform floating upside-down, around 80 miles from its location in Green Canyon Block 236. In May 2006, Chevron declared that it would be donating the damaged platform to a U.S. Dept. of Interior program which uses old oil and gas platforms in the construction of artificial offshore reefs.
  84. 2005 9 17 Brown Jeremy USA S/S Air American, aged 26, inspecting Falls hydroelectric dam (Badin lake) . Unsatisfactory report “Inspecting the head gates (replaced three years earlier, but sometimes failed to seal properly). Before beginning work, hydro station operators told the diver about an open valve, warning that water could be flowing at that point. (Later interviews revealed that other dive team members were not aware of the danger). Lost comms during the dive, pulled the life line to retrieve the diver - unsuccessful. Decided not to send a second diver when learned that the force of the flowing water could have trapped the diver in the valve opening. Instead, workers lowered the water level to retrieve the first diver. The team found that the diver’s safety harness had gotten caught on a protruding bolt. The snagged harness had negated efforts by the dive team to pull the diver to safety. The diver had been drawn into a gate valve opening by the tremendous water pressure, which led to compressional asphyxia�. Body recovered 4 hours after the initial incident.
  85. 2005 9 9 Rig 'Noble Max Smith' USA Jack Up, Sustained major damage in Hurricane 'Rita'
  86. 2004 9 15 Giri S. India Technip Saturation DSV "Seamec III", Bell contamination, BIBS off, unconscious, fell out of bell, floated to surface, died. Paraphrased from a report sent privately:- DSV Seamec III (Formally PS III, Nand Rewant, Shearwater Topaz) chartered long term to ONGC, pipeline leak location dive. Diver T.B. Shinde locked out and located the leak (pin prick hole at 6/0c position on the pipe). Seabed contaminated by crude oil deposits resulted in the diver's excursion umbilical being smeared with hydrocarbons. Diver returned to Bell after about 4 hours, Bellman (S. Giri) retrieved his umbilical and having noticed the crude oil deposits went on bibs. Diver entered to bell and went on bib after removing his Gas Services Reclaim Hat. After consultation with supervisors, it was decided that the umbilical would be cleaned by Bellman and Diver with Bell at depth (Reports indicate that the cleaning took 40 minutes, method of cleaning not known). Having completed the cleaning, both diver and bellman removed their bibs and blacked out. Sat supervisor on surface watched Mr. Giri drop out of the bell while Mr. Shinde lay in the bell in an unconscious state. Nearby DSV Samudra Suraksha was called for assistance. ONGC rep. on Suraksha briefs superintendent who prepares for through water transfer as the means of recovery for the unconscious diver. DSV Samudra Suraksha reaches site of incident and recovers Mr. Giri from the surface on board after launching the Zodiac. Mr. Giri is recompressed immediately in Samudra Suraksha's saturation system. Dr. Kulkarni (Hyperbaric advisor) and Seamac project team fly to site of incident. Samudra Suraksha saturation divers lock out and perform Bell Through Water Transfer and recover the unconscious diver back from Seamac III bell to Samudra Suraksha's diving bell. Diver is taken into Suraksha's sat system being administered by Dr. Kulkarni who was blown into sat to administer support to Mr. Giri. Dr. Kulkarni pronounces Mr. Giri as clinically dead. Mr. Shinde survived and was decompressed on Samudra Suraksha. It is not known why the the divers took off their BIBS or why the Bell was not flushed by the divers or the supervisor. PC. No official report in the public domain
  87. 2004 9 15 Hurricane Ivan USA Hurricane Ivan passed through the Gulf of Mexico as a category 4 storm, with waves and winds which matched or exceeded the 100-year design criteria of many installations. A weather buoy near the Ensco 64 measured 83 foot waves. The final toll of offshore rigs exacted by Ivan was seven platforms destroyed, six with major damage, five drilling rigs with major damage, including the Ensco 64. Oil Rig Disasters
  88. 2004 9 15 Medusa Spar USA Built to operate in deep water, the Medusa Spar is located in 678m of water in the Gulf of Mexico and was capable of handling 40,000 barrels of crude per day. Prior to Hurricane Ivan, a Nabors Industries workover rig had been installed on the platform. This rig was toppled during Ivan, sustaining extensive damage and causing some minor topside damage to the Medusa Spar. The workover rig was to be removed and the damage repaired in autumn 2004
  89. 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
  90. 2004 9 15 Shinde T. B. India Technip Saturation DSV "Seamec III", Bell contamination, BIBS off, unconscious, through water transfer to bell of DSV "Samudra Suraksha", recovered OK. araphrased from a report sent privately:- DSV Seamec III (Formally PS III, Nand Rewant, Shearwater Topaz) chartered long term to ONGC, pipeline leak location dive. Diver T.B. Shinde locked out and located the leak (pin prick hole at 6/0c position on the pipe). Seabed contaminated by crude oil deposits resulted in the diver's excursion umbilical being smeared with hydrocarbons. Diver returned to Bell after about 4 hours, Bellman (S. Giri) retrieved his umbilical and having noticed the crude oil deposits went on bibs. Diver entered to bell and went on bib after removing his Gas Services Reclaim Hat. After consultation with supervisors, it was decided that the umbilical would be cleaned by Bellman and Diver with Bell at depth (Reports indicate that the cleaning took 40 minutes, method of cleaning not known). Having completed the cleaning, both diver and bellman removed their bibs and blacked out. Sat supervisor on surface watched Mr. Giri drop out of the bell while Mr. Shinde lay in the bell in an unconscious state. Nearby DSV Samudra Suraksha was called for assistance. ONGC rep. on Suraksha briefs superintendent who prepares for through water transfer as the means of recovery for the unconscious diver. DSV Samudra Suraksha reaches site of incident and recovers Mr. Giri from the surface on board after launching the Zodiac. Mr. Giri is recompressed immediately in Samudra Suraksha's saturation system. Dr. Kulkarni (Hyperbaric advisor) and Seamac project team fly to site of incident. Samudra Suraksha saturation divers lock out and perform Bell Through Water Transfer and recover the unconscious diver back from Seamac III bell to Samudra Suraksha's diving bell. Diver is taken into Suraksha's sat system being administered by Dr. Kulkarni who was blown into sat to administer support to Mr. Giri. Dr. Kulkarni pronounces Mr. Giri as clinically dead. Mr. Shinde survived and was decompressed on Samudra Suraksha. It is not known why the the divers took off their BIBS or why the Bell was not flushed by the divers or the supervisor. PC. No official report in the public domain
  91. 2003 9 11 Rig 'Parker 14-J' USA Manti Operating Co 4 leg Jack Up owned by the Parker Drilling Company, was jacking up at new location when a problem arose with the number 2 jacking motor on the starboard bow leg. Jacking operations ceased and repair operations commenced, where a chock block was inserted to prevent movement of the jacking cogs and the defective motor was removed. Whilst easing the weight onto the chock block, gears on the number 1 jacking motor starting turning causing the starboard side of the barge to lower. The aft starboard leg brakes then failed causing the rig to fall onto its starboard side. Several men, including the crane operator, were injured during the collapse as personnel were being transferred onto the rig from a crew boat by crane. Most of the forty-one crew were picked up by nearby vessels, with two crew airlifted by the Coast Guard to a Gulfport Hospital.
  92. 2002 9 30 Rig 'Arabdrill 19' Saudi Arabia Jack Up, leg punch through, blowout, caught fire, destroyed rig and a production platform in theKhafji field, 3 fatalities.
  93. 2002 9 0 Maric Oliver Croatia Police SCUBA Aged 25, died during the search for missing Czech scuba diver Miroslav Kuklis whose body was later found in an underwater cave off the Adriatic Island of Sol. Reported that another police diver was nearly killed during the same operation. (Kuklis died of stab wounds, two men initially charged with his murder - 'homosexual love triangle' according to the press - were later released and sued the newspaper saying that Kuklis had most likely committed suicide by stabbing himself when he realised that he was lost in the underwater cave and trapped).
