Jump to content

Incidents List

  1. Year Month Day Surname Forenames Location Contractor Client Depth Type of Diving Details
  2. 1975 2 6 Martin John Douglas Norway Ocean Systems 41 S/S Air British, aged 30. Stavanger Fjord, Condeep platform, reported as 'Lost/ditched helmet, insufficient training' No explanation', body never recovered, but he had 15 years experience.
  3. 1908 1 12 Clarke John New Zealand 41 S/S Air Off Aukland, second diver to die (the other was Harper, 1907) working on the wreck of the Eligamite "A telegram from the Elingamite expedition states that the party is returning to Auckland, Diver Clarke having died at 10:30 last night. no further information is given. This is the second diver who has died while engaged in attempting to recover the gold lost in the Elingamite". Hawera and Normamby Star, National Library of New Zealand
  4. 1907 1 23 Harper New Zealand 41 S/S Air Off Aukland, attempting to recover gold from the wreck of the Eligamite. ""After three descents and securing 800 sovereigns, died suddenly", reported in the Camperdown Chronicle, Vic
  5. 2017 6 22 Naung Ko Saw Myanmar An-na-wa 40m Aged 45, Salvage of a crashed Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) Y-8 (Chinese built (Shaanxi) four engine turboprop military transport plane) off Launglon Township (13 miles from Dawai). Removing nets from the tail and trying to locate the black box, at least two, possibly three successive dives with partner Ko Thant Zin Oo, surfaced and prepared to eat, Ko Saw Naung collapsed, Ko Thant Zin Oo paralysed legs/hands. 'Local villagers' took them both down to 60 feet, Ko Saw Naung recovered consciousness. Recovered to surface and both passed out, possibly 6 further attempts at in water treatment 'I recovered conscious, he did not' said Ko Thant Zin Oo. Taken ashore and given three further therapeutic treatments, Ko Thant Zin Oo recovered in hospital but Ko Saw Nauntg died. Reported in the Myanmar times
  6. 2012 3 1 Not Recorded Sergio Spain 40 SCUBA Aged 21, student at the Alicante Marine and Fisheries Institute, enrolled in a profesional diving course at the college, was on a training dive with a teacher and three other students to 40 metres, took out mouthpiece, swallowed water, panicked and made emergency ascent without stops. Given oxygen therapy and transferred ashore to a hyperbaric centre and treated for ommitted decompression. The teacher and one other student who assisted him to the surface undertook another dive to complete their decompression stops. The report commented that tests to assess students prior to being allowed to take the diving course (Swimming, breath holding for a minute and an 18 metre free dive) were discontinued 5 years ago and that has resulted "in a huge deficiency in the quality of the students" Reported by Informacion.es
  7. 2010 9 9 Ispas Lt. Catalin Romania Hunter SRL 40 SCUBA Turkish cargo vessel 'Medy' sank six miles off Constanta breakwater on the 1st September 2010. Private diving contractor put 4 divers onboard an ARSVOM (Navy) vessel to do a pollution survey to establish a contingency plan. First team dived successfully, second team (Ispas and Zarafu) followed, but nether surfaced. Romanian authorities intervened to remove the 22 tons of fuel and about two tons of oil and hired in a specialist Turkish diving contractor. To reach fuel tanks and engine room of the wreck, divers made a hole in the hull and began emptying the fuel tanks. The body of Ispas was found inside the engine room on the 12th December (Drowned, but with 20 bar air pressure still in his cylinder). Attributed to Nitrogen Narcosis. Apparently entered the wreck without using a lifeline (Ispas worked for the Naval emergency services but worked also for the diving contractor, unclear if he was a qualified commercial diver, Zarrafu was a full time commercial diver. No DDC, no medical back-up. The body of Zarafu was recovered on the 23rd December. Reported by Jurnalul.ro
  8. 2010 9 9 Zarafu Cristian Romania Hunter SRL 40 SCUBA Turkish cargo vessel 'Medy' sank six miles off Constanta breakwater on the 1st September 2010. Private diving contractor put 4 divers onboard an ARSVOM (Navy) vessel to do a pollution survey to establish a contingency plan. First team dived successfully, second team (Ispas and Zarafu) followed, but nether surfaced. Romanian authorities intervened to remove the 22 tons of fuel and about two tons of oil and hired in a specialist Turkish diving contractor. To reach fuel tanks and engine room of the wreck, divers made a hole in the hull and began emptying the fuel tanks. The body of Ispas was found inside the engine room on the 12th December (Drowned, but with 20 bar air pressure still in his cylinder). Attributed to Nitrogen Narcosis. Apparently entered the wreck without using a lifeline (Ispas worked for the emergency services but worked also for the diving contractor, unclear if he was a qualified commercial diver, Zarrafu was a full time commercial diver. No DDC, no medical back-up. The body of Zarafu was recovered on the 23rd December. Reported by Jurnalul.ro
  9. 2008 4 25 Rebolledo Andres Nelson Bustamente Chile Cultivos Marinos Chiloe 40 Chilean, aged 29, Salmon farm in central Butachauques, reported as DCI, died in hospital (inference is SCUBA and no DDC, to be confirmed) "Third diver to die in the industry this year. Reported that there have been 54 fatalities in the salmon industry since 2005. Ecoceane
  10. 2007 8 7 Primeau Christopher N USA Associated Underwater Services, Spokane 40 S/S Air American aged 35. Cherry Point Refinery, Bellingham (North of Puget sound). Sheriff's report "Primeau was checking for rocks/underwater cables, his job was to signal when 24-foot-tall steel pilings weighing up to nine tons could be lowered into the water, when crews could start driving the pilings and when they should stop once they'd been driven in to the appropriate depth. Depth about 140 feet, he signalled for crews to begin driving a piling, within 13 seconds, Primeau screamed, "All stop! All stop!" Camera and light on his helmet went dead, no comms. Hammer may have disconnected causing the piling to fall over. OSHA fines of $21,650.
  11. 2001 12 17 Not Recorded Germany 40 SCUBA Aged 29, wife and six year old daughter, the manager of a 5 man diving contractor from Hamburg, 10 o'clock on a Monday morning, cleaning operations on frond mats at the Droda Dam, two man dive, after 10 minutes partner caught in fronds and had to ditch his weight belt and lost his knife, he surface safely but realised the other diver had not surfaced but could not go down to to lack of weight belt. Body pulled up on a line (lifeline?), may have been without cylinders when recovered (ditched his gear?), entangled, lost his cyliners, no other details. Reported in Schatzsucher.de
  12. 2000 11 6 Ferreiro Eduardo Spain Tycsub 40 SCUBA Paraphrased from Press reports: “The accident killed a 35 year old diver carrying out commercial diving on a sewage outfall pipe at Mompos in San Sebastian. Contractor did not have the required permission from Maritime to carry out the work, no insurance, the diver had no medical, no in date SCUBA cylinder certificate, The ruling states that "The incident occurred about 11:00 pm on 6 December 2000, when the victim, who was turning 32, was unconscious with narcosis, anxiety, shortness of breath or over-exertion that could lead to carbon dioxide poisoning that caused death by cardiac arrest. These deficiencies pose serious violation of the applicable regulations posing a grave risk to workers leading to the death of the diver which would have been avoided had if the legally required security measures had been adopted by the accused�. Diver had no qualifications, and even if so would only have been certified to 25 metres under current legislation, no permit to dive from harbourmaster, no stand-by diver. The company manager was sentenced to a year and a half in prison, a fine of 1,080 euros, and ordered to compensate the family of the deceased with a total of 160,000 euros 5 years after the fatality. Bajoelagua.com
  13. 1998 5 18 Johnson Grey China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  14. 1998 5 18 MacPhail Alister China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  15. 1998 5 18 Shord Mike China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  16. 1998 5 18 Skeate Martin China Oceaneering 40 Saturation Australian, "Ocean Winsertor", on contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries, Poisoned by seabed toxins (H2S, arsenic, Mercury) then circa 12 Chinese divers subsequently medivac'd. All Oceaneering divers survived, but have suffered ever since.
  17. 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.
  18. 1966 4 27 Binney John L USA Military 40 SCUBA Aged 28, university of Oregon research assistant, hired by the US Army Corps of Engineers to inspect a 130' shaft containing a concrete bulkhead at the Hills Creek water reservoir near Oakridge, with partner (Lavey) descended to 90', partner left basket and went to 130', returned to basket and both divers recovered to 10', Lavey then swam to the top of the dam, left the water and began removing his gear. At this point Binney's lifeline went slack. Lavey went back into the water with a fresh tank plus spare. After about 5 minutes, workers on the surface saw a sudden increase in bubbles after which they stopped. Work basket was recovered, but he was dead when brought to the surface. Binney's body was recovered from 130 by divers from Portland Commercial divers (Who also completed the inspection work). Neither dead diver had air in their tanks when recovered though cause of death was not clear (twin hose regulators, could have vented) Double fatality. Reported in the Eugene register-Guard
  19. 1936 8 5 Not Recorded Australia 40 S/S Air "Two Japanese Divers Drown When Boat Drifts" Two divers working in only helmets, corselets and flannels signalled to the tenders to slacken the air pipe to enable them to gather shell. When no further signals were received, the crew hauled up the lines the helmets came up without the divers. It is believed that the divers were following the common practice of taking off their helmets to gather shell and that the boat had drifted too far, carrying the helmets beyond the reach of the divers. The fleet spent some considerable time searching for their bodies, but without success. 5 deaths from paralysis are reported to have occurred recently among the divers of the Japanese fleet which is extimated to comprise of more than 70 boats. Reported in the Central Queensland Herald
  20. 1914 6 21 Cossoboom Canada Quebec Salvage Company 40 S/S Air American, From New York, working on the wreck of the “Empress of Ireland� (Sank in the St Lawrence Seaway after a collision with the loss of around 800 persons) recovering bodies, lost contact with surface, was recovered unconscious to the schooner “Josephine� by a Royal Navy diver from the Cruiser Essex, failed to respond to treatment, died 30 minutes later. It appears he dropped from the superstructure (80' water depth) to the seabed (130' water depth) and was squeezed. Reported in the New York Times
  21. 1744 6 22 Day John UK 40 Submarine Day was an English Carpenter/wheelwright. With the financial support of Christopher Blake, an English gambler, Day built a wooden "diving chamber" without an engine. He attached his invention to the deck of a 50 ton sloop named the Maria, which Blake had purchased for £340. The sloop's hold contained 10 tons of ballast, and two 10-ton weights were attached beneath the keel which could be released from inside the diving chamber. An additional 20 tons of ballast would be loaded on the Maria after Day had been locked inside the diving chamber. Day bet Blake that he and his boat could descend to a depth of 130 feet (40 m) and stay underwater for 12 hours. On June 22, 1774, the Maria was towed to a location north of Drakes Island (off Plymouth), Day took a candle, water and biscuits on board. The boat was equipped with a hammock for the passenger. After the boat was locked, the weights were loaded and the boat sank forever into the depths. Day had the calculation of the trim completely wrong. There is speculation whether Day died from asphyxiation, hypothermia or just drowned following catastrophic structural failure of the Maria and/or the diving chamber due to water pressure. This incident is believed to be the first recorded fatal accident involving a submarine. Wikipedia
  22. 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
  23. 2012 3 18 Kelley Daniel USA Sunset Beach Oyster Company 4 Aged 48, commercial geoduck harvesting off Ayock point in the Hood Canal, ill in the water and stopped responding to signals, pulled out of the water and began CPR, transported ashore and taken to Mason General hospital where he was pronounced dead. Reported as having drowned after having a heart attack. Autopsy revealed the diver 'had pre-existing conditions that may have led to the heart attack'. Toxicology testing ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. KMAS News Radio
  24. 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
  25. 2010 7 29 Dobrajc Ziga Italy 4 Rebreather Aged 31, Slovenian biologist working at the Piran Marine Biology centre, diving on a 'Trieste HBY' rebreather off Miramar, injured in the same incident that killed Samo Alajbegovich on the 25th July. He was recovered from the sea unconscious by rescuers 10 metres from the shore in less than 4 metres of water. On life support in hospital for 4 days, declared brain dead, life support switched off. Reported in Slowwwenia.enaa.com
  26. 2010 6 7 Beare Lloyd USA Dryden Diving 4 S/S Air Aged 45, one of a team that had been diving at the Indian point Nuclear Power Station in Buchanan for a couple of weeks. Working on a retaining wall between the Hudson River and a discharge channel. Stopped responding to surface, pulled up but did not respond to treatment, thought to be natural causes but examiner reported cause of death was not a heart attack. Waiting on reports. NBC News
  27. 2009 10 6 York Jamie Canada ODS Marine 4 SCUBA Paraphrased from press reports. “Canadian, from Ottawa, aged 35, contracted by Parks Canada to carry out cleaning operations along the Trent waterway drowned following the accident on Dam 1 at Trenton's north end despite dramatic attempts to rescue him. Initial reports indicated the diver became trapped while removing logs in four metres of water. He said the ministry dispatched their own divers to the scene in order to help with the rescue attempt. At one point one of the ministry divers supplied air to the trapped man. Fellow dive team members called for help at about 9:20 am when the diver did not surface. At that point, reports to rescue officials said, he'd been down for five minutes without contact from the surface. It would be more than two hours before his body was recovered and resuscitation efforts would be called off.� The Belleville Intelligencer. Parks Canada later disbanded their part-time in-house dive team ('having reviewed their insurance') even though they had a 100 year safe diving record and the diver that died was working for a diving contractor. Court case in 2011 The trial was told that he was diving from a pontoon boat positioned near the dam when he reported that a “stop log,� the device used to control water flow, was not sitting properly. He told the support crew aboard the boat that the water was “ripping� through the gap. He was told to try to get a closer view of the stop log, but was sucked by the current into the gap. A crew from the Quinte West Fire Department used underwater cameras to find York’s body and was able to free him, but he was pronounced dead at Trenton Memorial Hospital. A post-mortem found York had died from chest compression while he was trapped. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the pontoon boat had been positioned in such a way that York’s umbilical cord to the surface had been sucked into the gap by the current, pulling the diver in with it. The Ministry found that the dive should have been stopped as soon as York reported the gap. Contractor was fined $100,000 and also ordered to pay a 25-per-cent victim surcharge to assist victims of crime. The diving supervisor was personnaly fined $8,000 for failing to ensure the diver was provided with safe working conditions, protection, measures and procedures (Specifically the diving supervisor "shall ensure that diving is not conducted in hazardous water flow conditions" The Ottawa Citizen/Belleville Intelligencer
  28. 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.
  29. 2008 6 1 Swisher Donald USA Fireman 4 SCUBA American, aged 51, a member of the Arlington Heights (Illinois) fire department's technical rescue, hazardous materials response, water rescue and recovery dive teams, off duty, cleaning a swimming pool, autopsy concluded that he drowned. No explanation, might have involved heavy weight belt/inlet suction
  30. 2008 3 6 Le Pottier Marcel France Fire Brigade 4 SCUBA French fire brigade officer aged 42, two man team on SCUBA inspecting the hull of a damaged trawlerin the harbour of Saint-Quay-Portrieux in Brittany, tide going out, trawler rolled on its side, diver crushed against the quay.
  31. 2005 6 3 Cardenas Jr Ciro USA 4 SCUBA Drowned in a drainage pipe, no lifeline or standby diver, scuba gear minus straps, he was holding or dragging his air tank along the 36-inch-wide drainage pipe when he drowned.
  32. 2005 0 0 Not Recorded France Aplomb 4 Commercial diver recovering car from inland lake.
  33. 2001 10 4 Udalov S. USSR 4 S/S Air Aged 44 While working on unloading the cargo from the wrecked ship "Volgo-Don-145" Air hose, cut by the piece of metal, diver died. No details. Undersea Review
  34. 1997 3 10 Helton Eric J USA Subaqueous Services 4 Aged 20, dredging a dock using a hand-held suction hose on the lighthouse Point Canal, Broward, trapped and buried under 12' sand and rock, body recovered 24 hours later using twin water jets, reported in the Miami Herald.
  35. 1989 8 11 Carter Mike USA 4 SCUBA Aged 34, described as an experienced diver, drowned whilst replacing a pond drainage system on a farm three miles north of the town of Marion, 'not entangled or trapped, plenty of air in his tank. Investigators stated that “He might have been tired from work done on the previous day and plan no autopsy or further investigations�
  36. 1984 11 24 Edie Winfield S USA Police 4 SCUBA American police diver aged 29, Wenatchee, Washington State. First open water training dive, surfaced, yelled for help, sank, resurfaced, yelled again and sank, found on the bottom in 12' of water, could not be resuscitated
  37. 1976 9 3 Critchfield Scott USA Aqua Hut 4 SCUBA Aged 22, Bowling Green Country Club Golf course, working on a submerged pump supplying a sprinkler system, colleague "Turned on the pump at a pre-arranged signal", about 30 seconds later the diver 'came struggling to the surface'. He went to get a rope but when he returned, the diver had disappeared. The diver's body was recovered about 20 feet from the shore. Possible electrocution, but no details. Toledo Blade.
