Florida Pediatrician Sues Royal Caribbean After Scuba Diving Equipment Explodes During St. Thomas Shore Excursion on Star of the Seas
Hector Trujillo, a resident of Miami, Florida, has filed a maritime personal injury lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit, filed under Case No. 1:26-cv-25454-KMM, alleges that Trujillo suffered serious and permanent injuries after defective scuba diving equipment ruptured and exploded underwater during a cruise-sponsored shore excursion in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, on September 10, 2025, while sailing aboard the Star of the Seas.
Cruise Passenger Injured During Discover Scuba Excursion Following Underwater Equipment Failure
According to the complaint, Trujillo booked and paid for the Discover Scuba Diving shore excursion directly through Royal Caribbean while traveling as a passenger aboard the Star of the Seas. The excursion was operated in partnership with local tour companies Adventure Scuba & School LLC and Underwater Adventure LLC. While descending to a depth of approximately fifty feet during the first thirty minutes of the dive, the breathing hose connected to Trujillo’s scuba gear suddenly ruptured in two separate places, triggering an underwater explosion. The sudden loss of equipment integrity caused immediate disorientation, shortness of breath, panic, and loss of buoyancy control while submerged. Trujillo was forced to terminate the dive prematurely and seek urgent medical treatment in the shipboard infirmary, where he remained confined for the rest of the voyage suffering from severe vertigo, balance dysfunction, hearing sensitivity, and persistent tinnitus. Following his return to Miami, he required ongoing medical care from specialists at Baptist Hospital.
Royal Caribbean Accused of Retaining Unfit Excursion Operators Despite History of Safety Complaints
The lawsuit asserts that Royal Caribbean had actual and constructive notice of the hazardous conditions associated with this excursion provider. The complaint highlights prior legal action against Royal Caribbean, including Aaron Healy v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., arising from a participant injury on the same Discover Scuba excursion booked via Wonder of the Seas, as well as related diving litigation involving Royal Caribbean subsidiaries. Furthermore, the filing details numerous publicly documented passenger complaints and online reviews spanning multiple years that reported leaking dive gear, loose tank straps, inadequate safety briefings, and insufficient instructor-to-diver ratios. Despite these warning signs and its own vetting procedures managed out of its Miami headquarters, Royal Caribbean continued to market, promote, and profit from the excursion without taking appropriate corrective measures or warning guests of known equipment risks.
Complaint Details Negligent Selection, Failure to Warn, and Strict Oversight Failures by Shore Excursion Staff
The legal filing outlines extensive allegations regarding Royal Caribbean’s direct and vicarious responsibility for the incident. The complaint asserts that the cruise line failed to ensure that the excursion operator properly inspected and maintained critical life-support breathing apparatuses in accordance with established industry standards set by organizations such as PADI, the World Recreational Scuba Training Council, and the Divers Alert Network. The lawsuit further alleges that shipboard personnel, including the Shore Excursion Manager, Assistant Shore Excursion Manager, and tour desk staff on Star of the Seas, failed to provide adequate verbal or written warnings during morning briefings or booking interactions regarding the age, condition, and safety record of the third-party dive gear provided to excursion participants.
Medical Professional Seeks Compensation for Hearing Loss, Lost Earning Capacity, and Permanent Impairment
Trujillo brings five distinct counts against Royal Caribbean, encompassing breach of non-delegable duties, vicarious liability for the tour operator’s negligence under general maritime law, negligent retention of the excursion company, direct negligent failure to warn, and vicarious liability for the crew’s failure to warn. The lawsuit highlights that Trujillo practices as a pediatrician, a profession demanding acute auditory acuity, stability, and focus. As a direct result of the acoustic trauma and barotrauma, he allegedly experiences ongoing hearing impairment, chronic tinnitus, and balance disorders that substantially impair his professional career and everyday life. The suit seeks damages for past and future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, physical disability, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact an Experienced Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Injury Lawyer if You Were Harmed on a Cruise Vacation
Cruise lines owe a non-delegable duty of reasonable care to provide safe excursions, verify the competency of their third-party operators, and warn passengers of foreseeable hazards associated with off-ship activities. When cruise operators promote high-risk excursions while failing to monitor safety protocols or equipment integrity, injured passengers have the right to hold them accountable under federal maritime law. If you or a loved one sustained injuries during a cruise ship excursion or on board a vessel due to improper maintenance, lack of warnings, or operator negligence, contact our legal team today to discuss your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
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Disclaimer: Our firm does not represent the plaintiff in this case and is not involved in the litigation. The information provided is a summary of allegations based on publicly available court filings. We make no representations about the truth of these allegations, are not commenting on the merits of the case, and are not predicting any outcome.