  94. 2001 9 0 Not Recorded USSR Aged 50, commercial operation on the Neva river, no details
  95. 2000 9 19 Cummings Ron USA SCUBA Aged 49, highly decorated captain in the Phoenix fire department. Off duty, One of a three man team of fire-fighter with a commercial diving business, no back up, communications or stand-by, failed to surface after diving in to inspect the entrance gateway of an inlet to a 21' diameter syphon pipe running under the Aqua Fria river into a canal, part of the Central Arizona Project which delivers water from the Colorado river to the Phoenix area. Body recovered later the same day after syphon was drained. No details
  96. 2000 9 4 Diebolt Brian USA Torch Marine Diver was working offshore but ill (reported as pneumonia, possibly developed from poor air quality, complicated with continual diving), but apparently was not allowed to return to the beach upon several requests from himself and others. Eventually taken onshore , then taken immediately to hospital, and admitted right, died 45 days later from complications. NAOCD/cDiver
  97. 1998 9 9 Randolph Jamison Lee USA Aged 24, reported as a commercial diver having died on a boat offshore Louisiana. No details. Lexington Herald-Leader
  98. 1997 9 17 Courcoux Dave UAE Crushed by an 'A' Frame
  99. 1997 9 12 Kielty Steve USA Magone Marine SCUBA In September 1997, a 47-year-old experienced commercial diver on an underwater pipeline construction project, who had made no dives during the previous 2-3 years used scuba gear while attaching a mooring line to a buoy anchor line. The equipment was not in good condition, and both the primary and alternate regulator were leaking and in need of repair. Shortly after he submerged, the tether line floated to the surface. After he was signaled without response, the team leader put on scuba gear, submerged, and found the diver on the sea floor with a weight belt on and both tether line and tank high-pressure hose severed. The diver was recovered, and CPR was unsuccessful. The investigation did not determine how the hose was severed, and the cause of death was listed as drowning. OSHA cited the employer for violations including inadequate training in using tools/equipment and in CPR, absence of a ready standby diver, diver not line tended, lack of a reserve tank, and rescue not conducted in a timely manner. NIOSH review of occupational diving fatalities in Alaska
  100. 1997 9 10 Mahady John J USA City Employee SCUBA Aged 39, Two Harbors City employee, described as an experienced diver, apparently had trouble as he was working to attach a buoy to mark equipment near a municipal water intake pipe just off shore in Lake Superior. Drowned. No details
  101. 1997 9 3 Gouyoumjian Gevog USA Underwater Services SCUBA American, aged 25, died inside a 480,000 gallon water tank in La Place, Louisiana, somewhat weirdly described in one report as “presumed hypothermia/severe dehydration�
  102. 1997 9 2 Loader Scott Marc Singapore From New Zealand, died in a diving accident whilst working on the hull of the vessel 'Sebastion Tong By' No other details, Straits Times
  103. 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
  104. 1994 9 26 Not Recorded USA Caldive 91 Saturation High Island, Block 0376, G02754, Andarko. "A Cal Dive International diver injured his right hand when he opened a valve to flood a pipeline, and his hand was sucked to the valve due to the differential pressure. He was hung up for approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes. The nature of his injury was a cut nerve on his right index linger. To prevent a recurrence, a diffuser should be installed before operating. OCS Incidents database 1991 to 1994, page 73
  105. 1993 9 21 Paldhe Amar India Indian Navy Surface Swimmer Diver with the Eastern Naval Command. Had just returned to duty after a 45 day leave, was the most junior member of a 4 man team involved in a helicopter exercise off Visakhapatnam, had not been trained in jumping from a helicopter, was not provided with a life jacket or quick release belt. Family initially told an SAR could not be launched because it was high tide (it was low tide at the time), body not preserved properly. Navy report states that he died of "the combined effects of shock, haemorrhage, multiple injuries and drowning". The family contest that account referring to the post mortem which reports anti-mortem injuries to his axilla and near his ear and claim negligence by his superiors. Reported by DNA
  106. 1993 9 7 Rice Matthew USA 9 SCUBA Aged 24, off Maine, sports diver and student gathering sea urchins, first salt water dive, tender lost sight of bubbles, found on seabed 20 minutes later, drowned, boat owner cited for violations of commercial diving standards.
  107. 1992 9 29 Rig 'Blake IV' Rig Disaster Jack Up, Blow out, caught fire
  108. 1990 9 12 Dol Tadayoshi Singapore Japanese diver, aged 41, killed in an underwater explosion in an underwater pile cutting operation at a lighter berth (Location unclear, reported in the Singapore press but incident could have been Indonesia or Malaysia). Straits Times
  109. 1989 9 15 Arnold Thierry Brazil Comex do Brasil Saturation Bell contamination incident. Purging water from pipeline prior to final bolt tensioning on subsea tree spoolpiece. Using product/gas lift from platform. bell atmosphere contamination (Probably condensate), diver returned to bell, bellman already unconscious, flushed bell, bellman drifting in and out of conscious but managed to take divers helmet off before both passed out again. After more flushing, the bellman regained consciousness but the diver had passed out in moonpool and drowned. PC
  110. 1988 9 23 Bates Brian UK Saturation Post Alpha disaster salvage ops, blow back during cutting ops, cracked helmet, faceplate loosened, both eardrums perforated, sinus damage, concussion, pulled in by bellman, reported as third incident in under 36 hours. The Glasgow Herald
  111. 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
  112. 1988 9 0 Drill Ship 'Viking Explorere' Borneo Total Drill Ship, blow out, sank, 4 fatalities
  113. 1987 9 18 Gibson Terry Australia SCUBA Aged 47, described as a professional shellfish diver, diving solo off Marino Rocks, Adelaide, disappeared. Weight belt and ripped vest were found on the seabed, presumed to be a shark attack. No other details. Reported in the Ledger.
  114. 1986 9 1 Wilkinson Guy UAE Ruwais, UAE, pulled unconscious from the water after an argon cylinder was tied into the gas supply, did not respond to treatment.
  115. 1986 9 0 Rig 'Zacateca' Mexico Perforadora Co Jack Up. Sank
  116. 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
  117. 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
  118. 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
  119. 1985 9 18 Gurley Mike USA A subcontractor to the Georgia Power Company American, aged 34, fire-fighter, 10 years experience as a fire department diver, was also a diving instructor. Incident happened at the Morgan Falls dam where he was training another fire-fighter whilst undertaking sub-contract commercial diving work at the dam. The team had been hired by the power company to repair an underwater valve and recover constuction equipment lost previously. Whilst working on a valve, his left leg got sucked into a 14 inch drain pipe trapping him. He was conscious and calling for help for 45 minutes. "Rescuers delayed using a crane to pull him free for fear of tearing or breaking his leg".The last thing he was reported as saying was "Get my wife here, right now", then he went silent. Fifteen minutes later they pulled him free using the crane - which broke his legs. Flown by helicopter to Northside Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cause of death was not recorded as drowning but 'hyperventilation'. The fire department battalon chief was quoted as saying "Gurley was a master diver, I don't know anybody who was more qualified". Survived by his Wife and three young daughters. Atlanta Herald.
  120. 1985 9 17 Devergie Francis Congo Comex 47 S/S Mixed Gas French, diving off the barge BOS 215, KM 17 came off (No safety pin incorporated into the design at that time). no details. PC
  121. 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
  122. 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.
  123. 1984 9 14 Rig 'Zapata Lexington' USA Jack Up, blow out and fire, 4 fatalites
  124. 1983 9 9 Rig '60 Years of Azerbaijan' Azerbaijan Jack up, drilling in the Caspian Sea, Recorded as seabed failure due to volcanic action (shallow gas/punch through?). 5 fatalities
  125. 1983 9 1 Rig 'Key Biscayne' Australia Esso, Key International Had completed a well in the Arafura Sea, 180 miles northeast of Darwin, Australia, moving to stack the rig in Cockburn Sound near Fremantle towed by the Atlas Van Diemen and the Lady Sonia with the Argus Guard as stand-by vessel. On Wednesday 24 August 1983, both tow lines parted and were reconnected by the early hours of Thursday 25 Aug. The rig then rounded the NW Cape and passed Shark Bay, experiencing slight seas but no problems. On Sunday 28 Aug, the weather began to worsen with force 6-7 winds, rough seas and 6-7m swells. On the evening of the Sunday 28 Aug, both tow lines were again lost. The rig was pitching and rolling heavily with the sea constantly washing over the main deck, causing damage to the rig from smaller cargo items which were washed around the main deck. There was some suspicion that sections of the deck plating had been fractured causing leaks, and water taken onboard during the bad weather was pumped out. By Monday 29 Aug, both tow lines were reconnected and the tow resumed in more moderate weather. By midnight of 31 Aug, gale force conditions sprang up with high winds, rough seas and 6m swells buffeting the rig. At 0644 hours on Thurs 01 September, the Lady Sonia tow line parted and the Atlas Van Diemen attempted to hold rig into the wind, although both vessels were being driven easterly towards the shore. The rig appeared to be pitching more to the stern than the bow with the sea continually washing over the main deck, indicating that some flooding of the aft tanks may have occurred. On the morning of 01 Sep, it became obvious that the rig was settling to the stern and the rig reported water overflowing from the aft pump room into the port-side sack room. The worsening situation led to the decision to evacuate non-essential personnel and a MAYDAY was sent at 0930 hours on 01 Sep. By this time, a charter helicopter had arrived on scene but the pilot could not land due to the excessive pitching of the rig. Two defence force choppers were despatched and were able to winch off eight crew, after which there was a lull in the weather and the charter chopper managed to lift off another ten. By 1230 hours, only ten essential crew were left aboard. Through the day, the rig began settling to the stern and listing to starboard, with heavy seas washing over deck. The bow was observed lifting clear of the sea, with the rig pitching 10 degrees forward, 25 degrees back and rolling 15 degrees to each side. The rig's Manual of Operations specified that the rig's pitch or roll should not exceed 5 degrees. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to re-attach the towline, all line-throwing rockets had been used and conditions on the deck became too hazardous for work. Ten nautical miles off Ledge Point, the rig's port anchor was let go to help hold the rig. The remaining crew were then evacuated at 1620 hours, with the intention of returning the following day. At 1730 hours, the rig anchor parted. At 1845 hours, the Atlas Van Diemen towline parted. The Argus Guard then turned to starboard to clear the rig. After the turn, the rig was no longer visible and radar contact had been lost. The rig had capsized in 41m of water, landing inverted on the seabed with two of its legs bent or broken under the rig. The third leg lay broken off away from the rig. The attitude of the rig on the seabed indicated that it had tipped over backwards. Loss of directional control and gale force conditions were cited as the main factors in the accident. Loss of watertight integrity and flooding through possible hull fractures caused by excessive leg oscillation experienced as the rig pitched and rolled were also named as contributory factors. Reported by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The wreck is now a well known SCUBA diving site.
