No Technical Equipment Defect Found in Fatal Lake Constance Diving Accident
Investigators have found no indication of a technical defect in the diving equipment used by two experienced divers who died following an emergency ascent from approximately 80 metres in Lake Constance, Germany.
The finding represents a significant development in the investigation into the fatal accident, which occurred at the Tennisplätze dive site near Überlingen on 2 August 2026.
A 46 year old woman and a 64 year old man were diving together when they initiated an emergency ascent from around 80 metres for reasons that have still not been established.
According to the original police account, the male diver was already unconscious during the ascent. The woman lost consciousness shortly after reaching the surface. Both divers died at the scene despite resuscitation attempts.
Investigators Examine Diving Equipment
Following the accident, investigators recovered the divers’ equipment as part of their examination of the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
German public broadcaster SWR reported that police and prosecutors have now examined the equipment and found no indications of a technical defect.
A spokesperson for the Konstanz public prosecutor’s office told SWR that investigators had found no evidence pointing to a technical malfunction in the diving equipment.
The finding removes one potential explanation from the investigation, but it does not establish what caused the emergency underwater.
The divers were reported to have been using equipment associated with technical diving, including rebreathers, cylinders and dive computers.
Reason for Emergency Ascent Still Unknown
The central question surrounding the accident remains unanswered.
Authorities have confirmed that the divers initiated an emergency ascent from approximately 80 metres, but investigators have not publicly established what caused them to abandon their planned dive and ascent procedures.
There has been no official confirmation of gas exhaustion, an incorrect breathing gas, a medical emergency, diver error or any other specific cause.
The absence of an identified technical defect should therefore not be interpreted as evidence supporting any particular alternative explanation.
Investigators have also not publicly established the precise causes of death.
According to SWR, the post mortem examinations were not yet fully completed when the prosecutor’s office provided its latest update. The investigation was described as extensive, although prosecutors indicated that they do not intend to release further details concerning the specific causes of death.
Fatal Dive at Tennisplätze
Police said the pair began their emergency ascent at approximately 10:30 on 2 August.
The male diver lost consciousness during the ascent, while the woman lost consciousness shortly after surfacing. Emergency services attempted to resuscitate both divers, but they died at the scene.
The Water Police in Überlingen subsequently opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The original investigation included examination of the divers’ equipment and available dive data in an effort to determine what happened before the emergency ascent began.
The latest findings narrow the range of possible explanations, but investigators have yet to establish what prompted the emergency ascent.
Until further official findings are released, the cause of the accident remains undetermined.
