Aussie who died in a freak Bali accident was a senior executive of a major company in the United Arab Emirates
An Aussie senior executive has drowned while scuba diving 150m off the shore of a popular Bali beach.
- Senior Aussie executive drowns while diving in
- Bali witnesses claim he had a panic attack while under water
- READ MORE: Young father dies in shocking Bali scooter crash
By ZAK WHEELER, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA
Published: 07:58 GMT, 2 January 2026 | Updated: 10:55 GMT, 2 January 2026
An Australian who died while scuba diving on holiday in Bali was a senior executive at a major United Arab Emirates company.
Nathan John Scott, 50, had been diving off the Indonesian holiday island's east coast at Segara Beach in Tulamben around 11.30am on Tuesday.
Another nearby diver, from South Africa, recalled seeing Mr Scott appear panicked while at a depth of 15 metres and around 150 metres off the coast.
He said Mr Scott took off his diving regulator before swimming towards the surface which may have triggered a panic attack.
The South African man immediately swam over to Mr Scott, who was just a month shy of his 51st birthday, and once above the water began yelling for help.
A fisherman in a boat nearby tried to help but despite his efforts the Balinese man said Mr Scott was already unconscious in the water by the time he reached them.
The two bystanders bundled Mr Scott into the fishing boat and rushed him to shore but by the time paramedics arrived he could not be revived.
Mr Scott was a senior executive at Tristar Group which is a 'fully integrated Energy Logistics business serving the oil and gas industry', according to its website.
Nathan John Scott drowned while scuba diving in Bali on Tuesday
Mr Scott was a senior executive of Dubai-based Tristar which operates across more than 30 countries globally
The 50-year-old is understood to have suffered a panic attack after he removed his diving regulator, according to witnesses
Kubu Police chief, I Nyoman Sukarma, said police were investigating the incident.
'Based on witnesses, the victim had a panic attack while diving and suddenly removed his diving regulator,' Mr Sukarma said.
A diving regulator is used to reduce high pressure gas from oxygen tanks into breathable air.
Suddenly removing the device can cause hyperventilation, inhalation of water and drowning.
Mr Scott was staying at the Teratai Boutique Resort in nearby Amed.
He was the Group Head of Systems and Projects at Tristar Group which was founded in 1998.