A scuba diver in his 50s died on 10 August following a dive at Ruifang Bat Cave, a popular dive-site on the coast near New Taipei City in Taiwan.
The incident occurred at around 11am, shortly after the man had completed an underwater tour of the site. According to reports, he had lost consciousness soon after surfacing. His buddy brought him to shore and administered CPR in an attempt to revive him.
A passer-by alerted emergency services, who transported the man to Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. The incident remains under investigation, according to Lai Media.
Ruifang Bat Cave on the rugged north-eastern coast of Taiwan is a former mine and a popular shore-dive for its scenic rock formations, soft corals and small marine life including blue-ringed octopuses. Reached by a five-minute surface swim, the site ranges from 12-22m in depth and is considered suitable for divers at all levels.
In May two scuba divers were seriously injured at the other end of Taiwan after being struck by a fishing-boat propeller.
