Former Scuba Instructor Arrested in Connection With Death of 12-Year-Old Student

A former scuba instructor has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of 12-year-old Dylan Harrison, marking a significant escalation in a case that has already raised serious questions about youth training standards, supervision, and accountability within recreational diving.

According to reporting by FOX 4 News, William Armstrong, the instructor overseeing the training dive during which Dylan drowned, was taken into custody and charged with felony injury to a child. Authorities confirmed he was booked into the Kaufman County Jail before being released on bond.

The arrest represents the first criminal charge brought in a case that has, until now, centred on civil litigation, regulatory scrutiny, and mounting concern within the diving community. As previously reported by The Scuba News, Dylan died during an open-water scuba training session in Texas, an incident that sparked widespread debate over junior diver programmes, instructor-to-student ratios, and site-specific risk management.

Syndicated coverage carried by AOL News confirms the charge and notes that investigators allege failures in supervision contributed directly to the child’s death. While full details of the prosecution case have not yet been released, the charge itself signals that authorities believe the threshold for criminal responsibility may have been crossed.

This development follows a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Dylan’s family, which The Scuba News has covered extensively. That civil action alleges systemic safety failures, inadequate oversight, and a training environment that did not sufficiently protect a minor participant. The lawsuit remains ongoing and is separate from the criminal proceedings now underway.

Within the diving industry, the arrest is likely to have far-reaching implications. Criminal charges against an instructor are rare and raise uncomfortable questions about where professional negligence ends and criminal liability begins. Training agencies, dive centres, and instructors worldwide will be watching closely as the case progresses, particularly those involved in youth training programmes.

At the time of writing, Armstrong has not entered a plea, and the case remains under active investigation. No trial date has yet been announced.

The Scuba News will continue to follow developments closely and report further updates as court proceedings advance, while maintaining its ongoing examination of diver safety, instructor accountability, and training standards across the global diving industry.