2 Navy Divers Drowned While Working Underwater In The ‘Super Pond': What Went Wrong?

2 Navy divers accidentally drowned while working at an underwater weapons-testing facility called the Super Pond. The deaths of 2 Navy divers occurred in February but were only just ruled as accidental drowning by Maryland's chief medical examiner yesterday.

According to the Associated Press, the announcement in regards to the accidental deaths of 2 Navy divers is still a developing investigation.

However we do know that both Naval divers were working at an underwater weapons-testing facility called the Super Pond when they died. Military officials have closed the Super Pond facility until the investigation into the divers deaths is concluded.

The deaths of Navy Diver First Class James Reyher, 28, of Caldwell, Ohio, and Navy Diver 2nd Class Ryan Harris, 23, of Gladstone, Missouri, occurred on February 26 and are being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2.

Both men were members of the Navy's Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, based in Virginia Beach, Va.

The Baltimore Sun reported that the two divers were tethered to each other on air hoses during their underwater operation, as opposed to having self-contained breathing units.

Both men were reportedly in cardiac arrest when they resurfaced, according to the source. One was dead at the scene; the other was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Tragically, Reyher and Harris were the second and third divers to die at the Super Pond in less than a month.

Civilian engineering technician George Lazzaro Jr., 41, also die in the Super Pond on Jan. 30, conducting underwater maintenance. His death is being investigated by the Army's Criminal Investigation Division, Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center, and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

As the story develops check back with us for more updated news on the Super Pond deaths.