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Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 2008 3 17 Mason Rusty USA Enviro prot agency 31 SCUBA American, aged 54, working for the Florida Environmental Protection Agency off the NOAA vessel “Peter Gladding�, passed out during decompression stop, A certified dive instructor, he was one of seven people working aboard the vessel. After the dive, the two divers ascended to a 15’ decompression stage (complete with spare cylinders on a shot line). Partner saw that he had stopped breathing and tried to give him air but eventually ran out himself and had to surface. Two other divers immediately went down and recovered Mason from the bottom, 100 feet below (Tank empty, still wearing his weight belt), not breathing, no pulse. Members of the crew of the vessel took gave him CPR during the 15-mile boat trip to Fort Jefferson and a 75-mile rescue helicopter flight to the Lower Keys Medical Center near Key West. Pronounced dead at the medical centre.
  3. 1997 3 15 Hauber Rusty USA Yakima Fire Department SCUBA American, aged 34, One of a two man (Mestaz) fire team trying to rescue two divers (Rhode/Eberle) from a 2210 long, 13 foot diameter irrigation tunnel, their lights were seen returning to the entrance but they failed to surface, they were pulled out by two stand-by divers. They had run out of air, drowned. Quadruple fatality (Rhode, Eberle, Mestaz)
  4. 2011 10 30 Robinson Russell UKCS ISS Saturation Aged 33, Working at the Balmoral Field. Reported as returned to the bell at the end of his lock out saying he felt unwell, passed out, did not respond to treatment. Waiting on reports. Times UK, PC
  5. 1989 2 14 McIlrath Russell USA SCUBA BAYPORT - A commercial sponge diver died in 40 feet of water off the Hernando County coast Tuesday. U.S. Coast Guard Command Duty Officer Keith Scally said Russell McIlrath, 33, of Parsons, Tenn., died while harvesting sponges from the commercial boat Dream Diver, out of Hudson in Pasco County. Scally said McIlrath was working in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles west of Bayport when the accident occurred about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. McIlrath was taken by helicopter to Shands University Teaching Hospital in Gainesville, where he was pronounced dead at 2:51 p.m., according to Shands spokesman Ralph Ives. The fatality was the second sponge-diving death on the North Suncoast this year; on Jan. 15, St. Petersburg sponge diver Scott Gassner died while diving in 40 feet of water off the Citrus County coast. St Petersburg times
  6. 1986 0 0 Fitzerald Russell Iran 2W One year out of diving school (Fort Bovisand), air diving off a supply vessel at Kharg island. No details . Personal Communication.
  7. 1966 6 11 Davidson Russell UKCS North Sea Diving Services SCUBA Aged 28, diving from the vessel 'North Shore" at the site of the "Sea Gem" (BP West Sole, capsised and sank 27th December 1965 with the loss of 13 lives), diving with a partner. Both called to the surface but he failed to come up, his partner went back down and found him unresponsive on the seabed and brought him up. No other details. The Glasgow Herald
  8. 1956 3 23 Joost Russell USA Military US Navy diver training, taking a test one month into his course, died, no details. Chicago Tribune
  9. 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
  10. 2005 2 3 Butel Russel Australia SCUBA Paraphrased from the press reports:- “The family of a commercial diver killed by a crocodile in the Northern Territory last week says he had extensive experience in Top End waters and was not foolhardy. Russel Butel, 55, was collecting live fish with his dive partner off the Coburg Peninsula on Thursday afternoon when he was killed by a salt-water crocodile. He was the second person taken by a crocodile in Northern Territory waters in less than a week. Mr Butel's family has released a statement saying he fell in love with the tropical waters of the Top End during a visit to Gove in the 1980s, prompting him and his partner to open a local dive shop. The family says Mr Butel's experience in Territory waters was extensive and he was not foolhardy regarding his safety and that of his crew�. ABC Regional on-line
  11. 1985 1 23 Cavalcanti Ruben Brazil Comex Saturation Incorrect oil (selected only for oxygen compatibility, management of change process not followed) used in regeneration system coupled with a series of circumstances that allowed the oil to come into direct contact with a heater element. The oil broke down producing by-products that included phosgene and fluoridic acid gases that were released into the chamber atmoshere. Cause of death recorded as lung oedema. Double fatality (Luis Washington). PC
  12. 2021 8 4 Aguilar Torres Ruben Mexico Arendal Diving off the Jacson 34, initially reported as 'an accident on an oiltanker' and 'bursting of a pipeline caused the death' but no real details. The same contractor (Arendal) had a previous fatalty in 2019 (Adolfo Leon Carrillo) Reported in social media (Facebook) and Tabascohoy.com
  13. 1951 5 7 Clark Roy T USA Military S/S Air Lake Michigan, small salvage boat (LCVP – Landing Craft, Vehicles, Personnel) working on a salvage operation to recover a jet fighter that had crashed into the lake a few days earlier. The boat overturned drowning 1 crewman and the Navy diver trapped underneath who “was just emerging from the water in full regalia� . Two other crewmen missing. Chicago Tribune.
  14. 1983 11 5 Lucas Roy P Norway Comex Houlder 0 Saturation British, aged 38. Drill rig "Byford Dolphin", Frigg field, explosive decompression of sat system when TUP clamp failed, 5 fatalities
  15. 1974 0 0 Smith Roy Inmam USA Underwater Services Serious and permanent injuries on board a B & R barge “H S Lindsay�, court case 1965
  16. 1965 3 30 Hunt Roy USA Military SCUBA “A SCUBA diver disappeared Sunday while trying to help police recover a car from an abandoned lead and zinc mine. Roy Hunt, aged 23, was presumed drowned. Police believe the car was the one that killed a 13 year old boy in front of his house in Webb city in a hit and run accident last November 18. Divers found the car on a ledge under about 70 feet of water� Reported in the Tuscaloosa News. Not a professional diver, but clearly a diver at work, TC
  17. 1961 6 15 Missa Roy Australia 62 S/S Air Aged 36, Torres Strait Islander, diving in the Darnley Deeps, 150 miles off the island, got into difficulties at depth, apparently ditched his helmet, surfaced, paralysed from the waist down, died in hospital. “He also received damage to the brain from water pressure after removing his diving helmet to help himself surface� Reported in The Age.
  18. 1940 1 24 Jackson Roy Australia 21 S/S Air “Diver's Condition Still Serious - Although still recorded as serious, the condition of Roy Jackson (31), diver, 33 Cross St, New Town, who is in the Royal Hobart Hospital, had much improved last night. Jackson, with another diver A. H. Trotter, was working 70 feet under the water on the construction work of the Derwent Bridge on the western shore on Wednesday when his air line became tangled and his air supply was cut off�. Reported in the Mercury Hobart
  19. 1938 8 18 Jackson Roy Australia S/S Air “Diver Recovering� MELBOURNE, Thursday. ‘Diver Roy Jackson (30), of Williamstown, who had a remarkable escape from death when he was trapped in the hold of the sunken ‘Kakariki’ |(Five people died when the steel steamer Kakariki collided with another steamer, the Caradale, off Williamstown at 11pm on January 29, 1937. The Kakariki sank within minutes and later salvage operations were hampered by the vessel being stuck in four metres of mud) yesterday afternoon, is recovering in Williamstown Hospital. Jackson was semi-conscious and suffering from the effects of paralysis when he was dragged to the surface. He will remain in hospital until early next week. Reported in The Advocate, Burnie, Tas
  20. 1936 6 4 Williams Roy Australia S/S Air PARALYSED DIVER. DARWIN, Wednesday. Roy Williams, the pearlshell diver, who was suspended for four days in diving dress in Darwin Harbour for diver's paralysis, was taken today to Darwin Hospital, where he will undergo different treatment. Williams was becoming weak from his exhausting treatment. He was paralysed below the waist, but he is now able to move his toes, and is given some chance of making a good recovery. If necessary, he will be staged again when he regains his strength. Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, NSW
  21. 2012 7 3 Antonov Rosen Bulgaria SCUBA Training to dive (Described as a professional SCUBA duver) with the institute of oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science near Varna on the Black Sea Coast (Programme specifically for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant). Second fatality in two months associated with this power plant (Radoslav Stoyanov or Dimitrov, 5th May 2012). No details. Reported by Publics.bg
  22. 2014 7 11 Roni Indonesia PT Primus PLTU SCUBA Expected Delta P. Google translate gives: Two bodies of victims of divers at the Tanjung Jati B Steam Power Plant (PLTU) Jepara were successfully evacuated by Indonesian Navy divers from the Koarmatim Underwater Rescue Service (Dislambair), in the waters of Jepara, Central Java, Friday (11/02). 07). At around 10:00 WIB, the Dislambair Koarmatim Dive Team managed to evacuate the victim's body on behalf of Roni (37), a resident of RT 12 RW 1 Pesisir Village, Besuki, Situbondo, East Java. Previously, the Navy Diving Team also managed to evacuate the victim's body on behalf of Eko Setiawan (25), a resident of RT 04 RW 01 Sidowungu Village, Gresik, East Java, at 12.30 WIB. Eko Setiawan's body was found in the Manhole-5 pipe with a distance of about 30 meters. The evacuation process was very difficult, because the victim was in an underwater pipe with a diameter of 400 cm, with a depth of about 10-16 meters. When it was found the position of the two victims was at a depth of 200 meters from the door of the PLTU cooling pool. For the time being, the exact cause of the accident is not known, but it is suspected that it was caused by ocean currents. The two victims were certified divers who were sent by a third party partner, namely PT. Primus. Kadislambair Koarmatim Marine Colonel (T) Bhirawa Budijuana said, to evacuate the two victims, the Diving Team directly brought diving equipment such as Scuba Set and MK-27 from Surabaya. "This team was sent specifically on direct orders from Pangarmatim Rear Admiral TNI Sri Mohamad Darojatim to assist in the search and evacuation of Search and Rescue (SAR) at PLTU Tanjung Jati," said Kadislambair. Source: https://tni.mil.id/view-63555-dua-korban-di-pltu-tanjung-jati-jepara-berhasil-dievakuasi-penyelam-koarmatim.html
  23. 2011 10 17 Charles Rondell Trinidad Underwater Works Inc 5 SCUBA Aged 21, collecting seabed environmental samples from Port Lisa Harbour (Adjacent to the Methanex methanol plant on the Couva Industrial Estate), surfaced in distress at the end of his dive, took off tank but was still wearing weight belt. Slipped under water and failed to surface. Body recovered miles to the south three days later, No real details, waiting on reports. Trinidad Express.
  24. 1984 8 19 Siver Ronald J USA Police 23 SCUBA American police diver, Rochester, New York. Attempting to find the body of a man who died in a boating accident, suffered unknown problems, drowned
  25. 1987 2 17 Harknett Ronald Hopkins USA Firefighter SCUBA American, aged 38. Rancho Cordova firefighter and member of the Drowning Accident Rescue Team, one of four diivers searching the Sacramento river for a child and adult lost overboard when a boat sank. Failed to surface, drowned.
  26. 2009 3 26 Burfield Ronald USA Police 4 SCUBA American, aged 46, Erie County police training dive, found on lake bed, did not respond to treatment.
  27. 2007 5 19 Hopkins Ronald Australia State Emergency Services SCUBA Aged 54, volunteer who drowned on a flooded boat training exercise in the Murray River at Mildura, body recovered the following day by NSW police divers the day after. Victoria State Emergency Services were convicted and fined $75,000 and ordered to undertake a thorough and regular review of it's workplace safety practices. Quote “Failing to ensure a person other than an employee was not exposed to risk�, regarded as a significant conviction as it recognised that organisations have an obligation not just to their direct employees but also the volunteer members. Sydney Morning Herald
  28. 1990 12 10 Clark Ron L. USA S/S Air Aged 54, Working on repairs at the Archer Daniels Midland plant in Peoria, on the Illinois River. Reported as drowned when he was sucked under river water while working to clean screens on intake pumps at the plant. No other details. Reported in the Pantagraph, Bloomington, Illinois
  29. 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
  30. 2008 5 22 Rudakov Roman Maldives Touring Maldives SCUBA Russian tourist, aged 41, diving off the “Baani Adventurer� died from contaminated air (reported as 150ppm CO in his tank), 9 others ill with 80ppm CO in their tanks. Complaints from previous day and requests to change filter ignored (cheap none-CO absorbing filter fitted on compressor), Medical O2 cylinder onboard dive boat was empty.
