US Army captain dies during scuba certification training in Pennsylvania

A US Army officer and West Point instructor has died during scuba certification training at Lake Hydra, an inland dive site located near Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, USA.

According to a statement from the US Military Academy, Captain Stephen O Adjei, 31, died on Saturday, 26 September while conducting ‘certification dive training’.

The circumstances surrounding his death, and which dive course he may have been taking, have not yet been released and the incident remains under investigation.

According to a local instructor who was also present at the scene, Adjei was reported missing during the training programme.

The instructor and two of his students – one of whom was a paramedic and another a physician – pulled Adjei from the lake and provided first aid, but he never regained consciousness.

Adjei was a logistics officer who had served as an instructor with the Department of Military Instruction at the US Military Academy since June 2024.

Originally from Accra, Ghana, and a long-term resident of Worcester, Massachusetts, Adjei taught first-year cadets and represented the quartermaster, transportation, ordnance and explosive ordnance disposal branches at West Point.

‘Our hearts are with the Adjei family during this difficult time,’ said West Point Commandant of Cadets Brigadier General Joe Katz.

‘Capt. Adjei’s dedication to our cadets, commitment to his teammates, and service to others left a lasting impact on our community. He will be greatly missed.’

Lake Hydra is a former quarry previously known as Dutch Springs and is widely used for recreational and professional scuba training.

The facility describes itself as an inland training centre for dive schools, instructors, search-and-rescue teams and other organisations, including West Point cadets and staff.

West Point said it was providing support to Adjei’s family, friends and unit, with a memorial ceremony scheduled to take place at the academy later in October.

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