Authorities in Argentina have filed a manslaughter charge against a diving instructor following the death of a 23-year-old tourist who was completing a scuba diving certification exercise earlier this year.
The case stems from a February dive near Punta Cuevas in southern Argentina, where Sofia Devries lost her life while participating in a training session alongside her partner and several other divers.
Training Dive Ended in Tragedy
Devries had joined a group of eight divers working toward an internationally recognized diving qualification.
The session took place near the wreck of the Hu Shun Yu, a sunken vessel that has since become a popular underwater attraction for recreational divers.
The excursion was led by 26-year-old instructor Thiago Nahuel Pocovi, who is now at the center of the criminal investigation.
Prosecutors Point to Safety Concerns
Investigators allege that underwater conditions were far from ideal, with extremely poor visibility making it difficult for the instructor to maintain continuous visual contact with every participant.
According to prosecutors, Devries and her partner, Leonardo Alonso, were left without direct supervision after the group reached the seabed.
Officials argue that this failure to adequately monitor the divers may have contributed to the fatal outcome.
Emergency Unfolded Beneath the Surface
Reports indicate that Devries began showing signs of distress during the dive before removing her breathing regulator.
Her partner reportedly attempted to assist her, but she eventually exhausted her air supply. Rescue efforts were unable to save her, and search teams spent two days looking for the missing diver.
Her body was ultimately recovered by the Argentine Naval Prefecture from a depth of approximately 20 meters (66 feet).
Autopsy Reveals Cause of Death
Medical examiners concluded that Devries died from drowning.
The post-mortem examination found no evidence suggesting that another person directly caused her death through physical violence.
However, prosecutors maintain that the instructor may have violated established diving safety procedures and professional protocols, allegations that form the basis of the manslaughter charge.
Authorities are also examining whether Freediving Patagonia, the company connected to the diving operation, shares any legal responsibility for the incident.
Instructor Declines to Testify
Pocovi appeared remotely during a court hearing related to the investigation but chose not to give testimony.
The inquiry remains active as investigators continue gathering evidence surrounding the circumstances of the fatal dive.
Under Argentine law, a conviction for manslaughter can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
Those found guilty may also be barred from holding public office for as long as a decade.
Remembering Sofia Devries
Devries lived in Moreno, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, and had built a growing online following by sharing travel experiences, makeup content, and snapshots of her daily life.
She held a degree in social communications and public relations from the Argentine University of Enterprise and was studying business administration at the National Technological University when she died.
Beyond her academic achievements, she had also published a book titled Stories for Inquisitive Minds and worked in communications for her partner’s company.
Friends and followers knew her as someone deeply passionate about scuba diving, a hobby she had already been pursuing through a local diving club before embarking on the certification course that ended in tragedy.