  31. 1968 12 19 McClung Roger L USA Military SCUBA American police officer aged 32, Virginia Beach, Virginia, drowned in a diving accident
  32. 1989 7 12 Barnes Roger USA Louisville Water Company 5 Aged 32, Sludge clearing at the Crescent Hill Filter Plant, disappeared, sucked into a 24" pipe (Not wearing lifelines because both he and his dive partner decide not to use safety lines in case they got entangled on equipment in the basin), body recovered an hour later. Had bbeen working for the water company as a diver for 10 years but had no commercial qualifications. Reported in the Daily News
  33. 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)
  34. 2010 3 24 Canales Rodrigo Varas Chile Surface Swimmer Aged 28, shellfish diver off Caldera (El Morro), disappeared. Not counted as a commercial diver for our purposes as this was free diving. Noticia Relacionada
  35. 2010 4 8 Ojeda Rodrigo Argentina 30 Apparently the 32 year old diver was killed during construction of the Maldonado tunnel in Buenos Aries, possibly a decompression incident. All we know is that city mayor went into print in August saying he found it 'serious' that they had “failed to inform the company�, that the urban development minister and director of works “have concealed the death of a worker on the site that is the most important of his administration�. No other details. Reported in Diario Cronica and Partido de la Cuidad
  36. 2021 12 24 Williams Rodney Dale USA Canon's Service SCUBA Aged 57, died in a retention pond. OSHA report stated "Investigation Nr: 142251.015, Event: 12/24/2021, Employee Is Killed, Drowned When Diving With Defective Equipment. At 10:20 a.m. on December 24, 2021, an employee who worked as an independent con tract diver was entering a retention pond for a second dive to place a buoy on pipe that was broken. A coworker (the employer) who was observing from the shore noticed about 15 minutes into the second dive that employee's bubble trail had made a circle and then stopped. Coworker #1 called 911 immediately as Coworker #2 entered the water and tried to rescue the employee. Local police and Fire/EMS a rrived on scene, but were unable to rescue the employee. EMS called for the Coun ty Dive Team to assist but by the time the team arrived the rescue operation had turned into a recovery. The employee was retrieved from the pond approximately two (2) hours after he was last seen. The employee was pronounced dead at the sc ene due to drowning. The employee's personal dive equipment was not functioning properly which potentially lead to hypoxia and then death.
  37. 1978 0 0 O'Grady Rodney USA Taylor Diving, Brown and Root 266 Went up the inlet of the jet sledge system on a 'Root and Scoot' jet barge (They never shut down the pumps completely because "it took too long to re prime then"). Another report, Paraphrased and (much sanitized TC) appeared on the 'Offshore Diver' website: “He was doing a routine ditch check when they ran up the RPMs on the impeller below deck. Bid blenders is what they are. They created the suction so all the jetted mud would go up to the barge via an approx. 14" hose and to the impeller, then shot overboard. I heard tell it was one of the newer guys that had just got on the barge that season. Paying no attention....he rev'ed up the impellers right when Rodney was checking if there was water under the pipe. Just a short yell, that was all. The steel stingers on either side of the pipe were oval-ish shaped, and again, about 14-16" wide. Well, poor Rodney, who was a regular on the 266 went right up the stinger to the heavy (like weatherford) walled hose and into the impeller, where he was ground to fish food and pumped overboard. The barge crew stopped all activity and had a closed door meeting, no divers. (Deleted, TC). The couple of tenders and the one barge diver left where called in. That's why they called us...to search the sea floor for Rodney, what was left of Rodney. That's where I leave it. Rodney wore a Miller, they are pretty tough. The casket was small. Use your imagination. We should have been allowed to Keel haul the dumb yokel that killed him. But he was gone already. I never went back there. Used to like going there as a tender as they dove us on ditch checks a good bit, even to 180' on air. I should count my lucky stars. Long to short: (Allegedly) big cover up. (Deleted) Two years later I was in sat on the Phillips SS only about 10k from the Byford Dolfin when the guys were killed. I remember the LST calling in and having us shut the hatch to the bell (it was overhead, we'd just leave it down!) and set-up the hatches to the living areas so that if the bell blew off due to some numb-skull opening the trunk they would slam shut. Open and inch or two was cool for gas circulation. So, that's where lock out tag out came from and where bell interlocks came from, I like to think so Rodney did not die horribly for absolutely nothing�
  38. 2012 3 15 MacLean Roderick UK SCUBA Aged 33 from Finstown, Scallop diving operation off the Orkney island of Eday, failed to surface from a dive, search for body called off after 5 days. STV.
  39. 2016 11 29 Araúz Roderick Panama Interpa Holding Corporation, S.A. SCUBA Aged 35, cleaning an inlet pipe to the East Panama hydroelectric power plant on the Chiriqui River in Gualaca. Double Fatality with Jose Garcia. No real details. Reported by La Estrella de Panama. Additional information reported on the Association website: https://goo.gl/fZmALu
  40. 2008 10 20 Lazaro Rodel Philippines Gaspar Salvage & Lighterage Part of a 20 man diving team cutting up wreck of the 'Ocean Papa' which sank off Malalison Island in Culasi, Antique, Philippines “The vessel exploded on Oct. 20 during salvage operations, injuring 2 salvage divers� “Trapped air explosion knocked divers off their feet� Hospitalised with breathing difficulties, later released. (Prob oxy/arc incident, TC)
  41. 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.
  42. 2010 11 18 Nolesolo Roberto Villata Peru SCUBA Aged 38, one of two shellfish divers (Valiente Zapata Wilbert was killed) diving from the scallop boat 'Robert Alexander' off the island 'Lobos de Tierra' involved in a decompression incident. No details. Reported by GPS Diving
  43. 2011 2 23 Garvizo Roberto Rojas Chile Acuinova A shellfish diver, net/cage inspection dive, failed to suface, body recovered by dive team. The incident occurred on the Wednesday evening at Quitralco 7, reported as 'dying after swallowing water underwater' and listed as 'drowning'. No other details. Reported by Radio Santa Maria
  44. 2008 6 2 Santibanez Roberto Orlando Chile Fish Farm Chilean, aged 43. Died after diving on a fish farm near Chonchi, on the island of Chiloé. After morning work, the diver went to his cottage for a nap but after lunch was found lying on his bed cyanotic, taken to hospital but died. Initially the company had claimed that the diver had died in his cabin hours after diving to 5 metres and the Navy reported that the person had not died as a result of diving. However, an investigation by the Provincial Labour Inspectorate concluded that this was a diving accident. The state agency fined the company 180 UTM (5.5 million pesos) for various breaches of the Labour Code. However, an investigation of the Provincial Labour Chiloé determined that it was an industrial accident,:- They did not have the authorization granted by the Maritime Authority for diving work at the Cucao center, the company had not established a series of mandatory measures (there was no contingency plan), the head of center had no safety training for managers of floating fish farms and the center did not have a monthly schedule of activities. The company was additionally fined because the center where the fatal accident occurred "does not have checklists before and after the teams involved in the tasks of diving and non-compliance of planning risk training (Non compliance with audit dated one month earlier). No details of the accident. Chilean press reports elcuidadano.cl
  45. 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
  46. 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
  47. 2017 12 20 Not Reported Roberto Spain Grambasa SCUBA Aged 34, married with two daughters aged 3 years and 2 months. Fish Farm two miles offshore Guardamar de Segura, near Alicante, run by by Grupo Culmarex. Solo SCUBA dive in a fish cage to between 10 and 27 msw. Surfaced with mask flooded, taken ashore but declared dead by medics 'Under Investigation' www.diarioinformacion.com
  48. 2012 10 20 Antifave Robert Wayne Canada SCUBA Aged 51, from Lantzville on Vancouver Island, harvesting Geoducks in Rendell Sound (Off the West coast of Haida Gwaii) Emergency services called between 11:00 and 12:00 with reports of a diver in medical distress, helicopter (en route from Comox to Smithers) diverted and coastguard vessel "Sandspit" responded, crews recovered the diver from the water, administered CPR, taken to hospital in Queen Charlotte, pronounced dead. 'Coroner investigating'. Reported in the Vancouver Sun
  49. 1965 1 20 Mihulec Robert W USA Fountain Hill Emergency Diving Team SCUBA Aged 20, volunteered to search under ice for the body of a 9 year old boy who had fallen through the ice into the Lehigh River, entered the water roped together with a 19 year old companion, companion survived (treated for hypothermia), diver drowned. Gettysburg Times
  50. 1987 6 28 Penner Robert Steven Canada Day's Aquatic Services Aged 21, One of three divers hired by Halton regional District, reported as drowned whilst working in an underwater pipe, but no details. Toronto Star
  51. 1934 10 8 Hansen Robert Roy USA ADS HMS 'Hussar', sank 23rd November 1780 off New York in the East River near treacherous Hell Gate, rumoured to be carrying gold. Hansen dived from the Tug 'Terminal' using an armoured diving suit - “Eleanor� - invented by salvage company president, Thomas P. Connolly, “Weighing 675 Ib. on deck, the suit has a head and body of steel, with grotesque protuberances for eyes and something that looks like a nose. Of rubber reinforced by interwoven copper strips, the arms and legs become flexible when subjected to high underwater pressure. The two parts of the suit join at the waist instead of around the neck. The diver goes down without an airhose, carries an oxygen bottle, a respirator, caustic soda to absorb carbon dioxide� The tall, gangling, muscular man who went down encased in ''Eleanor" is a crack deep-sea diver named Roy Robert Hansen. He worked on the S-51 and S-4 jobs when those U. S. submarines went to the bottom (TIME, Oct. 5, 1925; Dec. 26, 1927). His father, a diver called "Big Charley," was killed working in the Great Lakes, and "Big Charley's" father also lost his life diving. The Terminal's procedure was to pay out 2,000 ft. of cable with Hansen in "Eleanor" at the end, then drag him along against the swirling tide. Though the depth was never more than 112 ft., Hansen thought it the nastiest job of his career, said he was bumped against rocks and whirled around until he was groggy. By week's end he had encountered six drowned hulks, identified none as the Hussar. But Diver Hansen appraised as practically nil the chances of the rival salvage vessel 'Josephine' “Wearing ordinary diving-suits, the Josephine's divers worked only during slack tide, 20 min. twice a day�. Reported in Time Magazine
  52. 1968 12 19 Monette Robert R USA Military SCUBA American police officer aged 25, Virginia Beach, Virginia, drowned in a diving accident
  53. 1983 6 26 Oselton Robert P Canada Wijsmuler Salvage Saturation British, aged 37 or 38 from Portsmouth, third diver to die in a week during salvage operations on the Ocean Ranger (Sank in a storm Feb 15th 1982 with a loss of 84 persons), diving from the salvage barge 'Ocean Servant 2' thought to be a dropped object, but no details, salvage operations were suspended for an investigation. Spokane Chronicle/Ottawa Citizen
  54. 2013 6 19 Dotzler Robert N USA Military Surface Swimmer Navy Diver 3rd Class, aged 22, assigned to the submarine tender "Frank Cable" (AS-40, Launched 1978, designed to support Los Angeles class submarines, based in Guam from 1997 as 7th fleets mobile repair and support pltform). Initial report stated "undertaking pier side diving training at the Alpha Pier of Guam Naval Base" (Most likely actually at 'Apra' pier - the vessel's home port is Apra Harbour, Guam, TC). Described as "not diving, but observing other divers from the surface in snorkeling like role", not clear if he had diving gear on. "When the other divers surfaced, they noticed Dotzler was missing and located him at the bottom of the harbor, he was pulled from the water unconscious and later pronounced dead at Guam's Naval hospital. Reported in the Military Times
  55. 1979 5 6 Wells Robert Lloyd USA S/S Air Aged 33. Quote:- “Working at the Simtag Farms intake pumps at the confluence of Willow Creek and the Columbia River when his air lines apparently were sucked into the pumps and cut. His partner was at the surface at the time. When he realised something was wrong, he dove under and attempted to free Wells and bring him up for air but the lines were stuck in the intake pumps and another diver had to be called before Wells could be freed, police said� Reported in the Tri City Herald.
  56. 1981 2 8 Collins Robert Lee USA Topsides Aged 38, professional diver, died 6 hours after a bomb blew his pick up truck apart in New Orleans - nasty limb loss injuries - . Reports alleged of drug dealing connections, but no details
  57. 1974 1 16 Smythe Robert John Norway Ocean Systems 77 Saturation British, aged 38, Aged 38. "Drill Master", bell drop weights released, bell to surface with doors open, double fatality (Skipness)
  58. 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.
  59. 1991 12 3 Beauregard Robert J USA Pioneer Hydroelectric SCUBA American, aged 30, off duty fireman, working for "Pioneer Hydro" of Ware, Massachusetts, down a tunnel inspecting a turbine, got trapped underwater, tugged on his lifeline, but ran out of air. Unclear if there was a standby diver.
  60. 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.
  61. 1961 7 28 Beghtol Robert G USA Military SCUBA American police officer, Arvada, Colorado, aged 26, died during a training exercise
  62. 1985 6 15 Stethem Robert Dean Lebanon USN Topsides Aged 24, US Navy construction diver with the Seabees. TWA Flight 847 was on its way from Athens to Rome when it was hijacked by Shiite Muslims sympathetic to the Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran’s leader at the time. The US Navy Seabee team was returning to the U.S. after a training mission in Egypt. When the plane landed in Beirut, Navy diver Robert Stethem was shot and killed, his body dumped on the tarmac.The Commander and five Navy divers were held captive for 17 days in Beirut, Lebanon.
  63. 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)
  64. 2021 6 8 Baenziger Robert (Bob) USA SCUBA Aged 54, repairing a broken cable at the bottom of a million gallon anaerobic digester (Methane producer) on a farm in Stockton, Iowa. On comms line, allegedly told his fiancee he was taking his helmet off, she pulled on the line and retrieved his helmet minus the diver. Digester normally operates at 99 to 105 degrees but appears to have been at 120 degrees F (49 degrees C) and had to be cooled with 100,000 gallons of cold water before rescue divers could recover the body 22 hours later. Diver was not in contaminated water gear nor had air back up). As the diver was self employed and working solo he was exempt from OSHA inspections and as the farm has less than 10 employees they are also outwith the worker safety agency remit, so no investigation to take place. Reported by the Gazette (Iowa)
  65. 2008 3 11 Stevenson Robert USA Chet Morrison Topsides Aged 39, crewman in the engine room. Injured in explosion onboard DSV "Jillian Morrison", medivac seriously injured, died in hospital
  66. 2007 7 18 Whittal Robert USA Speciality diving, inshore 3 S/S Air From South Africa, Jetting, lost air pressure from topside, not wearing a bail out. Ditched his hat but fouled in his umbilical and jet hose. By the time the crew got him on deck, no pulse, not breathing, bleeding from the head. Revived with CPR, medivac-ed to hospital, initially on life support. Ongoing lawsuit.
