V1 WAS OVER A PUBLIC DIVE SITE KNOWN AS BRIDGE SPAN 12, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES OF PANAMA CITY ATTEMPTING TO ANCHOR.  V1 OPERATOR WAS OPERATING THE VESSEL FROM THE FLY BRIDGE. two people ENTERED THE WATER IN DIVE GEAR FROM THE SWIM PLATFORM ON THE STERN OF THE VESSEL.  subject1 TOOK A ROPE WHICH WAS TIED TO A CLEAT ON THE BOW WITH HIM INTO THE WATER.  THE ROPE WITH A DETACHABLE HOOK ON THE END WAS TO BE ATTACHED TO A MOORING BUOY OVER THE REEF.  V1 OPERATOR STATED THAT ONCE THE VESSEL WAS OVER THE DIVE SITE HE TOOK THE ENGINE OUT OF GEAR AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE SPEED. V1 HAS A THROTTLE HANDLE AND GEAR HANDLE. V1 OPERATOR STATED THAT HE MUST NOT HAVE HAD THE GEAR HANDLE IN NEUTRAL, BUT IN REVERSE. THE ROPE WHICH subject1 WAS HOLDING BEGAN TO WRAP AROUND THE PROPELLER. subject1 STATED THAT HIS DIVE REGULATOR BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE ROPE AND HE WAS PULLED INTO THE PROPELLER. subject2 SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SURFACED ALERTING occupant AND V1 OPERATOR TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, WHICH THEY DID. subject1 WAS HELPED INTO THE VESSEL AND GIVEN FIRST AID.  THEY IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO SHORE WHERE subject1 WAS TRANSPORTED TO GULF COAST HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
PANAMA CITY                   