Dive company and owner to pay $155,000 after Poor Knights tragedy

Mark Andrew appearing for sentence in Whangarei. The Dive Spot Ltd owner and his company were on a charge of negligence that resulted in a diver's death at the Poor Knights Islands.

Whangarei diving company Dive Spot Limited and its co-owner Mark Barnes have been fined $75,000 and ordered to pay $80,000 in reparation after they pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the death of a diver struck by a propeller.

Mr Barnes, 59, skipper of the charter boat Pacific Hideaway, and his company earlier pleaded guilty in the Whangarei District Court to one charge of failing to adequately warn of the dangers of the boat's propeller and failed to ensure the safety of people in the water from the propeller.

They appeared for sentencing before Judge John Macdonald today.

The charges related to the death of Bruce Porter, 56, diving on the Pacific Hideaway boat on February 7, 2014, at the Poor Knights Islands, when he was struck by the propeller as he resurfaced. He died from his injuries.

Mr Porter was with the Western Underwater Dive Club from Auckland, which had chartered the catamaran.

The boat is owned and skippered by Mark and Denise Barnes.

Judge Macdonald fined Dive Spot $50,000 and ordered that it pay a further $50,000 in reparation.
Mr Barnes was fined $25,000 and ordered to pay reparation of $30,000.