DIVING NEWS
Diver hit by boat in Florida
Incidents of scuba divers being struck by boats are not as rare as they should be, but what’s more unusual is an apparent hit-and-run incident.
That appeared to be what happened about a mile off Hollywood Beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 8 August, when a 23-year-old male diver sustained lacerations to his shoulders and back following a boat strike.
The diver had surfaced after ascending from around 20m and his badly damaged tank, said to bear the marks of a propeller strike, appeared to have taken much of the impact.
It was not clear whether he or his buddy had raised a surface marker buoy before ascending.
12 August 2018
The man was recovered onto his dive-boat and was said to be conscious when he arrived on shore, where emergency services personnel conveyed him to hospital. His injuries were said not to be life-threatening.
A white 18m sports-fishing yacht was said to have left the scene of the incident.
Coast Guard officials and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission were investigating and were reported to have questioned two men.
