A diving instructor in Argentina faces manslaughter charges following the February death of Sofia Devries, a 23-year-old influencer who was completing an open water diving certification.
Pocovi, a 26-year-old instructor for Freediving Patagonia, is accused of violating safety protocols during a dive off the coast of Punta Cuevas. Prosecutors allege that during the dive, which took place near the wreck of the Hu Shun Yu ship, extremely poor visibility prevented Pocovi from adequately supervising the group of eight divers, including Devries and her partner Leonardo Alonso. The pair were allegedly left without direct supervision when they reached the seabed.
According to local reports, Devries began to show signs of distress and removed her regulator. Her partner attempted to assist her, but she ran out of air. It took two days for the Argentine Naval Prefecture to locate her body at a depth of 20 meters (66 feet).
An autopsy determined that Devries died by drowning. The Public Prosecutor's Office of Chubut stated that Pocovi's actions were contrary to established protocols for diving instructors. Manslaughter in Argentina can carry a prison sentence of up to five years and a ban from holding public office for up to 10 years.
Pocovi has not testified in the case and attended a remote hearing. Both he and his company are under investigation. The probes are ongoing.
Devries, who lived in Moreno, a suburb of Buenos Aires, held degrees in social communications and public relations, and was studying business administration. She also published a book and worked in communications. She had a passion for scuba diving and was practicing the sport at a local club prior to the incident. She had documented her travels and work as a makeup artist on social media.