  126. 1982 9 8 Guan Gan Chong Singapore Underwater Maintenance Pte Operations manager of the diving company, working off the barge 'Ocean Moon' on the tanker Piotou at the Sultan Shoal, found floating near the stern. Contradictory medical testimony (one doctor said drowning, another said acute decompression sickness) and the coroner recorded an open verdict. Straits Times
  127. 1980 9 25 Ong Ah Lam Singapore SCUBA Aged 53, diver on a fishing vessel (His first trip) which left Singapore on the 16th September, dropped anchor in rough weather but could not lift it when conditions improved on the 24th September. Diver cleared the anchor (depth was not specified at the inquiry) after a 4 hour dive but then complained of stomach pains, weakness in his legs and being unable to urinate. Died the following day 'of acute decompression sickness' whilst en route to Singapore. Coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. Straits Times
  128. 1980 9 18 Not Recorded USA A diver testing effects of cooling water discharge from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) on marine life died Wednesday while collecting samples. No details. Los Angeles Times
  129. 1980 9 3 Galliano Remy Canada French, from Marseilles, aged 30, just starting as a professional diver onboard the 'Calypso' which was on a trip to film the wrecks of the American warships 'Hamilton' and 'Scourge' sank in 1812 in 90 metres of water. Drowned, coroner recorded 'accidental death'. No details. Montreal Gazzette
  130. 1978 9 15 Jantan Maludin bin Singapore Keppel Shipyard S/S air Aged 31, diving at the Temasek dry dock in the Tuas Yard (Keppel Shipyards). Called in to work on a broken dock gate wire Reported as drowned due to an acute lack of oxygen (One of the three three cylinders of compressed air issued to him was a nirtogen cylinder). They seem to have been using surface cylinders/umbilical similar to an SRP set up but without panel/back-up gas. The diver changed cylinders and returned to the water after a tea break but after a few minutes topsides realised there were no bubbles coming up, tugged on his lifeline, no response. Diver pulled to the surface, unconscious, transferred to hospital, declared dead. At the inquest, Singapore Oxygen Air Limited (SOXAL) stated they had supplied 25 cylinders of compressed air for industrial use (Light grey) and one cylinder of Nitrogen (Light grey with a black top) a few months earlier and that each cylinder also had a label stating the contents attached before they left the factory. They also added that cylinders with light grey bodies and black and white quarters at the top contained air for medical uses. The storeman who issued the tanks on the day had not noticed any gas contents labels on the cylinders but recalled that the cylinders were gray and at least one had black and white quarters. Additionally he said that he was not aware of which gases were in cylinders with different markings nor what colour a nitrogen cylinder should be as he was not in charge of sorting them. Investigators did not find any label on the Nitogen cylinder used by the diver. The Coroner recorded an open verdict and criticised the parties involved for their apparent lack of safety consciousness. Straits Times
  131. 1977 9 0 Rig 'Dolphin Titan 143' Jack Up, sank during towing, salvaged but retired.
  132. 1976 9 6 Distier Mike USA 12 SCUBA Aged 28, diving for tropical fish of Big Pine Bay, reported as gear failure, breath held to surface, went into a coma, spent 8 hours in NOAA's Miami chamber, died in a Miami hospital. Not clear if this was a commercial dive. Reported in the St Petersberg Times.
  133. 1976 9 3 Critchfield Scott USA Aqua Hut 4 SCUBA Aged 22, Bowling Green Country Club Golf course, working on a submerged pump supplying a sprinkler system, colleague "Turned on the pump at a pre-arranged signal", about 30 seconds later the diver 'came struggling to the surface'. He went to get a rope but when he returned, the diver had disappeared. The diver's body was recovered about 20 feet from the shore. Possible electrocution, but no details. Toledo Blade.
  134. 1975 9 25 Wendelaar Joachim USA 322 German, aged 36, from Hamburg, described as a veteran diver with the West German shipbuilder GKSS, was part of a three man team preparatory works to the 100 ton underwater NOAA habitat 'Helgoland' sponsored by the US, West Germany, Poland and Norway off Roskport. Quote “It appeared something went wrong with his oxygen regulator and he suffered the bends on surfacing�. Confused reporting - it appears he actually fell unconscious on deck, initially reported as a surface accident - but no details Reported in 'The Hour'
  135. 1975 9 9 Baldwin Roger UK Oceaneering 119 Saturation British, aged 29, Ex RN CD2 ( not ex Royal Marine Corporal as reported elsewhere). Died in the same year he left the Navy. Semi-sub drill rig "Waage II", Bell Bounce diving, divers using dry-suits and known to be cold, end of bell run, TUP deliberately overheated to help compensate for potential hypothermia. After locking on, bell was isolated and decompressed. Single gauge for both bell and TUP, cross over open, Supervisor believed TUP was losing pressure and re-pressurised Excessive heat/depth, died of heat exhaustion. Double fatality (Peter Holmes)
  136. 1975 9 9 Holmes Peter UK Oceaneering 119 Saturation British, aged 24. Semi-sub drill rig "Waage II", Bell Bounce diving, divers using dry-suits and known to be cold, end of bell run, TUP deliberately overheated to help compensate for potential hypothermia. After locking on, bell was isolated and decompressed. Single gauge for both bell and TUP, cross over open, Supervisor believed TUP was losing pressure and re-pressurised Excessive heat/depth, died of heat exhaustion. Double fatality (Roger Baldwin)
  137. 1975 9 0 Rig 'AMDP-1' UAE Jack Up, sank during rig move/towing
  138. 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
  139. 1970 9 19 Bielanski John USA Aged 32, professional diver from Oak Forest drowned while repairing a broken water main at the bottom of a man made lake (Lake Camelot?) No other details. Chicago Tribune.
  140. 1967 9 23 Billis George USA S/S Air Newspaper Headline “Air line cut, diver drowns� Tarpon Springs, Florida, “Aged 72, retired Greek (Town of Calymnos) sponge diver drowned during an exhibition dive before a boatload of tourists when the boat 'Plastisras' turned in the wind and the propellers cut his air hos and life line. He was demonstrating sponge diving techniques in the Anclote River. The Spokesman Review
  141. 1965 9 21 Not Recorded Vietnam Japanese diver killed and 11 other persons injured in an explosion during salvage operations on the Saigon River. No details. Reported in the Chicago Tribune.
  142. 1965 9 9 Rig 'Petrel 52' USA Jack Up, punch through and capsised in Hurricane Betsy
  143. 1965 9 9 Rig 'Saipem Paguro' Italy Saipem Jack Up, Drilling off Ravena, blowout, destroyed by fire
  144. 1965 9 1 Cline Robert Herrick USA Military 8 SCUBA Newspaper employee, part time volunteer diving with Sherrif of Coconino rescue unit. Hired via police contact to recover two chemical tanks from a reservoir at the Navajo Army Depot, Coconino. Arizona. No training, st/by or supervisor, third dive surfaced in distress, swimmers tried to help but he sank, plume of bubbles (twin hose) but drowned.
  145. 1964 9 25 Harrison Gerald P USA Military Topsides Maryport naval station, repair operations to flooded pontoons damaged by hurricane 'Dora'. Harrison and another diver from the destroyer tender 'Yellowstone' were killed by the 90' boom of the crane barge they were rigging to lift out damaged pontoons when it collapse onto the small boat they were diving from. Two other navy personnel were seriously injured.
  146. 1963 9 12 Jensen Aksel Denmark Diver hit by an anchor COPENHAGEN, Wed. A ship dropped anchor at Vejle, Denmark, today on to the head of diver, Aksel Jensen, who was working underwater, port officials reported. He was taken to hospital with suspected concussion. Reuter
  147. 1959 9 21 Hart James F USA Commercial Abalone diver off the vessel 'Ray Rock' off Point Loma, treated for DCI aboard the Submarine tender USS 'Nereus' after recovering the body of partner Raymond Mathews from the seabed. Lodi News Sentinel
  148. 1954 9 24 Motlop Fred Australia Haritos Brothers 34 S/S Air Aged 32, diving off the pearl lugger “Fram� off the Arhem coast (Off Maroonga Island between Millingimbi and Elcho Island missions). Some reports are more complete than others. One just says :- “A deck-hand lost his balance in heavy seas and in an attempt to save himself dragged the tender operator overboard with him. The tender lost Motlop's air and life lines and the diver sank to the 'bottom. Before he could be raised again he tore off his helmet and rocketed to the surface. The crew did not realise his lungs had burst. They fitted another helmet on him and lowered him to the bottom to "stage' him. (Staging is a treatment to prevent "bends," a form of paralysis, caused by bringing a diver to the surface too quickly.) The crew 'staged" Motlop for about an hour, (but they found he was dead when they raised him to the deck)�. As reported in the Canberra Times. A second report says:- "His air line became entangled in the propeller and Motlop was dragged towards the surface (from 17 fathoms). He was pulled up to 6 fathoms before the crew could stop the lugger and free his line. The diver's tender was holding Motlop's line keeping him steady at 6 fathoms when the lugger pitched badly in a heavy sea. A native crewman slipped and grabbed the tender and both fell overborad. Motlop plummeted to 17 fathoms before the crew could gab the lines. Before they could bring the diver up slowly he hsad thrown off his helmet, apparently in panic, and shot to the surface. The crew fiitted him with another helmet and sent him down for an hour or so in an effort top avoid bends." He was dead when brought up, a post mortem completed by a visiting Docor Langsford from Darwin concluded the divers lungs were ruptured. Sydney Morning Herald
  149. 1954 9 17 Pepper Frank USA Merritt Chapman and Scott 45 Aged 46, working on installing one of six support piers for the Mackinac Straits Bridge, died in the decompression chamber. No details. Windsor Daily Star.
