The parents of a 12-year-old Texas girl who tragically drowned during a scuba diving certification course have filed a lawsuit against multiple organizations, alleging that their daughter’s death was entirely preventable and the result of systemic safety failures. The lawsuit centers on the death of Dylan Harrison, who drowned during a private scuba training session in August 2025.
According to court filings, Dylan attended an open-water scuba certification class on August 16, 2025, after her parents purchased the training through Scubatoys, a local dive shop. The class took place at The Scuba Ranch, a popular scuba training lake located in Terrell, Texas. Upon arrival, Dylan’s parents were reportedly informed that she would be assigned to a group of seven students. The lawsuit further claims that the divemaster overseeing the class personally reassured the family, promising that he would closely monitor Dylan throughout the session.
At the center of the lawsuit is Assistant Chief Deputy William Armstrong of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, who was working part-time as a scuba instructor at the time. Court documents allege that Armstrong had worked a full shift as a deputy followed by an overnight security job prior to teaching the class, raising concerns about fatigue and alertness. The lawsuit states that when Dylan entered the water alongside another 12-year-old student, Armstrong failed to verify whether Dylan was properly weighted for the dive.
Dylan was last seen alive at approximately 9:36 a.m. when the group entered the water. She briefly resurfaced at 10:12 a.m. following a reported miscommunication during the class but then disappeared. The lawsuit alleges that emergency responders were not contacted until roughly 15 minutes after concerns arose. According to the complaint, air measurements from Dylan’s scuba tank suggest she was alive and breathing for several minutes after she was last seen, alone underwater in poor visibility and unable to reach the surface.
Following the incident, Armstrong resigned from his position with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office. The Harrison family’s lawsuit, spanning more than 40 pages, asserts that Dylan’s death was avoidable and resulted from repeated safety lapses that were allegedly ignored by the scuba training industry for years.
Attorneys for the family reportedly cite a 2017 video of a Scubatoys staff meeting in which the company’s owner allegedly made dismissive remarks about safety standards and past fatalities. The lawsuit claims those statements reflect a broader culture of negligence. As of now, Scubatoys, the involved certifying agencies, The Scuba Ranch, and legal representatives for Armstrong have not publicly commented on the allegations.
The case has drawn renewed attention to youth scuba training safety standards and accountability within the recreational diving industry, as the Harrison family seeks justice for their daughter’s death.