  38. 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.
  39. 1958 3 11 Not Recorded USA Boston Naval Base 4 A civilian diver employed by :contractor working for the Navy at the South Boston Naval Shipyard became wedged at the bottom of piling, twelve feet below the surface within inches of rescue, but drowned. No details. New York Times
  40. 1956 8 1 Edgerton Wiliam USA 4 Rebreather Aged 23, part of a 20 man, privately funded, team that had chartered the 60' diving tender 'Capt Samuel Jameson' engaged to take photographs of the sunken liner 'Andrea Doria' which lies about 45 miles south. He was undertaking a training dive in Nantucket harbour. Dr Christian Lambertson, the team physician who had developed a type of mixed gas diving kit for the US Navy, and who was diving with Edgerton at the time of his death ("diving in about 12 feet of water tp familiarise Edgerton with the type of 'mixed gas' cylinders that Lambertson had developed for Navy divers"), said that a valve on his diving equipment had somehow become partially closed ("Edgerton may have accidently struck the valve against the side of the boat or become confused and closed it himself"). Died from "Lack of oxygen in the blood". Daytona Beach Morning Journal.
  41. 1954 10 11 Reed Jerry B USA 4 S/S Air Aged 32, Captain of the Ohio River boat 'Martha Green',working at an underwater sluice on a backwater at the Indiana-Kentucky Electric Company plant at Evansville. He had hired a man to handle the surface equipment - who knew nothing about diving equipment - whilst he was diving, the equipment broke down, his air was cut off and he drowned. The News-Sentinel
  42. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 1 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air Aged 53, experienced diver, initially reported as 'Met his death whilst at wotk'. Hornby dock, Liverpool, working on the vessel 'Gulf of Taranto'. He was placing a sealing pad over a valve inlet diffuser on a vessel hull, differential pressure incident (arm pulled into hull when the valve was removed because the diffuser was mounted on the valve not the hull). They managed to pull him free but he was unconscious when recovered to deck, taken to Bootle hospital, but failed to respond to treatment. Coroner’s verdict:- Suffocated. Reported in the Liverpool Mercury. See following two entries below for more detail.<br />http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/deathsandinquests1896.html
  43. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 2 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air William Storey, the incident:- Liverpool diver William STOREY, of 8 Toxteth St, a man of middle age and great experience, was engaged in the pursuance of his risky occupation when he met with his death under strange and peculiar circumstances. STOREY was working with two other men at the steamship ‘Gulf of Taranto’ lying in the Hornby Dock. The valve in the hull of the vessel required repair, and to enable this work to be carried out it was necessary that a "pad" should be fixed on the hull, so that the valve might be removed for repair without risking the flooding of the ship. This is the work that STOREY had to accomplish. A platform was lowered alongside the vessel, and STOREY, properly equipped in his diving-suit, went below. He signalled to the man in charge of the life-line to lower the stage. The next signal called for the "pad" A few minutes after the "pad" was lowered, yopsides received the signal "All right" which meant that the valve could be removed any moment. On board the vessel was the superintendent engineer of the Gulf Line of steamers, and as soon as the word was received from the divers the valve was unscrewed he called attention to the fact that the "pad" was leaky. Water was spurting in then the next moment a portion of the pad and the diver's arm were forced through the aperture. About this moment STOREY signalled to be drawn up, but the pressure of the water increased tremendously by the suction through the now open valve, jammed him tight against the vessel, and hauling him to the surface proved a matter of great difficulty. Mr M'KAY forced the diver's arm out through the aperture again, but the combined efforts of three men, instead of the customary one were necessary before the poor fellow was got out of the water. Storey was then unconscious and apparently dead, the sleeve of his diving-dress considerably torn, having been damaged by the violence with which his arm had been forced through the valve hole. When his headgear was removed it was found that he had been bleeding badly from the ears. The Bootle Fire Brigade horse ambulance was promptly summoned and STOREY was taken to Bootle Hospital. Upon arrival he was examined by the house-surgeon, who pronounced life extinct. Appearances hardly point to drowning and it seems more probable the unfortunate diver was either suffocated when his dress was torn open at the sleeve, or that the life was crushed out of him against the side of the vessel when the valve was removed without the "pad" apparently being properly secured
  44. 1896 9 30 Storey William - entry 3 of 3 UK John Gibney and Co. Master Divers, Chapel Street, Liverpool 4 S/S Air er was fast in some way, he called the man tending the air pipe even with his help it was impossible to raise the diver. He asked for assistance from a flatman with the combined efforts of the three of them they managed to raise the diver. Witness rapidly took off the diver's mouthpiece and saw STOREY was apparently dead. The deceased was at about 12ft under the water and from the time the signal came to pulling him up only minutes had elapsed. The Coroner elicited the information that the ship's hull was covered with a perforated metal rose, after the style of a rose on a watering can. Witness said, this rose was normally affixed to the skin of the vessel but in the present case it was affixed to the valve, this was important and the diver ought to have been told of it. Had witness known of it he would have used a wooden plug to stop up the hole instead of a pad to cover it. The hole was six inches in diameter. The post mortem results were that the skin of the deceased was a dusky colour. Blood had oozed from the right ear and there was a large bruise on the upper part of the left forearm and elbow. There were no broken bones or injuries that might have caused death. The vessels of the brain were congested but the brain tissue healthy. The lungs were very much congested and there was a good deal of mucus in the bronchial tubes. The small air vessels of the lungs were ruptured by the efforts to inspire. The heart was flabby and rather fatty, the valves being more or less closed, especially the mitrial and aortic. The blood throughout the body was a dark colour, a marked indication of suffocation. The cause of death was suffocation. The Coroner then addressed the jury, summing up the evidence and pointing out it was for them to decide whether any one was criminally liable for the death of the diver, they could express an opinion as to what led up to the suffocation which according to the medical evidence was the direct cause of death, or they could leave that point alone. After deliberation in private the jury found that death was due to suffocation, but how that was brought about they were unable to say. The funeral was reported as:- The remains of William STOREY, Diver, were interred yesterday morning in Toxteth Park Cemetery in the presence of a large number of friends. The deceased who was an experienced diver unfortunately met his death last Wednesday while working on the steamship Gulf of Taranto in the Hornby Dock. The coffin was covered with beautiful wreaths and the brass shield bore the inscription, "William STOREY, died September 30. 1896, aged 53 years�
  45. 1875 10 4 Grelee Harry W USA 4 S/S Air Town of Lowell, swept under a projecting timber by fast current, air hose kinked, signalled surface that he was in trouble but they were unable to pull him out. 'His lifeless body was extricated and brought to the surface by his brother'. Reported in the New York Times.
  46. 2014 2 1 Moreno Franco Israel Costa Concordia, Gigio Island, Italy Underwater Contractor Spain 3m Air News report from Canadian Business: ROME: A diver died Saturday while working on the shipwrecked Costa Concordia, apparently gashing his leg on an underwater metal sheet while preparing the wreck for removal, officials and news reports said. Italy's civil protection agency, which is overseeing the removal of the Concordia from Tuscany's coast, said the diver hailed from Spain. Tuscany's La Nazione newspaper said the diver had been working on preparations to affix huge tanks onto sides of the Concordia to float the ship off its false seabed and tow it to a port for eventual dismantling. It said he apparently gashed his leg on an underwater metal sheet and was then unable to get free, bleeding profusely before a diver colleague was able to bring him to the surface. The report said he was conscious upon surfacing but later died. The diver, who wasn't identified by authorities, is the first to die in the line of work on salvaging the Concordia ever since it slammed into a reef off Giglio island on Jan. 13, 2012, killing 32 passengers and crew. A diver died last year, but the causes were reportedly unrelated to the work. The Concordia was righted in preparation for removal during a remarkable, 19-hour engineering feat last fall in which a system of pulleys wrenched the 300-meter-long (1,000-foot-long), 115,000-ton cruise ship from its side to vertical. A dozen giant tanks were affixed to its exposed port side and filled with water to help pull the ship upright.<br />The current project that the diver was working on was to prepare the starboard side, which had been underwater until the ship was righted, to hold a similar number of tanks. The tanks will be emptied of water and used to literally float the wreck off the seabed, so it can be towed away from Giglio, brought to a port and taken apart for scrap. Officials say they hope to have it removed by June. The 600 million euro ($810 million) removal project, which has already run nearly twice its original cost estimates, is the most ambitious ever attempted for a ship the size of the Concordia. In a statement, the head of the civil protection agency, Franco Gabrielli, expressed condolences for the death and recalled the dedication of people working on the wreckage, saying they had worked for two years without a break, in difficult conditions not without risks, to achieve the common goal of removing the Concordia from Giglio. The ship's captain is currently on trial for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and leaving the ship before all passengers were evacuated. Prosecutors have accused him of taking the ship off course in a stunt to bring it closer to Giglio. Capt. Francesco Schettino has said he saved lives by steering the ship to shallow waters after it ran aground on a reef that wasn't on his nautical charts. On Friday, Italy's highest court let stand plea bargains reached by five other Costa employees. Costa is a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp., the world's largest cruise line.
  47. 2014 11 11 Harris Kevin USA Aqua Vac Inc 3m SCUBA Aged 23, from Jenison, Michigan, dredging a retention pond in New Albany (Opposite the Discovery Financial services complex) "His co-worker called 911 at 15:47 after he failed to surface, "We're dredging the pond," he told the dispatcher. "I had a SCUBA diver in the water and I noticed his bubbles stopped coming up. I went into the water to find him and he's not anywhere where his equipment was. ... He's still underwater. I don't know where he is...." Body recovered at 16:47 some 50 feet from shore in 12' of water, air cylinder empty. (Aqua Vac were fined $4,500 after the death of Michael Johnson in November 2009). Reported in the Columbus Dispatch.
  48. 2016 6 7 Hill Charles A USA 3m SCUBA Aged 63, Diving with his son for golf balls at the Dogwood Hills Golf Course, Waverly, Ohio, body recovered 50 feet from shore in about 8 feet of water. Reported in the NYPost
  49. 2011 10 19 Gould Joseph Patrick Gordon USA Midco Diving 38 Aged 32, From Minnesota, working on lake Sakakawea, diving on the intake of the water intake to the city of Parshall. Installing pipe/welding, reports not clear. "It appears his diving equipment became entangled", communications failed, tugged on his lines to alert surface, the stand-by diver "was unable to untangle him". The body was retrieved and taken to the North Dakota Medical Examiner's office for autopsy. No other details. Bismark Tribune, Rapid city journal etc
  50. 1938 4 3 Fujii Tohikazu Australia Wyben Pearling Company 38 S/S Air Pearl Diver Killed When Coral Fouled Air Line. CAIRNS, Friday. — When his air line became fouled in a coral outcrop in 21 fathoms of water 10 miles from Darnley Island in Torres Strait, a Japanese diver, Tohikazu Fujii, 26, threw off his helmet, corselet, heavy boots and gloves. His dead body floated to the surface as another diver prepared to go down to free the air line. The tender was still pumping air into the discarded helmet. ' The story of the latest Barrier Reef tragedy was told by passengers in the Wandana, which called at Cairns yesterday. Fujil was number 2 diver in the Wyben Pearling Company's lugger ‘Panten’, pearling off Darnley Island on April 3. Fuji had been below for 25 minutes when the tender signaled him to rise. His reply was 'Wait a minute. Believing that he had come on a patch of shell, the tender continued pumping. Shortly afterwards the lifeline became taut, and the captain (Captain Jube Nakai), ordered another diver to go down and clear the line. As he was putting on his helmet Fujii's body came to the surface. He was placed in a diver's suit and taken 12 fathoms below and then brought up in stages over a period of 30 minutes. There was no sign of life when Fujii was hauled on board again, and the lugger immediately returned to Thursday Island, where a doctor certified that the man had died from diver's paralysis. The opinion of the other divers was that Fujil became panic stricken when he felt, the air line tighten and at tempted to rise without his suit. Reported in the Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Qld.
  51. 1934 8 10 Dramin Does bin Australia Hornsby 38 S/S Air “TWENTY-ONE FATHOMS DOWN. Pearl Diver's Death�. “The Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. H. Douglas) received a message from Inspector Tuohy yesterday that a Malay diver named Does Bin Dramin (30), had died at sea near Broome on Friday last. He had been working at 21 fathoms for a pearler named Hornsby. The body was brought to Broome, where an inquest will be held�. Reported in the West Australian, Perth, WA
  52. 1930 6 9 Marumoto Sanzo Australia 38 S/S Air Japanese diver, pearling west of Booby Island (Near Thursday Island), "Air pipe burst in 21 fathoms" The Advocate, Tasmania. “Japanese Diver Drowned. His airpipe bursting in 21 fathoms of water on Sunday, west of Booby Island, in Thursday Island waters, a Japanese diver, Sanzo Marumoto, was drowned. There were no suspicious circumstances. advice to this effect has been received by the Cairns police authorities�. Reported in the Cairns Post, Qld.
  53. 2009 12 13 Kumar Mukesh India Grafftech Marine and Engineering 37 S/S Air Paraphrased from press reports: Purulia, India .An Indian diver who had is right foot stuck in a pipe for more than two days has died. Rescuers were forced to amputate his leg in order to recover the body after 72 hours. He was attempting to fix a leak inside an underwater chamber of the Purulia Power Project reservoir first noticed in March (The leak was reducing efficiency). The Mumbai-based engineering Company assigned the job to a diving team from Visakhapatnam The job was to locate the leak in the inundated reservoir chamber, find out what had caused it and carry out repairs. The repair work was to have been recorded on camera but there is no footage of Mukesh's dive. During the dive his right foot was sucked into a pipe. A specially trained diving team from Barrackpore called in to assist in the rescue got stuck in a road blockade and took more than 33 hours to reach the accident site. The diver was underwater well over 48 hours before he died. The project manager said amputation was the last resort and a move not without complications. "We had to eliminate all other options and proceed step by step", he said. According to reports Kumar was an experienced diver with 10 years of diving behind him. Purulia, Dec. 16: "Diver Mukesh Kumar's right leg was sawed off and his lifeless body pulled out, 72 hours after his foot got sucked into a drainage pipe in an underwater chamber. The suction at the mouth of the drainage pipe was so great that it had drawn in the leg till almost the thigh, though it was only till the ankle that his had foot got stuck initially. Officials of the Purulia Pumped Storage Project said "The task of locating and repairing the leak has been shelved for the time being". Reported by AHN
  54. 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
  55. 1991 0 0 Black George Netherlands Comex 37 Saturation Bellman, 2 divers in the water, died of a heart attack in the bell. No details
  56. 1980 2 15 Walter Brian Qatar Comex 37 SCUBA Diving untended off Halul Island. Vomited underwater, failed to surface. PC
  57. 1976 5 13 Dymott C UK SBM Anglesey 37 SCUBA British, aged 26, drowned. 2 divers reported in trouble, located by stand-by(s) on seabed. Dymott with mouthpiece out, dive time listed as 5 hours?
  58. 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
  59. 1976 5 3 Dobson Anthony (Tony) UK Comex 37 S/S Air British, aged 30. Pipelay barge "Orca", stinger checks, either umbilical snagged subsea, pulled out of basket during recovery, extended umbilical (OD), or fouling of long umbilical in tideway, lost mouthpiece (HSE), stand-by diver could not reach him, drowning
  60. 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
  61. 1975 7 6 Carson W UK Underwater Security Ltd. 37 SCUBA British, aged 20. "Celtic Surveyor", Scapa Flow, double fatality (Walsh), 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
  62. 1972 0 0 Not Recorded USA 37 S/S Air “The victim was diving from a salvage ship and removing steel from a sunken ship at 120 feet. He wore a variable volume dry suit and lightweight helmet. The victim had been down 26 minutes on his first dive of the day when he told the surface personnel that he could not get any air and that a piece of steel had fallen onto his air hose. According to the accident reports, the standby diver was in the water within 3 minutes and two SCUBA divers were in within 10 minutes. The victim was brought to the surface, re compressed and CPR administered to no avail� Reported in the statistics of the University of Michigan, Michigan Sea Grant Program, 1979.
  63. 1953 9 15 Nellman Tom Jack Australia Duffield Brothers 37 S/S Air “PEARL DIVER DISAPPEARS. THURSDAY ISLAND, Fri. “A Torres Strait Islander, Tom Jack Nellman (30) disappeared last Tuesday while diving for pearlshell in about 20 fathoms off Bobo, near Daru Island, from the launch ‘Laura’, owned by Duffield Brothers of Thursday Island. The ‘Laura’ returned here late last night. The police are investigating�. Reported in the Northern Miner, Charters towers, Qld
  64. 1939 9 23 Salile Ahmat bin Australia 37 S/S Air Malay Diver Killed. PERTH. Saturday. ‘While working In 20 fathoms of water 19 miles off shore from Anna Plains pearling grounds 180 miles south of Broome, a Malay pearl diver, Ahmat Bin Salile, 24, operating from a pearling lugger, was killed when the air pipe fouled on a coral reef. Reported in the Sunday Mail, Brisbane, Qld.