  150. 1953 9 15 Nellman Tom Jack Australia Duffield Brothers 37 S/S Air “PEARL DIVER DISAPPEARS. THURSDAY ISLAND, Fri. “A Torres Strait Islander, Tom Jack Nellman (30) disappeared last Tuesday while diving for pearlshell in about 20 fathoms off Bobo, near Daru Island, from the launch ‘Laura’, owned by Duffield Brothers of Thursday Island. The ‘Laura’ returned here late last night. The police are investigating�. Reported in the Northern Miner, Charters towers, Qld
  151. 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.
  152. 1949 9 26 Jorgensen Robin Claude Soren USA 15 S/S Air Aged 20, professional abalone diver, was drowned in 50 feet of water in Little Harbor on the west side of Santa Catalina Island when his air compressor failed. No other details.
  153. 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.
  154. 1947 9 19 Fargues Maurice France Military 119 SCUBA From the French Naval Vessel 'Timing' off Toulon. Experimental dive “in connection with the planned Bathysphere dives to the Ocean floor by the Belgian Professor Picard� described as 'Frances leading deep sea diver'. Reported as diving with goggles and three Oxygen tanks on his back. Reached 300' (which set a world depth record)', signalled OK and went on down to 390'. Signals stopped and he was hauled up. A colleague dived down and found him at 200', goggles off, mouthpiece out, apparently unconscious. Hauled to the surface, still unconscious, died in hospital. “Experts“ quoted as saying that “either the lifeline swung against his mouthpiece ripping it from his mouth or Fargues was seized with what divers call 'deep sea drunkenness' Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald
  155. 1945 9 11 Not Recorded USA Military Chamber Brooklyn Navy Base, 2 divers died, one injured, possibly dead, during chamber training (simulated dive) onboard a Salvage vessel off Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Chamber fire reported as having been started by sparks from an overheating electric fan. Sheffield and Desautels “Hyperbaric and hypobaric Chamber fires, a 73 year analysis�, Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine, 1997, 24 (3): 153-164.
  156. 1945 9 10 Cook RN PO George Robinson UK Military Aged 25, "Diver died in dock/Diver dies underwater/suffocated" No other details (Pay for access archive) Hull Daily Mail/Derby Daily Telegraph/Evening Telegraoh (Angus)/The British Newspaper Archive
  157. 1945 9 8 Tate, RN PO George R Australia 12 S/S Air Aged 25, British, "Assisting the berthing of a large British aircraft carrier in Captain Cook graving dock (Elizabeth Bay, Sydney) when something went wrong with either the air pipes or his diving suit" Reported in The Advertiser, Adelaide.
  158. 1943 9 15 Lydan Cpl. J. H. Australia Military 6 Diver Rescues Troops' Beer. SYDNEY, Wed— When the weekly beer ration of an anti-aircraft unit in a remote North-Western area fell into 20 feet of water, the troops gave it up far lost, but the fortuitous passing of a diver saved it. Diving to the bottom, Cpl. J. H. Lydan, of Sydney, located the case and brought it to shore. Lydan and Sgt. G. Urquhart, of Turramurra, are the first Australian soldiers to qualify at a Navy diving school. They are attached to an Army water transport unit. Reported in The Daily News, Perth.
  159. 1940 9 24 Passaris Emanuel USA S/S Air Greek, aged 60, sponge fishing out of Tampa in the Gulf of Perry, no details
  160. 1940 9 19 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air “DEFECTIVE AIR PIPE BLAMED�. BROOME, Tuesday. “A finding that a leading diver, a young Kupanger, died at sea from asphyxia caused by the bursting of a defective air pipe, was returned by the Coroner (Mr. E. S. Reynolds) at an inquest. The Kupanger died on September 19 about 127 miles south of Broome, between Anna Plains and Wallal. The Coroner said that the air pipe, opened at a place where it had burst, showed that the canvas reinforcement was of distinctly defective manufacture�. Reported in the Daily News, Perth, WA.
  161. 1940 9 1 Maddison Steve Canada S/S Air Aged 70, "a diver for 32 years, met his death when he was sucked into the intake of a dam at the paper manufacturing town of Ocean Falls". Edmonton Journal
  162. 1939 9 23 Salile Ahmat bin Australia 37 S/S Air Malay Diver Killed. PERTH. Saturday. ‘While working In 20 fathoms of water 19 miles off shore from Anna Plains pearling grounds 180 miles south of Broome, a Malay pearl diver, Ahmat Bin Salile, 24, operating from a pearling lugger, was killed when the air pipe fouled on a coral reef. Reported in the Sunday Mail, Brisbane, Qld.
  163. 1938 9 0 Geoghiou Nicholas Greece "Diver Killed by Octopus. Nicholas Georghiou, a sponge diver on the Greek island of Pephos, has been …" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Evening Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive
  164. 1937 9 7 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air "Divers left to Drown", "Divers Drowned. Vessel caught fire". News of the death of three Japanese divers in the Arafura sea was brought to Darwin today. Three divers on the Dai Nippon Maru were at work on the ocean bed when the lugger's compressor burst. The lugger caught fire at such a rate that the divers could not be brought up before the crew had taken to the lifeboats. They were left to their fate". Reported in the Northern Star.
  165. 1935 9 14 Not Recorded Panama S/S Air Aged 73, pearl diver diving off the lugger 'Winifred' Reported as "Divers epic battle with shark, dies from wounds, Panama, Saturday (Incident could have been the previous Saturday, the 7th September. No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Hull Daily Mail/The British Newspaper Archive
  166. 1935 9 4 Johnson Julius USA S/S Air “Davy Jone's locker, whose dark and silent depths he had explored fearlessly for years, claimed the life yesterday of Julius Johnson, veteran Long Beach deep sea diver� Lost air supply, hose either kinked or severed (“apparently snagged on wreckage at the bottom of the sea�). Dive was to recover the anchor and chain slipped by the gambling boat 'Casino' when it caught fire four miles offshore two weeks earlier, Reported in the Los Angeles Times/Montreal Gazette.
  167. 1934 9 27 Not Recorded Australia S/S Air Salvage dive from the vessel 'Bertha'. No details
  168. 1934 9 20 Currie or Curry William Wallace Canada A M Maclean & Sons S/S Air Employed to plant dynamite underwater in the locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. On a stormy day, he decided it was better to dive and get paid than wait for the weather to clear. Lightning struck his equipment on the surface, travelled down his line and ignited the 6 pounds of dynamite and blasting caps he carried. His 21 year old son, Laughlin, acting as his diving assistant, witnessed the accident. Missaiiauga.net, Montreal Gazette
  169. 1934 9 13 Kongo Hisa Australia Bowden Pearling Co. 55 S/S Air "Diver Drowned When Helmet Fills With Water" Japanese diver aged 24, reported that his helmet filled with water as he rose to the surface with a bag of shells at Darnley Island. Diving off the lugger 'Sydney', came to the surfacce unconscious, the vessel master, Captain Yonekawa, thought he was suffering from diver's paralysis, fitted another helmet and took Kongo down again in an attempt to relieve the stricken diver. The Captain remained below for nearly 40 minutes but Kongo failed to respond. He was hauled to the surface dead. Reported in the Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania.
  170. 1933 9 0 Tacheuchi Sounoske Australia S/S Air Paraphrased report from the Courier-Mail, Brisbane “Japanese, master and diver of the lugger 'Ridgeon' met his death when an air pipe burst while he was diving for pearls near Cook's Reef, about four minutes after he entered the water, he signalled that he had reached the bottom, and almost immediately a distress signal was received. The engineer ordered the crew to haul up the diver. Another sharp distress signal was received. After assisting the diver aboard the crew thinking he was paralysed, after adding an extra length of air pipe, lowered the diver to five fathoms, according to the Japanese fashion of treating paralysed divers. A New Guinea boy went down twice to view the diver, and on the second occasion said he thought the diver was finished." the diver was hauled up and his diving dress was cut off. The body was conveyed to Thursday Island, where a post-mortem examination revealed that death was due to asphyxiation.�
  171. 1932 9 30 Stevens William Ramsey Hong Kong Hong Kong Government 6 S/S Air Australian diver employed by the Government on the Hong Kong Harbour Pipe. At the inquest, Senior commissioned Gunner George Hamilton RN, the expert witness, gave a demonstration of the working of the diving suit and helmet stating that the exhaust valve could be regulated by the diver to control the pressure of air in the suit. He also examined the topsides pump and found it efficient and 'needing about 25 turns a minute to keep a proper supply of air for working under any conditions'. The diver had only been in the water about three minutes when he ditched his helmet (including the two 40 pound lead weights). It was supposed at the inquest that there had been a mix up in the signals and when he asked for more air, he was actually given less and in desperation tried to ditch his helmet and reach the surface. The expert witness decsribed the diver's last act as "a very desperate act which I think, as an experienced diver, I would never dream of doing. It would drown him and fill up the suit with water. He absolutely committed suicide by taking his helmet off". Straits Times.
