The Most Dangerous Thing You’ll Meet Underwater? Your Boat’s Propeller

Hard on the heels of the prosecution by police in Phuket, Thailand, of two diving instructors who let a new trainee fall overboard and drown while still wearing his weight belt, three people, have been charged with the death of a Japanese diver who was struck by a boat propeller during her first-ever dive in the Similan Islands National Park on January 4th.

The boat captain, the dive instructor and the tour guide have been charged with recklessness causing the grievous bodily harm and death of 37-year-old Yoshida Saori, who died from blood loss after suffering multiple lacerations on her right thigh. Participating in a threeday course with South Siam Divers, she was making her first dive to 33 feet (10m). After becoming separated from her group, she headed to the boat just as it began drifting and the captain started the engine to reposition it.

Phuket News reports that the tour company's insurance provider has already paid one million Baht ($31,000) as compensation for Ms. Saori's death.