It is with great sadness that I report the facts of the incident of 12 April
2004 (Easter Monday).

6 divers departed Oban on 12/4/4 at 06:30 aboard a hardboat.  The dive boat
travelled up the Sound of Mull and arrived at the wreck of the Hispania at
09:00.  The weather was calm, with virtually no wind and flat seas.
Visibility was excellent.  There was a flood tide with high water at
approximately 11:50.

The dive boat deployed a shot onto the Hispania.

The Hispania has a strong current at most times, and even when the bottom
current is slack there is normally a moderate surface current.

The Hispania is in a general depth of 22m with a least depth of about 18m
and a maximum depth at the sea bed of 32m.

At 09:50 2 divers (Diver 1 and Diver 2) attempted to make the shot and were
unsuccessful due to the surface current.  They were recovered into the dive
boat with no problems.

At 10:30 2 divers (Diver 3 and Diver 4) attempted to make the shot and were
successful.  The current was strong, about 1.5knts.  At about 10m the
current eased to around 1/2knt.  On the wreck the current was about 1/2knt,
but shelter by the wreck (she lists to starboard) means that the current on
the deck (and inside the wreck) cannot be felt.

At 11:00 the bottom current became slack.

At 11:10 the bottom current resumed at about 1/2knt.

Shortly after Divers 3 & 4 entered the water divers 1, 2, 5 & 6 entered.
All 4 divers descended to the wreck in 22m of water.  They descended as a
chain in the order 6, 5, 2, 1.

At the bottom, Divers 5 & 6 continued their dive.  Diver 2 noticed that
Diver 1 (the buddy) was missing.  After several minutes of waiting/searching
Diver 2 deployed a DSMB from the wreck and ascended.

At the same time that Diver 2 deployed a DSMB, the dive boat reported that a
second DSMB came to the surface.  Shortly after Diver 2 ascended (after a
run-time of 14 minutes) the DSMB of Diver 1 was seen drifting.  The drifting
DSMB was recovered to the boat.  Approximately 30m of line was attached to
the partially inflated DSMB.  The winding handle of the reel was broken off.

Divers 5 & 6 surfaced after a 30 minute dive.

Divers 3 & 4 surfaced after a 70 minute dive.

After Divers 3 & 4 surfaced the Coastguard was called to report an overdue
diver (Diver 1).

Diver 1 was diving an OC 12L twinset and was carrying a video camera.  Diver
1 had 4 years experience as an SAA diver and had completed a TDI Adv Nitrox
course.

At about 12:00 Tobermory Lifeboat arrived at the scene, along with several
other local dive boats and fishermen.  At about 13:00 a Dive Search Team
from a local dive centre arrived on a RIB from Oban.  An underwater search
to 50m was unsuccessful.  At about 14:00 a RAF SAR Helicopter arrived at the
scene.  An extensive coastal search by an RNLI 4x4 vehicle was conducted.
At 16:30 Diver 2 and Diver 5 departed the scene by RIB to Oban.  At 17:30
the dive boat departed the scene with Divers 3, 4 & 6.  The RNLI and Clyde
Coastguard continued the search until nightfall.

At 19:00 on 13/4/4 a Police rescue team conducted an unsuccessful search of
the Hispania and the surrounding area.

The search continues today (14/4/4).

The only official report is with the MCA at:

http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-dops_pr_newsroom-press-releases-release.htm?mc
ga_news_id=2490&month=4&year=2004

My thoughts are with Diver 2 (Diver 1's partner), and their family.

Regards
Matt (Diver 3).