ABSTRACT

Scuba (self contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving as a water recreation and sporting activity has become immen-sely popular in recent years in Turkey, with almost thirty tho-usand certified and non-certified divers. Although serious inju-ries occur infrequently, evident increase in diver deaths were al-so reported parallel to the increasing number of scuba divers. The incidence of scuba diving related deaths in routine autopsy practice is rare.

All autopsies performed at Council of Forensic Medicine in İstanbul, between 1995-2001 were reviewed and data was col-lected retrospectively. We have found just 3 cases over in this period. In conclusion, scene investigation data were not trans-mitted adequately to the physician who performs the autopsy. Therefore origin of the lesions determined by external and in-ternal examination can not be illuminated definitely, so the ca-use and mechanism of death remains unclear.

Keywords: Forensic autopsy, scuba diving fatalities, air em-bolism, barotrauma, decompression sickness.