A Mississauga man has died while scuba diving alone in Cape Breton, N.S., Saturday night.
The body of John Craig Lowe, 41, was found just before midnight not far from his boat, Baddeck RCMP Const. Eric Latwaitis confirmed.
Lowe had done several dives earlier in the day with a friend north of Ingonish, in the Dingwall Harbour and Aspy Bay area, Latwaitis said. He went for his final dive alone.
My understanding is one of the stressed points in the training is that you dive with a buddy, Latwaitis told the Star. [Lowe] was supposed to be done at 8 p.m., but he was two hours overdue.
A call came in around 10 p.m. from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, reporting a missing diver. RCMP, volunteer fire departments, community members and local fisherman participated in the search.
Lowes body was found just before midnight about 300 metres offshore in four metres of water, Latwaitis confirmed.
When this happens it is a very intense thing, and there is a lot of emotion, he said. People want to help. Its a fishing community, and they know tragedy can happen so quickly on the water.
Mike Holmes, host of the television show
Holmes on Homes,
wrote on Facebook that he and Lowe were friends who had worked together since day one of the show.
Today I received tragic news that Craig Lowe, a good friend and fellow tradesmen, died in an accident on the coast of Cape Breton while pursuing his passion of scuba diving, Holmes wrote Sunday afternoon.
He was a generous, dedicated and talented man who was always willing to lend a hand. My heart goes out to his wife and his daughters, he will be greatly missed.
The
Lowe Painting website, endorsed by Holmes, states that, Lowe Painting has been the trusted Painter for Mike Holmes hit TV shows since season 1 of Holmes on Holmes. Our work has been featured on over 100 episodes.
Police say Lowe was considered an experienced diver and was on vacation.
His death is not considered suspicious by RCMP, and his diving equipment has been sent to Halifax to determine if it malfunctioned.
The autopsy will also take place in Halifax.
Latwaitis said the water Lowe was scuba diving in was not particularly rough, and is accessible by most people for swimming and recreational use. The small community has been shaken by the death, he adds.
Its a moment of reflection, because so many people here are involved on the water, he said. But its not a tragedy theyre unfamiliar with. It does happen; there have been other scuba diving incidents in the area.