  65. 1938 7 13 Okada Australia 37 S/S Air “JAPANESE DIVER IS SEIZED UNDER SEA. Dragged By Groper or Shark From Helmet in 20 Fathoms� DARWIN, Tuesday: “Dragged out of his helmet and corselet by a giant groper or shark, a Japanese diver named Okada, 25, was killed on the sea-floor more than 120 feet below the surface, near Bathurst Island. When the Japanese lugger ‘Zuiyo’ reached Darwin late last night with the flag flying half-mast Captain Nakashiba said that 21 divers scoured the seabed for hours after Okada's disappearance; but could find no trace of the missing man. Captain Nakashiba said that his vessel was pearling on the bed off Bathurst Island on Monday when the first diver, who had been using a full diving dress came to the surface, and said that he was suffering from paralysis. After being staged, or decompressed, he was not permitted to dive again and young Okada an apprentice went down. As with many Japanese divers, he refused to wear full diving dress, using only helmet and corselet, the lower part of his body being naked. He was lowered 20 fathoms to the bottom and commenced picking up shell. Twenty minutes later he signalled to be pulled up. He too, was suffering from diver's paralysis. He was, therefore, lowered back to be staged. Shortly afterwards it was noticed that the lifeline had gone slack. It was pulled up and only the helmet and corselet appeared above the surface. Other loggers in the vicinity were signalled to the scene, and 21 divers were sent down to search for Okada; It is believed that one of the giant groupers which slide along the sea floor seized Okada and dragged, him out of his helmet. Another theory is that he was taken by a shark, although experienced divers say that sharks are too timid to attack a diver�. Reported in the Goulburn Evening Penny Post, NSW
  66. 1937 5 20 Sakamoto Keniko or Kinicho Australia Bowden Pearling Company 37 S/S Air "A Japanese lugger brought into Darwin the body of Keniko Sakamoto, aged 25, a diver who was drowned by the bursting of the air pipe when he was working at 20 fathoms. This is the tenth fatality this season amongst divers working the pearling grounds northwest of the Liverpool river". Reported in the Worker, Brisbane.
  67. 1935 11 1 Yachie Sahden Bin Australia 37 S/S Air "Malay Diver's Death While Pearl Fishing". Perth, Friday, "Sahden Bin Yachie (24), a Malay Pearl diver, died off the coast of Broome after having operated at 20 fathoms from 7 am to 4 pm. When Yachie was pulled up he complained of paralysis symptoms, and for several hours after was subjected to three further stagings at various depths to counter the effects. It was thought that he had been cured, but four hours later he died after a convulsive fit. Word of this tragedy, which happened on November 1, was received by police today (3rd January, 1936). reported in The Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW. Another report sates "MALAY DIVER'S DEATH. The report of the death of a Malay diver, Sahdan Bin Yachie, apparently from paralysis due to deep water diving, was received from Broome by the Commissioner of Police (Mr. D. Hunter) yesterday. The diver was engaged on the pearl lugger Esquimaux, and replaced the first diver, who was sick, on October 31. He came to the surface at 5.30 pm, complaining of sickness. The first diver ordered him to be staged.' This process was continued until midnight, when the diver stated that he was feeling well. He suffered a relapse, however, and after an unsuccessful attempt to equip him for further staging he died" The West Australian.
  68. 1935 10 25 Fukami Maso Australia 37 S/S Air Japanese, aged 23, Bathurst island, bitten on the left wrist by a snake, surfaced and a tounequet put on the bite, put back in the water to decompress but came to the surface unconscious and died two hours later. Unclear whether cause of death was DCI or venom poisoning.
  69. 1928 12 7 Ali Amat bin Australia Gregory & Castilla 37 S/S Air “PEARL DIVER'S DEATH. Collapsed in 20 fathoms�. PERTH, Friday – “A message from Broome states that Amat Bin Ali, a pearl. diver, collapsed and died in 20 fathoms of water yesterday, when pearling off Lacepede Island. Ali signalled to be pulled up again, then he hastily signalled: "Stage me, quick." He was "staged" at 15 fathoms for five minutes, but when brought up he was dead A doctor certified that death was due to syncope� Reported by the Recorder, Port Pirie, SA
  70. 1927 1 0 Not Recorded France Military 37 S/S Air “NAVAL DIVER'S FATE. While searching for a torpedo which had sunk to a depth of 120 ft near the Salins d'Hyeres, near Toulon, a naval diver fainted. He was at once hoisted to the surface, given medical aid and rushed off in a tug to the land, but he died later in hospital�. Reported in The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder, NSW
  71. 2010 8 9 Castro Antonio Romero Mexico Almeja Caterina 36 S/S Air Paraphrased from press reports:- “Aged 47 years (or 50 years, depending on report), from Cuidad Constitucion, scallop diver working out of Ensenada Blanca at the Magdalena Bay Complex, went home after work, felt ill, went to the Port of San Carlos hyperbaric centre. A health official in the hyperbaric chamber located in the port said that it must report that this unfortunate diver did not die in the hyperbaric chamber as previously reported due to lack of oxygen and much less about the lack of timely patient care but to the seriousness of the symptoms caused by severe decompression, this being the cause of death, according to the opinion of the medical examiner who performed the autopsy. Cause of death listed as 'inadequate decompression, decompression illness, massive pulmonary thrombosis and oedema' It was stated that prior to the this person had been working for 4 hours at 30 meters when the compressor stopped. Dive related to the fishing industry of the municipality of Comondu. No other details. Reported by Peninsulardigital.com
  72. 1948 10 19 Roberts Bernard USA 36 S/S Air Aged 27, Sponge diver, 'Stricken with severe headaches after making a series of dives' on the 11th October, taken to hospital with a cerebral haemorrhage, died 9 days later at Bay Pines veteran's hospital. St Petersburg Times
  73. 1929 5 6 Sabe Kikozo Australia A. C. Gregory 36 S/S Air Reported that a pearling lugger D58 of Captain Gregory's fleet sailed into Darwin port this afternoon with the flag at half mast. The captain reported that while diving for pearl off Shoal Bay a Japanese diver was working in 20 fathoms of water, the air pipe split, and the diver was dead when hauled up. The Sydney Morning Herald/Northern Standard, Darwin, NT
  74. 1893 5 10 Rosa Ullalio Australia 36 S/S Air Diving off the Thursday Islands from the lugger 'Monday' owned by the Wal Wear Station. After 5 dives removed gear and immediately complained of feeling unwell. Lay in bunk with a cup of tea having a smoke but his condition suddenly deteriorated, became unconscious and finally died. Inquiry concluded that he died of diver's paralysis. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  75. 1893 5 10 Wahoo Johnnie Australia 36 S/S Air From Honolulu, diving off the Thursday Islands from the pearling lugger 'Premier' After 5 dives on deck, removed gear, but 30 minutes later complained of feeling unwell. In spite of vigorous massage, after about 12 hours became unconscious and died two hours later. Inquiry concluded that he died of diver's paralysis. Reported in the Brisbane Courier
  76. 1877 7 5 Littlebody William UK Dalton Le Dale Waterworks 36 S/S Air Described as "a big stout man of about 18 stone weight", diver fron Tyne dock, diving in a pilot shaft at the Dalton Le Dale Waterworks, South Sields, (10' diamter, 312' from top to surface of water then to worksite a further 120' underwater to replace a plug). Reported as entering the water at 11:00, stopped responding to line signals some 3 hours later, could not be pulled up. Rescue diver Harry Watts, then aged 51, employed at the time by River Wear Commissioners, was recruited to help, dived at 9 o'clock in the evening and located the body head down under the working stage. Described in "Life of Harry Watts, 60 years a Sailor and Diver" by Alfred Spencer. The book, published in 1923, contains the following comment: Mr. Davis, Managing Director of Messrs. Siebe, Gorman & Co., Ltd., who kindly went through these chapters on diving with a view to correcting them, in commenting on the Dalton incident, says : - " You describe Watts as having been fully dressed before he went over the edge of the well. . . . Nowadays, we would, if at all possible, rig up a stage just above the surface of the water, where the diver would put on his heavy gear (boots, weights, and helmet), and thus be saved the labour of carrying all this deadweight. It is quite possible that Watts did carry this weight from the ground level to the water, and, in that case, all the more credit is due to him."
  77. 1975 0 0 USN USA USN 350 Deep Diving System Mk I sets in-water diving record to over 1,100 feet'
  78. 2012 8 12 Udoh Godwin Nigeria OMAK / Eidesvik 35 S/S Air Working off the "Atlantis Dweller". Diving contractor was OMAK (Not IMCA) a "Local content' initiative Nigerian subsidiary of Eidesvik AS (IMCA member) set up in Port Harcourt, (subcontracted to Fugro), the diver was locally qualified (PTI in Rivers State) and had a local medical (No evidence to say either had an effect on the incident), his first dive after arriving on board, dive was to 35 msw, Dive time line seems to have been:- 16:16 left surface, 16:31 to 16:36 "about 15-20 minutes into dive displayed signs of distress/panic", 16:39 stand-by left surface and freed umbilical of unconscious but breathing diver, 16:50 Divers left bottom, 16:58 Unconscious diver appears to stop breathing, 17:01 Divers on surface, 17:03 In DDC with DMT, 17:08 Second DMT locked in, 17:53 CPR discontinued 'after 45 minutes'. When helmet was removed on surface, interior was dry and it was reported he had white froth around his mouth. The Police autopsy states death due to drowning, the hospital death certificate says asphyxia leading to cerebral hypoxia and myocardial infarction). Oil Company Incient Report.
  79. 2011 3 28 Mayo Hector Luelmo Spain Military 35 SCUBA Aged 24, Soldier with the V Batallon de Intervention en Emergencias based in El Ferral de Bernesga, Leon. Diving exercise, lost contact with his 4 man group. His three companions were treated for decompression illness. Body recovered the next day. No details. Reported in GPS Buzeo
  80. 2007 9 24 L Maciej Poland Tri-Marine 35 SCUBA Aged 29, one of two divers 'performing routine maintenance after a storm' at around 35 metres on the unmanned platform 'Petrobaltic 1" (An ROV was reported as monitoring the divers), apparently passed out and sank towards the seabed, the second diver went down to 45, 55 or 80 metres (depending on which press report you read, and prosecutors were unable to determine depth/profile as both dive computers and work logs were 'all lost') to find him and pulled him to the surface but he failed to respond to treatment (Second diver was transported by Navy helicopter and successfully treated for DCI in a chamber in Gdynia). Proecution a year later claimed no lifelines, insufficient number in the dive team, improper equipment (no communications, use of sports diving equipment for commercial purposes), misconduct. Incorrect diving gas mix was quoted as possible cause of initial loss of consciousness (Was this a nitrox or trimix dive?). Reported in Wirtualna Poland
  81. 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.
  82. 2005 11 23 Cherapanoy Dmitry USSR Navy 35 Navy diver undergoing compulsory military service, reported as having died in the Northern Fleet because of serious decompression sickness during a training dive to the depth of 35 m. bur report sates “This was an ordinary dive to a standard depth. Unexpectedly, 20 seconds after the dive, the sailor suddenly came to the surface� so was unlikely to be DCI. No details
  83. 2003 10 1 Not Recorded Germany Kiesper 35 S/S Air Aged 41, two children. Working at the Wiehl Dam intake tower with a six man team. After a dive to 35 metres reached his in water oxygen stop at 6 metres but vomited (reported as wearing a KMI band mask, all diving gear stated as fully functional), aborted decompression and surfaced, collapsed and died. May have been ascribed to a heart attack but no details or official reports. Reported in Taucher.net
  84. 1931 9 10 Marf Australia Muramat 35 S/S Air DARWIN, Wednesday. A Japanese diver, known as Marf, employed by Muramat's pearling fleet, died today after becoming paralysed when diving in 19 fathoms of water about 40 miles north-west of Bathurst Island. The Advocate, Burnie
  85. 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.
  86. 1954 9 24 Motlop Fred Australia Haritos Brothers 34 S/S Air Aged 32, diving off the pearl lugger “Fram� off the Arhem coast (Off Maroonga Island between Millingimbi and Elcho Island missions). Some reports are more complete than others. One just says :- “A deck-hand lost his balance in heavy seas and in an attempt to save himself dragged the tender operator overboard with him. The tender lost Motlop's air and life lines and the diver sank to the 'bottom. Before he could be raised again he tore off his helmet and rocketed to the surface. The crew did not realise his lungs had burst. They fitted another helmet on him and lowered him to the bottom to "stage' him. (Staging is a treatment to prevent "bends," a form of paralysis, caused by bringing a diver to the surface too quickly.) The crew 'staged" Motlop for about an hour, (but they found he was dead when they raised him to the deck)�. As reported in the Canberra Times. A second report says:- "His air line became entangled in the propeller and Motlop was dragged towards the surface (from 17 fathoms). He was pulled up to 6 fathoms before the crew could stop the lugger and free his line. The diver's tender was holding Motlop's line keeping him steady at 6 fathoms when the lugger pitched badly in a heavy sea. A native crewman slipped and grabbed the tender and both fell overborad. Motlop plummeted to 17 fathoms before the crew could gab the lines. Before they could bring the diver up slowly he hsad thrown off his helmet, apparently in panic, and shot to the surface. The crew fiitted him with another helmet and sent him down for an hour or so in an effort top avoid bends." He was dead when brought up, a post mortem completed by a visiting Docor Langsford from Darwin concluded the divers lungs were ruptured. Sydney Morning Herald
  87. 1933 12 14 Evans Lloyd J. USA 34 S/S Air 40 years old from Bremerton, Washington, went to San Francisco to work on the San Francisco - Oakland Bridge project. He "was raised by easy stages for the usual rest period from 112 feet below the surface where he had been removing pins from a caisson. As his heavy equipment was being removed, he collapsed and became unconscious. He was taken to a dockside decompression chamber and treated under the supervision of Dr. J. Minton who entered the chamber to be with the diver. "The diver died after several hours of efforts had failed to revive him". The first death "on the project from the affliction ("the bends") against which officials said every precaution had been taken". Prescott Evening Courier.
  88. 1892 8 18 McLean Duncan Australia Stocton Coal 34 S/S Air “Sudden Death of a Diver. NEWCASTLE, Friday – “Duncan McLean, aged 34, a diver by profession, died in the hospital at 7 o'clock last night, having only been admitted at 3 o'clock that day. It appears the poor fellow was engaged at the Stockton Coal Pit to do some work in their shaft. The shaft is 110 feet deep and nearly full of wafer. McLean, who is a good diver, descended the shaft yesterday morning. He stayed down two hours and appeared in good health, when brought to the surface, but after being in the open for a few minutes he was seized with a fit and was taken to Dr. Hester’s surgery. Dr. Hester directed his removal to the hospital and accompanied him to the institution. Everything was done to revive him, but to no purpose, and the unfortunate fellow died as stated�. Reported in the Evening News, Sydney, NSW
  89. 1938 11 25 Kakishita Tetsuo Australia Morey & Co 33 S/S Air Japanese aged 20, diving from the pearling lugger 'Thelma' at Turu cay, 90 miles Northwest of Thursday Island, was diving in just Corselet and helmet (Not full dress), appears to have flooded his hemet and was pulled up and then staged for in water decompression for 11 hours but he died. The post mortem indicated cause of death as diver's paralysis and asphyxia by accidental drowning. Reported in the Courier-Mail, Brisbane.
  90. 1933 11 15 Ariuke Hidiji Australia 33 S/S Air LURED ON. YOUNG DIVER KILLED. Another Japanese diver has become the victim of the lure of pearls, and his fate was similar to that of many of his predecessors. The diver's name was Hidiji Ariuke, 29, a native of Erime Ken, Japan. Ushimaku Tamoto, master of the lugger ‘Adiana’, on which deceased was employed states that on November 15, about 6 a.m, he commenced work near Deliverance Island, and continued diving until 3 p.m., when he felt ill. The deceased took his place, and went down in about 18 fathoms. He stayed on the bottom for about 10 minutes, and came to the surface with 15 shells. He had a good rest, and about 4 p.m., he went down again, and stayed 20 minutes. When he returned to the deck of the lugger he appeared to be in his usual good health, but a few minutes later he complained of a pain in his right leg, and then started to lose consciousness. Tamoto said he knew deceased was getting divers paralysis. He immediately put deceased over the side of the lugger with the diving helmet and corselet on. When raised half an hour later deceased was still unconscious. He was then placed in full diving dress and lowered into 18 fathoms. Tarasahuro Umino went down with deceased to regulate the air valve. Deceased was still unconscious when he was brought to the surface at 6 p.m. He was lowered again, and when brought, up at 8 p.m. he was dead. The body was taken to Thursday Island, approximately 80 miles away. The act of submerging a diver suffering from paralysis is used by the Japanese to endeavor to cure the sufferer. It is a matter of-pressure.’ Reported in the Cairns Post, Qld.
