Christina Mae "Tina" Watson (née Thomas), 26, of Helena, Alabama, died on 22 October 2003 while scuba diving at the wreck of the SS Yongala off Townsville, Queensland, Australia, during her honeymoon with husband David Gabriel "Gabe" Watson. Tina had earned her diving certification shortly before the wedding and had limited open-water experience; Watson was a certified rescue diver with more dives logged, though his own open-ocean experience was also limited. The couple declined an offered guided orientation dive with a dive master before entering the water.
According to Watson's account, Tina signaled distress underwater, accidentally dislodged his mask and regulator, and sank before he could reach her; he said an ear problem and lack of relevant training prevented him from retrieving her, and he surfaced to seek help. Other divers, including eyewitness Stanley Stutz, reported seeing Watson in an underwater "bear hug" with a flailing Tina before he headed to the surface while she sank to the ocean floor. A photograph inadvertently taken by another diver, Gary Stempler, later showed Tina lying face-up on the seabed. Dive instructor Wade Singleton retrieved her after roughly ten minutes underwater; a doctor's 40-minute resuscitation attempt aboard a nearby boat was unsuccessful.
An autopsy by forensic pathologist Professor David Williams found evidence of air embolism and listed drowning as the cause of death. A Queensland coronial inquiry examined inconsistencies in Watson's accounts and dive-computer data, and prosecutors raised the possibility that Watson had turned off Tina's air supply and held her until unconscious. Tina's father alleged Watson had asked her to increase her life insurance and name him sole beneficiary shortly before the wedding. In 2008, the Queensland Coroner charged Watson with murder.
Watson returned voluntarily to Australia in 2009 and, at trial on 5 June 2009, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, which was accepted; he was convicted of manslaughter. Prosecutor Brendan Campbell noted Watson had given police sixteen differing accounts and had failed his duties as a "dive buddy." Watson was sentenced to four-and-a-half years, suspended after twelve months. Queensland's Director of Public Prosecutions stated there was no reasonable prospect of proving murder beyond reasonable doubt. Following an appeal by the state, the Queensland Court of Appeal increased his sentence to eighteen months in September 2009.
After his release in November 2010, Watson was deported to Alabama, where prosecutors—after securing assurances the death penalty would not be sought—charged him with murder and kidnapping, alleging the crime had been planned in the U.S. A key diving expert, Colin McKenzie, later retracted earlier testimony after reviewing full dive records, concluding Watson lacked the competence to have saved Tina and doubting any intent to kill her. On 23 February 2012, Alabama judge Tommy Nail acquitted Watson, ruling the prosecution's evidence "sorely lacking" and insufficient to establish financial motive. The dive company involved separately pleaded guilty to safety-standard violations and was fined.
SS Yongala wreck site, near Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Case status
solved
Case timeline
1977-02-13
Christina Mae "Tina" Thomas is born in West Germany.
1980-01-24
Tina is legally adopted by Tommy and Cindy Thomas.
2001-01
Tina and David Gabriel "Gabe" Watson begin dating at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
2003-01
Tina begins scuba diving lessons.
2003-10-11
Tina and Gabe Watson marry.
2003-10-22
Tina loses consciousness and drowns while diving at the SS Yongala wreck off Townsville, Queensland, during the couple's honeymoon.
2003-10-23
Autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Professor David Williams; cause of death given as drowning with evidence of air embolism.
2005-03
Watson files civil action in Alabama's Jefferson County Circuit Court over travel insurance related to the trip.
2007
Tina's remains are exhumed and moved to a different burial lot purchased by Watson.
2008-05
Watson's Alabama civil action is dismissed at his request, citing risk of self-incrimination.
2008-06-19
Queensland Coroner charges Watson with the murder of Christina Mae Watson.
2009-05
Watson travels voluntarily to Australia to face trial after resisting extradition.
2009-06-05
Watson pleads not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter; convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four-and-a-half years, suspended after twelve months.
2009-06-18
Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick announces the state will appeal Watson's sentence as inadequate.
2009-07-17
Queensland Court of Appeal hears the prosecution's appeal against Watson's sentence.
2009-09-18
Court of Appeal increases Watson's sentence by six months to a total of eighteen months.
2010-05
Alabama Attorney General Troy King announces intent to pursue capital murder and kidnapping charges against Watson.
2010-10
A Birmingham, Alabama grand jury indicts Watson on murder and kidnapping charges.
2010-11-10
Watson is released from prison in Australia and transferred to immigration detention pending deportation.
2010-11-25
Watson is deported to the United States and immediately arrested.
2011
Alabama Probate Court removes Watson as administrator of Tina's estate, appointing her father instead.
2011-07
Alabama Circuit Court sets trial date of 13 February 2012; Watson released on $100,000 bond.
2012-02-23
Alabama judge Tommy Nail acquits Watson of murder for lack of evidence.
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Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
Dr. Todd Grande / 15 min
Tina Watson Case | Underwater Homicide?
People
Gabe Watson
CONVICTED
Husband of Tina Watson; pleaded guilty to and was convicted of manslaughter in Australia (sentenced to 18 months on appeal); separately charged with murder and kidnapping in Alabama, which was dismissed/acquitted by the trial judge for lack of evidence.
Tina Watson
VICTIM
26-year-old American woman who drowned while scuba diving on her honeymoon at the SS Yongala wreck off Queensland, Australia.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Tina Watson, a 26-year-old American on her honeymoon, drowned while scuba diving at the SS Yongala wreck off Queensland, Australia, in October 2003. Her husband, Gabe Watson, was tried in Australia and pleaded guilty to manslaughter, serving prison time; a later Alabama murder prosecution ended in his acquittal by a judge for lack of evidence.
Where did the crime happen?
SS Yongala wreck site, near Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
Who was convicted?
Gabe Watson (Husband of Tina Watson; pleaded guilty to and was convicted of manslaughter in Australia (sentenced to 18 months on appeal); separately charged with murder and kidnapping in Alabama, which was dismissed/acquitted by the trial judge for lack of evidence.).
