NOUMEA, New Caledonia — A tourist who was scuba diving for the first time died during a discover scuba diving resort course in New Caledonia. Hiroaki Matsumoto, 48, from Kobe, Japan was scuba diving with Noumea Diving when he encountered problems and died. Noumea Diving Manager Raoul Monthouel said the dive complied with safety requirements and suggested that Matsumoto, who was on holiday in New Caledonia with his wife, died because he panicked. Monthouel said the discover scuba dive was limited to a depth of five meters, a duration of 30 minutes and added that a Japanese scuba diving instructor was supervising the victim when he encountered problems. Witnesses said Matsumoto surfaced after the dive and started screaming for help. Other divers pulled him aboard a small boat and alerted authorities. A helicopter took Matsumoto to Gaston Bourret hospital intensive care unit where he was treated for severe brain damage before hospital officials pronounced him dead. | 
