Coroner’s findings into the death of a Lower Hutt man in March 2023 highlight the risks of undertaking underwater activities alone.
Anyone participating in freediving or scuba diving must be both physically and mentally fit for underwater activities – and diving alone is the most significant drowning risk.
A report from Coroner Amelia Steel (released 9 September 2026) into the death of Shengwei Cao makes three recommendations focusing on diving equipment known as the “Wolach 919”. Banning the device and educating divers on tankless diving equipment is recommended.
Water Safety New Zealand is calling for all New Zealanders to stay together when diving and freediving. The death of Shengwei Cao is an avoidable tragedy.
New Zealand’s drowning statistics demonstrate the need to address risky behaviours for diving and freediving. Complacency, going out without local input from dive shops, and failing to complete training courses for basic water safety practice all contribute to risk. In 2025, more than 55 per cent of the 79 drownings were people undertaking water activities by themselves.
Water Safety New Zealand strongly encourages SCUBA divers and freedivers to know their limits and never dive alone. Making sure equipment is fit for purpose, completing dive safety training, and following safety advice to “Always dive with a buddy” is critical.
Rob Hewitt, Kaihautū Māori of Water Safety New Zealand, describes 58-year-old Shengwei Cao’s death as a preventable tragedy.
“This finding from Coroner Steel reads like a tragic list of everything you must never do when you’re heading out underwater. Diving in open water is absolutely not the place to try out new equipment.
“New Zealand men need to understand they are not bulletproof. And when the unexpected happens you need someone close to you who can immediately give you some help. Tragically this was not the case for Mr Cao.”
Water Safety NZ and specialist diving groups all promote active use of the buddy system.
Always dive with a buddy and constantly monitor each other. Stay close together and help each other out when needed.
Rob Hewitt says it is critical for New Zealand men to stop overestimating their abilities and underestimating the risks.
- A total of 82 people drowned in an underwater activity in the past ten years (2016-2025).
- More than half of those people were Māori men – 42 people.
- Scuba diving accounts for 23 of underwater deaths and 42 were freediving deaths.
- Ensure you are medically fit to dive. Seek specific dive medical advice when there are any changes in their health, when you use or change medications, when you reach 45 years of age, and seek medical advice for your fitness to dive at least every five years.
Learn more about how to stay safe: watersafetynz.org/staying-safe
