MAIB Safety Bulletin: Fatal injury to a recreational diver following contact with a motor vessel, Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland, 28 September 2023

Summary:

On the morning of 28 September 2023, a recreational diver carrying out decompression stops died, almost certainly as a result of being struck by the rotating propeller of the UK registered diving support boat Karin. The diver had been diving from a second dive boat that was also supporting divers exploring the wreck of the German battleship SMS Markgraf, which was lying at a depth of 45m in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

The key safety issues identified were:

• The need to maintain an effective lookout at all times while a vessel is underway is vital when operating near people in the water, such as around dive boats. Posting a dedicated lookout in an appropriate location is essential to make sure the helm/skipper receives timely warnings of surfacing divers and allow for effective avoiding action.
• 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. 
• Following good practice guidance for correct handling of a delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) by divers is essential. As recommended by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), divers should hold the DSMB line in their hand rather than attaching 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.

  Safety recommendations:

  The British Diving Safety Group is recommended to disseminate this safety bulletin to all organisations and agencies within its membership drawing attention to the safety issues raised, in particular:

• that owners, operators and skippers of diving support boats should ensure compliance with COLREGs Rule 5 concerning provision of a lookout, especially when operating in proximity to divers in the water.
• to raise awareness among its members of the hazards to divers of attaching a DSMB to their person while submerged, and that the recognised good practice is for the reel to be held in their hand.