Fatal injury to a recreational diver following contact with the motor vessel Karin operating as a recreational dive support vessel
Location: Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Accident Investigation Report 16/2025
Read our marine accident investigation report, which includes what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations:
Summary
On the morning of 28 September 2023, a recreational diver carrying out a decompression stop died when he was struck by the rotating propeller of the UK registered dive workboat Karin. The diver had been diving from a second dive workboat, Jean Elaine, that was also supporting divers exploring the wreck of the German battleship SMS Markgraf in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.
Safety issues
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it is the responsibility of skippers to maintain an effective lookout by all means at all times. This is vital when operating near divers in the water. Posting a dedicated lookout in an appropriate location is essential to make sure the person at the helm/skipper receives timely warnings of surfacing divers and allows for effective avoiding action.
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the need for detailed and frequent communication between operators when multiple boats intend to operate in the same area. This coordination is crucial to ensure deconfliction and prevent accidents.
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following good practice guidance for the correct handling of a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) by divers is essential. As recommended by the British Diving Safety Group, divers should hold a DSMB reel in their hand rather than attach it to their person. This practice ensures that if the DSMB is snagged by a passing craft, the diver can release the line to avoid entanglement and the risk of being pulled to the surface or into contact with the vessel.
Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
Recommendations
A recommendation has been made to the Orkney Islands Council Harbour to conduct a further risk-based review of recreational diving operations for dive vessel operators within its areas of responsibility that includes the effectiveness and enforcement of permit arrangements for recreational dive vessels; the control and monitoring of diving support operations by Orkney vessel traffic services; engagement with local stakeholders; and the development of a local code of practice for recreational diving operations that considers the principles outlined in Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 424 (M) – Safety Responsibilities on board Dive Boats.
MAIB actions taken
Following the accident, the MAIB issued Safety Bulletin 2/2024 reminding dive boat operators of the need to maintain a good lookout and reminding divers not to attach deployed marker buoys to their person.
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to Karin’s new owner (see section 4.2 of the report) to highlight the safety issues contained in this report, specifically those concerning the vessel’s operational safety on the day of the accident.
Related publications
MGN 424 (M) Safety responsibilities on board dive boats, Amendment 1
MAIB Safety Bulletin 2/2024 was published ahead of this report in June 2024 and urges boat operators to keep an effective lookout at all times when a vessel is underway, and stresses the importance of maintaining detailed and frequent communications with other boat operators in the vicinity.