  91. 1933 11 13 Nishi Shotaro Australia Roy Edwards 33 S/S Air Japanese pear diver, aged 48, lugger belonging to Mr Roy Edwards working out of Darwin. 60 miles Northwest of Bathurst Island, spent 6 hours doing in water therapeutic decompression the day before, not fully cured, dived the next day to continue treatment (and gather pearls!). Apparently lost control of his air valve, major squeeze, pulled up bleeding profusely from nose, ears etc, died. Reported in the Courier Mail and Canberra Times
  92. 1927 7 29 Hashimoto Hijiro or Bijiro Australia 33 S/S Air "Diver Drowned. Through an air pipe bursting 80 feet from the pump, a 46 year old Japanese diver with 26 years of experience was drowned at Broome, W. A. He was working at 18 fathoms and it was ten minutes before he could be brought to the surface". Reported in the Advocate, Burnie, Tasmania.
  93. 1910 11 0 Josky Australia 33 S/S Air “CASUALTIES. DIVER'S DEATH. PORT DARWIN, November 17.— The body of a Japanese diver named Josky was brought in yesterday afternoon. It was in an advanced stage of decomposition, the man having died from diver's paralysis on Monday last, contracted while diving in 18 fathoms of water�. Reported in The Register, Adelaide
  94. 1975 9 25 Wendelaar Joachim USA 322 German, aged 36, from Hamburg, described as a veteran diver with the West German shipbuilder GKSS, was part of a three man team preparatory works to the 100 ton underwater NOAA habitat 'Helgoland' sponsored by the US, West Germany, Poland and Norway off Roskport. Quote “It appeared something went wrong with his oxygen regulator and he suffered the bends on surfacing�. Confused reporting - it appears he actually fell unconscious on deck, initially reported as a surface accident - but no details Reported in 'The Hour'
  95. 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
  96. 2002 7 6 Mouritson Chris USA Caldive 32 S/S Air 34 year old with 12 years experience from the DSV 'Mr Fred' at Eugene Island 273, BP, KM 17B, helmet flooded, drowned but unclear if he ditched it, poorly maintained hat with valve issues (see IMCA SF 01/03).
  97. 1897 0 0 Not Recorded USA Tom and James Reid 32 S/S Air Salvage of the Cayuga (Sailing from Milwaukee to Buffalo, sank 10th May 1895 on the Great Lakes after a collision with the wooden lumber hooker "Joseph L Hurd" in fog southwest of Grays Reef light, near the Skillagalee Shoals. No loss of life, both crews rescued by the steamer "Mamola"). Because the "Cayuga" was a new steel vessel, the salvage company spent nearly 4 years and nearly bankrupted themselves trying to salvage her. "One diver was crushed to death so badlythat could not remove his helmet" The wreck now lies in 100' of water still attached to four of the pontoon used in the salvage attempt. shipwreckexplorers.com
  98. 2014 10 11 Not Recorded Saudi Arabia INW 31m SCUBA Seabed survey and marking of subsea assets prior to a jack-up workover rig being mobilised in the KJO Oilfield (Al-Khafji Joint Operations). Failed to surface, body recovered 24 hours later. Longstreath/Emirates 24/7, A report in the Saudi gazzette read:- "DAMMAM – Search and rescue teams from the Eastern Province Border Guards recovered the body of an expatriate diver who drowned in the Al-Khafji area while performing routine work laying down electrical cable signs. Spokesman of the guards, Capt. Omar Al-Aklabi, said the victim was working with a fellow worker who returned to the shore after completing his work, only to find his colleague had not returned with him. He added that search and rescue operations lasted two days and the body was finally located 22 miles from the shore. The case has been referred to investigation bodies"
  99. 1968 0 0 NEDU USA Military 312 Saturation Excursion dive to 1025' from saturation holding depth of 825' made at NEDU
  100. 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.
  101. 2008 3 6 Not Recorded Gabon Not Reported 31 S/S Air Diver descended to depth, seen to be adjusting air supply valves, stopped responding to supervisor, stopped moving, stand-by diver deployed, put unconscious diver on free flow and recovered him to deck where he recovered consciousness, given precautionary therapeutic treatment. Self asphyxiated, had turned his air supply to nearly fully closed. No residual symptoms. Human error
  102. 2007 1 12 Verma SK UAE Arab Tanker Services 31 S/S Air Switching gases at first stop, no gas (valve closed on HP bottle but with an 'open' tag)
  103. 1979 5 5 Eke B E UK Maritime Offshore Products 31 S/S Air British, aged 34. Southern North Sea installation 48/29C, Over inflated dry suit, entangled in water jet equipment, helmet came detached, drowned
  104. 1952 7 28 David Jack Australia R & H Hocking 31 S/S Air Diver's Death. THURSDAY ISLAND, July 31.— “On Monday afternoon the pearling ketch ‘Trixen’, owned by Messrs. R. and H. Hockings, arrived in port flying the flag half-mast, indicating a dead diver. The dead man was Jack David, married, and aged about 27 years, of Yam Island. The boat was working in about 17 fathoms of water around Darnley Island, when the air and life lines apparently became fouled. It would appear that the deceased shed his helmet with the object of coming to the surface, but on reaching the surface he was beyond human aid. His body was taken to Yam Island for burial�. Reported in the Townsville Bulletin, Qld.
  105. 1938 0 0 Nohl Max USA DESCO 31 Saturation Max Nohl and Dr. Edgar End spent 27 hours at 101' in a decompression chamber at Milwaukee Hospital, after a 5 hour decopression, Max Nohl has a DCI.
  106. 1935 7 12 Martin Indonesia 31 S/S Air Koepang diver out of Darwin on the lugger 'Flying Cloud' working off the Aru Islands (Indonesian waters due north of Darwin). Standing in as the second diver (who was off sick), When pulled up from decompression stop, was found to be dead. “Diving gear in perfect working order�. Inquest returned a verdict of accidental death by suffocation (Essentially blaming the diver for adjusting his air valve and shutting off his own air). Reported in 'The Age'
  107. 1933 7 24 Not Recorded Australia 31 S/S Air “DIVER'S HELMET PULLED OFF�. DARWIN, Monday. – “A diver's remarkable escape from death, while working in 17 fathoms of water is reported by several pearlers from the Aru Islands. The diver signalled to the tender to take up the loaded basket and send down an empty one. As the tender was hauling up, the rope of the laden basket fouled the helmet of the diver, but the tender, considering the extra weight due only to the heavily-laden basket, continued hauling up, and pulled off the diver's helmet. The diver was soon hauled to the surface, apparently drowned, but without signs of the usual paralysis. Other boats, summoned by a distress signal, rushed to his help, and one man used resuscitation methods. After almost an hour's work the diver was revived. Next day he resumed diving as usual�. Reported in the Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW
  108. 1972 0 0 USN USA Military 308 Deep Diving System Mk II sets in-water diving record to over a thousand feet
  109. 1978 2 7 Hoover David R Norway Taylor Diving and Salvage. Brown and Root 324 305 Saturation American, aged 28, hyperbaric weld demonstration from the Brown and Root Barge 324. Older sources quote O2 starvation (Gas mixer had low O2), no bailout (Warner), but the Norwegian authorities cited CO2 buid up, a 2003 report by the NSDA concluded (because of reports including bright red froth/blood on his lips) that the actual cause of death was a high ppO2 (16 bar), and that he had been put on 50/50 He/O2.
  110. 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.
  111. 1962 12 3 Whittaker Christopher USA 305 Saturation Aged 19, safety diver, 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),, 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.
  112. 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
  113. 2011 6 25 Abdeen Massoud Egypt Seapro 30 S/S Air Diving off the Cosmos 1 for GPC, two man dive. LS 09:25, AB 09:27, LB 09:35, AS 09:40, divers in distress at depth. Reported as having switched air supply mid dive (HP bank to diesel compressor?). Appear not to have had medical oxygen or working DDC on vessel, nor access to onshore medical suppport so used mobile phone to call the supervisor of another diving contractor at approx 10:30, vessel with full IMCA compliant dive system and personnek in transit to July field (mid point) at 10:45. Arrived in field renezvous 11:40, Cosmos tied up alongside 11:55. 12:00 injured diver transferred and receiving oxygen (transferred ashore and on to hospital, suspected pneumothorax), Second diver declared dead on site (by doctor flown out by helicopter). Possible contaminated air but no reports or information from the contractor. Not reported in the public domain. PC
  114. 2011 6 25 Said Egypt Seapro 30 S/S Air Diving off the Cosmos 1 for GPC, two man dive. LS 09:25, AB 09:27, LB 09:35, AS 09:40, divers in distress at depth. Reported as having switched air supply mid dive (HP bank to diesel compressor?). Appear not to have had medical oxygen or working DDC on vessel, nor access to onshore medical suppport so used mobile phone to call the supervisor of another diving contractor at approx 10:30, vessel with full IMCA compliant dive system and personnek in transit to July field (mid point) at 10:45. Arrived in field renezvous 11:40, Cosmos tied up alongside 11:55. 12:00 injured diver transferred and receiving oxygen (transferred ashore and on to hospital, suspected pneumothorax), Second diver declared dead on site (by doctor flown out by helicopter). Possible contaminated air but no reports or information from the contractor. Not reported in the public domain. PC
  115. 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
  116. 2008 5 23 Garcia Pol Carlos Spain Tinsa SA 30 S/S Air Aged 33, from Madrid, one of two diving supervisors in a 6 man team working on the dam on the river Agueda 5 km South of Cuidad Rodrigo (Salamanca, Western Spain) since February (4 months) on contract to OSEPSA - Obras y Servicios Publicos Sociedad Anonima - for CHD - Hydrographic Confederation of the river Duero . Ten minutes into a dive dredging with an airlift at 09:30, reported as stopped talking to topsides, stand-by diver located the diver at depth, unconcious, recovered to surface but failed to respond to CPR treatment. Band mask pulled off, drowned. Reported in Terra Noticias, plus PC
  117. 2007 11 17 Chen-Lu Hsu Taipei 30 S/S Air Aged 51, diving off the commercial fishing vessel 'Hsinlienfa 168' off Turtle Island. Two divers died and two injured. Authorities stated they would prosecute (occupational negligent manslaughter) the vessel operator, Tu Chuen-yi, for improper operation of the vessel and allowing the propeller to cut all four airlines leaving the divers at depth with no air supplies. None of the divers had licences, no standby or safety equipment.
  118. 2007 11 17 Pie-Chun Sun Taipei 30 S/S Air Aged 33, diving off the commercial fishing vessel 'Hsinlienfa 168' off Turtle Island. Two divers died and two injured. Authorities stated they would prosecute (occupational negligent manslaughter) the vessel operator, Tu Chuen-yi, for improper operation of the vessel and allowing the propeller to cut all four airlines leaving the divers at depth with no air supplies. None of the divers had licences, no standby or safety equipment.
  119. 2007 9 0 Kok Damien Tan Yee Malaysia Master Tech 30 S/S Air Singaporean, Cable lay, relocating dredge, KM18 band mask, suspected band mask off, possible head injuries, Trained by Singaporean Navy, inadequate equipment, inadequate team size, no quals, 'supervisor' qualified as trainee supervisor only.
  120. 2004 3 0 Roy Matthias Francois Australia Holothurian Diving Pty 30 SCUBA Canadian, aged 24, recreational SCUBA diver, employed by a commercial diving company in Cairns to harvest sea cucumbers off Lizard Island, North Queensland. First dive of trip. No occupational experience. Possible entanglement whilst on beche de mer drift dive. Became detached from air hose. Recovered by co-workers after 16 hours. Significant marine predation post mortem. Drowned. Detached from air hose. Mouthpiece missing on regulator. Bailout worn but not turned on. Bail out regulator secured to cylinder. Owner of the company was fined $60,000, third breach of Workplace Health and Safety Act, diver "dangerously unqualified". Workplace Health and Safety, Queensland and Cairns Post.
  121. 2003 7 22 Rotaru Mircea Romania Stef and Fan SRL 30 SCUBA Paraphrased from reports :- Aged 54 years, lexNavy diver, leader of 6 divers onboard a vessel undertaking installation cleaning operations (Black Sea, Gloria platform). After they arrived in the area, two divers went a depth of 30 meters to check the platform legs, and because they were late to emerge, Mircea Rotaru jumped into the water after them, but as he went down, they surfaced. They noticed he was missing and searched for him. He was found face up to the bottom and brought to the platform where he tried to resuscitate him, but without any result. His body was taken ashore to the morgue in Mangalia. Experts say it is possible that he had a heart attack when he jumped into the water. The contractor stated he had a medical� Reported by Kappa.ro
  122. 2003 5 23 Bradley Michael South Africa Police 30 SCUBA Aged 35, Police diver searching Lesotho Katse Dam for victims of a helicopter crash. Reported as stopping breathing, probable natural causes, but no details. South African Press Association
  123. 1997 3 15 Eberle John USA Roza Irrigation district 30 SCUBA America, aged 41, employed to remove cars from 2210 feet long, 13 foot diameter irrigation canal tunnel "syphon", trapped by flowing water, ran out of air, drowned. Two man team, no stand-by divers/equipment. Two firemen died trying to rescues them, quadruple fatality (Rhode, Hauber, Mestaz)
  124. 1997 3 15 Rhode Marty USA Roza Irrigation district 30 SCUBA America, aged 33, employed to remove cars from 2210 feet long, 13 foot diameter irrigation canal tunnel "syphon", trapped by flowing water, ran out of air, drowned. Two man team, no stand-by divers/equipment. Two firemen died trying to rescues them, quadruple fatality (Eberle, Hauber, Mestaz)
  125. 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.
  126. 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?
  127. 1938 3 28 Granter Jake USA Standard Oil Company 30 S/S Air Aged 59, described as the chief underseas diver for the Standard Oil Company diving to locate a chain lost from the taqnker 'R. H. Hanna', was struck down by the bends, transferred from san Luis Obispo to Oakland by air ambulance, placed in a decompression chamber onboard the US submarine rescue ship 'Chewink' at the Mare Island navy yard. Was pressed to 125' and then gradually decompressed. He recovered consciousness but died shortly after from 'sudden cardiac failure'. San Jose News.
  128. 1935 12 5 Fukami Maso Australia 30 S/S Air Aged 23, Japanese apprentice Pearl diver working 30 miles off Bathurst Island. His second dive of the day, had sent up one bage of shellthen "While he was waiting for the bag, a snake, estimated to be about eight feet long and four inches around the middle of its body, and like the python which is found in the Northern Territory, swam close to him and seized his left wrist in its jaws" Hauled to deck and found to have his wrist torn apart by the snake's fangs. They put on a tournequet and put him back down to 10 fathoms but shortly after he signalled to be pulled up, but then floated to the surface unconscious. His body had turned black 'the result, his mates thought, of the poison from the snake and paralysis'. Straits Times
  129. 1934 7 27 Griffen USN Fireman third class James R USA Military 30 Submarine New London Submarine Base, Escape training exercise in a 100' deep training tank, air embolism, died in a decompression chamber several hours later. Reported as lost control of lung and shot to the surface holding his breath. New York Times
  130. 0 0 0 Not Recorded USA Police 30 SCUBA 56-year-old sheriff’s department search and recovery team diver. The victim was the training instructor for the department, and was said to have had extensive Navy diving background, as well as Master Diver and Instructor certifications.The victim was making his second dive of the day to a depth of approximately 100 feet in an effort to recover the victim of a boating accident. Visibility on the bottom was reported to have been almost zero. The diver’s buddy stated that the victim apparently experienced difficulty with his air supply, that it had probably run low, and he had attempted a free-swimming ascent. The buddy lost sight of the victim in the dark water, surfaced, and found that the victim had not returned to the surface. A standby diver followed the victim’s safety line, but was unable to bring the victim to the surface. Efforts by surface personnel to pull the victim to the surface using his safety line met with strong resistance. Even though four or more persons were tugging on the line, they failed to bring the victim up. The victim was eventually brought o the surface after fifteen or more minutes of effort. Despite heroic resuscitation efforts, the victim did not survive.
  131. 2013 6 14 Gabon Sigma Diving Systems 3-6m S/S Air French National, aged 28. Working on an old unused jetty to remove sheet piling with exothermic rods in the harbour of Port Gentil. Diver trapped in sand, buried up to chest. Had to be lifted out with crane using chain brothers around his chest. Not breathing on recovery to surface, revived and medivaced to Johannesburg, then later, on to France. No details known of his current condition. Various emails.
