The head of the diving academy that organized the dive in which 23-year-old influencer Sofia Devries died in Puerto Madryn spoke publicly for the first time and expressed his shock at what happened.
“This is going to torment me for the rest of my life,” he stated in comments accessed by the Argentine News Agency, and assured that emergency protocols were activated immediately after the incident. The owner of the school, Alejandro Andrés, stated that the activity was carried out within the usual parameters and in a site licensed for this type of practice.
“It was a normal dive,” he explained, and noted that the group descended without any issues. According to his account, the problem occurred during the ascent: “At the moment of surfacing, the emergency situation arose and we acted immediately.” The official also emphasized that it was an unexpected episode.
“We are devastated by what happened,” he stated, while the judicial investigation continues to determine the exact circumstances of the event. The case caused shock in the local community and on social networks, where the young woman had a presence as a content creator linked to travel and experiences, and reignited the debate on safety and supervision measures in recreational diving activities.
In this regard, he stressed that the team had an instructor, a support boat, and safety measures, and that “everything indicated in the protocols was done.” The incident occurred in the Nuevo Gulf, in the Punta Cuevas area, where the young woman was participating in a dive linked to a diving certification.
“We never thought something like this could happen,” he said, and described the experience as “heart-wrenching” for everyone present. After the alert to the authorities, the Argentine Naval Prefecture deployed a search operation that ended with the body being found at a depth of about 20 meters.
The autopsy determined that the cause of death was asphyxiation by submersion, i.e., drowning, and ruled out the intervention of third parties. The forensic conclusion reinforced the hypothesis of an accident during the dive, although the Justice system continues to investigate whether safety protocols were followed and if there was any responsibility in the organization of the activity.
Investigators are analyzing the circumstances of the ascent and do not rule out that the young woman may have suffered a decompression, disorientation, or a panic episode underwater, situations that can prevent a return to the surface. The owner of the academy insisted that the situation was dramatic for the entire group and expressed his condolences to the family.
