Ft Lauderdale police are investigating the death of a crew member of the Nekton Rorqual Liveaboard vessel while it was docked in The Bahamas.
According to international reports, D. J. Pottorf, 34, died while diving off Orange Cay in The Bahamas late Monday afternoon. However, it was reported that the Nekton Rorqual did not report the accident until Tuesday upon returning to its base in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Witnesses aboard the dive boat told police that Pottorf was free diving when the accident happened. After finding Pottorf unresponsive in the water, he was pulled on board the Nekton Rorqual and CPR and other first aid crew methods were administered without success.
The following day (Tuesday) the liveaboard vessel returned to the dock at 2150 SE 17th St in Fort Lauderdale when Nekton Diving Cruises finally notified police of the death of Pottorf.
The Nekton Rorqual is a small water plane area twin hull Liveaboard that offers Nekton’s guests an exceptionally smooth ride and luxury accommodations. The vessel offers its popular Bahamas itineraries, which depart from Fort Lauderdale during the late spring, summer, and early fall months.
The Nekton Rorqual vessel was designed from the ground up as a SCUBA diving Liveaboard. The Rorqual came into service for Nekton in the fall of 2001 and was built in Port St Joe Florida at Gulf County Shipbuilding.
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