  172. 1932 9 2 Sanders Jesse USA S/S Air Described as a government emplyee, inspecting a dam on the Ohio river, got his feet trapped in a wicket, after three hours another dier and suit were brought to site from 20 miles away and he was recovered to surface but attempts to reuscitate him were unsuccessful. "He apparently died of suffocation or strabgulation as there was little water in his suit". The Reading Eagle
  173. 1931 9 10 Marf Australia Muramat 35 S/S Air DARWIN, Wednesday. A Japanese diver, known as Marf, employed by Muramat's pearling fleet, died today after becoming paralysed when diving in 19 fathoms of water about 40 miles north-west of Bathurst Island. The Advocate, Burnie
  174. 1931 9 7 Kimoto Tomekichi Australia S/S Air Japanese pear diver aged 45, lugger Mars out of Darwin, diving 40 miles from Bathurst Island, signalled to be drawn to the surface. When hauled up,, it was"found that he was paralysed through working in deep water, and although efforts to revive him continued for 16 hours, he died.� After hearing medical evidence, as well| as the reports of Mr McKay and two Japanese from the boat, a verdict was given of death from divers' paralysis. (Other reports confuse his name as Tomekichi Rimolo) Reported in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette
  175. 1930 9 13 Not Recorded France Caisson "Divers suffocated, Two dead and three others in critical condition. Five workers engaed in submarine works at Martiques, near Marseilles were found unconscious when a diving,,," No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Nottingham Evening Post/The British Newspaper Archive
  176. 1929 9 10 Nabiki Sligoro Australia S/S Air "Japanese diver drowned, Perth September 17, a Japanese diver named Sligoro Nabiki was drowned while diving off Mardi Island, on the North-west coast, recently". Reported in the Mercury (Hobart)
  177. 1929 9 1 Yasiu Kakaturo Australia Victor Clark S/S Air Pearl diver working off the lugger 'Dona Matilda', 40 miles NorthWest of Bathurst Island, "Suffocated owing to his air pipe coming into contact with the propeller", Inquest returned a verdict of accidental death. Northern Territory Times
  178. 1927 9 19 Hook Australia S/S Air A huge octopus bearing in its tentacles a human body was forced to disgorge its prize after an hour’s battle 50 feet under the water of Port Townsend with a diver named Hook. Hook had been repairing a fish net when he saw the devil fish making its way along the bottom of the sound with a body in its clutches. The diver, who was armed with spike-pole, forthwith attacked the monster. For many minutes the gallant diver thrust and lunged at the monster which savagely gave battle but grimly held on its prey. Time after time, the fish warded off the spear-thrusts and tried to seize its assailant in its serpentlike arms, while the water became cloudy with the "dust" of battle. At last, concentrating his thrusts upon the creature's spider like body, the diver literally tore it to ribbons before it shrunk back, apparently mortally wounded, and the diver was able to prise its tenticle loose from the corpse. The body was later identified as that of the cook off a tugboat which sank in the harbour when four others were drowned, none of whose bodies have been recovered.' Straits times '
  179. 1926 9 25 Lee John UK 21 S/S Air "Accident to diver. While working on a wreck in Morecambe Bay yesterday, Jihn Lee of Weast Hartlepool..." "Diver's Ordeal. Broken helmet 70 feet below surface interviewed yesterday in Fleetwood hospital, a diver named Lee who almost…" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Aberdeen Journal/The British Newspaper Archive
  180. 1925 9 24 Okuna Nizo Australia S/S Air Japanese pearl diver aged 33 or 35. “Drowned on the sea bottom�. "Was drowned while pearling near Broome owing to his air pipe snapping on a reef" The Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette, NSW, Australia. “JAPANESE DIVER DROWNED� PERTH, Wednesday.— “A Japanese diver named Nizo Okuna, about 35 years, was drowned on the bottom while engaged in pearling 80 miles from Broome in consequence of the snapping of the air pipe attached to his diving suit. Okuna’s line fouled a reef in a heavy sea and broke and then his air pipe went. The diver, later, floated to the surface dead. Another diver saved his life by rising before the reef was encountered�. Reported in The Register, Adelaide
  181. 1924 9 30 MacKenzie Charles Wiliam Hong Kong Topsides Chief diver of Taikoo Docks, appeared at the Central Magistracy having been remanded the previous Saturday. "Defendant was charged with driving his motor-cycle in a dangerous manner; with being under the influence of drink; and with not stopping his machine after the occurrence of an accident in which two members of the police force were knocked down and injured. The judge, in fining the defendent $100 on each of the first and third charges, the second charge being withdrawn, said that the defendant was fortunate that the Captain Superintendent of Police had not asked for imprisonment. The Chinese constable was awarded $10 compensation" Straits Times
  182. 1924 9 1 Lovell Reuben UK "A diver for nearly 40 years at Portsmouth dockyard died recently. He brought up 200 bodies from the wreck of the training Frigate 'Eurydice' which foundered near Ventnor in a squall". Papers Past, evening Post, National Library of New Zealand. The training frigate 'Eurydice' sank off the isle of Wight when returning from a voyage to the Caribean with the loss of over 300 lives on 24th March 1878. She was refloated by early September in an extended diving operation using Sieve Gorman divers.
  183. 1922 9 11 Not Recorded Malaysia FMS Railway Company 12 Caisson Pahang province, about 26 miles from the town of Kuala Lipis, railway construction department building a bridge over the Jelai river, a Philippino diver was working at the bottom of one of the two 40' deep coffer dams when "the whole structure was sucked down below the bed of the river. Mr. Snelling, the diving expert attached to Messrs D. G. Robertson Ltd., was telegraphed for, but although air had been pumped through the life lines for the 96 hours before his arrival, no hopes were entertained of recoverimg the body of the diver". Straits Times"
  184. 1913 9 28 Saunders Australia 27 S/S Air British, reported as the last of the 13 men 'imported from England' remaining working in the pearling industry. After a dive, collapsed onboard the schooner and died of diver's paralysis. Adelaide Advertiser. Perth, Monday - A Broome telegram States that Saunders, the last of the white divers engaged there, died after working a fortnight in 15 fathoms of water. In that time he only brought up three-quarters of a hundredweight of shell, while the Japanese in the same time secured a ton. The Argus, Melbourne
  185. 1909 9 16 Not Recorded Italy S/S Air "Delayed Dynamite Explosion causes death of three daring men". Ravenna, Italy, Dynamite placed to destroy old masonry in the harbour failed to explode, divers descended to investigate. The charges then exploded, killing three of them. Warsaw Daily Times (Warsaw, Indiana)
  186. 1908 9 12 Newton UK Military S/S Air "Navy diver killed, Air pipe cut by warship cable. Navy diver met his death in a strange manner at Cromarty Firth on Saturday. Chief Carpenter…" "..tide, the diver's gear came into contact with the ship's cable, and was completely severed. Newton must have died immediately from...." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Cheltenham Chronicle/Derby Daily Telegraph/The British Newspaper Archive
  187. 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.
  188. 1908 9 0 Not Recorded Malta Navy S/S Air DIVER FALLS ASLEEP. An extraordinary story of a diver falling asleep underwater is reported from Malta. Some time ago when the battle ship Dreadnought was there, one of her seamen divers went below to clear her propeller of some flotsam but failed to come to the surface again. Signals by telephone and lifeline were sent to him without avail, and when some brushes and other things came to the surface it was feared that the man was dead. Another diver was then sent below, and found the other man asleep seated comfortably upon one of the giant propeller blades. Reported in The Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal, NSW
  189. 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
  190. 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
  191. 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
  192. 1901 9 24 Chomatza Australia A. E, Jolly and Co 24 S/S Air Paraphrased from newspaper report at the time in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette “Early this week the pearling lugger "Beryl" returned to port with a sick diver and was dispatched out to the grounds again with a try diver named Chomatza in charge. Strangely enough the same boat again made her appearance in the harbour on Wednesday morning, and the dead body of the try diver, was brought ashore by the crew, and carried to the Japanese lodging house. ~ The 'matter was reported to the police, but it was not considered necessary to hold any inquest. The diving gear was found to be sound and apparently in good working order. According to the crew, the boat was at work off Shoal Bay and the diver, had been down several times in 11 to 14' fathoms of water. He usually stayed down about 15 minutes, but about 2 pm, he gave the signal to be hauled up after being down only about five minutes. He was hauled up very quickly and instructed the tender to take off his dress and after to heave up anchor and go into Shoal Bay. A few minutes later the tender discovered him sitting in his bunk in the cabin, with teeth tightly, clenched, unable M speak. He had not complained of feeling ill and uttered no cry. The tender administered some medicine taken by divers in such cases, but after a comparatively brief interval the unfortunate fellow was found to be dead. There is not the slightest doubt that, many of these diving fatalities are the outcome, of carelessness or ignorance on the part of the men engaged, the implicit instructions given by the best authorities being notoriously neglected in one important particular, i.e., regarding the time to be taken in ascending and descending. As a rule, when divers give the signal to be drawn up, they are rushed to the surface as quickly as two men hauling upon the life line can bring them, and it is this practice, resulting in a rapid change from heavy water to atmospheric pressure, which has caused more attacks of divers paralysis on the local grounds than the depth, which, as a rule, is shallow compared with other places.
