Fireman feared dead after wreck dive

A veteran scuba diver went missing while diving off the Dorset coast two weeks ago and is now feared dead.

Retired fireman Alan Dunster, 63, from Horton Hill, Ewell, was diving in depths up to 55 metres exploring the wreck of a deep steam yacht 13 miles south-east off Portland Bill on July 22.

According to a friend, he went down with a diving buddy but had problems with his ears and stopped at nine metres. He waved down his buddy to the wreck before three other teams went down.

But when they all resurfaced, Mr Dunster could not be seen. An emergency call was made from the dive boat, Skindeeper, at about 11am.

A huge search took place but no sign of him was found and the following day Portland Coastguard called off their hunt.

Mr Dunster was a member of the Kingston and Elmbridge Sub Aqua Club for more than 30 years and was known as Uncle Al and the Wreck Detective by fellow members after his explorations of shipwrecks.

One of his greatest treasures he found diving was a Salvation Army 1917 tuba part of a cargo on the Steamship Shirala on route from London to Bombay which sank in 1918.

A statement from the club said: “We are very shocked and saddened to learn that one of our long standing members, Alan Dunster, failed to surface from a dive on July 22.

“Alan has been a very active member of Kingston Club for over 30 years and will be very sadly missed.

“Our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences are with Alan’s family and friends.”

Mr Dunster was not married and had lived at his Epsom home for more than 35 years. He did not have any children but kept in regular contact with his father and sister.

Marine photographer Leigh Bishop was good friends with Mr Dunster and told of his work within the wreck diving community.

He said: “Alan was one of the true pioneers of British wreck diving. He was the organiser of every boat packed with deep wreck explorers that left the shores of Weymouth.

“A true character, he was well known along the south coast of England where he was seen every weekend loading his dive gear to explore shipwrecks.”

One of Mr Dunster’s neighbours who did not wished to be named, said: “He was a very, very nice man, very kind and would do anybody a good turn.”

“He used to bring me back lobsters from his dives. He was always happy doing that, it was his passion.”

Another neighbour Henry Oblie, 58, was shocked to hear about Mr Dunster.

He said: “I wish it was not true. I was worried that he might be found dead one day.

“He was a very good man. He was my first point of contact if I needed help.”

Phil Clifton from the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) said: “The BSAC would recommend the maximum depth on breathing just air is 50m. Going deeper you would use mixed gas which has added helium which lightens the mix.

“The deeper you get, the risk increases as you can get the narcs (nitrogen narcosis) and it can affect how you think.”

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