The family of a British police officer who died in a diving accident off Vancouver Island is pushing for changes to B.C.’s scuba diving industry.

Timothy Chu, a 27-year-old experienced diver, was on a chartered dive at Race Rocks on July 5th when he was reportedly swept away by a strong current. Despite an extensive search, Chu’s body was never found.

This week, his family came to Vancouver Island from Hong Kong to visit the area where Chu disappeared. The family met with RCMP, search officials, and the diving guide who was with Chu when he was swept away as they search for answers in his death.

Calling Chu’s death “preventable”, his family says the current in the area was registered at 5.5 knots at the time of his dive, a speed they consider dangerous. They are now asking the province to introduce new rules for an industry they call largely unregulated.

“Possibly mandating all divers to wear a dive watch that carries a GPS locator and surface marker buoy,” says Chu’s brother Joshua. “One could wonder how much resources the province could save and number of lives rescued if better legislation for the diving industry were in place.”

“We hope that will be the legacy of Tim,” said Timothy Chu’s uncle Bill Chu. “To somehow cause the legislation to be changed.”

Chu’s family held an emotional prayer at Race Rocks during their visit to the island. They also thanked volunteers who helped in the search, including one in particular.

“One of whom gave Timothy’s mother the gift of a shawl that was dipped in the water near race rocks at the time of the incident as a gift to remind her of the hugs from Timothy," explained Joshua Chu.

The family is offering a symbolic gift of $2,000 for anyone that helps find the body of Timothy Chu.