  132. 2012 4 5 Craig Ryan USA Triangle Diving, Bermuda 3 Rebreather Aged 25, Canadian, described as an experienced commercial and technical diver, working as a diving instructor in Bermuda, died whilst using a closed circuit rebreather in 9' of water off Grotto Bay. The owner of triangle Diving Bermuda - his employer - is quoted as saying "Technical divers are used to losing people. We're on the cutting edge, exploring new frontiers and with any type of new frontier you will always have losses. We are experts in technical diving and have all the certifications, but accidents can happen". Bermuda Sun.
  133. 2012 1 2 Voiles David USA Golf ball diver 3 SCUBA Aged 43, Staff Sergeant in the Florida National Guard, ex 53rd infantry, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, part time work retrieving golf balls at the Sherman Hills Golf Club, Brooksville. Disappeared, noticed only when his golf buggy was found unattended. His body was recovered by SAR divers the day after. Reported that the SAR diver found a nylon bag containing around 500 golf balls (Later weighed - in air - at 85 pounds weight) attached to a rope. He followed the rope and found the diver face down on the botton in 8 feet of water. His regulator was entangled in the line and pulled behind his back out of reach, mask still in place, single tank, gloves, wet suit, fins, knife hanging from his harness. Daily Mail
  134. 2010 9 14 Rine Duane 'Charlie' USA Fisherman 3 SCUBA Aged 51, Long-time crew member on the 164' Herring boat 'Western Venture', pair trawling out of Gloucester, 150 miles offshore. Nets caught around rudder/propeller. Paraphrased report:- "He had dived on the boat before and was willing and able to clear the net from the rudders. Around 7:30 or 8 p.m. he got into the water, immediately cleared the port rudder, but the starboard rudder is more difficult. He was under for around 10 to 15 minutes, and when he surfaced had abandoned all of his dive gear (tank, weight belt, etc.). Conscious and shouting to the crew when he surfaced, but after they lifted him out of the water with the sling he quickly lost consciousness and stopped breathing. The crew of the boat performed CPR for over an hour. They failed to resuscitate him and with no help on the way stopped CPR after 9 p.m. As we drifted by their stern. I could see the crew carrying his body to shelter from the back deck. At 9:30 p.m. the captain of Western Venture told us that we had lost him. When the Venture was able to pick up her gear, they found all of his dive gear tangled in the net. That he became entangled in the net under the boat is a fact. The rest can only be speculated upon." Gloucester Daily Times
  135. 2009 12 7 Azoulay Sgt. Gal Israel Naval Commando 3 Rebreather Aged 19. Night training dive for Israeli Naval Commando, simulation of combat dive in enemy port. “The dive was a group exercise, carried out in pairs, simulating a combat dive at an enemy port. The divers had completed similar exercises dozens of times since the beginning of the course. The exercise was supervised by Navy commandos on boats as well as on the beach, and an ambulance and a medic were standing by. The dive was supposed to last two or three hours, and each diver was to take turns being the lead diver. Some 90 minutes after the dive began (Around 02:00), when Azoulay became lead diver, he stopped responding to the routine once-a-minute check. When his partner realized that he was not responding, he carried him to the surface and fired a flare gun to mark their location. Within seconds, a boat arrived and Azoulay was given CPR. He was pronounced dead on shore 40 minutes later.' investigation by Israeli Defence Force concluded that he died from oxygen poisoning. One press reports that this was the first fatal accident in training for the unit since 1995, another states that an 18 year old soldier from the same unit was killed during a training exercise designed to “test underwater breathing about three years ago� Jerusalem Post
  136. 2009 1 16 Shneider Kenneth USA Doug's Diving 3 S/S Air Aged 42, diving for clams in Tillamook Bay, diving solo from an 18' RIB apparently sub-contracted from the clam licence owner who reported the boat had not returned at dusk at 17:45, USCG found the diver dead in the water around 17:20 compressor not running, using hookah because he had a problem with his SCUBA tank. No other details. The Daily Astorian
  137. 2007 10 27 Luse William J USA 3 Aged 34, Trapped for about 15 minutes by water flow through a coffer dam 23/10/2007, lost air supply, initially thought to be recovering, died 4 days later “Luse got stuck when flowing water forced him into a void between the cofferdam and the gate, which was open and releasing water. A partner working with him was able to tie a rope to the trapped diver's equipment but was not able to pull him free. When Luse was eventually pulled up, the air hose he was using to breathe had been knocked from his mouth. Officials were uncertain how long he had been without air�.
  138. 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.
  139. 2005 1 6 Ohryn Thomas USA Fred Devine diving and salvage 3 S/S Air Salvaging a fishing vessel off California, crushed between FV and derrick, air supply cut off plus crushing injuries.
  140. 2004 10 15 Moore David UK Sea Technical Services for British Waterways 3 SCUBA British, aged 29 from Southsea, Hampshire, trapped under collapsed temporary dam on the Upper Lode lock gate (near Tewkesbury) during draining operations. British Waterways, the diving contractors and the diving supervisor all pleaded guilty to breaching Health and Safety and Diving at Work regulations. The supervisor was also the owner and director of diving contractor which employed divers paid on a daily basis. The diver was involved in construction work on the upstream side of a temporary dam, the water had been drained from the lock basin down to a depth of 0.3 metres. This meant there was a differential of more than three metres with the water level on the other side of the dam and this exposed leaks in the dam which the diver was sent down to seal. The diver suddenly shouted out and then there was a flood of water shooting out from the downstream side of the dam. The umbilical went tight and colleagues could see he had stopped breathing, they tried to pull him to the surface but it was impossible because of the pressure trapping him against the dam. They realised that the standby diver would face the same enormous pressure if he went in so took the decision to equalise the pressure first by closing the lock gates and opening a central gate - all of which took 15 minutes. Mr Moore was then flown by air ambulance to Cheltenham General Hospital but never regained consciousness. Four months later when the scene was finally safe to examine in detail it was found that the only place where the hessian seal had been effective had been in the centre of the lock. This was because the floor of the lock was convex and sloped down towards the edges which prevented the hessian seal being effective and leaks then occurred which caused the intense water pressure on the diver. "Hessian seals were known to be effective only if equally compressed along their length which would clearly require a level lock floor, however, these concerns were not recorded and they don't appear to have been considered by engineers or communicated to the dive teams, who had no previous experience of hessian seals." British Waterways had failed to carry out sufficient risk assessment, the contractor failed to protect its divers during the whole period of the project from September to October 15 and too had failed to carry out adequate risk assessment, the diving supervisor failed to ensure the dive site was safe, that there was a risk assessment for the dive, that the materials used were adequate and safe and he failed to obtain sufficient information about the hessian seal before committing the diver to the water." British Waterways were fined £87,000 with £75,000 costs, the contractor £15,000 with £6,000 costs and the diving supervisor £6,000 with £2,000 costs. Comment from the judge “"It is particularly grave when the events leading to his death were in my judgement so obviously avoidable, as this prosecution has demonstrated� Reported in the Daily telegraph, BBC, British Press, etc
  141. 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
  142. 2004 7 11 Not Recorded Malta 3 Freeport of Berzebbugia, Raymond van Beek was killed whilst 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 and were taken to St Luke's hospital for treatement but were never mentioned in subsequent reports.
  143. 2004 2 0 Remeze or Remese Floriant France Trtavaux Ocean 3 S/S Air French, (Surname could be Remeze or Remese), French Canal (L'Eecluse' de Bollene - the Rhone). Drilling concrete underwater with a big machine. His umbilical caught by the machine. Did not or could not open his bail out (possibility of contaminated air supply).
  144. 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.
  145. 2002 11 28 McAulay Lt Paul UK RN 3 Surface Swimmer British, aged 27, Breath holding exercise, (recovery of mask from bottom of lake) during training at Horsea island, dived at 10pm after eating, vomited, inhaled, choked, heart attack. No stand-by diver. MOD prosecuted, family awarded £750,000 damages
  146. 2002 4 0 Not Recorded Australia 3 SCUBA Deckhand on lobster boat trying to free a snagged pot in 2.7 metres, drowned, skipper fined $20,000, no stand-by diver, not anchored (live boating, engine running).
  147. 2001 3 8 Rosa Jose Luis Di Cstro Uruguay Navy 3 SCUBA Aged 23, Naval diver with four years experience, Port of Montevideo, propeller inspection of the crane barge 'General Artigas'. Appears to have been entrapment/out of air/drowning, but no real details. La Republica
  148. 1992 8 17 Not Recorded USA 3 Cleaning barnacles from the hull of the yacht 'Wutnext', natural causes, heart attack. No details. Reported in the South Florida Sun Sentinel
  149. 1988 6 0 Decker Keith USA Need-A-Diver 3 Aged 23, IMC Fertiliser Inc Clear Springs Phoshate Mine, pond lock gate ajar, 10� gap, diver sent in to take photos but loose lifeline, no grill, his lines were pulled through the gap, pulling him through also. His body was recovered two days later by police divers 461' feet up the 1,000' tunnel.. Equipped with lifeline and communications, quote:- 'Before he was sucked in, he was able to tell workers that 'something had caught him by the leg and was pulling him in�. St Petersburg Times.
  150. 1987 4 6 Hiersche Jerry USA Underwater Services 3 Aged 47, Working on the John Day Dam, Columbia river, had been inspecting/cleaning fish screens at about 150' and was surfacing at the end of his dive when his head was sucked into an inlet just 10' from the surface. Quote from team member “We heard him shout 'I'm out of air' and that was it�. Died of cardiac arrest in hospital. Reported in the Spokane Chronicle
  151. 1973 4 16 Jain Atan bin Singapore Selco Salvage Private limited 3 Injured in the same accident that killed Mohamed Mohamed and injured Kenneth Morrison when a hatch on the Italian vessel Igara (Ex Japan en route to Brazil with Iron ore which had sunk following striking a rock near Horsburgh lighthouse on March 19th) they were opening exploded open under pressure. Straits Times
  152. 1973 4 16 Mohamed Mohamed lasen Bin Singapore Selco Salvage Private limited 3 Aged 42, killed, 2 other dives (Kenneth Morrison and Atan bin Jain) injured when a hatch on the Italian vessel Igara (Ex Japan en route to Brazil with Iron ore which had sunk following striking a rock near Horsburgh lighthouse on March 19th) they were opening exploded open under pressure. Straits Times
  153. 1973 4 16 Morrison Kenneth Singapore Selco Salvage Private limited 3 Injured in the same accident that killed Mohamed Mohamed and injured Atan bin Jain when a hatch on the Italian vessel Igara (Ex Japan en route to Brazil with Iron ore which had sunk following striking a rock near Horsburgh lighthouse on March 19th) they were opening exploded open under pressure. Straits Times
  154. 1970 2 19 Palmer David USA Need a Diver Marine Services 3 SCUBA Aged 26, Florida Power Corporation dock on Weedon Island, patching the hull of the tanker “Delian Apollo� (Which had run aground in the bay and caused a pollution incident in Tampa Bay), 40 minutes into the dive, stand-by diver got no response on lifeline, went in and found the diver against the hull of the tanker and brought him to the surface. Regulator and cylinders had been ditched (later recovered from the bed of the dock in 33' of water, reported as “in good working order but low on air supply�), reported as drowned. No real explanation. Reported in the St Petersburg Times
  155. 1943 12 0 Not Recorded USA Military 3 S/S Air Naval diver, Deep Sea Diving School, Washington Naval base, training tank, welding, apparently electrocuted, only reported case of USN diver electrocution (Article by Robert Murray, US Naval Sea Systems Command).
  156. 1993 10 13 Locke Stewart UK J Allan Diving Services 3 S/S Air Hired by Customs and Excise to recover £20 million worth of drugs (Cannabis) from the yatch 'Ambrosia' beached on Scotstown beah (Peterhead, Scotland). Diving contractor was fined £1,200 after some kind of legal deal. Allegations during the inquiry that he committede suicide by cutting his umbilical, Sherriff determined it was accidental death with the most probable cause being that he got into difficulties and was forced to cut his umbilical and ditch his helmet. Diving conditions in the rough shallow water were described as 'hazardous'. Criticism by the Sherriff for it only a 3 man team (the diver, a supervisor who doubled as stand-by diver and an unqualified tender), lack of involvement/supervision by Customs and Excise, lack of communication with a police diving team on site. Widow intended to sue (defunct) diving contractor and Customs and Excise. No further details. Reported in the Herald Scotland
  157. 2014 3 17 Khater Youssef Saudi Arabia Subtech 29m S/S Air Egyptian, aged 26, diving off the Zamil 403 (57 metres long, 4 metre draught, Bahrain flag, built 2012, China), four point moored, in the Persian Gulf, north of Al Jubail , lost communications, stand-by diver found him on the seabed with his helmet off, did not respond to treatment. Longstreath. Leak investigation on a live 12" water injection pipeline at between 800 and 900 psi. "The diver successfully attached the marker buoy to the pipeline but it became fouled under the vessel. In order to free the buoy the diver was asked to move it to the far side of the leak. At the time of the dive, visibility was reduced as it was approaching sunset; the diver used his hat-mounted light to navigate. In addition, the tremendous noise of the leak on the live pipeline severely hampered voice communications between the diver and diving supervisor. Once the diver had detached the marker buoy he started to move along the seabed beside the pipeline. He was on the same side as the leak. The diver appeared to look down at some debris and, as he stepped over this material, he was struck by a jet of the high pressure water coming from the damaged pipeline. All communication with the diver was instantly lost. The standby diver was deployed immediately using the second diving basket. Within 5 minutes he had located the stricken diver who was lying on the seabed. The dive helmet (KM37) was no longer on the diver's head but was lying beside him with the neck dam still attached. Both divers were recovered to surface. All attempts to resuscitate the injured diver failed; he was later pronounced dead by a doctor who had been helicoptered offshore. IMCA SF 6/14
  158. 1999 8 29 Shepcot Jay USA Oceaneering 296 ADS GB 161, Semi-submersible Diamond Ocean Ambassador with an air gap of approximately 100 feet. ADS (Wasp) was being recovered, a piece of lifting tackle gave away, ADS dropped to the end of a safety cable. The shock load swung the ADS up beneath the semi-sub where it hit and broke one arm off the suit before the safety cable was severed by the edge of the deck. The ADS fell into the sea and because of the missing arm flooded and sank to the pontoon. It is believed that the diver died of a broken neck which occurred at the same time the arm was broken off. Once submerged, the suit flooded. Two standby dives were made before the diver was located and brought to the surface. "This fatality is attributable to rigging failure" Offshore Diver. (USCG found that the shackle pin used in attaching the WASP to the crane was of inferior quality and not rated for lifting the weight of a WASP. NAOCD/cDiver)
  159. 1937 3 23 Yamada Kiachichi Australia Gregory 29 S/S Air Aged 52, diving off the lugger D36 'Red Bill' at the Goulburn Island Pearling beds. (Had replaced the former number 2 diver on the vessel who died of fever two weeks earlier). At the Inquest on the Japanese diver, Kiahichi Yamada, a verdict of death from asphyxia, due to drowning was returned by the Coroner, Mr. G. J. Pigott From the evidence given it appeared that Yamada had been down once that morning, and, after a spell of about 20 minutes, went down for a second trip. He mentioned that the water was very dirty, and he had to lie down to gather shell, so he asked for a slack life-line. About half an hour after his second descent, his tender got an urgent signal to 'haul up,' Quickly followed by a second urgent signal, so the tender called for help to haul Yamada up as quickly as possible. He came up, feet first but was quickly righted, and guided to the ladder, where the helmet was removed. He then appeared to be dead, but his suit was cut off him immediately, and artificial respiration tried for about an hour, but without success. As the body was growing cold, It was placed in the cabin and covered with rugs, but when all hope was abandoned, it was sewn up in canvas, and the lugger made all speed to Darwin, which was reached about two days later. The doctor who performed the post mortem said that the body was much decomposed, but it was evident that death was due to asphyxia, probably caused by drowning. The second tender, who was in charge of Yamada said that when the suit was cut off him it was found to be half full of water, and when they tried to revive him, water came from his mouth. The inquest was adjourned for a while to permit of the production of the suit the dead diver had worn and also to obtain the services of Mr. David Carruth, whose long and varied experience of diving made his evidence of the greatest value In this case. A diver showed how the suit was worn, and Mr. Carruth explained the uses of It, and the method of controlling air inlets and outlets On examining the dead diver's suit, it was discovered that the rubber cuff had a long tear In It and It was then evident that the water had entered the suit through this tear, so that when the diver capsized, either through stumbling into a hollow on the ocean bed, or through over-balancing owing to the weight of the pearl shell be had gathered, the air rushed to the bottom part of the suit (that now was upper most) and the water filled the helmet and corselet, thus drowning the diver. What the tender had mistaken for urgent signals, to haul up must have been the last struggles of the diver in his dying agony. Reported in the Townsville Daily Bulletin, Qld.