  193. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 1 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air Aged 53, experienced diver, initially reported as 'Met his death whilst at wotk'. Hornby dock, Liverpool, working on the vessel 'Gulf of Taranto'. He was placing a sealing pad over a valve inlet diffuser on a vessel hull, differential pressure incident (arm pulled into hull when the valve was removed because the diffuser was mounted on the valve not the hull). They managed to pull him free but he was unconscious when recovered to deck, taken to Bootle hospital, but failed to respond to treatment. Coroner’s verdict:- Suffocated. Reported in the Liverpool Mercury. See following two entries below for more detail.<br />http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/deathsandinquests1896.html
  194. 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
  195. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 3 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air er was fast in some way, he called the man tending the air pipe even with his help it was impossible to raise the diver. He asked for assistance from a flatman with the combined efforts of the three of them they managed to raise the diver. Witness rapidly took off the diver's mouthpiece and saw STOREY was apparently dead. The deceased was at about 12ft under the water and from the time the signal came to pulling him up only minutes had elapsed. The Coroner elicited the information that the ship's hull was covered with a perforated metal rose, after the style of a rose on a watering can. Witness said, this rose was normally affixed to the skin of the vessel but in the present case it was affixed to the valve, this was important and the diver ought to have been told of it. Had witness known of it he would have used a wooden plug to stop up the hole instead of a pad to cover it. The hole was six inches in diameter. The post mortem results were that the skin of the deceased was a dusky colour. Blood had oozed from the right ear and there was a large bruise on the upper part of the left forearm and elbow. There were no broken bones or injuries that might have caused death. The vessels of the brain were congested but the brain tissue healthy. The lungs were very much congested and there was a good deal of mucus in the bronchial tubes. The small air vessels of the lungs were ruptured by the efforts to inspire. The heart was flabby and rather fatty, the valves being more or less closed, especially the mitrial and aortic. The blood throughout the body was a dark colour, a marked indication of suffocation. The cause of death was suffocation. The Coroner then addressed the jury, summing up the evidence and pointing out it was for them to decide whether any one was criminally liable for the death of the diver, they could express an opinion as to what led up to the suffocation which according to the medical evidence was the direct cause of death, or they could leave that point alone. After deliberation in private the jury found that death was due to suffocation, but how that was brought about they were unable to say. The funeral was reported as:- The remains of William STOREY, Diver, were interred yesterday morning in Toxteth Park Cemetery in the presence of a large number of friends. The deceased who was an experienced diver unfortunately met his death last Wednesday while working on the steamship Gulf of Taranto in the Hornby Dock. The coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths and the brass shield bore the inscription, "William STOREY, died September 30. 1896, aged 53 years�
  196. 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.
  197. 1893 9 5 Buffett Young Australia S/S Air DEATHS AT THURSDAY ISLAND. THURSDAY ISLAND, Tuesday.-A Norfolk Island diver named Young Buffett, died last week. He had open diving off Darnley Island, and when the face of the glass was taken off he stopped the crew from taking off his sand asked to be laid down, as he was dying. He then expired. He went to the Darnley Island grounds strongly against his friends' wishes. Reported in the Australian Town and Country Journal, NSW
  198. 1893 9 4 Hoy George Australia S/S Air or 'Bendigo Advertiser'
  199. 1892 9 23 Jones UK "Extraordinary Accident to a Diver at Cardiff. A diver named Jones, residing in Cardiff, was engaged on Friday in .." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser/The British Newspaper Archive
  200. 1888 9 19 Ker Australia S/S Air 'A pearl diver by the name of Ker was stabbed to death by a Malay at Cossack, a Northern Port' (NB Cossack is a port in Western Australia, formerly a pearling station). Reported in the Archives of the Marlborough Express courtesy of the New Zealand National Library.
  201. 1886 9 29 Boys Thomas UK Wear Commissioners S/S Air "Accident to divers. One man suffocated. At South docks Sunderland, this morning, three men were engaged in diving operations,…. " "Accident to a diver. An inquest on the body of Thomas Boys, who was drowned at Sunderland on Wednesdsay in diving operations was held..." "..diving bell accient, sates that divers were wrking for the Wear Commissioners in damming the old entrance to the South Dock...." No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Manchester Evening News/The British Newspaper Archive
  202. 1885 9 25 Gregory George RN UK Military 15 S/S Air "Fatality to a diver, George Gregory of HMS Revenge. Was drowned last evening whilst engaged in examining some moorings 8 fathoms deep". No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette/The British Newspaper Archive
  203. 1881 9 1 Duggan Walter? Ireland S/S Air Reported Tuesday 30th August and Thursday 1st September, but death probably occurred Saturday previously. Diver was 'engaged in examining the mooring tackle of the lightship off Daunts rock south of Queenstown.....". "Diver died from exhaustion in a harbour , made three descents from the Trinity steamer 'Alert' and on coming up the last time…." "Died in most distressing circumstances" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Portsmouth Evening News/Aberdeen Evening Express/Cornishman/The British Newspaper Archive
  204. 1878 9 0 Thomas Thomas James UK S/S Air "The diver engaged on the wreck of the sunken German ironclad, the Grosser Kurfurst, who died the other day through remaining…" (The Grosser Kurfurst was an ironclad turret ship that sunk off Folkstone 31st May on her maiden voyage with the loss of around 270 of the 500 men onboard. Turned to avoid fishing boats and was rammed by accompanying vessel SMS Konig Wilhelm). Inquest was opened at the town hall, Folkstone on the 29th August. No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Alnwick Mercury/The British Newspaper Archive
  205. 1876 9 20 Parker George UK S/S Air "MELANCHOLY DEATH OF A DIVER" An inquest was held at the Union Tavern on Thursday before the Borough Coroner (W. H. Payne, Esq.) on the body of George Parker, a diver who died suddenlythe previous day having remained underwater for hour and a quarter. The evidence went to show that deceased was subject to heart disease and vomited nearly every time before and after he ..." No other details. Reported in the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald/The British Newspaper Archive
  206. 1868 9 9 Burton Charles New Zealand 27 S/S Air Diving from the SS 'Lady Bird' assessing the wreck of the SS 'Taraniki'. Apparently entangled and Helmet came off, drowned. Excellent contemporary article of the fatality in the Wellington Independent and description of the subsequent salvage operation in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961. The inquest (described in some detail in the Wellington Independent) 'was held at the Crown and Anchor Hotel before L. Boor Esq., Coroner, and a respectable jury', after mature deliberation, they gave the verdict "Accidental death by drowning whilst in performance of his duties as a diver at the wreck of the Taranki". After being submerged for over a year, she was refoated being towed into Wellington harbour by the 'Ladybird' on the first of October 1889. She finally ran aground and broke in half in November 1878 on Karewa Island with no loss of life
  207. 2014 9 14 Not Recorded Kuwait Diver killed: An Egyptian diver in his 40s died while doing maintenance work on a huge gate in Al-Zour, reports Alam Alyawm daily. However, the Al-Seyassah daily said the diver fell off a boat and drowned. The corpse was fished out of the waters by divers from the Coast Guard. Reported in the Arab Times online
  208. 2016 9 22 Winters Sgt. Kerry USA Police SCUBA Aged 51, 30 year veteran of the Ulster County (NY) Sheriff's office, died in a dive training exercise at Ashokan Resevoir. No details. Reported the Daily Freeman, Police news
  209. 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/
  210. 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/
  211. 2021 9 16 Yulianto Indonesia PT Patra Dinimika OWA / PLTU SSDE Indonesian diver named Yulianto, working for Patra Dinimika, under subcontract to OWA, at the PLTU (electric steam power plant) in Jepara, Central Java. Delta P, with someone opening a valve or gate to an intake. Using SSDE, with umbilical and hat pulled off during recovery.
  212. 2012 8 23 Echevarria Pardo Columbia Aged 48, married with three chidren, ex-navy diver, 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, Echavarria recovered to the surface 20 minutes later, apparently still alive but died, his dive partner Duva Hernandez suffered broken legs, taken to hospital. No other details. Reported by El Informador
  213. 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
  214. 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
  215. 2012 8 16 Knaps Marko Estonia Navy 23 SCUBA Aged 22, conscript at the Talinn Naval Base from 2010-2011 after which he joined the mine hunter 'Sakala' as a diver in August 2011. On August 7th 2012, the Esonian Navy launched an operation to dispose of WWII era munition (Reported as having cleared over 700 devices since 1994). Diving 1.5 miles off the Kakumae penninsula in the process of moving an aircraft bomb to a safe area when he stopped responding to routine signals. Another diver located him unconscious at 23 metres and brought him to the surface, lacked vital signs but colleagues began resucitation which was taken over by ambulance crews when they reached the shore. Failed to respond. No other details. Rep[orted ERR News (Estonia Public Broadcasting)
  216. 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.
