The disappearance of US couple Tom and Eileen Lonergan

 American couple Tom and Eileen Lonergan engaged in a diving expedition on the illustrious Great Barrier Reef. Unfortunately, they found themselves inadvertently abandoned. On January 25, 1998, the Lonergans, hailing from the United States, embarked upon the MV Outer Edge, a dive boat stationed in Port Douglas, for a day of exploring the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef.

Following three dives at St Crispin Reef, the crew performed a meticulous headcount of passengers on board the vessel before setting course back to the mainland.

Regrettably, the Lonergans were inadvertently forsaken at the reef. Two days elapsed before the alarm was sounded, triggering an extensive search operation that involved not only the Navy but also civilian vessels. Subsequent to the incident, numerous hypotheses emerged regarding the couple’s disappearance, encompassing speculation about the possibility of them staging their own demise or being entangled in a tragic murder-suicide. Various pieces of their diving equipment, including a dive slate bearing a desperate plea for assistance, washed ashore in the ensuing weeks.

Authorities later determined that the Lonergans had met their demise at sea due to a tragic mishap during the headcount aboard their vessel. Skipper Geoff “Jack” Nairn faced initial manslaughter charges from the Coroner, but a jury ultimately acquitted him.

On the 20th anniversary of the Lonergans’ vanishing, we recount narratives of those connected to the incident, reflecting on the past events and contemplating how this sorrowful episode has influenced the current state of Queensland’s diving industry.