Introduction: An individual case review of diving-related deaths reported as occurring in Australia in 2009 was conducted as part of the DAN Asia-Pacific Dive Fatality Reporting Project.
Method: The case studies were compiled using reports from witnesses, the police and coroners. In each case, the particular circumstances of the accident and details from the post-mortem examination, where available, are provided.
Results: In total, there were 21 reported fatalities (two more than in 2008), including 18 males and three females. Twelve deaths occurred while snorkelling and/or breath-hold diving, eight while scuba diving and one while using surface-supply breathing apparatus. Apneic hypoxia continues to be a problem with breath-hold divers and appears to have caused the death of three victims in this series. Cardiac-related issues were thought to have been the disabling injury in the deaths of at least three snorkel divers and at least three scuba divers. One of the victims was a student who became separated from her instructor on an introductory scuba dive in poor visibility.
Conclusions: Apneic hypoxia, pre-existing medical conditions, snorkelling or diving alone, separation and inadequate supervision were once again features in several deaths in this series.
Keywords: Diving deaths; breath-hold diving; case reports; diving accidents; scuba; surface-supply breathing apparatus (SSBA).