Dead diver was celebrated coelacanth discoverer
Police are investigating two inquests.
POLICE have confirmed the names of the divers who died off Umkomaas beach as Peter Timm (51) and Adele Stegen (45).
“We can confirm that Umkomaas SAPS is investigating two inquests. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” said Col Jay Naicker of the KZN police media centre.
The Mercury reported this morning that Timm was among three divers hired by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the SA Association for Marine Biological Research to recover a piece of technical equipment which had fallen off a research vessel near the Aliwal Shoal, off Umkomaas. Timm and Stegen were diving at a depth of 58-metres when the diving tragedy occurred. It is believed that Stegen surfaced first in distress, and he followed to assist.
Timm is the owner of Triton Dive Charters in Sodwana Bay. He was celebrated for his November 2000 discovery, along with two other divers, of three of the last remaining coelacanths in the world, at Jesser Canyon, Sodwana Bay. He was diving at a depth of over 100-metres at the time of the discovery. Read more on www.tritondiving.co.za
Thank you Jenny, well written.
“Three of the last remaining coelacanths in the World”?? Absolute rubbish. Since the Sodwana coelacanth population was discovered in 2000 there have been many more sightings off Sodwana and dozens have been caught off Tanzania. Please get your facts even close to right.
A bit of research would go a long way :-(