  67. 2004 7 10 Davidson Robert New Zealand SCUBA Aged 35, recreational diver with 20 years experience, failed to surface from a solo crayfish collecting dive, death attributed to asphyxiation due to high carbon monoxide content in his cylinders
  68. 2001 0 0 Turnbull Robert Qatar Hallul 50 Saturation British, DSV "Khattaf" (Ex "British Argyll"). Died whilst locked out, suspected heart attack
  69. 1999 1 11 Glazzard Robert UAE Oceaneering Topsides British, aged 28, missing overboard at night from Seabulk Hercules along with New Zealand dive tech Aaron Harper/Aaron Hopa. Suspected garrotted and dead before in the water. Stories of drug smuggling/debts, open verdict, no conclusion.
  70. 1997 2 0 Schroeder Robert West Indies, Barbados Strongwork Diving (USA) for Healey Tibbets 37 S/S Air Aged 50. Sewage outfall installation at Queen Ann's Fort, diving off Needhams Point. He was the diving supervisor and dived to check work progress on pipeline in trench. Came out of trench and tide pulled him  from 120' to 50' . He grabbed the downline but complained of feeling unwell on stops. Brought to the surface climbed 15 foot ladder ( no cage) and collapsed on deck. Put into chamber unconscious, not breathing and with blood on lips. chamber tender managed to resuscitate him at 165' in chamber. Doctor (SCUBA) arrived and made decision to bring up to 60 feet. Diver started to have difficulties breathing - breaths  became shallower and shallower until stopping - diver died at 60 feet'. Cause of death: reported as suspected pneumothorax with CNS complications, due to uncontrolled ascent from 120’. Personal communication
  71. 1975 8 29 Gates Robert USA Clarmac Marine Construction 4 SCUBA Aged 19, Halifax River at Ormand Beach, Emergency repairs to a 10� water main (Anchor damage) 200 yards to the North side of Granada Bridge, diving with a colleague doing final flange bolting of a new line, the other diver surfaced but moments later, at around 18:00 his bubbles ceased, divers went back in but were unable to locate him. About 20:00 divers on the barge suggested the use of grapples to search from a boat and found the body but it dropped back into the water, finally recovered a short time later, declared dead on site. Daytona Beach Morning Gazzette.
  72. 1972 8 10 Holland Robert USA Healy Tibbitts 11 Described as a “professional hard hat diver�, was one of a three man team working off a barge in Hilo Harbour. On Hawaii at the time of his death in a diving accident. Subject of a court case Holland v. Healy Tibbitts Const. Co., 379 F.Supp. 192 (D. Hawaii, Jul 24, 1974). No details. Loislaw.com
  73. 1972 5 1 Taylor Robert UK Strongwork 13 SCUBA British, aged 25. Drillship "Britannia", big meal, vomited underwater, found entangled in a rope 11 hours later, drowned. Possibly no training
  74. 1972 0 0 Savard Robert USA Marine Contracting S/S Air Bridge construction Naragansett Bay, high currents, wearing borrowed heavy gear, apparently lost/turned off air, unconscious, but also botched rescue, body not recovered for several hours, Jones case reported October 1972.
  75. 1988 7 13 Hastings Robbie USA SCUBA Sports diver aged 30, died after being stung by a Jellyfish (Portuguese man-of-war). Charlotte Observer
  76. 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
  77. 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
  78. 1967 10 2 Lyons RJ Norway Sanford Brothers 67 S/S Air British, aged 23. Surface supplied dive to 67 metres from the Ocean Viking (NB Sandford brothers had the diving contract from July 1967 to january 1968 after which Comex took over). During water stops uncontrolled ascent to surface, pulmonary Barotrama leading to pneumothorax. JW, JL and PC
  79. 2016 7 22 Al Gallaf Riyadh Bahrain Aged 45, from Juffair, owned a marine and underwater services company, working for the Electricity and Water Authority near Sitra industrial area, reported as 'missing while on an urgent assignment along with a South African colleague for EWA on Friday'. No details. Reported by dt news/news of Bahrain
  80. 2006 10 7 da Costa Rivanildo Alves Brazil Aged 27. Diving subcontractor working for Petrobras in the Sergipe area. While a diver was in the water tying a line to tend the vessel to a submarine post (stack), the vessel was moved in his direction with the thrusters. When alerted of the danger, the vessel crew moved the thruster’s throttle to the off position, but one of the thrusters did not stop, due to a mechanical or electrical failure. The diver’s umbilical was caught by the thruster and the diver pulled into the blades. Globo News
  81. 1983 8 18 LaFollette Ricky A USA Police 30 SCUBA American police diver aged 30, Louisville, Kentucky, experienced, night training exercise using new communication equipment, did not respond to calls, believed to have become disorientated in the dark and descended rather than ascended, drowned.
  82. 1975 6 6 Gage Rick USA Treasure Salvors Inc Operation to recover gold from the wreck of the Spanish galleon 'Nuestra Senora Atocha', sank in a hurricane in 1622 some 12 miles off the Marquesa Islands. Salvage vessel 'North wind', a 60' converted tug rolled over and sank before dawn as the crew slept whilst anchored overnight on site. 13 crew saved, Captain and his wife plus one diver, aged 21, drowned. Daily News.
  83. 1974 0 0 Trautman Richard Wayne Egypt Buck Steber American, salvage diver, injured during suez canal clearance operations. Law suit in 1982. No details
  84. 2007 10 10 Spiers Richard Jeremy USA Southern underwater S/S Air Aged 27, 70 to 100 feet up a 36" water pipe at Carrollton water filter plant, helmet off, Monday 8th October, died in the Tanner Medical Centre on Wednesday
  85. 2013 7 13 Wilkinson-Lowe Richard James Boris Germany RS Diving 20m S/S Air British, Aged 26, Riffgat Windfarm (15 km NorthWest of Borkum Island), diving from the 4 point moored vessel 'Union Beaver' (Built 1991 as the 'Salvage Chief' by Fulton Marine, Ruisbroek, Belgium, 56m long, Belgian Flag, IMO No 8918564, Owned and operated by URS Salvage and Contracting (Smit Transport, Belgium), installing 6 ton mattresses over cables, appears to have had a concrete mat dropped on him. Reported by Radio Bremen
  86. 1979 8 7 Walker Richard A UK Infabco 162 Saturation American, aged 32. DSV "Wildrake", Thistle field, parted bell wire, secondary means of recovery failed, screwed up rescue, died from hypothermia, Double fatality (Guiel)
  87. 1978 0 0 Riddett Richard 'Dick" Taiwan Samson Ocean Systems Working for Samson Ocean Sustems out of Singapore, reported as having died on a rig offshore Taiwan. No other deails. Old Divers Noticeboard
  88. 1976 0 0 Riddett Richard 'Dick' Asia Ocean Systems? (tbc) 61 S/S Air Australian, diving off one of the Diamand M rigs (Dragon or General?). Stopped responding to signals, brought to surface and pronounced dead. Details needed. OK Dude/Longstreath.
  89. 2012 4 18 Stovall Richard USA Stovall's SCUBA and Travel 12 SCUBA Aged 77, owner of PADI diving business in Midland, collecting underwater soil samples from the bed of the O H Ivie Resevoir on behalf of the Colorado River Municipal Water District prior to a dredging company removing silt from the pipe to the pumping station. Entered the water through a concrete tower on a pumping station in the resevoir, should have been a 10 minute dive, failed to surface. Body found two days later at the inshore end of a 350' long, 8' diameter pipe in a chamber below a pump station onshore. Appears to have been a solo dive, no stand-by or back up. San Angelo Standard Times
  90. 2011 3 30 Bradley Richard Australia Technip 240 Saturation Aged 35, Australian from Broome, sat diving operations off the DSV “Oceania Venturer� (Ex CSO 'Venturer', ex Seabex 1'?), marine growth cleaning with an HP water jet. Gun mechanical failure, severe left forearm wounds (water, debris etc). Emergency decompression, medivac, will be off work six months. Reported in the Western Australian
  91. 1993 11 21 Bisley Richard Australia "Pearl diver killed by a Tiger Shark off Roebuck bay, Broome" No othr details. Reported by PerthNow
  92. 1987 6 21 Fortin Richard USA Police Assigned as police diver, rescued four people from an overturned boat, attached a towline, sank from view and drowned
  93. 1885 5 4 Maynard Richard Australia S/S Air Yesterday the inquest on the body of a diver named Richard Maynard, who died in the Sydney Hospital on Monday afternoon, was resumed concluded at the Coroner's old office, King-street, before the City Coroner, Mr. H. Shiell, J.P. It will be remembered that on Monday last the deceased was employed at the Circular Quay searching for some cargo which had fallen overboard from a vessel. After he had gone down into the water, another diver, named Henry Christian, happened to pass by the spot where air was being pumped down to him; and, noticing that something seemed to be wrong with the air-piping, he informed those in charge of the fact, and tee deceased was brought up to the surface. The man was then in an unconscious state. He was taken to the Sydney Hospital and attended to by Dr. Lowes, but he died shortly after being admitted to the institution. The medical evidence showed that death resulted from cerebral congestion and asphyxia. After hearing the evidence of a number of witnesses, the jury returned the following verdict: "We find that the deceased died from the combined effects of cerebral congestion and asphyxia, the result of the absence of sufficient air to maintain life whilst carrying out his occupation as a diver." The jury also appended the following as a rider to their verdict:-"We desire to add that we consider it to be the positive duty of all vendors of diving gear, and persons letting such gear for hire, to see that it is in sound order." The Sydney Morning Herald
  94. 1863 4 16 Not Recorded Richard UK S/S Air "A diver has been drowned at Lowestoft by water getting into his helmet while working at a wreck in the bottom of the sea" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the John O' Groat Journal/The British Newspaper Archive
  95. 2004 1 17 Grant Ribert David Australia Melbourne Diving Services SCUBA Australian, aged 32, SCUBA training in open water after a three day course, inexperienced. Company into liquidation, fined $200,000 for negligence "failing to ensure the safety of people other than employees" AAP News, Australia.
  96. 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.
  97. 1979 11 10 Wodeco V lost bell Rescue Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex and Oceaneering 130 Saturation Rescue teams arrived on board perhaps 24 hours after the bell was lost with a team from Oceaneering and a "JIM" atmospheric suit but without their normal winch/umbilical/comms (too heavy to fly) First two dives aborted due to suit flooding and retrieval was hampered by the current, but on the third attempt, the JIM got close enough to see the bell which was not floating up from its ballast but lying on the seabed, indicating that it was flooded or partly flooded. One of the guide wires had ruptured and was no longer attached to the wellhead and there was some tension in the remaining guide wire, so every time the drill ship was lifted by the swell, the was being rolled from side to side on the seabed. The JIM could not get any closer without being hit by the rolling bell so the dive was aborted and the bell grappled (NB, the JIM rescue mission in itself is an epic tale, TC). The bell was caught first time. On deck, some 30 hours after the wire failure, it was established that the bell was 2/3 flooded, both divers were floating face down, dead. Analysis of the bell atmosphere confirmed there was no measurable CO2. Both men had suffered facial injuries, one with a broken nose, one with knee injuries. It is likely that the first shock, when the bell collided with its own ballast, had thrown them down, causing the injuries. They had managed on the way down to open the bell pressurisation valve. The dive was a bounce dive, and decompression had started while the bell was on its was up before the accident. As a result the bell would have started flooding at some point before they even reached the bottom. At some point the inner door had closed, but not before the bell was 2/3 flooded. The pressurisation valve having been open, and left open on the way down, ensured a seal. The two divers (the second diver's identity is not recorded), hurt by the initial impact, drowned.
