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Date Published: 19/01/2025

Diver dies in the Cueva del Agua in Isla Plana

The body of a 37-year-old woman was recovered after hours of searching

Emergency services recovered the body of a 37-year-old woman in the early hours of Sunday January 19 after a fatal diving accident in the Cuevas del Agua, a renowned underwater cave near Cartagena’s La Azohía and Isla Plana.

At 11.04pm on Saturday 18, a man alerted authorities that his diving companion had not resurfaced after a dive. Concerned for her safety, he remained at the cave’s entrance awaiting help.

The search effort involved the Special Group of Underwater Activities of the Civil Guard (GEAS), Cartagena firefighters with outdoor lighting equipment, the Local Police and a medical team from Emergency Services 061, prepared to intervene if necessary.

After more than two hours of intense searching, rescue teams located the diver’s lifeless body at around 1.45am.

The Cuevas del Agua, a site known for its brackish underwater beauty, has a history of fatal accidents. Over the past 35 years, it has claimed five lives.

In the early 1990s, two divers drowned in the cave system. In 1996, two Guardia Civil officers lost their lives during a dive and then in 2010 a sports diver also died in the cave’s depths.

The cave is accessible on foot, but its true allure lies beneath the surface, where it can only be explored underwater. However, the area is home to several warning signs which warn of the cave’s dangers.

The Cuevas del Agua is one of the longest hydrothermal networks in Spain but is recommended only for very experienced divers due to the risks of losing one’s way at depths as low as 34 metres beneath the entryway.

This incident, which has raised questions about what the pair were doing scuba diving at such a late hour, adds to the growing number of drowning deaths in the Region of Murcia. As of 2024, nearly 20 people have lost their lives in water-related accidents.

Authorities continue to warn of the risks involved in diving at sites like the Cueva del Agua, urging caution and adherence to safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

Image: Policía Local de Mazarrón

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