Shane Thompson, 43, drowns while diving in underwater cave in Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Modified Date: 
Tue, 12/05/2023 - 10:27am
Accident Date: 
Saturday, March 26, 2016

California diver dies in underwater New Mexico cave

The Blue Hole is a deep blue swimming hole where an artesian spring pumps out 3,000 gallons of water per minute.

Gallegos says autopsy results aren’t yet available.

Gallegos says Thompson and another member of a dive group were about 160 feet below the surface when the incident happened.

‘Something went horribly wrong’ for an experienced diver in the caves beneath N.M.’s Blue Hole

Thompson had more than 20 years of experience working as a deep technical rebreather diver, and first worked as a diving instructor in the Navy, according to his bio on Advanced Underwater Training.

Thompson’s family told the AP that he had earned numerous certifications, because diving was what he loved to do. 

On several occasions, he helped recover the bodies of divers who disappeared in the depths: once in 2005, near a sunken warship, and again in 2012 off La Jolla Shores.

But this time Thompson was the one who needed to be found.

People Involved: 
Shane Thompson
Roadway: 
Blue Hole

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