A 2023 dive accident in Scapa Flow killed Paul Smith due to poor lookout on the Karin, which lacked a permit and had prior safety issues.

A 2025 MAIB report concluded that inadequate lookout procedures on the dive support vessel Karin led to the fatal 2023 collision with 70-year-old diver Paul Smith in Scapa Flow, where he was ascending from a decompression stop near the SMS Markgraf wreck. Despite a surface marker buoy being deployed, it was not seen by Karin’s crew, who failed to maintain a proper watch due to a deckhand being off-duty and obstructed visibility from the helm. The Karin, operating without a valid permit, had a history of similar incidents. The MAIB found the lookout system ineffective and urged Orkney Islands Council to review recreational dive operations, while recommending updated safety protocols and improved communication between vessels.