  98. 2007 1 4 Almonacid Rene de la Chile salmones Antartica Topsides Commercial shellfish diver, killed in a road traffic accident between a truck transporting salmon and a crew bus transporting salmon farm workers. Another fish factory worker was killed in the same accident. Reported by Ecoceanos
  99. 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
  100. 2021 1 25 Chiguay Carimoney Remigio Eduardo Chile SCUBA Aged 16 or 17 diving from the 'Eugenia 1' (Registered in Quellon) an hour and a half sailing time from Melinka, surfaced unconscious. Reported fatality, Navy vessel attended site and confirmed fatality. Initial reports centred on his (under) age - minimum age for this type of diving work in Chile is 18 years of age - so was most likely unlicensed and the vessel operating without port authorisation. Reported by eldivisadero.cl, litoralpress.cl, cooperativa.cl etc
  101. 2002 12 15 Roon Reinier Congo Smit 25 S/S Air Dutch, 38 years old, SBM hose, negative pressure incident. See IMCA Safety Flash 01/03 below
  102. 2004 7 11 Beek Raymond van Malta 3 Freeport of Berzebbugia, conducting a video survey of hull of vessel "Verlaine", bow thruster started, Master & Chief engineer charged with involuntary homicide, prosecution failed on lack of proof, March 2007. Two other divers were reported injured in the same incident
  103. 1959 8 21 Mathews Raymond USA Commercial Abalone diver off the vessel 'Ray Rock' off Point Loma, presumed drowned after being found on the seabed with his mask off. Second diver (Hart) treated for DCI aboard the Submarine tender USS 'Nereus'. Lodi News sentinel
  104. 1974 8 18 Gumblowski Ray USA 40 Aged 42, (Shell) oil survey dive from the boat 'Robert R ' 48 miles offshore out of Bayboro Harbour, surfaced, but collapsed on deck, put in DDC but stopped breathing. Alternative report says entered DDC normally to undergo surface decompression but after 10 minutes had breathing difficulties. A second diver (Charles Hinson) was locked in to assist, but was unable to restart his breathing. Body was removed from chamber after diving specialist doctor flown out from panama city pronounced him dead. Autopsy results not reported at the time. The Evening Independent.
  105. 1941 6 20 Leba Ratoe Australia V. J. Clarke S/S Air Described as a Koepang diver aged about 30, working off the lugger 'Donna Matilda' west of Bathurst Island, had been in around 15 minutes when they brought him to the surface, 'staging' him for 10 minutes. He was sick when he surfaced so the crew put him back in to 10 fathoms and left him there for two hours. When they brought him up his head had shrunk down through the neck of the divers suit. "He was dead". Reported in the Northern Standard, Darwin, NT.
  106. 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
  107. 2006 5 8 Barria Raphael Chacon Chile Peasuera San Jorge SCUBA Shellfish cultivation, Castro (Teupa chorito cultivation center), Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  108. 2003 7 3 A Raphael Poland Fire Brigade 10 Aged 34, firefighter/diver, breath hold exercise during training at the postgraduate fire school in Poznan, got entangled in the ropes of his marker buoy, could not cut the rope, pulled to the surface unconscious and died in hospital of cerebral hypoxia two days after a training accident. Reported in Virtual Poland/Wirtualnapolska
  109. 2012 4 27 Rhodes Randy R USA 4 SCUBA Aged 55, from Indiana, clearing zebra mussels from a water intake at a private residence on Keuka Lake, reported as surfacing and calling for help before sinking under the water about 18:15 hours, body recovered from 13' of water, 80' from the shore by rescuers who were on site within 5 minutes of receiving an emergency call at 18:20. Alive when pulled from the water but declared dead in hspital two hours later. Not counted in the 'working diver' fatality count as this appears to be a local resident clearing his own or a neighbour's water pipe on a Friday evening. Appears to have been a solo SCUBA diver. Sadly this death will not be remembered for the circumstances of the death but a very public argument between the New York State SCUBA team who claim to have rescued the unconscious diver and Wayne Fire Department Cold Water Response team who say they located the diver and Steuben County Dive Team volunteer members who say they then brought the diver to the surface. Steuben Courier
  110. 1999 10 8 Downie Ramsey MacDonald USA Welder diver, 'died in an industrial accident' at Los Angeles Harbour, no details
  111. 2009 2 5 Arriagada Ramon Riquelme Chile SCUBA Aged 41, died after being sucked into a water collection pipe while doing cleaning, at the Licancel cellulose plant (Wood pup) in the Region of Maule. The inlet pipe he was clearing connects the Mataquito river to the plant. Reported by Cooperativa.cl
  112. 2012 5 12 Thakur Ramesh Singapore Cutech Marine Services Pty SCUBA Aged 35, ex Indian Navy diving instructor (Left the Navy August 2011, had been working for Cutech for several months) from Kanyakumari (Kerala, South India). Hull cleaning on the VLCC "Kokkari" 4 km Southeast of the South Marine Pier. Singapore Maritime and Port Authority received a report that a diver had gone missing at 14:55, a search failed to locate the diver. Married, two children aged 5 and 7, Reported by AsiaOne
  113. 1950 4 21 Borden Ralph E USA 5 S/S Air Unemployed war veteran, aged 40. Reported as :- “Four boys aged about 13 were looking for a swimming hole along the Muddy Run Creek when they came across the veteran standing by the bank with a diving suit and pump. He told them he had heard a tale from an old man about a barrel of gold bars lying under 15' of water. The boys agreed to operate the pump but after about 15 minutes got tired and pulled him up but he was dead.� . He was pronounced dead of drowning. The Evening Independent
  114. 2011 10 20 Dabbas Rajesh Iran Adsun Offshore Diving Contractors 70 Saturation DSV Koosha I, built 1982 in Australia (By Carrington Slipays as the 'Lady Sonia') owned by Darya Koosh, Iranian marine contractor, POB 73, 60 survivors, 6 divers in sat plus 7 others lost when ship sank off Lavan Island in the South Pars field 15 miles off the Iranian coast during pipeline installation operations around 17:30 hours on Thursday 20th October in bad weather. Rumoured to be a 4 man portable sat system with additional chamber to make it 6 man but only a 4 man HRC. Ship was loaded with two cement silos for grouting operations. One silo broke loose in rough weather and slid across deck causing list, this caused a gas rack to follow, increasing list. Sat control van broke off and fell overboard followed by second silo, holds flooded (hatches open) including all below decks compartments. Sank in mnutes. Believed storage depth was 64 metres, sank in 70 metres water depth. DSV 'Providence' on site the morning after, they recovered the bodies from the wreck three days after the sinking. Sat system flooded. Details to be added following investigation. UK Telegraph, Iranian press, PC
  115. 2009 7 12 Nevmatov Rafik Azerbaijan Caspian Diving and Rescue Topsides MI-8 helicopter coming in from the block 4 off Chilov island, crashed into the sea in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, wreckage located at a depth of 85-89 meters.. Three man crew survived and one passenger survived, two passengers missing, presumed dead - crane operator Viktor Mostavenko and commercial diver Rafik Neymatov.
  116. 2012 5 5 Stoyanov (or Dimitrov) Radoslav Bulgaria Hydroremont 7 Commercial diver with 3 years expeience, from Varna, aged 29, Kozloduy nuclear power plant. inspecting a shaft between units 5 and 6, lost audio at 09:40, body recovered one and a half hours later, reported to have both audio and lifeline, no explanation for protracted recovery, death certificate states cause of death as 'myocardial infarcation' and that death was not due to an accident but due to heart disease. Rumours of a cover up, running pumps, diver being trapped by differential pressure and injuries to diver denied by authorities, circumstances unclear. Focus News Agency
  117. 2008 11 14 Hernandez Raciel Mexico Potable Water Inspection (Canadian contractor) Aged 36, one of two rescue divers (with Juan Camal Yan) who went into the three metre diameter Cutzamala fresh water pipeline system to rescue two divers who had gone missing earlier in the day (Cayetano Cordoba and Manolo Diaz) , like the divers they were trying to rescue, they suffocated and were swept away by the water. All four bodies were recovered two days later. "There was no intentional homicide in the death of the divers who technically died of lack of breathable air"" - they entered the confined space without using diving gear. Quadruple fatality. El Siglo de Torreon.com.mx.com.mx
  118. 2008 6 12 Qadar R. N. Abdul UAE SCUBA Kenyan, married with two children Gulf-news: Quote at the time :Sharjah: “A scuba diver working on a ship at Hamriya Port was killed while checking the ship's engine. The engineer was unaware that the scuba diver was working and switched on the engine, causing the scuba diver to get caught between the propeller blades. Police were unable to find most of the body parts and gave up the search after three days. The people involved in the incident were arrested, including an engineer and two assistants, who claimed that it was an accident and that they had no intention of killing him�. The Ukrainian engineer on the supply vessel 'Orel' who started the engine was found responsible and fined £34,000 'blood money' even though he claimed that he did not know the diver was in the water and had been instructed to start the engine by the chief engineer. Xpress online Note. The Ukrainian marine engineer was prevented from leaving Sharjah until he paid about US$73,000 “diya�, blood money, and a Dh6,000 fine. “I’m very sorry for the death of the man, who I know has two children. I feel for them as I am also a father of two,� He said the accident – which took place when he started the main engine – was not solely his fault as he was ordered by the chief engineer to start it not knowing Abdul Qader was still working astern. “Due to incomplete and inaccurate information and the lack of a translator [during court hearings], all responsibility was laid on me. I am not in a position to pay the amount. I cannot get a job as I don’t have my documents. My wife in Ukraine earns just $120 (Dh440) a month. He started working for the Sharjah-based Whitesea Shipping Company and Supply LLC in March 2007. “I haven’t seen my family since then. I want nothing more than to be home with them,� In August 2009, he received help from the local Russian speaking community, and was allowed home.
  119. 1982 10 27 Clark R. Kelly USA Crom Corporation SCUBA Aged 34, working in a 3 million gallon municipal water tank, looking for a leak, sucked into a pipe at the bottom of the tank, body recovered an hour later. The pipe acted as both inlet and outlest into the tank (balance pipe). "The president of the company said the divers had been in the tank 'for some time' and he had felt water coming into the tank. He said no one knows why water suddenly started flowing out". Gainsville Sun.
  120. 1983 6 2 Wallace R M UK Mobell Marine 16 SCUBA British, aged 30. Diving from inflatable, body recovered with SCUBA mouthpiece out of mouth, drowned
  121. 1977 10 3 Murphy R L UK Taylor Diving and Salvage 30 S/S Air Trench barge 316, dredging operation, Snagged subsea on stinger? Lost comms. Cut umbilical, bailout not activated, asphixia?
  122. 2008 11 13 Bell R USA Global Industries Saturation DSV “Sea Lion� sinking off Fourchon, 4 divers in saturation at 375', no HRV, deliberately grounded. All 4 divers transferred to bell, bell lifted to deck and transferred to “Global Pioneer� and locked onto Pioneer sat system. Transfer took 90 minutes.
  123. 1976 7 14 Dupuy R UK ETPM 16 S/S Air French, aged 24. Barge "ETPM 701", mask fitting broke, common supply to main and bailout, drowned, cerebral annoxia.
  124. 1942 12 31 Anderson, RN R Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  125. 1942 12 31 Mappleback, RN R Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  126. 1984 12 12 Fusco Quartermaster Seaman Arthur A. Honduras US Special Forces SCUBA Aged 24, Seal team 4 based at Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Va. "Two Navy divers killed blasting Honduran Logjam". Among around 40 special forces dispatched to Honduras to join the Destroyer USS Caron for exercise 'Kings Guard', a coastal surveillance exercise involving the Caron and other vessels from Honduras and El Salvador. As the exercise was winfing down, the Navy dipatched Fusco and Uyedo to the east coast of Honduras for a 'civic action' to help residents of six small villages who had been totally isolated for several years because of log jams on the Amatingri river. The two apparently placed 14 pounds of C4 on a large log jam in a lagoon but they apparently failed to move their small boat far enough away. One man died at the scene, the second died en route to hospital in Comayagua. Shenectady Gazette
  127. 2007 2 20 Sue Qing Wen Singapore Dolphin Dive & Adventure 35 SCUBA Singaporean, 35m sports diver open water training dive, surfaced, sank, swept away by current, body recovered 3 days later Tank contained 785ppm CO and 12.3ppm H2S. Open verdict.
  128. 2008 10 20 Morales Primitovo Philippines Gaspar salvage & Lighterage Part of a 20 man diving team cutting up wreck of Ocean Papa which sank off Malalison Island in Culasi, Antique, Philippines “The vessel exploded on Oct. 20 during salvage operations, injuring 2 salvage divers� “Trapped air explosion knocked divers off their feet� Hospitalised with breathing difficulties, discovered to have “diabetes and previous respiratory ailment� (Prob oxy/arc incident, TC)
  129. 2011 1 25 Castro Policcarpio UAE Amasco, Dubai SCUBA Personal Communication “A diver was killed carrying out a hullscrub on the offshore anchorage Fujairah – date of incident 25th Jan 2011. Filipino diver, one of four using brush carts, crushed on surfacing between dive boat and tanker 'Najm' (Maltese flag, Iranian National Oil Company) in rough seas� PC. Waiting on further details
  130. 1949 10 13 Wila Poeloe Australia N. Paspali S/S Air "Death of a Diver". Darwin, Friday, pearling from the lugger 'Pam'. "Stricken with diver's paralysis, a Koepang pearl diver died on the pearling grounds west of Bathurst Island, yesterday. It was the first case of paralysis since the war". The Advocate, Burnie, Tas.
  131. 1982 1 16 Bond, USN PO3 Richard D USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  132. 1982 1 16 Bloomer, USN PO2 Charles W USN US N Submarine “Grayback�, converted for SEAL deployment with diver lockout and SDVs (Swimmer Delivery Systems). Onboard decompression chamber accident during launch/recovery cycle, five fatalities, one survivor. The Bulletin
  133. 1994 2 2 Dean PO Second Class Carter M USA Aged 26, from Knoxville, Tennessee, navy diver (gunners mate with SEAL Delivery Team Two) assigned to a special operations unit at the Little creek Naval Amphubious Base, afternoon training exercise in Little Creek Harbour, reported as losing consciousness underwater, was pulled from the water and transported to the diver recompression unit at Mobile Diving Salvage Unit Two, but died. No other details. Daily Press.
