Phil and first-time diver and friend Bill Hale were in Geographe Bay checking their octopus pots when a boat ran through and tangled their hookah line, dragging them and their boat 80m.

“They didn’t notice the bright yellow hookah line floating on the surface or the dive flags. When it happened I thought that was it. We are very lucky to be alive,” said Phil.

“If the boat hadn’t stopped to untangle our hookah line from their propeller Bill and I would probably be dead. It was lucky that my son Zac, who was sitting in the boat, wasn’t harmed. The only reason he wasn’t down with us was because he had a bit of a cold.”

Fortunately there wasn’t too much damage to his diving equipment, but Phil wants to ensure that it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“It is important that boat owners watch out for divers this summer and be aware of their flags,” he said.

“Divers and boats should also be aware that with the hookah dive equipment they can roam from 80-100m from their boat and the standard dive flags only indicate a 50m radius.

“If you are using a hookah dive then you need to get updated flags from the dive shop, I have already ordered my new flags,” said Phil.

“This experience hasn’t put me off diving, or Bill, who is still keen to dive again.”