08/13/2026
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A 132-pound tuna may have dragged a professional diver’s scuba gear away from him nearly 100 feet underwater, leaving him unable to make it back to the surface.
It sounds almost unbelievable, but investigators in Malta are now looking at exactly that possibility after the death of 41-year-old professional diver Redeemer Grima.
Grima was carrying out underwater work at a fish farm near St Paul’s Islands on Monday when something went terribly wrong during his second dive of the day. According to sources close to the investigation, he was working at a depth of approximately 30 meters, or 98 feet, when a large tuna apparently became caught on a hook or piece of equipment connected to his dive gear.
Investigators believe the roughly 60-kilogram, 132-pound tuna may have begun pulling the equipment, forcing Grima to separate himself from his buoyancy control device and scuba tank and attempt to reach the surface without them. He never made it. Grima was found around 40 minutes after beginning the dive and is believed to have drowned. (Times of Malta; Newsbook Malta)
Then came the detail that makes this case so extraordinary: the tuna was later reportedly found dead with Grima’s missing diving equipment still lodged in its mouth. (Times of Malta)
Exactly what happened underwater is still being investigated, and that distinction is important. Authorities have not officially concluded that the tuna caused Grima’s death. A magisterial inquiry is underway, along with investigations by Malta Police and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority. What is confirmed is that Grima died while working underwater and that investigators are examining the tuna and recovered equipment as potentially critical pieces of the puzzle. (TVM News; MaltaToday; Times of Malta)
For anyone who has spent much time around big pelagic fish, the power involved isn’t difficult to imagine. A 130-pound tuna is an incredibly strong animal, and underwater a diver has very little leverage against something capable of accelerating and changing direction almost instantly. Losing your tank and BCD at nearly 100 feet would turn the situation into an immediate race for the surface.
There’s another sad element to the story. Grima was apparently deeply passionate about the ocean. Videos he posted years ago showed him freeing sea turtles caught in fishing gear and encouraging others to protect marine life. (Times of Malta)
Our condolences go out to Redeemer Grima’s family, friends and fellow divers as investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