  134. 2010 2 16 Woodle PO Ronald Tyler USA US SEAL SCUBA Known as Tyler, Aged 26, Enlisted in 2007, Special warfare operator 2nd class (SEAL) died during a diver training exercise near Key West. Found unconscious in the water, failed to respond to treatment. Citizen times
  135. 1952 2 23 Foord PO R Australia Military “Diver's escape�. SYDNEY. Sat. — “Petty Officer R. Foord, 24, a Navy diver, was swept from his feet to-day in a Bunnerong water tunnel 72ft. underground while trying to clear an obstruction. After half an hour he was hauled to the surface by a mobile crane�. Reported in The Sunday Mail, Brisbane.
  136. 1993 3 27 Wells, USN PO Kimberley L Honduras USN American, aged 24, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 working with a group of salvage experts from Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, , died while working to raise a sunken coastal freighter. The ship was blocking the entrance to a harbour in Roatan, Honduras. No details except that it was during underwater cutting operations. Reported in the Virginia Pilot
  137. 1954 7 29 Perkins RN PO John Singapore 5 Aged 35. Reported as drowned at the Seletar Naval Base (HMS Cossack?), Singapore, during diving exercises the day after seaman Charles Larkin died in a shark attack during a contraband search in Singapore harbour. The exercise was to remove mines from ship's hulls, his lifeline got entangled in the propeller shaft. Stand-by diver found him with his mask off, not breathing when recovered to deck, did not respond to treatment. Coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure. Straits Times
  138. 1939 8 23 Purdue, RN PO Henry Otho UK Military 45 S/S Air Aged 33, Reported as 'dying of the bends' during the salvage of the "Thetis" (Sank during sea trials in Liverpool Bay on the 1st June 1939 with the loss of 99 personnel). Because of the war, at the time, the entire tragedy was largely hidden from the public.Left surface at 06:33, On bottom 06:35 (At the stern to examine the propeller), returned to surface at 07:15, put into chamber for surface decompression. Surfacing had bbeen delayed by around 5 minutes when was fouled on a grapnel on his downline. Reported that he was unconscious when in the decompression chamber. The medics further reported that his lungs wrre congested (Diseased) and this had prevented him decompressing properly, cause of death listed as Asphyxia due to lack of oxygen during decompression owing to the diseased condition of the lungs. Thetis Families Association, navy archives, Glasgow Herald
  139. 1942 12 8 Magro PO Giovanni Gibraltar Military Submarine Three Italian Navy divers were killed by depth charges by British harbour defences at Gibraltar during an attack by “Human Torpedoes� from a mother ship (the ‘Olterra’). Among the dead were Lt Licio Visintini, commander of the torpedo unit, Petty Officer Giovanni Magro and Sergeant Salvatore Leone, from Sicily. Sgt. Leone's body was never found, he was awarded the Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare and a memorial was erected in the Community Gardens in Taormina (his home town in Sicily) on the 50th anniversary of the attack. The memorial includes a rebuilt torpedo ('maiale', Italian for 'pig', a reference to it's poor handling) and a description of the events. Wikipedia and other historical sources
  140. 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
  141. 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.
  142. 1966 11 18 Robbie, RN PO George Uganda Military British naval diver, died at Jinja in eastern Uganda working on a new train ferry terminal when a crane lifting rock toppled over. No other details. Straits Times
  143. 2017 5 23 Lataste PO Bob France Military 28m Aged 24, French Navy clearance diver on the mine hunter 'L'Aigle', Seine Bay, French Atlantic coast, unconscious at depth, brought to surface by second diver, medivac to Le Havre, died during the night. Reported by Sud Ouest
  144. 2012 6 9 Kurida Pjero UK Topsides Croatian, aged 29, Bosun on the PSV E R Athina. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report highlighted failure by senior crew to follow formal risk assessments, inappropriate emergency response and improper planning of the use of a Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) as a painting platform. The bosun suffered severe internal chest injuries after becoming trapped between the hull and the lifting frame of the FRC whilst repairing a small area of damaged paintwork on the hull whilst at anchor two miles off Aberdeen (“possibly trying to push the FRC away from the supply ship’s hull,� as the vessels collided against each other, caused by the prevailing swell and tidal stream). With no external signs of bleeding (After the incident, he was coughing and breathing heavily, but the second officer did not see any external signs of bleeding. When he was asked about his injuries he replied that his right arm was sore and that he thought his ribs were broken), the crew underestimated the extent of his injuries and a fishing vessel was employed to take him to hospital at a speed of 8.5 knots. They also alerted the ship’s agent, rather than the coastguard, losing “valuable time,� found the report. MAIB Report
  145. 2012 3 17 Roussow Pierre India CCC 28 S/S Air South African, experienced sat diver working an air job off the NPCC barge HLS 2000, crane incident, found in the water with helmet off, broken neck. Longstreath
  146. 1975 3 12 Rene Pierre Canada 50 Aged 32 from Montreal, "Four specialists in underwater medicine tried unsuccessfully to save the life of a diver who became ill while working in the Port of Quebec. Police said that he became ill while inspecting the outlet of a sewage conduit in the middle of the St Lawrence River". Edmonton Journal
  147. 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
  148. 2010 12 22 Busso Philippe Vietnam Tourist SCUBA French tourist diving off the island of Cu Lao Cau, double fatality (with Russian Alexander Nikolaev). Another diver reported being knocked unconscious by a powerful explosion, local police blamed poachers 'blast' fishing. Voice of Russia
  149. 1997 0 0 Ragot Philippe France Recreational diving organisation 9 SCUBA French diver inspecting the upstream side of a leaking valve. Got sucked in and killed.- No safety plan, victim the director of the dive organisation, recreational diving instructor - Court decided the manager of the dam was guilty
  150. 1979 11 10 Andrieux Philipe Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex 130 Saturation See 'Wodeco V lost Bell' for details, the three divers in the bell, rescue stand-by diver and a nurse die in this incident.
  151. 1979 11 10 Laubouet Philipe Ghana or Ivory Coast Comex 130 Saturation See 'Wodeco V lost Bell' for details, the three divers in the bell, rescue stand-by diver and a nurse die in this incident.
  152. 1975 8 2 Salvatori Philipe Italy Comex Topsides Oilfield diving. Oxygen transfer inside a container on deck, O2 leakage, possibly exacerbated by dust, flash fire. Hot weather, three crew were only wearing shorts. Died in hospital. Triple fatality (with Noel Shneider and Serge Boulay). PC
  153. 1943 6 6 Novak Philip John USA Military American navy diver aged 24, died after a torpedo severed his lifeline, diving operations off Gould island, near Newport
  154. 2007 6 1 Henderson Phil Malaysia Sarku Topsides Australian Diving Supervisor on the Shell Chartered DSV Sarku Clementine, passed away offshore, natural causes, (possible heart attack).
  155. 1989 11 4 Clegg Phil Thailand Oceaneering Diving Supervisor on the drillship 'Seacrest' that was capsised by typhoon Gay. Possibly a dive team in saturation, two divers possibly among the 6 survivors, remainder of the dive team believed to have perished with the rest of the crew.
  156. 1975 0 0 Higgins Phil Asia Oceaneering Topsides Australian supervisor on the Fredericksburg Drilling Barge (Attwood Oceanics). Pressure/leak test of the bell and chamber to 600' + while on tow (En route to Burma). Due to rig movement the TUP clamps gave way and the bell blew off pulling the umbilical with it. The umbilical parted and the bell went into sea (was never located). Phil Higgins was standing near the bell, blown through the 'A' Frame onto the lower deck. Killed instantly. OK Dude/Longstreath.
  157. 1950 3 10 Bollard Petty Officer W. UK Military 163 Reported as "Petty Officer Wilfred Bollard recently set up a new world record when he reached a depth of 535 feet in a rubber diving suit. Petty Officer Bollard is attached to the Research ship "Reclaim" at Loch Fyne, in Scotland. The previous record of 440 feet was held by the United States of America. This picture shows Petty Officer Bollard, on left, being congratulated after he broke the world diving record by fellow officer W Soper, who himself broke the previous record with a depth of 454 feet." in the Horshan Times, Victoria. Curious as this is a repeat report of this same record being set in August 1948 but by 'Petty Officer W Ballard".
  158. 1948 8 28 Ballard Petty Officer W. UK Military 163 "Diver Descends 535 Feet". LONDON, August 28. "Petty Officer W. Ballard descended 535 feet from a submarine rescue ship into Loch Fyne, Argyllshire, and set up a new world record dive, which an American held at 440 feet. Ballard wore a specially adapted diving suit. His object was to enable naval technicians to perfect a diving suit in which rescuers can work at crash-dive depth of submarines". Reported in The Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, Qld. Curiously, this record was also reported on the 10th of March 1950 in the Horsham Times (Victoria) with a photograph of Bollard being congratulated by fellow Royal Navy diver W. Soper who had also broken the previous record with a dive to a depth of 454 feet.
  159. 1962 4 17 Ingram Petty Officer John Australia Military 9 SCUBA Aged 24, experienced diver, died on a moorings inspection dive in Sydney harbour, failed to respond to signals, was found by searching divers, brought to the surface unconscious, did not respond to treatment, no details. He was one of the team who made a 300' dive to clear a tunnel in the incompleted Eucumbene dam in 1961. Reported in The Age
  160. 2010 5 3 Blake Petty Officer Craig Afghanistan Canadian Navy Topsides Aged 37, father of two, Navy clearance diver with the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic based in Nova Scotia, seconded to Afghanistan because of his mine clearance training, killed by a remote operated roadside bomb as he and colleagues were walking back to the Sperwan Ghar forward Operations Base having successfully defused another IED in Panjwai, 25 miles South west of Kandahar. Wife and two sons, had only been in Afghanistan a couple of weeks, he was the first sailor to die in Afghanistan, killed the day before the Canadian navy celebrated its centennial. He was the 143 member of the Canadian forces to be killed there since 2002. (Included for information, a diver, but not working as a diver so not counted as a diving fatality TC). Reported in the Canadian Press
  161. 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
  162. 2010 1 6 Bonifacio Petty Officer 3 Armand Philippines Coastguard 68 SCUBA Aged 42, 18 year veteran Coastguard diver working on recovering bodies from the wreck of the MV Catalyn B which sank off Limbones Island (Cavite Province). Volunteered to dive to about 221 feet, as another PCG colleague was unavailable. On the first of three scheduled dives for the day, Bonifacio, along with his dive buddy, retrieved a woman’s body. On their second attempt, the two reached the ship’s wreckage again. On their ascent, however, diver felt Bonifacio shake his hand at about 170 feet deep, a signal that he was not feeling well. Bonifacio reportedly increased his ascension speed, which was against basic diving safety rules. “He wanted to speed up his ascent, which would put him more in a very compromising situation. He was held back although his buddy assisted him in breathing in air)," SOG diving team head Lt. Commander said in a GMA News’ 24 Oras report. At around 140 feet, Bonifacio lost consciousness. He was resurfaced and brought to a decompression chamber for first aid. Inside the chamber, things went well as Bonifacio regained consciousness and was reportedly still able to follow orders. Two hours later, Bonifacio succumbed to cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center. In an ABS-CBN newscast, Bonifacio’s grieving wife rues the death of her husband, who had been in the service for 18 years and was already looking forward to retirement. “I wanted to stop him, as he was getting weak physically," the wife was quoted as saying. Bonifacio had been an integral member of the SOG diving team, had been trained by the Philippine Navy and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. He participated in the relief operation for the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, which hit the country in 2009. He was also part of the rescue operation for MV Princess of Stars, which sank in Romblon in 2008, where 300 of the 800 passengers remain missing. “We checked the equipment. It’s not the equipment," but a PCG spokesperson admitted in the newscast that government divers do not have the required gas mixture for deep-sea diving. GMA News
  163. 2012 1 26 Gallant Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor USA US Navy 34 Aged 22 from Winchester, Ky, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Navy diver based at Little Creek-Fort Story with the Mobile EOD unit 12 died during a training dive 40 kilometres off the North Carolina coast from the Canadian Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel 'HMCS Smmerside' during preparations for 'Bold Alligator 2012', an international amphibious training exercise due to start the following week. Reported as failing to respond to signals at which stage a stand-by diver was deployed who found him unresponsive and brought him to the surface. Flown ashore to the Naval Hospital at Camp Lejeune but declared dead on arrival. No other details but investigation reported as ongoing. Reported in Navy News.
