The tragic side of diving

3News -

On the 15th of July two men lost their lives while diving in Lake Pupuke on Auckland’s North Shore.

One of them was 33-year-old father of two Daniel Stoneham. His family stood at the shores of the lake for two days until police recovered his body.

It has now been six weeks since Daniel's death, and his family say the pain hasn't eased one bit.

It was the last day of a 15 week training course, and he and four other learner divers were to complete a 35 metre dive. It was their first time diving at Lake Pupuke, but soon after they entered the water something went wrong.

His family say they have no idea what happened on that day.

"We know nothing at the moment about what happened, except that he called some of us up on that day, to say "I'll call you back when I get back", and the phone call never came," Daniel's father Cliff Stoneham said.

The body of 37-year-old Tyrone North was found by divers the same day, and a third man was also taken to hospital.

But Daniel's family had to endure two days waiting by the shores of Lake Pupuke until his body was recovered from the murky water at a depth of 53 metres - 18 metres deeper than he had planned to dive.

“I was expecting someone to share some light for us, but no they haven't not to me anyway. I have had a discussion with a couple of divers, that went down with them that day - but it really didn't tell me anything they just told me that they knew something was going wrong and that’s all I know,” Cliff said.

Daniel's family is desperate for answers but say they will wait patiently if it means they’re given a detailed account of what happened and why.

Full story...

Posted via http://batavia08.posterous.com batavia08's posterous