The death of Karl Bareham, a 37-year-old British music producer, during a scuba diving trip off Byron Bay, New South Wales, in 2019, has raised questions about potential equipment issues and other contributing factors. Bareham, who had arrived in Australia the day before to join City and Colour musician Dallas Green on tour, died on September 24 after a dive at The Pass, near Julian Rocks (Nguthungulli), a popular diving spot 2.5 km offshore.
According to a report in The Guardian, during an inquest into his death, counsel assisting the coroner, Rob Ranken, highlighted uncertainties surrounding the incident, including the condition of Bareham’s rented dive equipment, the assignment of his dive buddy, and the cause of death. Ranken mentioned the coroner would examine whether Bareham’s equipment met manufacturer specifications and consider whether symptoms of alcohol withdrawal or other medical issues played a role.
Reports presented to the court described Bareham as initially experiencing difficulty equalizing and controlling his buoyancy during the dive. At one point, he signaled he was okay, but later, a guide found him unresponsive, face-up in the water without his regulator. The equipment, according to one police diver’s testimony, required excessive force to operate, while another expert deemed it “dangerous” and improperly maintained. A log from Sundive, the operator, noted previous issues with the regulator Bareham used, including a leak that had been manually adjusted by an unqualified technician.
Medical experts at the inquest presented differing opinions on the cause of death, which included possible drowning, immersion pulmonary edema, or a seizure linked to alcohol withdrawal that may have led to drowning. The court heard that Bareham’s mouthpiece showed damage consistent with a seizure.
Bareham had completed 21 dives and a refresher course on the morning of the fatal incident. Despite being described as out of shape and dealing with depression, he was reportedly in good spirits when he arrived in Australia. Both the dive guide and driver who transported him to the dive site noted the smell of alcohol on his breath, though they did not observe any signs of impairment.
Bareham’s family, including his father and sister, attended the inquest, which is expected to span five days. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding his tragic death and examine the role of dive equipment maintenance and safety protocols.