  164. 2010 11 29 McCarthy Peter Joseph Thailand 80 Rebreather British, aged 47, diving instructor, disappeared on an 80 metre deep dive into the mouth of a submerged volcano off the Thai island of Koh Tao with a party of eight other British and Italian divers at about noon, local time, on Monday. The other instructor on the dive told Thai media that Mr McCarthy did not come up after the nine man hour-long dive. Each of the divers had two hours of oxygen. The other divers used up their remaining oxygen in searching for their instructor, reports said. The instructor was described as a very experienced technical diver - expert in a specialised type of scuba diving that uses a mix of gases to allow divers dive go deeper and for longe (Technical diving). The original diving group consisted of the two instructors, four men and three women. Mr McCarthy had a diving licence issued in the Gulf of Thailand province of Chumpon. Daily Mail UK
  165. 2011 2 17 Clarkson Peter Australia SCUBA Aged 50 with 27 years diving experience, two man commercial abalone boat out of Port Lincoln (200 miles West of Adelaide). Reported as being attacked by two great white sharks as he surfaced. The skipper (who lost diver Danny Thorpe when his boat overturned in 2000 – he risked the long swim ashore leaving Danny Thorpe with the boat but 'when help arrived all they found was Thorpe's shredded life vest and a beat up old lunchbox, but that was all') said 'I saw the beast come up and take him. There was no way he could have survived'. Last August, the diver had described a previous close encounter with a great white during a diving ascent when endorsing a shark deterrent system. 'The search for the victim's remains ongoing'. Reported by the Mail online, Herald Sun etc
  166. 2009 11 30 Jao Peter Philippines CJMS Diving Services Topsides Dive team working at the gas powered power plant in Limay. Paraphrased from press reports:- “A diver died while a colleague is in critical condition after they entered a nine-meter chlorination tank inside the power plant in Alangan, Limay, Bataan, last Monday. The newly designated police chief reported that Peter Jao, a diving expert of the CJMS Diving Services, did not reach the hospital alive. He suffered broken ribs and skull. The police report stated that the cause of the falling incident was due to a foul odor that the victim inhaled while climbing the ladder on his way out of the chlorination tank. As Jao fell into the cemented flooring of the chlorination tank, his companion identified as Nenito Quintana, also a diver, went down the tank and tried to rescue him. Quintana was assisted by other employees using a crane. As Quintana was climbing the ladder on his way out, he also fell. Rescuers rushed Quintana into the St. Michael Hospital in Orion town. Investigation showed that the two victims proceeded to the chlorination tank at around 9 a.m. Monday to open the water intake valve from the sea. After opening the valve, Jao climbed the ladder but fell after he allegedly inhaled a poisonous substance inside�. Reported in the Manila Bulletin. NB. The power plant uses LPG from the local refinery which reported a death and two unconscious at the sour water treatment plant in September and a vessel chief officer and two seamen injured when a loading hose parted in August (Manila Times)
  167. 2008 6 1 Le Sauteur Peter UK Alderney Marine Trust SCUBA Aged 55, Surveying the wreck of an Elizabethan gunship that sank in 1592 with a view to recovering two cannon. Fell ill after finishing a dive, unconscious, taken to hospital but pronounced dead.
  168. 2003 7 21 Rudorf Peter Iraq Subsurface Engineering 14 British, aged 25, clearing routes for vessels in the port of Umm Qasr, reported as "taken ill during diving", Inquest was held in the UK. No details.
  169. 2003 3 22 Whelan Peter UK BNFL 3 S/S Air Umbilical sucked into support vessel jet propulsion intake, took 25 minutes to cut him free, on bail out, HSE prosecution, £30,000 fine.
  170. 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)
  171. 1975 7 7 Walsh Peter UK Underwater Security Ltd. 37 SCUBA British, aged 25. "Celtic Surveyor", Scapa Flow, double fatality (Carson), shore approach, pigging operation, diver sucked into pipe by wave action or incorrect valve operation, differential pressure, stand-by diver and second stand-by (third diver) also sucked in though second stand-by managed to get out, two divers drowned
  172. 1974 8 27 Kelly Peter Norway Northern Divers 91 Saturation British, aged 27. Got a slug of pure Helium on descent, wearing a full face mask, collapsed and died, bell partner (Danny Stockes) wearing a half mask which dislodged, survived.
  173. 1962 12 3 Small Peter USA 305 Saturation British, professional journalist, aged 35, record deep dive with Hans Keller, experimental dive to test new breathing mixture, Peter Small died in the bell (reported as 'bends' which he had suffered from in a previous dive, two days earlier), safety diver, Christopher Whittaker, disappeared whilst checking the bell externally at depth and was never found. Keller survived after a safety diver removed a fin jammed in the bell hatch allowing it to seal. Reported by multiple sources. His 21 year old wife, Mary, was found dead in her gas filled apartment two months later.
  174. 1951 0 0 Fleig Peter Corsica Topsides Czech professional diver, last known survivor of the party that was actually on site when Erwin Rommel's treasure was hidden underwater off Bastia in 1943. Frequenting local bars boasting that he had discovered the treasure. Disappeared in strange circumstances, whispered to have been 'The Mafia'. See 1961, Andre Mattel
  175. 1944 7 28 White Peter Australia Harbor Trust S/S Air “RESOURCEFUL DIVER. Peter White, of Lyons steet, Harbor Trust diver, during the week captured a giant sunfish by pushing a boathook down its throat and then roping it. The fish was hoisted with a crane�. Williamstown Chronicle, Vic
  176. 1930 1 30 Trans Peter Canada 6 S/S Air 30 year old Danish immigrant, trapped by hoses/differential pressure against a coffer dam at the Ontario Paper Company project at Pointe aus Outardes, recovered after 71 hours, but had died (hypothermia). Working to build new life in Canada for his wife and children still in Denmark. Rescue divers Quesnel Morency and Lewis Begin were flown 200 miles north from Montreal into the remote location on the river Outardes, Quebec, to effect a rescue attempt. The Evening Independent.
  177. 1897 0 0 Olson Peter USA Baltimore Wrecking Company Chamber Salvage operation recovering the cargo of the sunken steamer 'Pewabic' in Thunder Bay off Milwaukee. Working from a bell with partner George Campbell. Both men drowned when one of the glass ports failed
  178. 1896 6 15 Ralno Peter Australia S/S Air "Thursday Island, June 15, Peter Ralno, a diver, was drowned today through the air pipe becoming fouled on the bottom". Reported in the Chronicle, Adelaide
  179. 1891 12 1 Rasmassen or Rosmossan Peter Australia Neil Anderson Topsides "Two divers (double fatality with Christian Smith) were drowned at the pearl fishing grounds near Nadoo Island last Tuesday. "The Dingy in which they left the lugger was subsequently found at sea, bottom upwards".The Advertiser, Adelaide.
  180. 1982 2 15 Morrison Perry Canada Hydrospace Saturation Canadian, aged 24, diver in sat onboard the Ocean Ranger which sank in a storm with the loss of all 84 personnel onboard. How many other divers were onboard, which contractor,?
  181. 1931 3 30 Woodcock Percy Ingram UK Liverpool Salvage Company S/S Air "Diver's death at Salcombe. Mr Percy Ingram Woodcock, one of the divers working on behalf of the Liverpool Salvage Co. on the SS ….". No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Western Morning News/The British Newspaper Archive
  182. 1974 1 116 Skipnes Per Norway Ocean Systems 77 Saturation Norwegian, aged 37. "Drill Master", bell drop weights released, bell to surface with doors open, double fatality (Smythe).
  183. 2005 6 9 Cartes Pedro Vivanco Chile Cammachaca SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Guaitecas, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  184. 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).
  185. 2007 8 22 Antinanco Pedro Alvarado Chile Aserma, Marine Harvest SCUBA Diver, Cultivation Center of Puchilco, located in Lemuy Island, Central Chiloé, Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  186. 2005 11 21 Bustamente Pedro Alvarado Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe SCUBA Shellfish cultivation centre, Dalcahue. Source: Ecoceanos, based on data from the Dir. of Labor, Directemar, Mariscope and the Tenth and Eleventh Regions District Attorneys Offices. No details
  187. 2007 10 6 Reinaldos Pedro Alejandro Dominguez Chile Osvaldo Galindo SCUBA Aged 40. Diving at the Quiquel Cultivation Center in Dalcuahue province, - Suffered a diving accident that left him unable to walk several years earlier, continued in the business, working as a middleman between area divers and farmed salmon companies. After he was unable to contract divers for a job, he suited up and took to the water himself. Chiloé Provincial Labor Inspector Víctor Inostroza quoted as saying “The fact that the worker who died was handicapped just shows that there’s no one at the salmon farm worried about security. This diver was absolutely illegal. He didn’t have a diving permit. His equipment was in poor condition. There was no contingency plan and the diver wasn’t trained,�. Allegedly, this death brings to 50 the number of Chilean salmon industry divers who have perished in just the past two years though the same article quotes the diver's union as saying 15 divers had died in the previous 18 months
  188. 2006 10 0 de Matos Paulo Cesar Brazil 23 SCUBA Brazilian, Canoa Quebrada hydroelectric plant at Lucas do Rio Verde, arm sucked up an 8� diameter pipe, three dive team members could not free him. A week later officials were still discussing whether to lower the water level in the lake in order to free the body.
  189. 2002 4 30 Buckland Paul William Australia 10 SCUBA Australian, aged 23, professional scallop diver, Shark attack. Was wearing a "shark pod" (Electric shark repellor), may not have been switched on at depth but was on at time of attack on the surface. May have been incorrectly fitted (electrode position). Recommendation from coroner that at all commercial and recreational divers working in waters where the presence of sharks is a risk should wear at shark repellent device.
  190. 1954 5 31 Barker Paul S USA Rebreather Aged 38, Brown Mills, Mirror Lake, “A member of the volunteer first-aid squad died here today during an underwater dive to test a new oxygen rescue device� No details
  191. 1879 6 30 Clifford Paul Louis Australia 5 S/S Air Aged about 25 or 26, described as a powerful young man, engaged as a diver at the wreck of the barque 'bells' (Having presented himself as an experienced diver), completed three dives but on entering the water on a dive at around 2pm seemed to go the opposite way to where he had been instructed to go. Apparently signalled he was coming up followed by 'less air'. Did not surface and after 15 minutes the crew pulled him to the surface but he was dead. "It is supposed that deceased must have given a wrong signal and so come by his death". Reported in Papers Past, The Star.
  192. 1973 8 28 Havlena Paul J UK Taylor Diving 98 Saturation American, aged 29. Barge "LB Meaders", "Push pull" gas system, Supply closed off while suction open, embolism, pulmonary haemorrhage
  193. 2003 10 20 Patterson Paul H USA American, aged 29, Coffeen power Plant, Illinois, working on the circulating cooling water system, sucked into the cooling water inlet. One report went “A diver was killed while doing maintenance for a power plant in Illinois. The diver was preparing to do routine maintenance at an Ameren generating facility in Coffeen, Illinois, when he disappeared from a tether Monday morning. Rescue divers were called to the scene in Montgomery County, but the situation was so dangerous they were not permitted to enter the lake. Investigators believe the diver was drawn into one of the two major intakes of the power plant, where he was killed. His remains have been identified�. The power company was fined $58, 500 after admitted directing the diver to wrong intake hatch, and it was ruled an accident.
  194. 1977 7 10 Petrecz Paul F USA Harmonville Volunteer Fire Department 15 SCUBA Aged 29, Montgomery County volunteer fire-fighter/diver, one of a team of 30 searching Muddy Run Lake for the body of a 22 year old who drowned whilst swimming. 'Tangled in a guideline and ran out of air' Reported as a veteran diver by fire officials. Beaver County Times
  195. 2012 10 29 de Waal Paul A Curacao Miami Divers S/S Air Aged 27, Accident at the Mega Pier at Baden Powellwegin the Port of Willemstad (Capital of Curacao, Dutch Caribbean island) Dutch diver working with three others divers on repairs to the 92,000 tonne cruise liner 'Norwegian Star' (Damaged her bow in port in Bermuda in September when she broke mooring lines in strong winds and collided with the RCCL 'Explorer of the Seas'). Reported as 'gave signal to his colleagues and was found unconscious on the harbour bed'. CPR was unsuccessful. No other details. Reported by Scheepvaartnieuws.The following details have been paraphrased from OGP safety Alert 248. “Routine surface supplied diving operation to clean marine growth from a vessel hull using a hull cleaning device with rotating brushes (a brush cart that required a diver to guide and operate it). The brush cart contained diver operated tooling actuated by an air driven piston. Standard company practice was to use the suit inflation take off from the diving mask for this purpose. Prior to this dive the diving mask was changed to a model that did not have a suit inflation take off capability. A decision was made to connect the diver's emergency gas supply line (Bailout) directly to the brush cart tooling. This resulted in the diver having no personal emergency gas supply. During the dive the diver's umbilical was caught in the wheels of the brush cart and the diver experienced a reduction in breathing gas. The diver, having no emergency gas supply, removed his mask, immediately losing communication to the surface team and was observed in distress at the surface. The surface team was composed of a radio operator (a diver) and a tender for the diver (a non diver) and a diving supervisor - who was not on the site at this time. An attempt was made to pull the diver back using the diver's umbilical, this was ineffective. The radio operator, who was also the standby diver, jumped into the water without diving equipment and attempted to rescue the diver. The brush cart was negatively buoyant and the rescue diver was unable to prevent it sinking with the diver attached. The standby diver returned to the vessel and dressed into the standby diver's equipment (SCUBA) and recovered the body of the diver from the seabed. What Went Wrong? i) Risks with the work equipment were not identified and addressed, ii) Critical Safety equipment was misused to achieve the work task, iii) Personnel levels were inadequate, iv) No onsite supervision, v) Inadequate Emergency recovery equipment. Corrective Actions and Recommendations: i) Utilise the OGP RP 411, Diving Recommended Practice as the baseline standard for diving, ii) Verify contractors are in compliance, iii) Establish that adequate risk assessments have been carried out, iv) Ensure minimum personnel levels for diving are 5 (One supervisor who cannot leave the dive site, a diver, a diver's tender, a standby diver and standby diver's tender), all personnel should be diver qualified and competent, v) Verify emergency breathing supply equipment is of suitable volume and immediately available, vi) Confirm that any use of the divers breathing gas supply for tooling power is unacceptable, vii) Ensure the standby diver's equipment is the same as the divers, viii) Verify that while any diver is in the water, the standby diver is dressed and in immediate readiness to carry out a rescue, ix) Ensure emergency recovery equipment and procedures are adequate to achieve recovery, x) Verify emergency drills have been carried out to test the emergency recovery procedures with the diving team. Later reported as having qualified from diving school in September, one month earlier.
