The widow of an experienced diver is considering seeking legal advice because she believes her husband died after using defective breathing apparatus.
Mr Nicholas Gotto (42) died within minutes of entering waters leading to the sunken Kowloon Bridge shipwreck in west Cork in July 1998.
His widow, Mrs Rachel Gotto, said her husband was considered the third most experienced diver in the country. Mrs Gotto, who was pregnant at the time of the tragedy, said Nicholas always thoroughly checked his equipment before entering the water.
Cork Coroner's Court heard yesterday that Gotto was found lifeless at 24.4 metres with his face mask removed and his mouth open.
His diving partner, Mr Tony O'Mahony, said Mr Gotto had difficulty calibrating his high-tech breathing equipment earlier that day, but it was working correctly before the dive.
At a hearing of the court last month a Plymouth-based engineer, Mr David Crockford, a technical expert on re-breathing equipment, said the 30-kg machine used by Mr Gotto was functioning properly after its recovery from the seabed.
However, Mr Crockford said it was important to note that the dead man's diving partner did not witness an alarm warning sound from Mr Gotto's high-tech Buddy Inspiration device. He said he was aware of 16 deaths of divers using the Buddy re-breather sports model.
AP Valves, the British-based manufacturer of the breathing apparatus, was legally represented at the hearing.
Pathologist Dr John Hogan said there was no evidence of natural causes leading to the death.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane was told experts could not determine which metabolic disorder - high oxygen or excess carbon dioxide levels - was the primary cause of Mr Gotto's death.
The jury recorded an open verdict.