Investigators Seek Cause of Commercial Diver’s Death

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death Sunday of a commercial diver from the Ventura-based fishing boat Sea Worthy, authorities said.

The white male, who was not identified pending notification of relatives, was pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m. at the hyperbaric chamber in Avalon, on Santa Catalina Island, according to Sheriff’s Deputy Elsa Avila.

About 11:35 a.m., the Coast Guard sent a rescue boat to San Clemente Island after hearing “frantic calls for help” on the marine-band radio from the Sea Worthy, said Coast Guard spokesman Glenn Gerber.

Gerber said the master of the Sea Worthy, who was not identified due to the ongoing investigation, pulled his unconscious dive partner from 100 feet of water.

The Channel Islands Harbor-based dive boat Pala Wan arrived on scene and a crew member administered CPR to the diver.

A Coast Guard helicopter transported the diver to Santa Catalina Island, about 42 miles southwest, where he was treated in the hyperbaric chamber and later pronounced dead, according to Avila.

Authorities have not determined the cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled for today, Avila said.

Authorities said the men were diving for sea urchins near San Clemente Island. It was the second rescue in two days of a diver harvesting sea urchins--a spiny delicacy in some cultures.

On Saturday, 44-year-old Karl William Nienaber of Ojai was rescued off Santa Cruz Island after his air hose became disconnected while he was diving for sea urchins. Nienaber did not require medical attention.