  217. 2012 8 10 Burgan Michael USA Fireman 19 SCUBA Aged 46, Captain in the Sugarcreek Fire department (also dived for the Holmes County dive team) participating in an advanced diving class at the White Star Quarry in Gibsonburg, reported as showing signs of distress after 15 minutes into his second dive of the day, surfaced and called for help before he lost consciousness, recovered from about 61' water depth by fellow divers but pronounced dead at the scene. Firehouse.com news
  218. 2012 8 10 Martin Christopher USA SCUBA Aged 24, hired by Eagle Creek Golf Club in Orlando to retrieve golf balls. Two divers, but working solo in different locations. The other diver saw the diving tank floating on the surface but neither he or the Orange County Dive Team could locate the body. Body recovered late evening the day after. Presumbed drowned but no other details. Orlando Sentinel
  219. 2012 8 5 Reardon Jim USA Fireman SCUBA Aged 51 from Pierz, videoptaping in Lake Seven near Frazee undertaking a pre-drill survey for a future dive exercise for firefighters who were due to train there. Reported as having separated from his dive partner, he was found near the dock 20 minutes later but could not be revived. "No drugs or alcohol was involved, all his diving gear was intact and operational". Autopsy concluded that he "Died of natural causes". Bismark Tribune
  220. 2012 8 1 Yusuke Miura Russia EMAS Saturation Japanese diver working in saturation onboard the "Lewek Crusader" at the Arkutun Dagi platform Gravity Base off Sakhalin. Reported as heart attack whilst in the water installing a flange catcher. NB IMCA member, therefore should see a report in due course. Longstreath/PDA
  221. 2011 8 22 Soto Luis Enriques Cabrales Mexico SCUBA Aged 30 from Guaymas, living in El Desemboque (Caborca), clam diver 'decompression illness'. La Policiaca
  222. 2011 8 12 Alonso Roberto Lopez Moroyoqui Mexico SCUBA Aged 17, living in Colonia Nueva Penasco, possibly his first trip as a working clam diver, diving 10 km off La Cholla, ill when surfaced, transferred to the Penasco hyperbaric centre, reported as having died of 'severe decompression sickness type 2' Nuevodia.com.mx
  223. 2011 8 12 Saavedra Janus Chavez Peru SCUBA Aged 27, scallop diver working on the sechura coast near Lobos Island, (Piura province), reported as dying of DCI, survived by wife and children aged 5 years and 2 years. RPP News
  224. 2011 8 4 Cordova Gabriel Humberto Delgadillo Mexico SCUBA Aged 24, clam diving off La Cholla, Puerta Penasca. Reported as 'lost his life by drowning' in 'Los canales de la Choya' (The La Choya Channels). No details. Reported by La Policaca
  225. 2011 8 2 Marzouk Ismail Egypt Blue O2 60 Rebreather Aged 33, IANTD technical diving instructor working out of Hurgada died on a deep wreck dive (90 metres?) dive off Marsa Alam with three British tourists, apparently stopped breathing at 60 metres (suspected oxygen toxicity) and dropped into the depths, the three tourists surfaced without incident, instructor's body not recovered. Family raising questions about about lack of any SCUBA/Sports/Tourist/Technical diving standards or enforcement in Egypt. Wife and baby daughter. A second fatality - that of a Russian diving instructor - was reported on the same day but no detailed reports located to date. NB, Tourist diving instructors - esppecially technical diving - appear to have a very high fatality rate but are not generally reported. Reported by ahramonline
  226. 2011 8 0 ?? Shafiq Qatar El Safwa Topsides Egyptian diver working on the Pearl Island residential development, working in a confined space, gas leak. Triple fatality with two killed on site, the third died in hospital. Initially not reported in the public domain but Qatari authorities now investigating. PC
  227. 2011 8 0 Himden Ashraf Qatar El Safwa Topsides Egyptian diver working on the Pearl Island residential development, working in a confined space, gas leak. Triple fatality with two killed on site, the third died in hospital. Initially not reported in the public domain but Qatari authorities now investigating. PC
  228. 2011 8 0 William Sabri Qatar El Safwa Topsides Egyptian diver working on the Pearl Island residential development, working in a confined space, gas leak. Triple fatality with two killed on site, the third died in hospital. Initially not reported in the public domain but Qatari authorities now investigating. PC
  229. 2010 8 30 Mieses Kelvin Dominican Republic S/S Air Aged 24, reports unclear, but appears to have been a decompression incident related to long or deep surface supplied air dive during which the compressor failed preventing him from undertaking decompression stops. Treated at the local El Seibo hospital and referred to regional hspital in San Pedro de Macoris where he died. Unclear if there was a back up air supply, a bailout or if there was a DDC on site or at either hospital. Reported in diariolibre.com
  230. 2010 8 21 Hussein Mahmoud Ali Egypt Paraphrased from Press Reports:- Port Suez saw a tragic accident that claimed the live of a 40 year old vessel maintenance diver when the crew of a cargo ship waiting to transit the canal started the engines. A team from the Maritime Rescue Police recovered the body which was found to be badly damaged by the effects of the large propellers. The authorities detained the Iraqi Captain and ordered his prosecution (charged with negligence at work and killing the diver). Rosaonline.net
  231. 2010 8 17 Diaz Lt Mejia Honduras Navy SCUBA A Navy diver from Honduras today drowned while trying to salvage a narcotics plane from the Ulua River in Choloma Cortes in northern Honduras. Authorities reported that he and other colleagues had found the twin-engine craft and were preparing to salvage it when his safety rope was caught in the aircraft. Police seized 500 kilos of cocaine which they believe came to Honduras in the aircraft. Reported in Elheraldo.hn
  232. 2010 8 9 Castro Antonio Romero Mexico Almeja Caterina 36 S/S Air Paraphrased from press reports:- “Aged 47 years (or 50 years, depending on report), from Cuidad Constitucion, scallop diver working out of Ensenada Blanca at the Magdalena Bay Complex, went home after work, felt ill, went to the Port of San Carlos hyperbaric centre. A health official in the hyperbaric chamber located in the port said that it must report that this unfortunate diver did not die in the hyperbaric chamber as previously reported due to lack of oxygen and much less about the lack of timely patient care but to the seriousness of the symptoms caused by severe decompression, this being the cause of death, according to the opinion of the medical examiner who performed the autopsy. Cause of death listed as 'inadequate decompression, decompression illness, massive pulmonary thrombosis and oedema' It was stated that prior to the this person had been working for 4 hours at 30 meters when the compressor stopped. Dive related to the fishing industry of the municipality of Comondu. No other details. Reported by Peninsulardigital.com
  233. 2010 8 8 King Patrick Donald USA Forever Resorts 18 SCUBA Aged 30, killed in an accident while diving at Lake Nacimiento in the Bee Rock Cove area. His diving partner, aged 18, was injured and taken to U.C.L.A. Medical Center after initially being treated at the scene. The diver was pronounced dead at the lake after apparently attempting to salvage a sunken boat. According to sheriff's department officials, it appeared that a tether line that linked the divers became tangled in a separate line between the salvage boat and the sunken vessel. King ran low on air and was attempting to "buddy breathe" with Burgess when there may have been an equipment failure that caused Burgess to jettison his dive gear and began to surface from below 60 feet. Burgess was able to surface and call for help, The other diver later surfaced unconscious and was given CPR prior to paramedics declaring him dead at the scene, according to a press release. Both men worked for the resort company that runs the lake.
  234. 2010 8 6 Not Recorded Switzerland Aged 47, Conny-Land theme park in Lipperswil, Norther Switzerland, cleaning a dolphin tank on Friday night, apparently pulled from the water unconscious but failed to respond to resuscitation. Later reported that cause of death was a heart attack. No other details
  235. 2010 8 5 Not Recorded Japan SCUBA Japaneses, aged 58, a diving instructor giving tourists a diving lesson off Koki Beach in Nago, standing barefoot in shallow water at 9 a.m. stung by a stonefish. Suddenly felt a sharp pain on the bottom of his left foot and quickly lost consciousness. Another instructor at the beach provided first aid but the victim stopped breathing before an ambulance arrived later died. A spokesman for the Okinawa Health Department’s pharmaceutical team said this was the first reported death caused by the venomous fish in 27 years. Reported in Stars and Stripes (Big American forces base in the Area). Sports SCUBA, but professional instructor and at work.
  236. 2010 8 4 Not Recorded Luis Mexico Rubi Munoz Chan Aged 25 from Seibaplaya, Campeche, diving for sea cucumber off the Rubi V as one of a three man crew. Vessel returned to port at 11:30 with his body, press commented on poor equipment and lack of knowledge of diving, but no details. Second diver to die in 15 days (Luis Torres. 22nd July) Reported by Yucatanalamano.com
  237. 2009 8 30 Not Recorded Kazakhstan Kazair Services SAR exercise Basic details reported as an air rescue exercise in which three local divers were dropped into the water from a Helicopter. A body has now been found with the life jacket uninflated. The recovery crew pulled the jacket inflation on recovering the body and it functioned correctly. Additional, but as yet unconfirmed reports, indicated that Kazair services employed three divers from a local diving contractor who were deployed from the helicopter, that a vessel in the area decided it was a good opportunity to launch its FRC during the exercise.(Not planned) and it was that FRC which recovered the second diver (it is assumed the first diver was recovered by helicopter), the third diver disappeared under the water and his helicopter lifejacket failed to inflate. Personal communication, TC
  238. 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.