  196. 2009 2 11 de Gelder Paul Australia Australian Navy 0 SCUBA Australian Navy clearance diver, aged 31, in-water exercise testing sonar defence equipment off HMAS Darwin in Garden Bay, near Sydney, whilst swimming on the surface was attacked by a shark, lost a hand, severe leg injuries led to loss of leg, intensive care but stable, survived.
  197. 2008 10 16 Hartley Paul USA SCUBA Aged 51, commercial sea urchin harvester diving from the F/V Sunshine, found floating on surface, unconscious, failed to respond to treatment
  198. 2002 6 14 Jolliff Paul USA 15 SCUBA Firefighter, aged 37, died during the final dive of a 21 day open water SCUBA training course. Objective was to locate a cinder block by conducting sweep searches from a marker buoy and then bring it to surface using an inverted 5 gallon bucket as a lifting bag. Zero visibility, cold water. Underwater comms set only partially operational (he could hear, but not transmit). He and partner located block, as they were rigging it, he suddenly grabbed for his partner's face mask knocking him to one side, dropped his weight belt and disappeared. Second diver surfaced and raised the alarm. Stand-by diver entered the water immediately to commence sweep searches from the original marker buoy but after his 4th sweep was pulled to the surface by the crew pulling up the marker buoy in an attempt to see if the lost diver was still attached to the swim line. Buoy reset, but in a different location.. Search continued and the body was located over two hours later by sonar from a surface support boat. He was tied to the cinder block (They were using 5' long lanyards as the lifting rigging, he had gone into the water with his attached to his harness 'D' ring. It appears he attached it before releasing the second end from his harness). Death certificate recorded death as due to drowning. SCUBA cylinder was empty when recovered, some equipment breakages, but not concluded whether factors in the incident. The investigation made 3 recommendations:- 1: Fire departments should ensure that equipment checks are performed before each dive and defective equipment is repaired or replaced before the dive takes place. 2: Fire Departments should ensure that all participants in diver training have practiced the specific evolution in a controlled environment such as a swimming pool before attempting the evolution in open water.. 3: Fire departments should ensure that search-and-rescue operations establish and use reference points to conduct searches
  199. 1997 0 0 Cruikshank Paul UK Stolt Comex Seaway Saturation Everest field, bell contamination by condensate flashing off (See IMCA SF 02/97)
  200. 1987 4 10 Sherman Paul USA Ocean Survey 18 SCUBA Aged 40, Working one and a half miles outside Hampton Harbour at the Seabrook nuclear power plant discharge vent, trying to re-attach a buoy, reported as surfacing quickly from 60 feet to the surface and signalling to the dive boat that he was in distress. They threw him a life ring 'but he missed it and sank from sight for more than an hour." "When he was brought to the surface, he suffered cardiac arrest". CPR was initiated and he was transferred to Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover where he was confirmed dead at 16:10 from hypothermic arrest and drowning. The hospital spokesperson said that "Basically he was so cold he had a heart attack". Water temperature at the time was reported as 41 degrees F. The Lewiston Daily Sun
  201. 1970 0 0 Mumford Paul Saudi Arabia Algosaibi Drowned in shallow water when his suit over-inflated leaving him 'feet up, head down' in the water. PC
  202. 1968 3 7 Hill Paul Australia 24 SCUBA “JOINT EFFORT SAVES DIVER� MELBOURNE, Thursday. – ‘A 300 mile dash by car, aeroplane and helicopter saved the life today of an abalone diver who got the bends in 80ft of water. The diver, Mr. Paul Hill, about 25, was diving in Bridgewater Bay, near Portland, 225 miles west of Melbourne, yesterday when he surfaced too quickly and became paralysed with the bends. He was taken by speedboat to Portland Hospital, but the hospital had no decompression equipment to treat him. A light aircraft operated by Esso Standard Oil (Aust) Ltd flew the diver to Apollo Bay today with an Esso diver, and both divers were then flown by helicopter to Esso's Ocean Digger oil rig, 42 miles south of Cape Otway. Decompression equipment was taken by car from Melbourne to Apollo Bay, and flown by helicopter to the rig. The Esso diver put Mr. hill into a decompression chamber on the rig at 10.30 am, and kept him there until after 5 pm. An Esso spokesman at Portland said tonight the diver had improved considerably�. Reported in The Canberra Times.
  203. 2011 2 19 LaClair Patrick J USA Paraphrased from press reports:- “Coast Guard officials said a 54-year-old member of the Skokomish tribe ran into trouble while out on the water with a geoduck boat in the Hood Canal, near Hazel Point The man had two spotters, who saw that he was struggling and called 911 at around 4 p.m. A Navy rescue boat pulled the man out of the water and administered CPR while heading back to shore. Central Kitsap Fire whilst Rescue and Navy paramedics tried to help the man. The Kitsap County Coroner's Office declared him dead at about 7 pm� No other details. Reported by AP, Komo News, Kitsap Sun etc.
  204. 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.
  205. 2005 4 24 Baker Patrick Allan Canada SCUBA Aged 33, drowned whilst retrieving golf balls at the Saint Andrew by the Lake golf course, Penticton, British Columbia. No other details. Reported by Outdoor News Wire
  206. 2010 7 24 Costello Patrick Germany Nordic Dive Enterprise 41 S/S Air 27 year old Swedish air diver working for a Danish contractor on a windfarm project in German waters. Reported as drowned in the last week of a six week diving job, had been airlifting from the DP II 'Maersk Tender', umbilical entangled one of the valves on the airlift. Did not activate his bailout, recovered to surface by the stand-by diver. Translated from German
Press reports dated Monday 26 07 2010:- “Diver dies when working in the offshore windfarm near Borkum. (Bard Offshore). The accident happened on Saturday at 40 meters in depth work. 'Aged 27, a professional diver from Sweden' said a police spokesman, confirming corresponding media reports�. Source: n-tv.de Other press reports indicate a possible lifting incident (TC)<br />UPDATE: The Danish Maritime Authority have released a Casualty Report regards this incident available from: http://www.dma.dk/news/Sider/Casualtyreportaboutdivingaccident.aspx<br />Also see topic in Incidents Diving Forum.
  207. 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=
  208. 1981 10 20 Lee Patrick Singapore SCUBA Aged 21, one of a team of 8 divers, he was reported missing during diving operations to clean the hull of the supply vessel 'Chinta' off Clifford Pier. Around noon they began to run low on air and indicated they were surfacing, he signalled them to carry on. When he failed to surface the other 7 dived in to look for him but not locate him. Not clear if his body was ever recovered. Straits Times
  209. 2015 2 28 Vella Patrick Malta SalpaSub SCUBA Married, three children. "A 36-year-old diver from Zejtun, died in an accident at Palumbo Shipyards this morning. A spokesman for Palumbo said the company called SalpaSub for assistance when it noticed that a drydock was taking much longer than usual to be emptied. When Mr Vella, a director of SalpaSub, arrived, he dived to see what was wrong but did not return to the surface. This was around 11.45am. Palumbo called for assistance and a search was launched by members of the Civil Protection Department and the Armed Forces. Mr Vella, a marine biologist, was eventually brought up by the AFM and taken to Mater Dei Hospital, where he died soon after. An inquiry is being held. Five divers conducted the search for the missing worker and eventually found him stuck in a gate valve. It has not yet been confirmed how he ended up there, but sources have suggested that somebody who wasn't aware of the diver's presence opened a valve, consequently pulling him into the hole with a great force. A Palumbo spokesman on Saturday denied reports that the diver had been sucked in by the water pressure, saying there was no such mechanism. Sources told this newspaper the diver was called in to measure the diameter of a defective valve whose diameter was about that of a bucket". Reported by the Times of Malta
  210. 1994 0 0 Walker Pat USA 24 SCUBA American, aged 24, Tightening a pipeline flange at working pressure, flange parted, gas explosion blew his hat off, body recovered some days later
  211. 1977 2 11 Joseph Pat USA Fred Devine and Salvage 15 Salvage operations on the tanker “Sansitena� in Los Angeles harbour, Berth 46 (Blew up while alongside, 9 dead, 36 injured in the initial blast 17th December 1976) , had been in the water two hours osy arc cutting operations, gas pocket, underwater explosion, reported as “diver stricken with bends when he surfaced after an underwater explosion�. Also reported that he was the second diver injured on that job in four days. Although he remained in the industry, he was never able to dive again after the accident.. Los Angeles Times, PC.
  212. 1930 7 14 Meany Pat UK 9 S/S Air News Headline "Diver Fights a Sea Monster". Fishguard (Wales). A fight to the death between a diver under the sea and a monstrous black conger eel occurred here to-day. The man won with the aid of a hammer. a pick-axe. and a jack-knife. Mr. Pat Meany, a diver who is preparing the foundations of a slipway at Fishguard harbour for the use of the lifeboat, was thirty feet below the surface of the water when he saw through the window of his diving helmet a monster more than six feet long and of great girth writhing towards him. The eel attacked the diver by curling itself round his legs. The man, hampered by his heavy suit and by the pressure of the water, was in danger of being thrown on the sea bottom. “I struck the creature with all my strength on the head with a hammer." Mr. Meany told me. "It went of slowly but soon returned to the attack with its mouth open in an alarmingly ferocious manner. “I took a pick-axe and pinned the eel against the rocky side of the confined space in which I was working, and then with a long knife struck it deep under the gills. “It then wrlthed slowly away, leaving a trail of blood.� Straits Times archives
  213. 2016 12 13 Nava Pascasio Nino Mexico CAPAMA Aged 58, working for the Acapulco Municipal Water and Sewage Commission (CAPAMA), Papagayo 2 catchment are in the town of Salsipuedes, pumps still running, took six hours to recover the body (Nobody could authorise turning off the pumps), appears to have been another differential pressure incident. Reported by El Sur, periodico de guerrero
  214. 2011 10 20 Kadian Parminder Iran Adsun Offshore Diving Contractors 70 Saturation One brother (Dhirendra) also died in this accident, two other brothers (LSTs onboard) survived. DSV Koosha I, built 1982 in Australia (By Carrington Slipays as the 'Lady Sonia') owned by Darya Koosh, Iranian marine contractor, POB 73, 60 survivors, 6 divers in sat plus 7 others lost when ship sank off Lavan Island in the South Pars field 15 miles off the Iranian coast during pipeline installation operations around 17:30 hours on Thursday 20th October in bad weather. Rumoured to be a 4 man portable sat system with additional chamber to make it 6 man but only a 4 man HRC. Ship was loaded with two cement silos for grouting operations. One silo broke loose in rough weather and slid across deck causing list, this caused a gas rack to follow, increasing list. Sat control van broke off and fell overboard followed by second silo, holds flooded (hatches open) including all below decks compartments. Sank in mnutes. Believed storage depth was 64 metres, sank in 70 metres water depth. Dulam DSV 'Providence' on site the morning after, they recovered the bodies from the wreck three days after the sinking. Sat system flooded. Details to be added following investigation. UK Telegraph, Iranian press, PC
  215. 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
  216. 1977 10 17 Azzopardi P S UK Comex 91 Saturation British, aged 21. Semi-sub drill rig "Zephy I", ODECO, English Channel, KMD 16 helmet off (no safety pin), strong currents, bellman could not reach him, drowned
  217. 1942 12 31 Pridham, RN P Sardinia Military Submarine One of 10 divers trained in the use of the Mark I chariots at the HHZ training base on Loch Cairbawn (Scotland) who boarded the 'T' class submarine P-311 with their chariots in Malta to undertake operation 'Principle', an attack on shipping in the Port of Maddalena (Sardinia). Last signal was on the 31st December as the submarine approached Sardinia. Probably sunk by a mine, submarine was reported as lost at sea with all hands. Underwater Trust, Wikipedia etc
  218. 1942 11 12 Davis Owen USA Merrit and Chapman S/S Air American, aged 26 or 28, diving in Newtown Creek (leak in an oil pipe crossing the creek), long island,'Lost helmet'. Son of Captain W. N. Davis, US Navy Salvage Corps. 'Helmet Lost. Diver dies' New York Times Pay per view
  219. 2011 4 27 Baumgartner Ottavio Italy Arte sub (La Specia) 4 S/S Air Aged 21, Edipower plant at Sermide near Mantova in Northern Italy. Cleaning water inlet grill. Scubapro full face mask, bailout, wet suit, air hose and communications line (but no strength line, video or pneumo). Reported that topsides heard his breathing rate rise, could not pull him out and put in the stand-by. After a 5 to 7 minute delay, the diver was found with his mask off. Did not respond to treatment. Three man team, IDSA qualification early 2010, water inlet from the river Po. PC and Gazzetta di Mantova
  220. 2008 5 12 Smith Othel D USA International Diving Services S/S Air American, aged 24, one year out of diving school, died while working in a potable water storage tank in Paris, Texas. International Diving Services of Arlington, TX. "Pumps still running, sucked onto an inlet" Possibly no bailout or stand-by rig, body recovered by fire brigade (on SCUBA!)
