Underwater scuba diving assault in Hawaii caught on camera

An underwater attack in Hawaii that was filmed earlier this week went viral when the altercation was caught on camera 50 feet below the water's surface. Normally the assumption would be that the attack came from an underwater creature, however in this case, the attack came from another diver.

53-year-old Rene Umberger was documenting damage caused to coral reefs when she came across a couple of divers who appeared to be collecting reef fish. Apparently they did not want their picture taken, because when one of the male divers noticed Umberger with her camera, he swam towards her, grabbed her breathing regulator, and ripped it right out.

The video, which was taken off the Kona Coast last Thursday, shows the diver turn and head straight for Umberger and rip out her air regulator.

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“An inexperienced diver would likely panic," Umberger explained to Hawaii News Now. "Either panic from the stress of the situation and shoot for the surface. They may panic because their air source is missing and they can’t find it.” She added that incidents where the diver can’t locate their air supply often lead to death.

Luckily, Umberger was able to find her regulator, which the diver had damaged when he attacked her, and put it back in so that she could breathe again. She then caught the suspect signal another threatening gesture to her with his hands.

“I honestly thought he was coming back for a second attack,” Umberger said. “I got up on the boat and I said oh my God, someone just tried to kill me underwater.”

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With more than 10, 000 dives under Umberger’s belt, she credits her experience to the reason she is alive. She also believes she knows exactly who the underwater suspect is and she fully plans to press charges.

“Never in a million years,” she said. “Never in a million years did I think that someone would attack like that, especially from such a distance. It’s not like we were close up or in their face.”

The State Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement is investigating the attack and will turn its findings over to the County Prosecutors Office.

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