  160. 1936 7 22 Sakai K Australia Gregory & Co. 29 S/S Air "Diver Drowned. Whale Fouls Pipeline". "K. Sakai, head diver of Gregory and Co.'s pearling fleet, lost his life when he was below water 90 miles south of Broome. His air pipe was fouled buy a whale and torn out at the coupling in the diving helmet, thus allowing water to enter the diving dress. When he was hauled aboard, he was dead. Sakai and another diver were working in 16 fathoms near a place where two whales had been seen before the divers went below. One whale fouled the line of Sakai's companion but got free and then fouled Sakai's line. This is the first fatality caused by a whale among the Broome pearling fleet. Whales are numerous this season off the North West Coast". Reported in the Sydney Morning Herald
  161. 1936 7 11 Kumanoto Tokeo Australia E. J. Hennessey 29 S/S Air “DEATH OF JAPANESE DIVER�. BRISBANE, Sunday, - Tho pearling lugger ‘Keriri’ reached Thursday Island yesterday, with the body of a Japanese diver, Tokeo Kumanoto (28), who died while working in16 fathoms of water at Whappo Reef. The cause of his death was heart and lung trouble. He evidently felt an attack coining on, and discarded his helmet in an effort to reach the surface, but the pressure of water was too great, and he was dead when he came to the top. Reported in the Advocate, Burnie, Tas.
  162. 1899 10 30 Massan Australia 29 S/S Air Paraphrased from an article in the Northern Territory Gazette and Times:- “On Tuesday afternoon the (Sailing) lugger 'Electra' came into port in tow of the launch 'Victoria'. Soon after it was known in town that the diver engaged on board, a Japanese better known as Massan amongst his countrymen, had been drowned. At the inquest, which was held at the Court House, Palmerston, on Tuesday afternoon, it was stated that the 'Electra' was working about seven miles west of the Vernon at about 8 o'clock in the morning when the mishap occurred. A little before eight Massan went down and commenced looking for shell. He had been down about a quarter of an hour when the tender signalled him, but received no answer. This aroused his alarm, and he at once had the diver' drawn up. Massan came up feet foremost, and it was then seen that he had lost his helmet. When drawn up on deck and the dress taken off it was found that he was quite dead. Everything was done that was possible under the circumstances, but all without avail, and Capt. Mugg decided to up anchor and come into Port Darwin. As the wind was not by any means a fair one Mr. C. Hamarau, owner of the launch Victoria, kindly volunteered, to tow the lugger into port. Captain Mugg informs us that the diver was working on a very uneven bottom, the water varying in depth from ten to sixteen fathoms, and it is supposed that in going into a deep hole from the 10 fathom level he slipped and fell, and going down head foremost must have struck the helmet against a rock, knocking it off. The jury found that the deceased came to his death by drowning, and that no blame war attached to any one�
  163. 1897 10 22 Kitchee Australia S. T. Brown 29 S/S Air Japanese pearl diver aged 25, working off Cape Keith from the steam lugger 'Maggie'. Fell ill on deck, was removed from his diving dress and immediately became worse, died some 12 hours later from 'diver's paralysis'. Quote “At that depth the average good diver would not expect to be paralysed� Reported in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette
  164. 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
  165. 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
  166. 2008 11 17 B AC Spain Broth SA or Consomar SA 28 SCUBA Aged 50, head of a diving contractor from Valencia, Broth Sa, working (Inspection and filming) on an outfall 1 kilometre off the town of Moraira-Teulada (Spanish East coast, South of Valencia), failed to surface. Supervisor dived but could not find him. The next day, after a two hour search by a combined fire/civil guard diving team, his body was discovered trapped in fishing nets. He had ditched his cylinders/buoyancy vest in a last attempt to escape the nets when his air ran out. Reported by Levante-EMV.com
  167. 2007 8 29 Rodriguez Joaquin Castelao Angel Spain Coral Diver 28 SCUBA Aged 74, known locally as 'the angel of coral' had spent over 20 years living in Alcudiq collecting coralharvesting coral ('Red Gold') from his boat 'Nemo' in the channel between Menorc and Mallorca, 17 miles north of the port of Alcudia, diving with his son, became ill during decompression stops. An SAR helicopter dropped a medic onboard who confirmed he had died. Had spent years criticising intensive fishing methoids (like beam trawling) which damage the seabed. Reported by Diario de Mallorca
  168. 1996 3 19 Fahey David M USA 27 SCUBA 31 year old professional scallop harvester, ran out of air trying to carry heavy bag up embankment from depth
  169. 1980 6 14 Not Recorded USA 27 S/S Air NP 311, Block 197, Cost Well MODU 'Dan Prince', Well No 1, Arco. "The MV 'Ranger' was engaged in sand bagging operations at the drilling rig 'Dan Prince'. The diver went into the water at 18:00 hours to set sandbags around the legs of the drilling rig on the bottom at 88 feet. He came up at 18:43 and passed out after breaking the surface. The diver was brought up on deck where members of the dive crew removed his gear and immediately began CPR treatment. The medic from the 'Dan Prince' came onboard at 18:56. The medic and casualty were put in the DDC at 19:03 hours. A doctor and his assistants entered the chamber at 20:11 hours and remained until the victim was pronounced dead at 20:32 hours. Cause of death was subsequently determined to be decompression sickness. OCS Incidents database 1956 to 1990, page 305
  170. 1972 5 8 Stein Wendel Edward 'Del' British Virgin Islands 27 Rebreather Aged 24, diving from the oceanographic research vessel 'Neap Tide' off Peter Island. Reported as 'surfaced around 5 o'clock after apparently having trouble with the rebreather pack he was wearing' USCG flew in a doctor by helicopter from the air and sea rescue base on Puerto Rico but he was pronounced dead two hours after surfacing. No details. Reported in the Virgin Islands Daily News
  171. 1966 4 27 Lavey Kenneth USA Military 27 SCUBA Aged 22, owner of a Eugene SCUBA shop, hired by the US Army Corps of Engineers to inspect a 130' shaft containing a concrete bulkhead at the Hills Creek water reservoir near Oakridge, with partner (Binney) descended to 90', left partner in basket and went to 130', returned to basket and both divers recovered to 10', he then swam to the top of the dam, left the water and began removing his gear. At this point Binney's lifeline went slack. He went back into the water with a fresh tank plus spare. After about 5 minutes, workers on the surface saw a sudden increase in bubbles after which they stopped. Work basket was recovered, but he was dead when brought to the surface. Partner's body was recovered from 130 by divers from Portland Commercial divers (Who also completed the inspection work). Neither dead diver had air in their tanks when recovered though cause of death was not clear (twin hose regulators, could have vented) Double fatality. Reported in the Eugene register-Guard
  172. 1962 11 19 Hayes Darrell USA Columbia River Divers 27 SCUBA Aged 33, Undertaking repairs to the bulkhead gate guides on the Priest Rapids dam. Surfacing after the dive with partner and apparently fell out of the dive basket when changing tanks. Recovered by partner from bed of dam at 110' after 8 minutes. Pronounced dead. It was his first commercial dive.
  173. 1956 10 2 Jacob Bull Hassan Bin Australia 27 S/S Air Malay, aged 26, pearl diving out of Broome, surfaced with paralysis on Saturday, still ill Sunday, lugger made 80 mile dash to Port but he died. 'Third pearl diver dive that year to be killed on the luggers working out of Broome (Konjtoviannis, in May, the other? Unknown, TC)'
  174. 1934 5 24 Christofis Fotis USA, Florida 27 S/S Air Aged about 52, Sponge diver onboard the 'George Washington', he had been at 15 fathoms for 43 minutes when he was taken ill, brought to the surface, but 'On removing his helmet he was found to be dead'. Vessel spent 24 hours in transit to port (Tarpon Springs) and the body was transferred to the Vinson Funeral home. Cause of death was recorded as 'suffered a stroke'. Funeral service held at the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, buried at the Cycadia cemetery. St Petersberg Times.
  175. 1924 8 25 Laurentic UK 27 Salvage of Gold bars off the wreck of the “Laurentic�, sunk off northern Ireland (off Lough Sully) in 1917 by a German submarine “Despite the perils attending what is said to have been the greatest salvage feat on record, there was only one accident, in which a diver suffered a broken leg�
  176. 1913 9 28 Saunders Australia 27 S/S Air British, reported as the last of the 13 men 'imported from England' remaining working in the pearling industry. After a dive, collapsed onboard the schooner and died of diver's paralysis. Adelaide Advertiser. Perth, Monday - A Broome telegram States that Saunders, the last of the white divers engaged there, died after working a fortnight in 15 fathoms of water. In that time he only brought up three-quarters of a hundredweight of shell, while the Japanese in the same time secured a ton. The Argus, Melbourne
  177. 1868 9 9 Burton Charles New Zealand 27 S/S Air Diving from the SS 'Lady Bird' assessing the wreck of the SS 'Taraniki'. Apparently entangled and Helmet came off, drowned. Excellent contemporary article of the fatality in the Wellington Independent and description of the subsequent salvage operation in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 1868-1961. The inquest (described in some detail in the Wellington Independent) 'was held at the Crown and Anchor Hotel before L. Boor Esq., Coroner, and a respectable jury', after mature deliberation, they gave the verdict "Accidental death by drowning whilst in performance of his duties as a diver at the wreck of the Taranki". After being submerged for over a year, she was refoated being towed into Wellington harbour by the 'Ladybird' on the first of October 1889. She finally ran aground and broke in half in November 1878 on Karewa Island with no loss of life
  178. 2011 1 19 Saes Sandro Brazil 26 SCUBA Aged 42, city of Florianopolis, carrying out survey for repairs to the Hercilio Luz bridge (Longest suspension bridge in Brazil at 821 metres long, built 1922) with one other diver but appears to have been a solo dive. Dive was meant to last 20 minutes, after 35 minutes partner asked for help. As fire brigade commenced search operations, diver's body came to the surface. No response to treatment. Reported as acute respiratory failure by drowning. Equipment reported as being in order. Work was resumed a month later with a new diving contractor (North Star) using three divers and a supervisor with a DDC on site. No other details. Reported by Terra Noticias
  179. 2010 12 14 Not Recorded USA 26 Two Bremerton commercial geoduck divers were taken to hospitals Tuesday after their support boat dragged them into deep water in Port Madison. A 50-year-old woman was flown from Suquamish to Harborview Medical center in Seattle at about 1:30 p.m. The woman was in stable condition as of 7:15 p.m. Her diving companion, a 27-year-old man, was driven to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton. The divers were working in about 50 feet of water when strong winds pushed their support boat into deeper water. The divers were tethered to the boat, which dragged them to a depth of about 85 feet. They were then pulled to the surface by workers on the support boat.
  180. 1995 7 31 Westell Bradley UK Stena 26 Saturation British. DSV "Orelia". Shallow saturation, DP, tied off umbilical released, caught in thruster. Head injuries and multiple trauma. Supervisor fined for erasing black box tape, family awarded £104,000 in compensation, Contractor fined £200, 000
  181. 1977 10 14 Cailleux Claude Netherlands 26 French diver, died of chest injuries from HP gas release when opening up subsea valve, reported as "25mm @ 7MPa"? Press reported a gas leak from a pipeline 8 miles from the broken pipeline valve after the accident that killed a French diver. Straits Times
  182. 1936 11 8 Seko Masao Australia Streeter & Male 26 S/S Air “DIVER'S DEATH. Once again the hazards of diving for pearl shell was tragically demonstrated when Messrs. Streeter and Male's pearling lugger ''Donna Francis" arrived in Darwin at seven o'clock on Monday morning bringing in the body of Masoa Seko, a Japanese, who was the second diver on the vessel. At the time of the occurrence, the divers were working in 12 to 14 fathoms, on grounds about 60 miles off Bathurst Island, which is a comparatively shallow depth for such work. After the diver's collapse was discovered his ship mates staged him for 12 hours but death took place on Sunday at I a.m. The vessel then headed for Darwin arriving as stated above. The body was immediately, conveyed to the morgue, where it was viewed by the Doctor and Coroner. At the inquest held this morning the Coroner's (Mr. G. J. Pigott, S M.) verdict was ‘I find that Masao Seko, a Japanese employed by the firm of Streeter and Male, Master Pearlers, of Darwin, died on the lugger ''Donna Francis Boo'’ at sea in the vicinity of Bathurst Island on 8th November, 1936 from diver's paralysis sustained in the ordinary course of his employment diving for pearl shell, and that his death was not due to negligence on the part of his tender, nor of any member of the crew of the lugger, nor on the part of the firm of Streeter and Male aforesaid, nor by reason of faulty dress, equipment and or gear at the time of the fatality. The deceased was born at Wakayamaken, Japan, and has been in the Commonwealth for a period of two years. He was 21 years of age�. Reported in the Northern Standard
  183. 1903 10 1 Saki Shiro Australia 26 S/S Air Japanese, aged about 24, pearling grounds at Cape Keith. After a dive lasting about 20 minutes spent 5 minutes on deck before complaining of feeling unwell, died 4 hours later. Reported in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette
  184. 1895 12 0 Not Recorded Australia 26 S/S Air “The pearling lugger 'Waterlily' returned to port on Saturday with the body of a Japanese diver who had died from the effects of diving in about fourteen fathoms of water off the 'Warrior reef. He was a young diver� The Brisbane Courier
  185. 2014 12 22 Bermudez Morfy Alex Nicaragua Alberto Woo 25m SCUBA Honduran, lobster diving from the "Lady Di III" (Licensed to sail with 25, sailed with 24 but because several 'registered' divers did not turn up, sailed with additional unlisted crew including the deceased) out of Bilwi. Navy base personnel reported that he died of DCI as "like most lobstermen, the diver was working without the necessary stops" and there was no time to transfer him ashore to the recompression chamber at the New Dawn Bilwi Hospital.Reported to be the sixth lobster diver to die in the northern caribbean in the second half of this year. elnuevodiario.com.ni
  186. 2016 6 6 Long Cpt. Bradley USA SAR Firefighter 25m SCUBA Aged 28, volunteer firefighter and rescue diver with the Sherrills Ford-Terrell fire department diving with two others searching for the body a man drowned a day earlier in Lake Norman. Some kind of incident underwater, two surfaced and taken to hospital, his body was recovered soon after, declared dead at site. Later reported that he left bottom and headed for the surface before signalling that he had run out of air, appeared to panic ripping of his own and another divers masks, the other diver surfaced safely, Long's body recovered later . Reported by WBTV
  187. 1970 10 0 USN USA Military 259 Deep Diving System Mk I sets in-water diving record to 850'
  188. 2012 2 28 Ellebode Jean-Michel France Le Schaphandre 25 44 years old, French, Diving at around 25 metres, working off a barge on the Antioch sluice (Between Ile de Re and Ile d'Oleron), ill in the water, recovered unconscious, helicopter to hospital in La Rochelle, declared dead. Sudouest.fr
  189. 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
  190. 2002 6 19 Leoni Helga Italy Marine Consulting 25 S/S Air 33 year old female NDT diver, daughter of the owner of the diving company. DSV "Palinuro II" diving on/near the Agostino B platform. No stand-by diver. Engine "mistakenly" started, Umbilical caught in propellor.
  191. 2000 6 25 Banu Fred Australia Oceantech Pty 25 S/S Air Australian (Torres Straits Islander), professional sea cucumber (Beche de mer) harvester. Near Don Cay in the Torres Strait. Diving from tender vessel on hooker style SSBA diving system. Airline pulled tight causing separation of airline at connection. Diver found on the seabed 15 minutes late and recovered unconscious from sea floor. Outboard unable to be started. Drowned. Prosecution (Inappropriate and poorly maintained SSBA equipment. No emergency air source. No current medical. No depth indicator used. No O2 resuscitation equipment). Workplace Health and Safety, Queensland.
  192. 1959 4 25 Gause George USA 25 S/S Air American, aged 56 (or 57), professional sponge diver (Most sponge divers at this time were of Greek descent) with 23 years experience, diving some 30 miles North of Big Bank off the St. Nicholas V, air hoses severed by support vessel propeller (Guard basket had been damaged earlier in the trip “but repaired to the skipper's satisfaction�. Recovered to surface dead. Ruled as 'accidental death'. Reported in the St Petersburg Times.
