Inconclusive Investigation into Silfra Diving Incident Blamed on Police Data Shortage

An investigation into a serious diving incident at Silfra, Iceland, where a 65-year-old diver lost consciousness, has been hampered by a lack of crucial information from the police, according to the Icelandic Transportation Safety Investigation Bureau (RNSA).

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The investigation bureau was not notified of the incident but learned about it in the media the following day. The police did not respond to the bureau's request for information until 16 days later.

The incident occurred in August 2024 during an organized dive with two other tourists and a dive leader. While assisting another 74-year-old diver who experienced repeated difficulties, the 65-year-old was found motionless at the bottom of the dive site. The dive leader retrieved him, and he regained consciousness on land before being airlifted to a hospital.

The RNSA stated that the police did not report the incident directly, only learning about it through media the following day. Police responses to the bureau's requests for information were delayed by 16 days, by which time the affected diver had already left the country. Crucial data from the diver's dive computer was no longer available, and the diving company could not provide technical logs for the trip.

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Police information was also not sufficiently detailed, including the diver's depth and bottom time.

Further complicating the investigation, the police provided insufficient details regarding dive depth and bottom time. The RNSA emphasized the critical responsibility of dive leaders for the safety of all participants, noting that leaving a diver unattended at depth is a serious lapse. The bureau also pointed to a lack of clear procedures in Icelandic law for reporting and providing information on diving accidents, which hindered their ability to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.

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It is serious if a diver is left at depth without supervision or clear instructions to surface.