Scuba Diver safety claims resurface with Perth Diving Academy facing new allegations

A Perth-based dive company already under investigation for allegedly leaving two scuba divers stranded at sea is facing fresh allegations, as other divers and witnesses come forward with eerily similar experiences spanning nearly a decade.

Perth Diving Academy (PDA), which has operated dive charters and training programs out of Hillarys Boat Harbour for many years, is at the centre of multiple claims involving divers being unintentionally left behind in open water - a potentially life-threatening breach of standard safety protocols.

Recent Incident Sparks Scrutiny
The most recent incident occurred in March when Ian Kensington and Ryan Chaudhry were left behind during a PDA diving expedition. The pair say they surfaced to find their dive boat gone and endured nearly an hour adrift before being rescued by a ferry returning from Rottnest Island.

Kensington told the ABC “we thought we were going to die. It was almost an hour of just floating, thinking, ‘How has this happened?’”

That incident prompted an investigation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which remains ongoing.

New Claims Emerge
Since news of the Kensington-Chaudhry incident broke, other individuals have come forward to share similar accounts.

Anthea, a Perth local who asked that her surname be withheld, recounted a 2017 training dive with PDA that also went awry. Paired with a panicking dive buddy who refused to descend, Anthea found herself drifting far from the group. Unable to reach the dive boat, she and her buddy were eventually rescued by two fishermen.

Talking to ABC Radio Perth, Anthea shared “the boat was just a speck on the horizon. She (the dive buddy) was so scared. I rolled her on her back, inflated her BCD and waited for help.”

When the fishermen returned the women to the dive boat, Anthea said the situation was met with laughter rather than concern. “Everyone just cheered and clapped. There was no seriousness about it,” she recalled.

In another previously unreported incident, recreational fisherman Noel Ferguson said he and a companion picked up a distressed French woman diver near Rottnest Island approximately a decade ago. The woman had apparently lost contact with her group due to strong currents.

Ferguson recalled “she was crying, completely out of energy. She drifted further and further away. When we got her back to the dive boat, one of the crew just laughed and raised his hand like it was no big deal.”

His fishing partner has confirmed the account.

Lack of Incident Records
In response to inquiries about the historical incidents, Perth Diving Academy Director Troy Lane stated that the company’s internal review had found no verified records matching the descriptions provided.

In a written statement Lane noted “Diver safety is our highest priority. We are proud of our long-standing commitment to best practice in recreational diving, community education, and marine conservation.

 “The allegations do not align with our operational procedures. We remain focused on fostering a culture of continuous safety, professionalism, and respect within the diving community.”

A Broader Concern
These incidents raise serious questions about diver tracking, emergency response protocols, and post-incident accountability. In recreational diving, safety practices typically include strict headcounts, surface support procedures, and diver recall signals. Any lapse can quickly escalate into a critical situation, especially in open ocean environments.

The repeated theme of divers being rescued by passing vessels - not their own charter -has sparked concern among members of the local and national diving community.

As the AMSA investigation continues, industry stakeholders will be watching closely. For Perth Diving Academy, and for the broader dive industry, the spotlight is firmly on the responsibility owed to customers in an activity where safety can mean the difference between life and death.

Australasian Leisure Management will continue to monitor developments as further information becomes available.

Image. Scuba Diving. Credit: Pexels