  193. 1981 0 0 HMS Edinburgh Salvage Russia 245 Deepest successful diving salvage operation to date, 431 gold ingots recovered from the wreck of HMS 'Edinburgh'
  194. 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
  195. 2010 3 30 Han Warrant Officer Joo-Ho South Korea South Korean Navy 24 SCUBA Aged 53, a member of one of the underwater demolition teams attempting to rescue potential trapped survivors in the hull of the 1,200 tonnes Naval vessel “Cheonan� (Sank late 26th after an explosion split her in two 105 miles from the west coast port of Incheon just south of the disputed border line, 58 crew rescued, 46 missing). Reported as becoming unconscious in the water after a dive to 24 metres, brought up and transferred to a nearby US Navy hospital ship 'Salvo', but died. He joined the Navy in 1975 when he was 18, survived by his wife and two children. A South Korean fishing boat that participated in the search operation went into missing 01/04/2010, killing two people and leaving seven others missing. AP Later reports that the Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo. Strategy World, Los Angeles times, Telegraph etc
  196. 2010 3 30 Not Recorded South Korea South Korean Navy 24 SCUBA Two members of the 170 divers in the underwater demolition teams injured attempting to rescue potential trapped survivors in the hull of the 1,200 tonnes Naval vessel “Cheonan� (Sank late 26th after an explosion split her in two 105 miles from the west coast port of Incheon just south of the disputed border line, 58 crew rescued, 46 missing). Reported as being hospitalised on the same day as a colleague, warrant officer Joo-Ho Han, died. AP. Later reported that the Cheonan was sunk by a mine or torpedo.
  197. 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
  198. 1983 5 6 Schumacher Edward USA 24 S/S Air Aged 26, one of a 7 man diving team working off a barge over a newly laid section of the tunnel of the third Elizabeth River tunnel between Norfolk and Portsmouth, became entangled underwater at arounf 16:25. Recovered by stand-by divers, transferred to a decompression chamber at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Norfolk but died of 'heart failure' just afyer 19:00 hours. The Free Lance-Star
  199. 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.
  200. 1952 11 1 Albert Bernard Australia M & W Scott 24 S/S Air “NATIVE DIES OF DIVER'S PARALYSIS�. BROOME, Thursday. Bernard Albert (26), a native employed by Messrs. M. and W. Scott, pearlers, of Broome, as a second diver, died of paralysis late yesterday afternoon. On Tuesday he and the first diver, an Indonesian named Bernardus Senge, were diving for pearlshell from the lugger ‘Bin Tang Putteh’ off Bard Creek in 13 fathoms of water. Albert had previously worked in only five to six fathoms. At the conclusion of the day he came up, apparently suffering no ill effects, but after midnight it was found that he had diver's paralysis. He was dressed in a diving suit and lowered into the water to the depth he had been working, where he went through the treatment of staging. When raised Albert appeared to have recovered, but later his left leg was paralysed. The lugger at once returned to Broome, where Albert died in hospital. Reported in the West Australian, Perth, WA.
  201. 1939 7 25 Masumoto Muneo Australia 24 S/S Air JAPANESE APPRENTICE DIVER'S FATE. Mystery surrounds the loss of Muneo Masumoto. 17, Japanese apprentice diver, whose Corselet and helmet attached to lines were found in 13 fathoms near Darnley Island on July 25. It is surmised that Masumoto was seized with convulsions from diver's paralysis and twisted himself out of his helmet and corselet. The boy descended 31 fathoms at first but found the tides too strong and was brought to the surface. He complained of numbness, but later descended again to 13 fathoms. Alter five minutes he failed to respond to signals, and the captain of the lugger descended and found only the helmet and corselet. Reported in The Advertiser, Adelaide, SA
  202. 1901 9 24 Chomatza Australia A. E, Jolly and Co 24 S/S Air Paraphrased from newspaper report at the time in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette “Early this week the pearling lugger "Beryl" returned to port with a sick diver and was dispatched out to the grounds again with a try diver named Chomatza in charge. Strangely enough the same boat again made her appearance in the harbour on Wednesday morning, and the dead body of the try diver, was brought ashore by the crew, and carried to the Japanese lodging house. ~ The 'matter was reported to the police, but it was not considered necessary to hold any inquest. The diving gear was found to be sound and apparently in good working order. According to the crew, the boat was at work off Shoal Bay and the diver, had been down several times in 11 to 14' fathoms of water. He usually stayed down about 15 minutes, but about 2 pm, he gave the signal to be hauled up after being down only about five minutes. He was hauled up very quickly and instructed the tender to take off his dress and after to heave up anchor and go into Shoal Bay. A few minutes later the tender discovered him sitting in his bunk in the cabin, with teeth tightly, clenched, unable M speak. He had not complained of feeling ill and uttered no cry. The tender administered some medicine taken by divers in such cases, but after a comparatively brief interval the unfortunate fellow was found to be dead. There is not the slightest doubt that, many of these diving fatalities are the outcome, of carelessness or ignorance on the part of the men engaged, the implicit instructions given by the best authorities being notoriously neglected in one important particular, i.e., regarding the time to be taken in ascending and descending. As a rule, when divers give the signal to be drawn up, they are rushed to the surface as quickly as two men hauling upon the life line can bring them, and it is this practice, resulting in a rapid change from heavy water to atmospheric pressure, which has caused more attacks of divers paralysis on the local grounds than the depth, which, as a rule, is shallow compared with other places.
  203. 0 0 0 Not Recorded USA 24 SCUBA American, Vallejo, California. Sewage outfall pipe (1,800 feet long), diver entered via a manhole on SCUBA and a lifeline. Lost lifeline. Body recovered the day after. Following lawsuit awarded significant damages to the diver's widow. No details. Mentioned in a blog on OD.
  204. 2021 3 3 Gockerell Anthony Glen USA Grayzone Seafood and Trade LLC 23m S/S Air "Aged 35, father of four, wife expecting another, geoduck harvesting in the Dungeness West geoduck tract in the Strait of Juan de Fuca 6 miles East of Ediz Hook. Air line entangled at around 08:30, pulled to the surface by deck crew and given CPR during transit to Port Angeles where fire department medics continued treatment as he was transferred to the Olympic Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead at 09:46. Reported by the Peninsula Daily News.Accident Investigation. OSHA Summary Nr: 133933.015 Event: 03/03/2021 Employee Is Killed After Drowning During Clam Harvest Dive At 8:30 a.m. on March 3, 2021, an employee was finishing a 70 foot dive to harve st geoducks (clams) and had just completed a 10 foot rest to slowly equalize pre ssure before returning to the boat. The air line the employee was using became t angled and he was unable continue his ascent. During the time he and his coworke rs (the boat crew) were attempting to free his air line, his mask came off causing him to drown."
  205. 2011 2 17 Deep Sat Dive India Indian Navy 233 Saturation Indian Navy DSV "Nireekshak" (DP vessel built by M/s Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, to support ONGC's offshore oil exploration work. Launched in June 1989 on lease with an option for purchase by Indian Navy. The ship was modified and fitted with the diving system and other equipment removed from the Russian Submarine rescue vessel INS Nistar (Decommissioned in 1989). In March 1995 the purchase option was invoked and the vessel was formally re-commissioned on 15 September 1995. The ship is equipped with two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), capable of taking 12 men to 300 meters, two six-man recompression chambers and one three-man diving bell. Used for submarine rescue and training saturation divers) set a new National deep diving record. A 5 man team reached 233 metres in a dive off Kochi. ANI
  206. 1968 0 0 Mathieson Edward (Ted) Australia International Oilfield Divers 230ft S/S Mixed Gas? Incident probably mid 1968, Bass Strait, Australia. Diving heavy gear air dive off Coring Vessel Neuhavns Rose recovering riser from seabed ,water depth 230 ft. Divers Umbilical parted when fouled in riser, Standby diver unable to reach diver. Body recovered next day. The dive team comprised trainee divers from the Dive school in Bairnsdale, Victoria with the exception of Ted<br />who was hired from the States.<br />longstreath.com
  207. 2012 8 16 Knaps Marko Estonia Navy 23 SCUBA Aged 22, conscript at the Talinn Naval Base from 2010-2011 after which he joined the mine hunter 'Sakala' as a diver in August 2011. On August 7th 2012, the Esonian Navy launched an operation to dispose of WWII era munition (Reported as having cleared over 700 devices since 1994). Diving 1.5 miles off the Kakumae penninsula in the process of moving an aircraft bomb to a safe area when he stopped responding to routine signals. Another diver located him unconscious at 23 metres and brought him to the surface, lacked vital signs but colleagues began resucitation which was taken over by ambulance crews when they reached the shore. Failed to respond. No other details. Rep[orted ERR News (Estonia Public Broadcasting)
  208. 2010 9 14 Barrett Mark D USA State Police 23 SCUBA Aged 41, Died during a training dive in Lake Anna, reported as deep diver training with 16 other members of the Virginia State Police search and recovery team, ascending, seen to have difficulty breathing, assisted to surface, CPR, taken to hospital but died. Reported as drowned. First fatality on the dive team since it was established in 1962. The Munz
  209. 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
  210. 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.
  211. 2000 11 11 Davis Ted USA Energy Partners or D & W Welding Services 23 South Pass 28, The diver was working on a severed pipeline when he lost communication with the surface. A second diver was unable to locate the first diver. Pressure differential, sucked into a pipe when dredging cleared blocked pipe opening, body reciovered the following day.
  212. 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
  213. 1977 8 20 Sansalone D UK Subsea Oil Services 23 SCUBA Italian, aged 29. Pipelay barge "Semac I", Working on stinger, 2 working divers plus stand-by, lost comms, continued working, Inexperienced in prevailing conditions, drowned
  214. 1972 7 21 Tan Han Siew Singapore 23 S/S air Aged 36, crewmember on a fishing vessel out of Singapore. Anchor stuck on seabed, diver sent down to invesigate and came back up to say it was jammed in rocks, he went down to free it and after 15 minutes was signalled to come up. No response, so was pulled up. Expert witness (bomb disposal unit diver described the effects of losing gas at depth (collapsed lungs, 'died of pulmnary suffocation'). Coroner recorded an open verdict. No real details. Straits Times
  215. 1904 4 13 Hoar William J USA 23 S/S Air Trapped by differential pressure on the mouth of a pipe in the Bointon resevoir (Jersey City Water Supply Co.), they kept pumping air to him for 96 hours. Led to calls for divers to be given telephone communications instead of signal rope
  216. 2001 12 4 Cleugh Andrew Ross Netherlands 22 S/S Air British, aged 29, trapped underwater during a pipeline survey, trench wall collapse “caused by an earth tremor�, inquest in March 2006, drowned, no real details.
  217. 1992 3 8 Harada Kazuta Japan 22 S/S Air Aged 41, professional diver was collecting the pen shell Atrina pedinata, (Japanese name Tairagigai), at a depth of 22 m about 2.3 km offshore of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. At about 15 : 20 he was attacked by a large shark, and only a severely damaged diving suit and helmet were recovered. The right half of the trunk and right leg of the suit were torn off. A rescue rope and a rubber radio cable, both of which connected the diver to a support boat were severed, but the diver's air tube remained intact. The diver's body was not recovered, nor was a shark captured that might have perpetrated the attack, despite extensive fishing efforts by local fishermen. A small piece of a broken shark tooth was recovered from the rubber surrounding the neck of the diving suit. The tooth fragment contained two large serrations of about 0.85 mm in width. The suit's steel shoulder protector had a single hole (6 mm X 3 mm), penetrated by a shark tooth. The edge of the hole showed regular minute undulations, and the cut surfaces on the rubber and the cable had minute parallel streaks, both apparently made by the serrations of shark teeth. Tracing of the scratches and cuts on the shoulder protector and back part of the diving suit made it possible to estimate a jaw size of about 40 cm in width, suggesting a very large shark. The water temperature was low about 11.6°C, at 20 m depth at a nearby locality. These facts support the contention that the shark involved in this incident was a white shark of about 5 m in total length. Shark attacks in Japanese waters were investigated, and at least sixteen shark attacks on people and boats were recognized. Reported in the Japan. J. Ichthyol, 40(1): 35-42, 1993 by Kazuhiro Nakaya
  218. 2010 7 21 Wesley Skiles USA 21 Rebreather Aged 52, Professional underwater photographer and explorer of underwater caves in Florida, diving 3 miles off Boynton Beach, found unconscious on the seabed by colleagues, did not respond to treatment. Gainsville Sun
  219. 2000 8 13 Smith Warren C USA 21 SCUBA Fire-fighter, aged 28, Search and rescue training dive in a lake. Circular search, partner lost the rope and became separated, basic SCUBA gear only, no voice comms, Another diver saw the victim who was distressed and frantically screaming, the victim knocked out the other diver's face piece. The victim, who was entangled in the buoy line was pulled to the surface by the line, given medical assistance and transported to hospital by air ambulance where he was pronounced dead, The cause of death was stated as pulmonary barotrauma. NIOSH report
  220. 1973 12 1 House Timothy UK Strongwork 21 British, aged 24. Semi sub drill rig "Blue Water III", possible diving on SCUBA with a comms/lifeline or might have been S/S Air (Not clear), stand-by diver found surface line cut, body never recovered. Jackie Warner later concluded that the diver had cut his own lifeline, an illogical action brought on by hypothermia, other sources infer umbilical possibly severed by anchor wire/sheave.
  221. 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
  222. 1926 9 25 Lee John UK 21 S/S Air "Accident to diver. While working on a wreck in Morecambe Bay yesterday, Jihn Lee of Weast Hartlepool..." "Diver's Ordeal. Broken helmet 70 feet below surface interviewed yesterday in Fleetwood hospital, a diver named Lee who almost…" No other details (Pay for access archive) Reported in the Aberdeen Journal/The British Newspaper Archive
  223. 1904 7 11 Not Recorded Australia 21 S/S Air “Diver's Terrible Fate. A diver at Boonton, New Jersey, a small village near Paterson, has met with a terrible fate. At Boonton there is a largo reservoir, and the diver was sent down for some purpose to the bottom of the great basin. He caught his foot in some manner at a depth of 70 feet under the surface, and signalled for help. As soon as possible, assistance was sent to him, and diver after diver went down, staying as long as possible in the hope of effecting his release. By Tuesday, the man had been 24 hours under water, and seven divers failed in their efforts to bring him up. Every effort was made to extricate him, and to cut away the obstruction that held his foot, but all the efforts were in vain, and late in the afternoon the signals that the diver had been making grew fainter, and finally ceased� Reported in The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, Parmatta, NSW
  224. 2013 7 16 Robles Aller Fernando Spain Trabajos Especiales Maritimos 20m S/S Air Information received points to him cleaning rubbish/silt from outside dry dock gates at Armon Shipyard, Gijon, with a pump so they could open them to launch a couple of new boats, possibly a differential pressure incident. Spanish newspapers report that when his topside tender noticed a lack of bubbles and comms response he jumped in the water, in addition, there was also an Engineer supervisor and two labourers who helped in the rescue. Witnesses say that during CPR he bled from mouth and ears. An ambulance was called and attempted to resuscitate him. After an hour of attention by the EMTs, he was declared dead.
  225. 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
  226. 2013 7 10 Millecan Joel USA 20 S/S Air Aged 56, diving solo on hookah about a mile off Loma Point for sea urchin. Deck hand on the 35 foot boat called 911 when he failed to surface, lifeguards brought him to the surfaceunconscious and not breathing and performed CPR before he was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Reported in the San Diego Times
  227. 2012 3 19 Freigeiro Choucino Marcos Spain UCS, Algeceiras 20 SCUBA Spanish aged 28, Hull cleaning operation at the alpha anchotage in Port of Algerceiras on the container ship "Lica Maersk" (Launched 2001, 266 metres long, 37 metre beam, draft 21 metres, capacity 3,600 TEU), brush became detached, dragged the diver to seabed at 100m, body not located. Longstreath/GPS Buceo
  228. 2012 1 9 Silva Carlos Portugal 20 SCUBA Aged 60, Isle of Madeira, near Ribeira Brava. Aquaculture (Fish farming) operation, appears to have been a two man diving team working on a holding cage at a depth of 10 to 20 metres but water depth was 60 metres, no topsides crew, supervisor or DDC. An alternate report suggests the diver may have dived to 60 metres to recover a dropped diving cylinder. Disappeared, body not recovered, search called off after 8 days. Married, two children. forum-mergulho.com
  229. 2009 9 18 Chia Gerald Singapore J Diving Services 20 SCUBA Paraphrased from the news report “1st time working for company, 2nd diving assignment for firm, 3rd day on the job, Diver drowns. 21-year-old diver's body found after two days. His badly decomposed body, missing off Western Singapore for two days, bobbed to the surface on Sunday evening; air tank taken by police for probe. In between running his own scuba diving firm, known as Jet Scuba, Mr Chia did freelance work for commercial diving companies. Relatives identified him through the tattoos on his body. The body of Mr Gerald Chia Jia Jie, 21, was found near the oil rig he had been working on, still clad in dark-blue work overalls and with his gas tank and face mask still in place. A Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) boat, part of the search operations that had been under way for more than 50 hours, spotted the body at about 6pm. When Mr Chia went missing at around noon last Friday, he was on only his second assignment underwater for J Diving Services. He had started freelancing for the company only two days before that. He was carrying out installation works on the oil rig berthed in the Jurong West Anchorage at the time, 'his job was to install shackles on the rig, a relatively simple task', said the diving supervisor. 'Seasoned divers would take 15 minutes to do it, and newcomers, half an hour at the most', he added. Mr Chia had gone underwater, about 20m down, with a more experienced partner, as is the practice in the industry. The pair were supposed to surface together, but his buddy told his colleagues later that Mr Chia needed to share oxygen (it was air, simple SCUBA operation, TC) with him, although it was not clear why. Mr Chia took two breaths of air before ascending to the surface. The supervisor said Mr Chia's buddy followed him up, but lost sight of him and started searching for him without success. Friends said Mr Chia, who studied marketing at the Management Development Institute of Singapore, took up leisure diving only a few years ago, but quickly became a qualified dive instructor.� Reported in the Straits Times (Note. Reports, if accurate!! indicate basic sports SCUBA gear (half mask not full face) and only PADI qualified whilst Singapore regulations (TA/WSH) for use of SCUBA at work require minimum full face mask, life line, surface communications, locator beacon and professional qualifications, but this is only speculation pending official reports TC)
  230. 2008 7 27 Spencer William USA BIDCO 20 American, aged 42, working off the construction barge "Lone Star Horizon" (a 314' ong construction barge) on the Neptune LNG project (terminal and pipeline) 12 miles offshore Massachusetts. BIDCO (Buffalo Industrial Diving Company) were subcontractors to Caldive. Diver replacing air hose on stinger, reported difficulty breathing, stand-by divers brought him to the surface, CPR, medivac to hospital, later declared dead, heart attack.
