A 71-year-old South Bristol man and scuba diver died on the job Sunday while cleaning the hull of a private yacht at a Rockland marina.
James Stormes went underwater at about 9:30 a.m. to start work on the 131-foot motor yacht Tats at Journey’s End Marina.
The captain of the yacht noticed Stormes’ brush floating near the yacht at about 12:10 p.m., Maine Department of Marine Resources Director of Communications Jeff Nichols said.
“There was a quick search under the vessel, then they called the Coast Guard and the [Maine] Marine Patrol,” Nichols said.
Maine Marine Patrol personnel arrived at the scene at 12:30 p.m. The Maine State Police Dive Team recovered Stormes’ body under the boat at 3:08 p.m., Nichols said.
Nichols did not have any information about the cause of Stormes’ death. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy.
“He was diving alone with no tender or safety line,” Nichols said. He did not have any information about Stormes’ level of experience.
