Local News | Two Puget Sound divers die in separate accidents | Seattle Times Newspaper
Originally published Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 5:42 PM
By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times staff reporter
Two Puget Sound divers die in separate accidents
Two people died in separate diving accidents Saturday in Puget Sound.
Guy A. Snell, 49, of Poulsbo, died during a spearfishing trip with three companions, including an adult son, off Blake Island, authorities said.
Snell's companions called 911 around 10:30 a.m., saying he had failed to surface, said Deputy Scott Wilson, a spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.
A helicopter and three vessels spent several hours searching the surface but found no sign of Snell, who was identified as a retired Navy diver who was working for the Navy as a civilian diver.
After a delay due to dangerous currents, authorities launched a search that included several vessels and about 40 Navy divers. Authorities said Snell's body was found at about 3 p.m. in about 50 feet of water southwest of Blake Island, a state park north of Vashon Island.
The cause of Snell's death was not immediately known. An initial examination revealed no obvious equipment malfunctions and he was not entangled by underwater debris, Wilson said.
The Kitsap County Coroner's Office identified Snell Saturday and said it was conducting an investigation to determine the cause of his death.
A 55-year-old Edmonds man died in a separate incident off Edmonds Dive Park, according to Edmonds police.
Police were called at about 12:30 p.m. with a report of a diver who had been found unconscious 30 feet underwater. CPR was performed on the man for about 45 minutes, but he could not be revived. His name was not released.
Seattle Times reporter Sandi Doughton contributed to this story.
Originally published Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 5:42 PM
By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times staff reporter
Two Puget Sound divers die in separate accidents
Two people died in separate diving accidents Saturday in Puget Sound.
Guy A. Snell, 49, of Poulsbo, died during a spearfishing trip with three companions, including an adult son, off Blake Island, authorities said.
Snell's companions called 911 around 10:30 a.m., saying he had failed to surface, said Deputy Scott Wilson, a spokesman for the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office.
A helicopter and three vessels spent several hours searching the surface but found no sign of Snell, who was identified as a retired Navy diver who was working for the Navy as a civilian diver.
After a delay due to dangerous currents, authorities launched a search that included several vessels and about 40 Navy divers. Authorities said Snell's body was found at about 3 p.m. in about 50 feet of water southwest of Blake Island, a state park north of Vashon Island.
The cause of Snell's death was not immediately known. An initial examination revealed no obvious equipment malfunctions and he was not entangled by underwater debris, Wilson said.
The Kitsap County Coroner's Office identified Snell Saturday and said it was conducting an investigation to determine the cause of his death.
A 55-year-old Edmonds man died in a separate incident off Edmonds Dive Park, according to Edmonds police.
Police were called at about 12:30 p.m. with a report of a diver who had been found unconscious 30 feet underwater. CPR was performed on the man for about 45 minutes, but he could not be revived. His name was not released.
Seattle Times reporter Sandi Doughton contributed to this story.
