AN instructor has been charged after a tourist drowned during a scuba diving test.
Sofia Devries, 23, off the coast of Punta Cuevas in Argentina.
Sofia Devries was found dead off the coast of Puerto Madryn Credit: Newsflash
The 23-year-old was hoping to complete an international diving certification Credit: Newsflash
Rescue ships combed the seas for Sofia’s body Credit: Newsflash
Elite divers were deployed to find the missing woman Credit: Newsflash
She had been completing a diving certification at the Hu Shun Yu 809 Underwater Park with instructor Thiago Nahuel Pocovi, 26, and six other divers.
But the trip quickly turned tragic after the group splintered while underwater.
Poor visibility made it difficult for the group to stay together – and cops say Sofia and her partner split from the group when they hit the seabed.
At the deepest depth of the dive, prosecutors claim that Sofia showed signs of distress – and scrambled to remove her breathing regulator.
Her partner desperately tried to help – but in the frantic rescue attempt, Sofia lost access to her air supply and tragically drowned.
The young woman from Villa Ballester in the Buenes Aires province was a content creator who shared her passion for travel and diving online.
When she failed to resurface on February 16, dozens of specialist divers and rescuers scoured the seas for a sign of the missing university student.
Two days later, her body was found off the coast of Puerto Madryn at a depth of about 82ft.
Sofia Devries snapped this underwater picture before she vanished on Monday Credit: Newsflash
Her diving instructor has been charged with causing her death through criminal negligence Credit: Newsflash
An investigation was launched – and now prosecutors have charged Sofia’s instructor with causing death by criminal negligence.
In a court hearing, lawyers alleged that Pocovi continued with the dive in breach of safety protocols.
They also claimed that he failed in his duty of care towards the group.
Pocovi is a certified diver who had been working with Freediving Patagonia.
Both the diving company and the instructor are under investigation for potentially contributing to Sofia’s untimely death.
Pocovi attended the trial remotely – having relocated to Buenos Aires – and did not give a statement of defence.
The investigation – which Pocovi’s lawyers did not object to – is ongoing.
Officials plan to question instructors and divers – and examine the equipment used during the dive.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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