Roodepoort scuba divers killed in horrific accident
The divers were killed while travelling back to Johannesburg during the weekend.
It’s been an unpleasant start of the week for the scuba-divers community in Roodepoort and surrounds following the tragic passing of four scuba divers during the weekend.
The four divers, Colwin Setzkorn, a PADI Course Director and owner of Scubaversity; Melani Cilliers, Scubaversity manager; and two other Scubaversity members, Marie Snyman and Matthew Baartman died in a head-on collision involving a truck. The incident happened 10km south of Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal while they were returning from Mozambique.
A senior associate, Annie Brown, described the four as passionate divers who enjoyed the water courses.
“Colwin had trained over 1 000 divers to obtain qualifications which include Recreation, Technical and Free Diving. His favourite course to teach was Instructor Development. He was passionate about creating leaders and passing his passion on to his interns and club members,” said Annie.
“Melani, our Scubaversity manager, was an integral part of our family. She started diving with Scubaversity 10 years ago and was considered one of our strongest team members. She is involved in the day-to-day running of the centre. Marie was a newish member of our team. She was Melani’s life-partner. She was passionate about nature and travel, so she fitted into our family like she had always been there. Her energy, kindness and loving nature could be felt when in her presence. Matthew was one of our instructors who trained under Colwin and the senior instructors. He was a MENSA member and a passionate teacher. He also played netball in Melani’s team,” she continued.
When asked about the day-to-day running of the business, Annie said, “We will continue normally. All our trips will go on as planned. The associates will be assisting Colwin’s life-partner, Mandy Zietsman. They have been together for over 25 years and he will be sorely missed in their home.” She added that Colwin and his team will be sadly missed by all, especially when the institution celebrates its 25th birthday.
Annie, who comforted her colleagues and family members while speaking to Northsider, advised close friends to visit their Facebook page for the funeral arrangements as the bodies of the four still need to be brought back from Richard’s Bay.
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