  221. 1943 6 11 Isnor Oswald Canada Article relating to the award of a George Medal and two posthumous commendations for brave conduct to Canadian civilians. "Commendation - Oswald Isnor of Halifax, chief diver on a salvage ship, who was killed while helping to salvage a "very large and valuable cargo of rubber tires" from a grounded ship'. Reported in the Edmonton Journal in June 1943
  222. 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/
  223. 1909 7 12 Swee Ong Singapore Sir John Jackson S/S Air Chinese diver, working near Johnston's Pier laying the foundations for a new sea wall for the Teluk Ayer reclamation. An iron ladder used for his ascent and descent became detached and fell on him breaking his back and cutting his head. He was pulled up, his diving dress was cut off and he was taken to hospital where he died. Straits Times
  224. 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
  225. 2011 1 25 Rouxhet Olivier Belgium Fireman SCUBA Paraphrased from press reports:- Aged 39, a Civil Protection Force Fire Rescue FF/Diver was killed in the Line of Duty during the search for 2 children in the Meuse River. The 12 and 6 year old children had been missing since January 16 when the oldest girl jumped after her sister who fell into the water were swept away by the current of the river in the vicinity of the eastern city of Liège.. The crew-chief of the diving operation over the the previous days got into trouble going down in the man-made barrier (Sluice gate) complex on the river. He gave alarm signals by his security line, but the surface-crew couldn't free him. They immediately started a rescue operation but it was too late. He had been smashed to a pier of bridge by the flow and lost a part of his diving equipment, most importantly his breathing mask. A diver of the Liège Fire brigade was also injured bringing the unconscious diver to the surface. An medical crew start life saving measures but he died on the way to hospital. The diver was divorced and leaves a 7 year old daughter. Reported on Flanders News.
  226. 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).
  227. 1891 11 3 Pelkey Oliver USA 55 S/S Air Diving from the wrecking tug "Emerald" working out of Alpena (Thunder Bay, Lake Huron) searching for the wreck of the "Pewabic" - Lost August 1865 after a collision with her sister vesssel 'Meteor' with the loss of 125 lives, carrying copper (mostly salvaged during the first world war) - They found the wreck, returned to the site and diver entered the water. 20 minutes into the dive his signals stopped. "Six stalwart men were unable to pull him up and as a last resort the Captain ordered the lines made fast to the boat and the tug started ahead. Something finally parted and it was found that his body was yet attached to the lines. A hole in his armour near the hips indicated that water had rushed in and smothered him" New York Times
  228. 2007 12 29 Ernesto Silva Olguin Mexico Pemex Aged 35, Diving off the drilling rig 'Pride California'
  229. 1977 2 1 Solberg Ole Jan On NSDA database as American, possible fatality for a Norwegian company
  230. 1885 5 20 Larsen Ole Denmark S/S Air Aged 38, Salvage of the steamer 'Oresund', found dead on the wreck trapped by metal lying on his left arm. When recovered to the surface, it was discovered that his helmet had a hole in it and he is presumed to have drowned as a result of it flooding. Buried on the 25th May at the Fejo Parish Church, the day before his third child, Ole Laurits Larsen, was baptised there. Fejo archive at niwich.dk
  231. 1934 7 21 Pederson Olaf South Africa 9 S/S Air Aged 42, diving in Table Bay from the 'Epaty' salvaging copper ingots from the hull of the 'Hypatia' wrecked on Whale Rock in October 1929. Had been doing salvage work in the are for the previous 10 years . Gave the signal to lower the sling for copper but no ingots when it came to surface. This was followed by erratic line signals 'similar to the emergency signal' and the deck crew began to recover the diver. "Ordinarily done by one man, this task necessitated the combined efforts of four, indicating that the diver was a deadweight and something was wrong. When the diver appeared at the surface, it was seen that the face glass of his diving suit, including the frame, had apparently been unscrewed and was missing. The water had rushed in and filled the suit and the diver was unconscious. A slight movement of the lips was the only sign of life. Artificial respiration was immediately applied but without success. No water, it is stated, emerged from the body". Straits Times
  232. 2008 1 18 Hanson Ola Norway SCUBA Aged 25, from Karlskrona in Sweden, 4 man commercial scallop diving operation off a small fishing community of Froya in Southern Norway, found unconscious on the seabed attached to a scallop bag containimg 70Kg, cause of death not reported. One year old daughter, his mother said his dream was to work on the oil platforms. Reported by Dykarna.nu
  233. 2013 5 26 Harrison Okene Nigeria West African Ventures (Subsidiary of Sea Trucks) 30 Topsides The Jacson 4 sank in heavy weather off Escravos during a tanker towing operation. The cook was found alive in an air pocket in the upside down wreck on the seabed in 30 or 35 msw by divers 82 hourds later. He was rescued by DCN divers and recovered to the saturation diving system, successfully decompressed (32 hours), bend watch and then flown ashore by helicopter to his family. Longstreath
  234. 2008 3 8 Gallardo Obando Victor Chile Bibisier diving Died performing work on a fish farm in Aysen when no diving should have been taking place (Closed by authotities due to bad weather) Reported by Ecoceane
  235. 1952 0 0 Owen, RN, DSM Norman Warden UK British Rail S/S Air Holyhead, pier demolition using a hundred ton crane, sent in to unsnag wire, trapped two fingers of his right hand between pile and crane wire. "Unable to reach his exhaust valve to adjust the pressure in his suit or speak to the surface. With no chance of cutting the heavy wire, Owen reached for his diver's knife with his left hand and began to saw off his fingers, but as the blood billowed up past him he could not cut through the bone. In desperation Owen signalled to be pulled to the surface and two of his fingers "came away like pegs from a cribbage boar". He collected his tools and surfaced, where the men in the tender complained about his late arrival at the surface. Owen was rowed ashore and walked to the hospital 500 yards away: He remembered being told not to drip blood on the floor".
  236. 1996 12 0 Brannigan? Norman Canada Dominion Diving Clearing a blocked road culvert in Halifax, Nova Scotia, differential pressure, name not confirmed. PC (Possibly a double report for one of the too culvert deaths reported for 1995? TC)
  237. 1982 2 15 Halliday Norman Canada Hydrospace Saturation Diver in sat onboard the Ocean Ranger which sank in a storm with the loss of all 84 personnel onboard. How many other divers were onboard?
  238. 1975 3 18 McDonald Norman Canada Can Dive Services 6 Chamber Described as “Working in water more than 200 feet deep off the Harmac pulp mill (owned byMacMillan Bloedel Ltd)�, required surface decompression in deck chamber, “The RCMP said a diver burned to death when a spark ignited in the pure oxygen in the decompression chamber". Victim was not named. Reported in the Windsor Star. An alternative report says that the diver was completing his surface decompression at 1.6 bara (20 fsw) following a routine mixed gas dive dive to 275'. His respirator mask was not working correctly so he switched to a second that was 'Y' connected and put it on free flow which by-passed the overboard dump and allowed the O2 inside the chamber build to an estimated 40%. The diver was wearing two sweathers for warmth. As the chamber was being vented the diver removed his wool sweater from over the synthetic one. There was a flash inside the chamber and smoke poured out of the vents and BIBS dump. It was concluded that static electrical discharge was the initiating factorThe diver died as a result of the explosion, CO poisoning and asphyxia. Sheffield and Desautels “Hyperbaric and hypobaric Chamber fires, a 73 year analysis�, Undersea Hyperbaric Medicine, 1997, 24 (3): 153-164
  239. 2011 2 9 Rodriguez Norlan Jose Vasquez Nicaragua SCUBA Aged 28, rescue drill training exercise from the vessel "La Novia del Xolotlan" in the port of Managua, came to the surface calling for help but submerged before they could get to him. Body recovered two days later. No details. Nicaraguan Press
  240. 1977 1 2 Dubois Norbert France Comex Topsides Off Brittany Coast. Caught between the bell and chamber during TUP, crushed chest. Delayed medivac as the French Navy helicopter did not fly at night. PC
  241. 1976 12 4 Nabusset Norbert France Comex SCUBA Off Brittany coast. Dived from one moonpool to the other in high current, tide took him away, dragged back by lifeline but lost head gear, drowned. PC
  242. 1975 8 2 Schneider Noel Italy Comex Topsides Oilfield diving. Oxygen transfer inside a container on deck, O2 leakage, possibly exacerbated by dust, flash fire. Hot weather, three crew were only wearing shorts. Died in hospital. Triple fatality (with Philipe Salvatori and Serge Boulay). PC
  243. 2011 10 20 Sharma NK Iran Adsun Offshore Diving Contractors 70 Saturation DSV Koosha I, built 1982 in Australia (By Carrington Slipays as the 'Lady Sonia') owned by Darya Koosh, Iranian marine contractor, POB 73, 60 survivors, 6 divers in sat plus 7 others lost when ship sank off Lavan Island in the South Pars field 15 miles off the Iranian coast during pipeline installation operations around 17:30 hours on Thursday 20th October in bad weather. Rumoured to be a 4 man portable sat system with additional chamber to make it 6 man but only a 4 man HRC. Ship was loaded with two cement silos for grouting operations. One silo broke loose in rough weather and slid across deck causing list, this caused a gas rack to follow, increasing list. Sat control van broke off and fell overboard followed by second silo, holds flooded (hatches open) including all below decks compartments. Sank in mnutes. Believed storage depth was 64 metres, sank in 70 metres water depth. DSV 'Providence' on site the morning after, they recovered the bodies from the wreck three days after the sinking. Sat system flooded. Details to be added following investigation. UK Telegraph, Iranian press, PC
  244. 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
  245. 2012 4 13 Neve Nigel Gabon Topsides Acting as Company Site Representative on a DSV offshore Gabon, reported as possible stomach heamorrhage, no other etails. Longstreath blog
  246. 1969 6 15 Guagenti Nicholas L USA SCUBA Aged 25, diving for golf balls, Hawrthorne Hills Country Club, died in the water, no details
  247. 1976 5 12 Hubert Nicholas UK North Sea Diving Services 37 S/S Air British, aged 24. Pipelay barge "PT One Elfa Norge", looking for a broken transponder on the bottom of the TP1 under construction in Loch Fyne. After an uneventful dive he was approaching the surface when he died. It subsequently turned out that the transponder was not broken and the fault was on the surface. The cause of death was reported as AGE (Arterial Gas Embolism) through diving with a chest infection, lung collapse, pulmonary barotrauma
  248. 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
  249. 2017 12 17 Gubhela Nhlakanipho South Africa Aqua-tech SCUBA Aged 23, Pier 104, Durban Harbour, Vessel maintenance of the Chinese vessel Rui-Ning 2. "At 18h05, Sunday, 17th December, NSRI Durban duty crew were activated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) following a request for assistance from Aquatech reporting a diver missing in the Port of Durban. We believe that the diver reportedly went into the water on a dive to relieve another diver who was already under a ship during dive maintenance operations under a ship berthed in Port. At 17h00, reportedly after it appeared that the diver had not arrived to relieve the diver who was already under water (under the ship), Aquatech divers initiated a search and at 17h15 raised the alarm calling TNPA Port Control. 'The diver went missing while working on the hull of a vessel on Sunday. He was not wearing a lifeline at the time‚ a device that could easily have identified his position in the murky water, his body was recovered on Thursday morning.“He was found in the area where he went missing‚ strong winds blew his partially decomposed body back to the wharf where he was found this morning. “The official cause of death still needs to be investigated‚ but the diver is believed to have died from drowning. “He was dressed in diving gear with his cylinders attached‚ but he was not wearing a mask at the time of recovery.” The police diver said many questions needed to be asked about why proper safety precautions hadn’t been followed. Reported in the Daily News
  250. 2010 11 4 Dau Nguyen Van Vietnam Cienco No 1 32 S/S Air Paraphrased from press reports:- "A diver drowned in Da Nang Thursday while fixing a broken drill tip at a bridge construction site. The Diver, aged 33 was paid VND10 million (US$513) to bring up a drill tip from 32 meters below the surface of the Han River. His first dive was successful; and he surfaced after 15 minutes with part of the tip. He descended once again and didn't resurface. Another worker from  the Tran Thi Ly bridge construction site dived to check on Dau and found his dead body. Some of the workers said the tube supplying oxygen to Dau was narrow and might have twisted, diminishing Dau's air supply. Workers also said the cold water might have weakened him. Rescuers managed to bring his body to the surface on Thursday evening, seven hours after the event. First investigation showed that Dau had been stuck in a pipe, which is part of the bridge construction�. Thanh Nien News.com
  251. 2011 10 18 Castellano Nerio Enrique Vielma Venezuela Cooperativa Buzos Industriales Aged 33 or 34, married, three children. Lake Maracaibo, working on a gas line station repair (Flow station BA-12, Lake Bachaquero Production Unit). Seems to have been an entanglement/dropped object/ umbilical incident, but no coherent details. "Accident under investigation", body recovered 20 minutes after the initial incident and evacuated to Zulima Pier, Lagunillas. Diver had 12 years diving experience with an established diving contractor, became unemployed and joined CBI two weeks before the accident. Diario La Region/Noticia al Dia
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