BUDDIES DIVE BLOG

By Rita Campbell

Published: 01/05/2009

A diver has died in the Sound of Mull exploring the same deep water wreck where another diver was lost last year.

Henry Stephen Downs, 38, from the York area, was with of a group of friends diving on the Rondo on Wednesday morning.

They were on holiday in the Lochaline area and had chartered the local dive boat Peregrine.

The 74-year-old wreck, which lies between Salen on Mull and Lochaline on the mainland, is a popular dive site.

The bow of the steamer is about 160ft below the surface, with the vessel sitting almost vertically.

The coastguard received a call at 9.53am to say a diver had come to the surface too quickly and needed medical attention.

Oban and Tobermory Coastguard crews and Tobermory lifeboat went to the scene.

The man was taken to Lorn and the Isles Hospital at Oban by a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr Downs’ relatives were travelling north from England yesterday.

Inspector Neil Wallace said: “Mr Downs was diving with a buddy, or diving partner. Something has gone wrong and they have had to come to the surface.

“It looks as if he has had some sort of illness.”

He said a post-mortem examination would take place, adding that his diving equipment would be examined.

A report will also be sent to the procurator fiscal.

The Rondo was lost in 1935 after dragging her anchor in a violent storm.

She was carrying coal to the west coast.

The unusual way the wreck lies has made it a popular dive.

Neil Rodgers, 40, a father-of-four from Rotherham in Yorkshire, went missing on March 16 last year while diving there.

After a massive search, his body was finally r.

recovered 10 months later, in January.