Son of Australian Underwater Legend Sues

Decompression sickness has little respect for reputation. It matters little that you are the son of Emmy-Award-winning underwater film-maker and author of the Australian Skindiver's Handbook, Ben Cropp, as Adam Cropp found out.

The Cairns Post reports that Cropp, 33, was working as a divemaster and guest lecturer for the Cairns-based company, Tusa Dive in 2012 when he became ill on the 11th day of a two-week trip. His dives had ranged from 33 feet (10m) to 104 feet (32m) and had repeated overnight watch shifts, which he claimed left him fatigued.

Cropp is suing Tusa Dive for more than US$356,000, alleging the company failed to follow procedures and contact the Townsville Hyperbaric Center so he could be treated within 24 hours of showing symptoms of DCS.