Provisional report on diving-related fatalities in Australian waters 2004

An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported to have occurred in Australia in 2004 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific dive fatality reporting project.

The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident are provided, and also details from the post-mortem examination, where available.

In total, there were 22 reported fatalities, all male. Nine deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, 10 while scuba diving, one just prior to scuba diving, one while using surface-supply breath apparatus and one while diving with a rebreather. In this series, cardiac-related issues were thought to have contributed to the deaths of five snorkel divers and three scuba divers, and in one person who was about to go diving. Three of the deaths in breath-hold divers were likely to have been associated with apnoeic hypoxia blackout.

Pre-existing medical conditions, inexperience, time away from diving, inadequate supervision, and diving without appropriate training were features in several scuba deaths in this series.