COTE D'AZUR, France (29 Nov 2005) -- A search of the sea bed close to where a world-class Suffolk diver went missing is due to begin today. Penny Glover, 42, and her French dive buddy Jacques Filippi were diving close to the island of Porquerolles in the south of France when they went missing last Monday. Over the last week the French Government has carried out an extensive search of the Mediterranean Sea close to where the couple disappeared, but so far divers have only searched to a depth of 60m. But today a new deep search using remote-controlled vehicles and video cameras will begin scouring the sea bed for the divers' bodies. Miss Glover, who was one of the British Sub-Aqua Club's (BSAC) most highly qualified divers holding the club's First Class Diver, National Instructor and Instructor Trainer qualifications was diving at a depth of 80m. Miss Glover's sister Fiona, who has just returned from overseeing the search in France said: "No body has yet been discovered and the official diving has ended, but the French Government has now agreed to search using remotely controlled vehicles and cameras. "As I understand it, it will allow them to search the sea bed. So far divers have only gone down as far as 60m and although we have been told the visibility is good, they have been unable to find anything." Miss Glover's disappearance has shaken the diving community. In the last week thousands of tributes from around the world have been paid on diving websites and the BSAC today open a book of condolence at their headquarters in Cheshire. The book will be moved to London on Saturday December 3 for the Diving Officer's Conference at London University before being passed to Miss Glover's family. People have also been invited to pay their respects online by sending an e-mail to inmemory@bsac.com . Fellow divers have praised Miss Glover's enthusiasm for diving and have been shocked that such a top diver could perish at sea. One fellow diver writes on rebreatherworld.com: "Like many I was very sad when told of Penny's death. It is very hard to believe someone with her capabilities and experience has passed on. She has left a large imprint on all of us who dive." | | BSAC instructor trainer Penny Glover feared dead after trimix scuba diving accident. Miss Glover's sister said the tributes were a source of comfort at an uncertain time. She said: "It has been wonderful to see that she was so highly regarded. I have seen quite a few of the comments and it is wonderful to know that her life meant so much to so many." Miss Glover is one of three sisters brought up in Toft Monks near Beccles and went to Sir John Leman High School in the town. She got a degree from Bradford University, before working at the European Space Agency and then becoming managing director of a Canadian satellite company. She first learnt to dive in 1986 and had become highly regarded in the diving community. She had developed training courses in rebreathers, the type of breathing set she was wearing on her final dive. Her family said she spent many months of the year in France, near the area she was diving in. The island of Porquerolles is renowned for wrecks such as the Vieux Vapeur and the Farrando and reefs. SOURCE - Archant Regional |