  231. 2008 6 21 Not Recorded UK Northern Divers 20 S/S Air Taken from the MAIB report 3/2009 “A diver entered the water from the Belgium registered self-propelled crane barge Norma order to replace a line marking the position of the wreck of a German submarine which had been sunk during World War One off the ‘Varne’ bank in the Dover Strait (Salvage operation to reposition the wreck as it represented a hazard to deep hulled vessels). As the diver descended to a depth of about 20m, the umbilical cord containing an air supply became entangled in the vessel’s aft Voith Schneider propeller, and the diver was dragged towards its rotating blades. The diver’s air supply was also pulled from the deck but the diver succeeded in transferring to a bottled air supply before it severed. The diver was approximately 3m from the rotating propeller when the propeller was stopped by the vessel’s chief engineer. The diver then managed to cut himself free and make his way to the surface from where he was recovered without injury. The investigation identified a number of factors which contributed to this hazardous incident, including: • control system for the vessel’s propulsion had recently been installed, and no procedures for its use had been developed and no familiarisation training had been provided. • the OOW nor the master verified that the propellers were stopped or informed the engine room that diving operations were about to take place. • procedures for diving operations in the vessel’s safety management system lacked detail and were not sufficiently robust. They placed an undue reliance on the effectiveness of procedures followed by the embarked diving contractor. • operations had not been identified as a key shipboard operation by the ship manager or by external audit. “ Full report available from MAIB
  232. 1996 7 0 Not Recorded Indonesia Comex/PT Komaritim 20 SCUBA Indonesian diver, vessel sent out to confirm location of a pipeline leak, passed leak and dropped a marker buoy. As the vessel made a second pass, two divers in SCUBA jumped in with a marker buoy on a line to attach to the pipeline near the leak. (Possibly a 10"or 12" pipeline, hole was in the 6 o/c position.). While they were underwater attaching the rope, the leak stopped. It is reported – not confirmed – that the client representative was for some reason not happy that he could no longer see bubbles and radio'd the platform asking them to inject more gas. Whether true or not, the leak did restart, violently. The product was gas plus condensate. One diver was found dead tangled in the marker rope, his face virtually stripped of flesh from where the high pressure gas/condensate had blown off his SCUBA mask, the other diver did not surface, missing, his body was not located at the time (Not reported whether it was found later). PC
  233. 1990 12 6 Gunhus Ted USA USN 20 Aged 37, Reserve officer with the Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Naval Reserve Mobile Diving Salvage Unit One Detachment 522 (NRMDSU-1DET 522) attempting to salvage flying boat PBM-5 (sank in 1949) from lake Washington. Described 'a weekend training exercise'. Seattle Times
  234. 1984 12 12 Not Recorded USA 20 S/S Air NO 03-07, Block 631, OCS-Y 0511, Sedco 708, Well No 1, Atlantic Richfield. "The diver left surface at 11:55 hours to work on an anchor at 65 feet. At approximately 12:35 hours, a garbled message came over the diving phone. The crew could not get an understandable response from the diver. He was observed at the surface trying to climb the ladder to the landing. He fell back into the water. One man climbed down the ladder and another jumped into the water to help. The diver lost consciousness and the two men got him to the landing. He was not breathing and had no pulse. CPR was started and he was moved to the DDC. CPR was continued until the doctor arrived at 18:28 hours and pronounced the victim dead. Cause of death was subsequently determined to be air embolism. OCS incidents database 1956 to 1990, page 306
  235. 1948 7 18 Do Pang Australia Ah Dep 20 S/S Air “FATALITY AT DARWIN� Darwin, July 18. “With its flag at half mast, the pearling lugger ‘Zephyr’ berthed at Darwin to-day carrying the body of a Koepang pearl diver, Do Pang (45), who died aboard the vessel, after having been brought to the surface in a state of collapse. It was the first post-war diving tragedy in these waters. The Zephyr, which is owned by an Australian born Chinese, Ah Dep, was opeating to-day in 11 fathoms in the Darwin harbour. The pump attendants became anxious when Do Pang, who was being tried out in a headpiece only, did not respond to signals�. Reported in the Kalgoorlie Miner, WA
  236. 1915 2 23 Hanson Harry USA Merrit and Chapman Wrecking Company 20 S/S Air Aged 48, third dive of the day on the salvage of a scow sunk at the foot of 57th Street, Brooklyn. Reported that he descended, signalled to be lifted but was entangled, hoses kinked and he suffocated though at the inquiry his erstwhile employers denied that his air supply was cut off or that there was any delay in pulling him up and stated that the inside of the suit was dry and receiving fresh air when he was pulled to the surface, Reported in the New York Times
  237. 1910 8 26 Mathewson RN Able Seaman James Edward UK Military 20 S/S Air Diver based at HMS Vernon, diving off the Navy vessel 'Redwing' (Tender, previously the war department's 'Sir Charles Pasley', transferred to the Royal Navy in 1905, sold in 1931) to investigate a seabed obstruction in the solent near the site where the A1 sank in 1904 (First British designed submarine, first of the A class submarines - an enlarged and improved 'Holland' class - sank with the loss of all 11 crew during a practice attack on HMS Juno when the conning tower was breached when she was run over by the Mail Steamer "SS Berwick Castle". She was refloated the same year and returned to service), reached the seabed and the repeatedly signalled for less air, then lost communications. Surface crew tried to pull him up but his lines were fouled (Although only diving in 11 fathoms they had paid out 200' of hose because of high currents and wanting to give the diver freedom to move about). They then manouvred the vessel and freed the lines bringing the diver to the surface 15 minutes later, but he was dead. Believed that his lines caught round the stump of an old mast and in an attempt to free himself had dropped his weights at which time he had floated towards the surface then held upside down by his lines and suffocated from lost air supply. "If he had waited perfectly quiet in deep water he could have been saved". They had a second diving dress on board but only had 50' of hose left so could not reach the diver. Inquest verdict was 'death from misadventure' with the coroner commenting that the diver's shipmates appeared to have done all that was possible in the circumstances. Wanganui Chronicle/Papers Past/National Library of New Zealand
  238. 1878 0 0 Steele H USA 20 S/S Air English, aged 40. Had previously assisted in recovering treasure from the �City of San Francisco� and raised schooner “Mabel and Edith� in 1877. 15 minutes into a diver was recovered to surface by tenders as they received no signals. Unconscious, died 15 minutes later. The owner of the apparatus, A. W. Von Schmidt, found that the diver neglected to close the end of a hose. “The apparatus is for two divers and when used by one only the other end should have the cap screwed on. After reaching a depth of 11 fathoms he received no fresh air and had only the air in the helmet to breathe�.
  239. 2012 6 2 Pool Joshua Lee Eugene USA 2 S/S Air Aged 28, Commercial diver with Seattle based Global and Salvage, working the weekend on a pivate gold claim 70 miles north of Anchorage on Willow Creek, using a compressor and diving gear, dry suit (No life jacket) with 50lbs of weight (25lb chest weight with quick release, 25lbs on a non-quick release waist belt) to work a 'neck-deep eddy' behind a boulder (using a suction lift) upstream of Shirley Town Bridge. Working with one other guy (onshore) and in quickly rising water level when apparently he went short of air, stood up and lifted off his helmet, slipped on a rock, lost his helmet and 'went downstream', Incident occurred at around 16:00, body located at 18:00, possible head injury, recorded as drowned. Lived in Anchoorage, expecting his second daughter to be born in July. Alaska Dispatch
  240. 2012 5 3 O'Malley Steven Germany SubC Partner 2 British, Aged 48. Diving on the Alpha Ventus windfarm (28 miles north of Borkum in about 30 metres water depth) from a Danish DSV, body taken ashore in Esbjerg. Reported as becoming unresponsive/ill in the water, recovered to deck but failed to respond to treatment. Initial reports indicated a possible heart attack. Reported in the Scotsman plus German Press
  241. 2012 1 11 Hentze Jakun Andrias Faroes SJH Diving 2 SCUBA Aged 44, repair programme on the SHEFA-2 (SHEtland - FAroes fibre optic communication) cable of Nolsoy island. Was found in shallow water with his mask off and empty cylinder. No other details. Reported by SIBC, Dimma,fo, sandportal.fo
  242. 2011 7 9 Alvarez 'Dani' Daniel Spain 2 S/S Air Aged 35, married, 11 month old twins, Seaweed extraction (Agar "Ocle") operation, diving from the Biempica III two miles off Gijon (North Coast of Spain), vessel reported the diver was unconscious, transferred ashore but did not respond to treatment. Recorded as 'death by drowning'. Basic kit (SCUBA style second stage/mask, air hose and rope, Full face mask or helmet, no comms, no bail out, no harness,no surface stand-by no medical O2 onboard. Probably kinked hose but no details. GPS Buzeo/Spanish Press
  243. 2009 11 15 Morales Miguel Angel Chile 2 SCUBA Aged 49, Cleaning operation in a 'pond' (9 billion m3 storage facility) owned by the National oil Company, described as having 30 years diving experience and working for a diving sub-contractor. One other team member (A none-diver, so effectively a solo SCUBA dive) raised the alarm when he failed to surface. Body recovered 7 hours later. No other details. La Estrella/Cronica
  244. 2009 6 24 Logan Christopher USA 2 S/S Air American, aged 27, hired by Las Colinas Country Club to retrieve lost golf balls Employees at the club noticed that one of the men employed by the company contracted to recover the balls had not returned by closing time at 8 p.m, So someone went to look for him. Near the eighteenth green, an employee saw Logan’s breathing apparatus floating in the water and noticed that the pump that supplies the air was not running. The Irving Fire Department responded and found the diver's body submerged in the water. The Dallas County medical examiner’s office has ruled the death an accident due to drowning and the toxic effects of carbon monoxide. Wife and three year old son. Was SCUBA certified , took the part time job with a friend's golf ball retrieval business because his employer had cut his hours.
  245. 2009 4 2 Coach Larry USA 2 SCUBA Aged 64, ran a diving business in Dallas, employed by Nacogdoches Soil and Water Conservation District (Conservation Agency), to unblock a 24� drainage/lake overflow pipe. Drove to site alone in his pick up, solo, SCUBA, no standby, lifeline or team. Started working at the inlet (upstream) end. Initial reports indicate that he removed the metal intake grill to get better access to the blockage, soon after bubbles stopped coming up. Rescue team blocked the exit (downstream) of the pipe with an air bag to reduce suction/flow and then recovered the diver from the inlet end using grapples. Had to remove harness/stab jacket to free body. Recovery operation took 30 hours (Entangled in debris some distance inside the pipe).
  246. 1994 2 4 Stapp John Quinton USA 2 SCUBA Aged 38, surveying the Hunter's Point Marina on Lake Travis near Cat Hollow to plan repairs to its dock, diving solo, no team. No details
  247. 1986 11 5 Tennant Leroy J USA Roy Tennant Co. 2 SCUBA Aged 62, Owner of the diving Company, inspecting an underwater gas line in the Shetucket river, witnesses on shore observed in trouble but sank below the surface before being rescued. Body recovered 40 minutes later
  248. 1978 12 13 Lim Meng Kian Singapore 2 S/S Air Aged 26. Working on a fishing boat, returning from a voyage into the Indian Ocean when the boat slowed. "Mr Lim, who had some diving experience, volunteered to investigate" using an air hose attached to a compressor. He reported that the vessel's propeller was entangled in rope and took a knife to cut it. After 20 minutes, tugs on his air hose got no response and a second crew member went in to investigate. Diver was motionless in the water, air hose entangled in the propeller, but still had his mask on. Recovered to deck but did not respond to treatment. The coroner commented that there was no apparent reason why he could not have removed his mask and come to the surface from a depth of 2.1 metres and that there was insufficient evidence to show how the diver drowned. "The mask, air hose and compressor were examined and found to be trouble-free". Inquest held in March 1979 recorded an open verdict. Straits Times
  249. 1935 5 15 Wunderlich Albert Edward Australia 2 S/S Air Aged about 40, single, working on the construction of the high level bridge over the Herbert river near Ingham, diving routinely in 7 or 8 feet of water, had been down sometime, at smoko they signalled him to prepare for pulling up but received no response and immediately hauled him up. The diver reached the surace minus his headdress which had become detached from the costume. A doctor and ambulance were hurridly summoned but after arduous endeavours at respiration life was pronounced to be extinct. Reported in the Nothern Miner.
  250. 2014 2 7 Porter Bruce New Zealand The Dive Spot 1m SCUBA Report in Maritime New Zealand dated 10 June 2015 “Whangarei diving company and co-director/skipper fined $75,000 after the death of diver. Reparations of $80,000 are also to be paid. The diver died after being struck by a propeller while on a diving trip to the Poor Knights Islands. Maritime New Zealand prosecuted the company and Mr Barnes under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction at work caused harm to any person. The incident occurred after the anchor of the vessel “Pacific Hideaway” became snagged on the third dive of the trip. The diver was asked to dive down to unsnag the anchor, but a crewman on board the vessel then freed the anchor using the winch. The skipper believed Mr Porter understood there was no need to dive, but due to a miscommunication the diver entered the water and was struck by the propeller when the vessel’s engines were put into gear. Maritime New Zealand Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt said the tragic incident was entirely avoidable. The risk from propellers was not included in the vessel’s hazard register, nor was it mentioned in the briefing for divers on the day of the accident. In addition, the company did not have a clear system of communicating with divers about their entry into the water, nor did it have a clear policy that passenger divers were never asked to dive to free anchors. “Propeller strike is one of the key risks for those operating a dive operation and that risk must be managed through effective safety processes,” he said. “The consequences of having divers in the water when propellers are turning can be catastrophic, as they were in this case. Those operating commercial charter dive operations have an absolute responsibility to ensure they are operating safely. "That includes ensuring that recreational divers are fully briefed before they enter the water and that good communication is maintained at all times”
  251. 2014 7 7 Porter Bruce New Zealand The Dive Spot 1m SCUBA Report in Maritime New Zealand dated 10 June 2015 “Whangarei diving company and co-director/skipper fined $75,000 after the death of diver. Reparations of $80,000 are also to be paid. The diver died after being struck by a propeller while on a diving trip to the Poor Knights Islands. Maritime New Zealand prosecuted the company and Mr Barnes under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 for failing to take all practicable steps to ensure that no action or inaction at work caused harm to any person. The incident occurred after the anchor of the vessel “Pacific Hideaway” became snagged on the third dive of the trip. The diver was asked to dive down to unsnag the anchor, but a crewman on board the vessel then freed the anchor using the winch. The skipper believed Mr Porter understood there was no need to dive, but due to a miscommunication the diver entered the water and was struck by the propeller when the vessel’s engines were put into gear. Maritime New Zealand Deputy Director Lindsay Sturt said the tragic incident was entirely avoidable. The risk from propellers was not included in the vessel’s hazard register, nor was it mentioned in the briefing for divers on the day of the accident. In addition, the company did not have a clear system of communicating with divers about their entry into the water, nor did it have a clear policy that passenger divers were never asked to dive to free anchors. “Propeller strike is one of the key risks for those operating a dive operation and that risk must be managed through effective safety processes,” he said. “The consequences of having divers in the water when propellers are turning can be catastrophic, as they were in this case. Those operating commercial charter dive operations have an absolute responsibility to ensure they are operating safely. "That includes ensuring that recreational divers are fully briefed before they enter the water and that good communication is maintained at all times”
×

Important Information

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

  I accept