Investigators have found no evidence of a technical defect in the equipment used by two divers who died after an emergency ascent from approximately 80 metres in Germany’s Lake Constance.
The Scuba News initially reported the fatal incident following the deaths of a 46-year-old woman and her 64-year-old male dive partner at the “Tennisplätze” dive site near Überlingen on 2 August 2026.
The pair, who were described in subsequent reports as experienced technical divers, began an emergency ascent at approximately 10:30 a.m. The reason they abandoned their planned dive and ascent profile remains unknown.
The male diver was unconscious during the ascent, while the woman lost consciousness shortly after reaching the surface. Despite immediate resuscitation attempts, both divers died at the scene.
Investigators Find No Technical Defect
Police recovered the divers’ equipment after the accident and began examining their rebreathers, cylinders, dive computers and other available evidence.
A spokesperson for the Konstanz public prosecutor’s office has now told German public broadcaster SWR that investigators found no indications of a technical defect in the equipment.
The finding eliminates one possible explanation for the emergency ascent, but does not establish what happened underwater.
Earlier reporting indicated that data examined by police clearly showed an emergency ascent beginning at approximately 80 metres without the decompression that would normally be required following a dive to that depth.
An ascent of this nature can expose divers to severe decompression illness, arterial gas embolism and other potentially fatal injuries. However, the dangers created by the ascent do not explain what prompted the pair to begin it.
Cause of Emergency Remains Unknown
At the time of the original incident, investigators had not ruled out equipment malfunction, a breathing-gas problem, a medical emergency or another unexpected event.
The equipment examination has now found no indication of a technical defect, but authorities have not confirmed gas exhaustion, an incorrect gas mixture, a medical problem, diver error or any other specific cause.
Post-mortem examinations have not yet been fully completed. Prosecutors described the investigation as extensive but indicated that they do not intend to release further details concerning the precise causes of death.
The central question therefore remains unanswered. Investigators know that the divers initiated an emergency ascent from approximately 80 metres, but have not established what forced them to abandon their planned technical-diving and decompression procedures.
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