<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive</span></strong><span>: Two scuba divers </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/stranded-divers-allegedly-left-behind-in-water-near-rottnest-island-rescued-by-ferry/b78bca88-7779-4458-974a-de8496cdabce" rel="" target="_blank" title="who were allegedly stranded by a tour boat"><span>who were allegedly stranded by a tour boat</span></a><span> off the coast of Western Australia were spotted in the water by an eagle-eyed ferry passenger.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fellow diver Shannon told 9news.com.au he was aboard a Rottnest Fast Ferry at around 12pm (3pm AEDT) on March 2 when he saw two men in the ocean waving in distress. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An investigation is now under way after the pair were allegedly left behind while on a dive organised by Perth Diving Academy (PDA), based at Hillarys Boat Harbour, while around two nautical miles off-shore.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/russia-ukraine-ceasefire-plan-more-details-needed-says-vladimir-putin/9bf4bbba-1be7-414c-9c3a-0bce2120561e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Ukraine calls Putin's bluff, so how will he react?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Coming back from Rotto [Rottnest Island] about midday noticed two black things bobbing on the water," Shannon explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As we got closer I could see it was divers with no boat around or even close to where they were. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I instantly tapped on the captain's window and pointed them out, [he] stopped the ferry and notified everyone that we were turning around to get them."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/western-australia-news-ferry-passenger-spots-two-scuba-divers-allegedly-stranded-in-water-by-tour-boat/27abd2fc-3f40-4979-9fb7-82160d62dc19" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shannon – who has 15 years of diving experience himself – said the pair were lucky they weren't struck by a passing ferry as they waited to be rescued.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They had no surface marker buoy that was visible, which should be the bare minimum for attracting attention on the surface and for the safety of visibility to prevent being hit by an oncoming boat," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-trade-war-eu-retaliates-against-us-trade-moves-and-hits-beef-whiskey-motorcycles-with-targeted-tariffs/4aa62117-1875-41f4-988f-e7024c32de81" target="_blank"><strong><span>Canada and EU retaliate against Trump, hitting beef, whiskey, motorcycles</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What surprised me was one had a dive slate and usually only instructors have that if they are teaching a course so they can write on it and communicate underwater."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added: "I'd be hugely concerned if that person was an instructor for PDA."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shannon said one of the divers jumped onto the ferry, while the other was taken back by the tour operator's boat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Perth Diving Academy's Wildcat had been radioed by the Rottnest Fast Ferries crew shortly after the men were found.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They were nowhere in sight until about 10 minutes after the divers were spotted," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it was aware of the incident and was investigating.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXPLAINED:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/donald-trump-tariffs-what-they-mean-australia-everything-need-know-explainer/6b4053af-724e-4649-a574-b73498d2fc4a" target="_blank"><strong><span>How hard Trump's tariffs will hit the Australian economy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Incidents involving passengers on board Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCVs) must be reported to AMSA," a spokesperson told 9news.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"AMSA takes the safety of passengers and crew very seriously and will not hesitate to take swift and strong action should a breach of safety regulations or procedures be identified."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of the men needed hospital treatment following the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When that guy got on the ferry he looked exhausted," Shannon added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AMSA officers yesterday visited the diving company to inspect the boat and talk to its director, Troy Lane.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Perth Diving Academy said it was unable to comment as AMSA was investigating the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Marine safety laws require regulated commercial vessels to file an incident alert within four hours and provide further detail in a report within three days.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AMSA hasn't revealed when or who brought this rescue to their attention but it says swift and strong action will be taken if any breaches are identified.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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