Anaura Bay fatality - New Zealand

[DandyDon]

"Police say the man had surfaced from a dive and was getting out of the water when he collapsed."
Diver dies north of Tolaga Bay

“The man had been scuba diving for seafood with two friends off Motuoroi Island at Anaura Bay,” said Constable Andrew Trafford of Tolaga Bay police. “He surfaced and was seen by his friends sitting on a rock. Shortly after that, his friends saw him floating face down in the water,” Constable Trafford said.
Death of diver at Anaura

THE scuba diver who died at Anaura Bay on Sunday morning was 54-year-old father of six Wiremu Tuakana Northover-Teneti from Gisborne. Police released his name officially yesterday after all next of kin had been informed.
http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2655077-135/anaura-bay-diver-has-been-named

 

[clownfishsydney]

Sorry to hear of another death in NZ.

Honestly, I do not know what is happening that NZ and Australia has had so many diving deaths over the past 6 or so months. I wish there was some authority that would look at them all in conjunction with each other.

 

[Scubamat]

Well for a start a few of the reported Australian 'diving' deaths were snorkeling deaths. It is also summer so diving season. Unlike the yanks we do have an authority who looks into these deaths(all accedental deaths infact) and actually reports back publicly. If there is a pattern or someone kicks up enough of stink for a dealer enquire that same authority will make recommendations to government for changes.

 

[infieldg]

Yeah only a few are actual scuba deaths in NZ too (last year excepted). The NZ police national dive squad have held quite a few meetings now - the last one I attended was only a few months ago and there was absolutely no new information, but again, only enthusiasts turned up, and we aren't the ones dying.

I think the recent stats only look bad cos they've been so good til now when you consider how few countries besides Australia and NZ have almost their entire population living literally within a stone's throw of the ocean. That's probably why our overall drowning rate is so high - scuba deaths being barely a blip in those stats.

It's probably inevitable then that a higher percentage of older unfit divers will dust off their scuba gear around Xmas/new year when it gets warm, walk across the road and chase lobsters til they have a heart attack or equipment failure, and with our aging population and warmer summers (except Wellington grrr) it's not about to stop.

Asking the government to intervene would be asking for annual dive medicals, a ban on solo diving, mandatory annual testing/servicing of gear etc etc, and these guys would simply ignore it and keep doing what they're doing.

And after that the govt will come for my 'unsafe' motorbike - noooooooooo!!!!