  239. 2009 8 16 Amor Murray Australia South West Rocks Dive Centre SCUBA Aged 62, lost a hand and leg when a cylinder being charged exploded. Paraphrased from official reports “A SCUBA cylinder ruptured causing serious injuries to the person who was filling the cylinder. The cylinder was an 88 cu ft aluminium manufactured to Australian Standard by CIG in 1983/84 and was in current test. The cylinder had a working pressure (WP) 224 bar (3248.84 psi) and a test pressure (TP) 352 bar (5105.328 psi). A number of SCUBA cylinders that had been filled during the same time were checked and were gauged at 220 bars (3190.83 psi). The compressor had a blow off (safety valve) fitted and set at 285-290 bars (4133.575 – 4206 psi) which was tested during the investigation and blew at 282.68 bar (4100psi) on the compressor gauge. The investigators concluded that the cylinder could be over filled by a person not taking notice of the pressure showing on the fill panel gauge, however this pressure is below the test pressure of this cylinder, and based on the fact that 10 other cylinders in this same group of cylinders all showed a pressure of 220 bars (3190.83 psi) there was no reason to believe that this cylinder was in fact over filled. The cylinder when it ruptured exploded into 4 pieces and the valve. In 2 of the pieces there was evidence of cracks through the neck and threaded area of the cylinder. The investigators noted that there were records available showing a number of aluminium cylinders manufactured world wide prior to 1990 from 6351-T6 alloys that have ruptured, in some cases with serious consequences. workcover.nsw.gov.au, dol.govt.nz
  240. 2009 8 11 Holbrook Rob (Stan) Vietnam Aqua Diving Services 57 S/S Mixed Gas Aged 56, Ex RN and very experienced diver. Working from the Swiber barge 'Glorious' 70 miles off Vung Tau. Wet bell, surface supplied mixed gas bounce dive, night shift. 160' excursion from the wet bell to attach a surface line to previously installed webbing strops around a pipeline. Initial reports indicate they moved the barge to follow him way past the intended location (webbing strops had actually been removed by the day shift which is why he did not locate them) and that as he returned to the bell his umbilical became snagged on a seabed obstruction behind him at the same time as the barge was moving back. Lost gas, went onto bailout, reported he could see the wet bell then lost comms. Surface deployed standby found diver back a wet bell (unconscious?), bell recovered to surface but on the way up the diver was ripped out of the bell at 80' and fell back to the seabed (Not secured in bell, umbilical still snagged on seabed), bell sent back down and diver recovered, diver clipped in, bell recovered to surface but on the way up the diver was ripped out of the bell at 80' and again fell back to the seabed (umbilical still snagged on seabed, ripped 'D' ring off his stab jacket). Eventually brought to the surface on the third attempt by which time the diver had been in the water 60 minutes, the standby diver 40 minutes. Apparently both diver and standby were put into the DDC (No in-water decompression stops). The diver was pronounced dead by barge medic (it is likely that the diver had died before being brought to the surface) The above comes from personal communications, official reports to follow, TC. His Funeral was reported publicly in the Bournemouth Daily Echo. Inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death in 2010
  241. 2009 8 3 Kasikcilar Taner Asian Turkey Aged 40, Salvage diving operation on the wreck of the Ro-ro ferry 'Hayak N' (Sank 300 metres off Bandirma as it left port en route to Istanbul on the14th September 2008 with the loss of 5 truck drivers), injured in an underwater explosion during cutting sheet metal that killed diver Rasul Kasikcilar, second diver (Tamer Kasikcilar). Reported in Netgazete.com
  242. 2009 8 3 Plateau Rasul Turkey Aged 40, Salvage diving operation on the wreck of the Ro-Ro ferry 'Hayak N' (Sank 300 metres off Bandirma as it left port en route to Istanbul on the14th September 2008 with the loss of 5 truck drivers), killed in an underwater explosion during cutting sheet metal, second diver (Tamer Kasikcilar) was injured and taken to hospital. Reported in Netgazete.com
  243. 2008 8 30 Not Recorded Malaysia DOF 55 Saturation DSV Geosea, relocating spoolpiece with air bags, uncontrolled lift of spoolpiece dragged diver 2 from 55m to 36m, lost comms/video, both divers locked back in, OK, no holdbacks on liftbags.
  244. 2008 8 22 Buang Abdul Hamid Singapore Dive tech Marine Services SCUBA a 7m diameter propeller (at Singapore Anchorage) on the tanker “Shetland Spirit�- when the engine/propeller was turned on. Buang suffered a broken left keg, ribs, collapsed lung and bruises, two months in hospital. About noon, the captain ordered the engine generators and fuel pumps be started because a nearby ship was drifting and it appeared that there could be a collision if the Shetland Spirit was not moved. Chief Engineer, who assumed that the diving operation was over, also began 'blowing the engine' - without permission - to ensure that there were no leaks or debris in the engine cylinders. The process also caused the propeller to rotate. (He would normally have been required to make a request to the bridge and receive orders from the captain before 'blowing the engine'). Blowing the engine', or turning the engine's drive shaft which is linked to the propeller, has to be done before the engine is actually started. Pleading for leniency, the lawyer stated 'It was reasonable for the accused to assume that there was an emergency.' Chief engineer fined $7,000.
  245. 2008 8 22 Malubag Ryan Jay Carino Singapore Dive tech Marine Services SCUBA Filipino, aged 22, One of three divers working on a 7m diameter propeller (at Singapore Anchorage) on the tanker “Shetland Spirit�- when the propeller was turned on, cuts and bruises, one week in hospital. About noon, the captain ordered the engine generators and fuel pumps be started because a nearby ship was drifting and it appeared that there could be a collision if the Shetland Spirit was not moved. Chief Engineer, who assumed that the diving operation was over, also began 'blowing the engine' - without permission - to ensure that there were no leaks or debris in the engine cylinders. The process also caused the propeller to rotate. (He would normally have been required to make a request to the bridge and receive orders from the captain before 'blowing the engine'). Blowing the engine', or turning the engine's drive shaft which is linked to the propeller, has to be done before the engine is actually started. Pleading for leniency, the lawyer stated 'It was reasonable for the accused to assume that there was an emergency.' Chief engineer fined $7,000.
  246. 2008 8 22 Not Recorded Singapore Dive tech Marine Services SCUBA One of three divers working on a 7m diameter propeller (at Singapore Anchorage) on the tanker “Shetland Spirit�- when the propeller was turned on, the two other divers were injured, he escaped with first aid injuries only About noon, the captain ordered the engine generators and fuel pumps be started because a nearby ship was drifting and it appeared that there could be a collision if the Shetland Spirit was not moved. Chief Engineer, who assumed that the diving operation was over, also began 'blowing the engine' - without permission - to ensure that there were no leaks or debris in the engine cylinders. The process also caused the propeller to rotate. (He would normally have been required to make a request to the bridge and receive orders from the captain before 'blowing the engine'). Blowing the engine', or turning the engine's drive shaft which is linked to the propeller, has to be done before the engine is actually started. Pleading for leniency, the lawyer stated 'It was reasonable for the accused to assume that there was an emergency.' Chief engineer fined $7,000.
  247. 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
  248. 2008 8 11 Tiznado Marco Antonio Parra Chile Marine Harvest Aged 21, salmon farming, died in Achao hospital after an accident around noon whilst repairing nets, was working with a partner but went back into the water solo to rectify a fault with the netting. Harbourmaster was alerted around 14:00 hours. Boat then had engine failure on the way in to port so company sent a rescue boat plus paramedic, arrived at hospital with vital signs but declared dead at 15:15 hours. No real details
  249. 2008 8 7 Perines Bernardo Garcia Chile Pesquara San Jose Aged 37, recovering a capsised boat at a fish farm
  250. 2008 8 5 Nalin Indonesia Fisherman S/S Air Aged 60, Tidung Island, suffered leg paralysis fom decompression incident and died a week later. Reported as being a 'compressor' diver (Used a tyre compressor for diving), survived by his wife, four sons and three daughters. Reported by www.pulauseribu.net
  251. 2008 8 3 Leduc Lt. Gerald R USA Fireman SCUBA American, aged 52, commencing a SAR dive (missing boater), apparent heart attack. A NIOSH investigation revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.25 (Rhode Island state law defines legal intoxication at 0.08 percent) and that he ignored two colleagues who urged him not to dive. Underlying cardiac condition, but the medical examiner found that “acute intoxication� contributed to his death (“primarily attributed to physical condition and inadequate capacity to perform a technical SCUBA diving operation�). He was off duty when he responded to the incident at Stafford Pond with his personal watercraft and dive gear, moments after he began his dive, firefighters in a nearby boat noticed a diver's tank valve floating on the surface of the water and radioed a mayday call. Divers were unable to resuscitate him after pulling him from the water, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The medical examiner found that he likely died from abnormal heart activity and had an enlarged heart, high blood pressure and an acute blood ethanol level of 0.25 percent. NIOSH investigators recommended a number of measures including a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, developing written policies and procedures to enforce the zero-tolerance policy, putting in place an effective incident management system that supports technical rescue operations, properly training, equipping, and supporting public safety divers, ensuring a safety officer properly trained in the technical rescue field being performed is on scene and integrated into the command structure, appropriate annual diver medicals, fitness programmes. NBC News
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