An investigation is under way into whether a scuba diving academy left two divers behind in the ocean off Perth.
One needed hospital treatment after a passing Rottnest Island ferry plucked them from the water off Hillarys on the Labour Day long weekend.
The Rottnest Fast Ferries crew radioed Perth Diving Academy’s Wildcat after spotting the men “waving in distress” two to three nautical miles offshore.
A recording of the communications shows the ferry operator offering to take the divers back to land.
“Ah I don’t mind if you want to put them back in the water and we can pick them up,” the Wildcat radio operator says.
The ferry operator replies that one diver has returned to the water and the other will hold “onto the back of the boat until you get here just for support”.
9News understands it took the Wildcat 15 minutes to reach them.
The divers had been taking part in an organised tour by the academy, based at Hillarys Boat Harbour.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was aware of the incident and was investigating.
“Incidents involving passengers on board Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCVs) must be reported to AMSA,” a spokesperson told 9news.com.au.
“AMSA takes the safety of passengers and crew very seriously and will not hesitate to take swift and strong action should a breach of safety regulations or procedures be identified.”
AMSA officers today visited the diving company to inspect the boat and talk to its director, Troy Lane.
Perth Diving Academy said it was unable to comment as AMSA was investigating the incident.
Both divers were left shaken up by the incident and one was later taken to hospital.
Marine safety laws require regulated commercial vessels to file an incident alert within four hours and provide further detail in a report within three days.
AMSA hasn’t revealed when or who brought this rescue to their attention but it says swift and strong action will be taken if any breaches are identified.
