Japanese diver dies on coelacanth expedition
AN experienced Japanese professional diver has lost his life on a coelacanth expedition while diving in the Sodwana Bay section of iSimangaliso Wetland Park last week.
The 55- year- old diver, Mitsuyoshi Tanaka, who was on his second trip to iSimangaliso, died while diving on Jesser Canyons at about 110m.
The dive team was using mix gasses and rebreathers, a statement from iSimangaliso said yesterday, adding that the exact cause of the tragedy was still unknown and that an investigation would be carried out.
Just before Tanaka surfaced unconscious on Thursday, the back-up divers entered the water to meet the deep divers at 70m, in accordance with the standard ascent safety procedures for this kind of technical dive.
This was after the marker buoys for the deep divers had surfaced without danger tape, meaning that all was okay and they were starting to ascend.
The surface support boat team and surface divers immediately brought the unconscious diver on to the boat.
“The Dive Accident Network was called as the boat took Tanaka back to the beach, where he was immediately taken to Mseleni Hospital, with life support being administered throughout the journey. Unfortunately, the diver was pronounced dead at the hospital,” the statement said.
Tanaka was a former specialist dive trainer for the military and was previously the head of the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD JAPAN)
He was a senior diver on a month-long dive expedition by IANTD JAPAN with South African specialist dive company Triton Dive Lodge.
“The authorised expedition is filming the wonders of the ocean to promote the conservation and protection of iSimangaliso’s coelacanths and leatherback turtles through documentaries to be flighted internationally and nationally,” said Andrew Zaloumis, the chief executive of iSimanagaliso who had met the diver on his first trip to the area.
“They will also produce educational videos in isiZulu and English for our youth in the region.”
Tanaka was fascinated by the creatures he saw at iSimangaliso, Zaloumis said. – Daily News Reporter