A scuba diver has been seriously injured after being struck by a boat propeller while returning to shore following a dive in Hong Kong’s Clear Water Bay, prompting a police investigation into the incident.
The accident occurred shortly after 3:00 pm on Saturday near Little Palm Beach, close to Hang Hau Wing Lung Road, as deteriorating weather affected conditions in the area. The incident took place while an Amber Rainstorm Warning was in force.
According to local reports, the 27-year-old diver sustained serious facial and head injuries after being struck by the propeller of a small boat as members of a dive group were returning to shore. Emergency responders treated him at the scene before transporting him to hospital for further care. Despite the severity of his injuries, he was reported to have remained conscious following the accident.
Police subsequently attended the nearby sailing training facility to begin an investigation. Diving cylinders and equipment remained on the shoreline while officers examined the scene and interviewed those involved. Early reports indicate the diver was part of a group of more than ten people participating in the outing.
Hong Kong media later reported that a 44-year-old female boat instructor was arrested on suspicion of endangering the safety of others at sea. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the operation of the vessel during the group’s return from the dive.
While some initial media reports suggested a second diver had also been injured, subsequent reporting indicates that another casualty reported during the same afternoon was involved in a separate incident nearby. At this stage, the confirmed diving-related accident centres on the seriously injured diver who was struck by the boat propeller.
Boat strikes remain one of the most serious hazards faced by scuba divers, particularly during entry and exit from the water. Maintaining clear communication between dive teams and vessel operators, displaying appropriate diver-down markers, and ensuring engines are placed in neutral when divers are close to a vessel are among the fundamental safety measures designed to reduce the risk of propeller-related injuries.
Police enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.
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