The death of a diver in the St. Croix River on Thursday, August 18, has left some unanswered questions, as investigations into what happened are still ongoing. The body of 54 year old John Morris of Cape Charles, Va., was recovered about 150 feet from St. Croix Island nearly two hours after he dove into the river without dive tanks. Free diving in this area's waters, with its strong tidal currents, is seldom done, and it's not clear why he dove without scuba tanks.
      Morris was one of three people who were in an approximately 26-foot aluminum boat to dive near the island, with the other two being a safety diver and the boat operator. According to Maine Marine Patrol and other reports, Morris was wearing a wet suit and a weighted belt but did not have dive tanks. He did not resurface after diving to a depth of 18 feet, according to the Marine Patrol, although other reports indicate the water depth may have been between 20 and 30 feet. The safety diver, who also did not have dive tanks, attempted to locate him after he failed to resurface as expected but was unsuccessful.
      According to BM1 Sean Regan, the executive petty officer at U.S. Coast Guard Station Eastport, a distress call came in at 1 p.m. from the Suzy Q out of Eastport, which was on the scene, having transported equipment for the dive group. The Coast Guard's 29-foot response boat was at the island by 1:26 p.m. Also responding were the Maine Marine Patrol, Calais Fire-EMS and "good Samaritans who assisted with the initial search."
      The body was recovered at approximately 2:45 p.m. by two divers with scuba tanks from a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) boat that was in the area, and then the Coast Guard transported the body to the Robbinston boat landing, where an ambulance was waiting. The body was taken to the Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy, which was conducted on August 19. According to the office, it may be several weeks before the cause of death is determined. The Suzy Q, captained by Butch Harris, had been hired to take a concrete bottom mount to the site by the group of divers, and Morris was free diving to attach scientific measuring instruments to the block. The incident occurred at about half tide, with the tide coming in. Petty Officer Regan says there was not much current at the location, and the body was recovered near where Morris had dove into the water. Regan, who notes he's not a professional diver, says he would not have dove without scuba tanks in these waters, and others have noted the risks posed by the high tides, strong currents and kelp on the bottom that could entangle a diver. Ship's pilot Bob Peacock of Eastport says he twice cautioned the divers about the currents and dangers that would be posed if a ship was leaving the nearby Port of Bayside when they dove.
      The divers were working for EA Engineering, Science and Technology based in Hunt Valley, Md., which had been subcontracted to carry out the placing of sensors near St. Croix Island by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Acadia National Park, according to Chief Warrant Officer Joey Dore of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment in Belfast. Both the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Park Service decline to comment on the incident, and, according to Sean Bonnage, public affairs assistant for Acadia National Park, the company was not contracted directly by the park service. However, the park service, which preserves the St. Croix Island International Historic Site as a monument to the beginning of the United States and Canada, has been looking at addressing soil erosion on the island. Its sandy banks have been eroding as a result of storm surges, rains and waters that have risen eight inches in the past century.
      The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing with its investigation into the incident. "We would like to express our condolences to the family," says Petty Officer Regan, adding, "We're proud of the community members and vessels in the vicinity who were willing to respond and assist the Coast Guard in the search."