Death of diver hit by boat propeller 'could have been avoided with basic principles' in Orkney

The death of a diver hit by a boat’s propeller while on a shipwreck exploration expedition off Orkney could have been avoided with “basic principles”.

Paul Smith and his dive buddy were in the process of resurfacing near the wreck of the German battleship SMS Markgraf in Scapa Flow on September 28, 2023.

The Karin, a UK-registered diving support boat, was one of two vessels in the area.

The Markgraf wreck lies at a depth of 45m, and Mr Smith had been diving from a second boat supporting the group exploring the site.

Paul Smith and his dive buddy were in the process of resurfacing near the wreck of the German battleship SMS Markgraf in Scapa Flow. MAIB

Mr Smith and his dive buddy had stopped 3m below the surface to finish their scheduled decompression.

Their presence was indicated by their delayed surface marker buoy. The buoy was visible to the diver’s support boat waiting on the other side of the wreck site – but it was not spotted by the Karin before it motored over it.

The crew of the second dive boat saw the buoy disappear under the Karin. Mr Smith then failed to resurface.

The Coastguard was called and an extensive two-day air and sea search of the area was launched, but without success.

Mr Smith’s body was found three weeks later following a seabed search conducted by a local survey vessel using side-scan sonar. A specialist team then recovered his body.

Highlands & Islands

Diver ‘killed by boat propeller’ after exploring shipwreck

The rotating propeller of a support boat ‘almost certainly’ collided with Paul Smith in Scapa Flow in September last year.

The Marine and Rail Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) found that “basic principles of good watchkeeping” could have helped to prevent the death.

A recommendation was 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.

The MAIB said it is the responsibility of skippers to maintain an effective lookout by all means at all times, and is “vital” when operating near divers in the water.

The report also identified the need for “detailed and frequent communication between operators when multiple boats intend to operate in the same area”.

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, DSMBs play 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 DMSB should it become snagged or the line jammed and not attach it to their person at any time.”