Another Commercial Diver Dies at Chilean Salmon Farm as Investigation Begins

A commercial diver has died while working at a salmon farming operation in southern Chile, prompting an official investigation by maritime and judicial authorities and renewing attention on safety conditions within the country’s aquaculture diving sector.

According to reporting by Fish Farming Expert, the incident occurred at an Australis Seafoods salmon farm in Chile’s Aysén Region, an area known for remote locations, cold water and challenging working conditions for professional divers. The diver was carrying out underwater tasks at the site when the fatal incident occurred, with emergency response procedures activated shortly afterwards.

Further confirmation was provided by Chilean aquaculture industry publication Salmonexpert, which reported that the death occurred at Australis’ Martita farming centre in the King Channel. The outlet cited a company statement expressing condolences to the diver’s family and confirming full cooperation with the investigation being carried out by authorities.

Regional Chilean news outlet El Divisadero reported that the Chilean Navy and the Public Prosecutor’s Office were notified following the incident, with maritime authorities leading the initial response and evidence-gathering process. At the time of reporting, officials had not confirmed the cause of death and had not indicated whether equipment failure, environmental conditions or procedural factors were involved.

Aquaculture diving and operational risk

Aquaculture diving is widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding areas of professional diving. Divers often work in cold water, strong currents and low visibility, frequently around nets, mooring systems and cage infrastructure. These environments present increased risks of entanglement, task loading and environmental stress compared with many other commercial diving sectors.

Chile’s salmon industry has faced repeated scrutiny following a series of diver fatalities in southern farming regions over recent years. While each incident is investigated individually, industry observers and safety specialists have consistently highlighted the importance of contractor oversight, equipment standards and site-specific risk management in aquaculture operations.

Investigation ongoing

Authorities have not released further details regarding the diver’s experience level or the specific task being undertaken at the time of the incident. Australis Seafoods has stated it is supporting the investigation process and working with relevant agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatality.

As with all professional diving incidents, investigators are expected to review dive planning, operational procedures, environmental conditions and equipment use before any conclusions are reached.

The Scuba News will continue to follow this case as verified information becomes available.