Dive squad demo in Tauranga

The New Zealand Police Dive squad will hold a dive safely presentation at the Tauranga Sports Fishing Club tonight from 6pm.

The squad spent yesterday training at Astrolabe Reef.

The presentation was prompted by a spate of diving deaths throughout New Zealand since just before Christmas.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Adams said there had been nine dive fatalities across the country since the week before Christmas.

While the cause of these deaths were undetermined until Coroner Hearings the Police Dive Squad felt there was a need to raise safety awareness with the recreational scuba divers and spearo's in New Zealand.

"Our aim is to highlight common issues we have found in the unfortunate diving fatalities and hopefully all involved in the sport can learn from these to ensure we all get home safe."