Karin report published
Fatal injury to a recreational diver following contact with a motor vessel operating as a recreational dive support vessel.
Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the fatal injury to a recreational diver following contact with the motor vessel Karin operating as a recreational dive support vessel on 28 September 2023.
Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:
Our findings highlight that all stakeholders, including operators, regulators, and industry bodies, must always prioritise the safety of those who are on the water, be that for work or pleasure.
The basic principles of good watchkeeping: vigilance, clear communication and adherence to operational procedures for the activities undertaken are well tried and tested. Had they been followed during this event, particularly with two vessels operating in close proximity to submerged divers, this tragic accident could have been avoided.
As highlighted in both our previous safety bulletin and in the final report, a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) plays a crucial part in diver safety by enhancing a diver’s visibility and indicating their presence to surface craft. However, divers must ensure that they can quickly release the DSMB should it become snagged or the line jammed and not attach it to their person at any time.
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