Tributes have been paid to a diver who died after getting into difficulty in shallow waters off the East Neuk.
Kim Eberst (47), from Muirhead, near Dundee, was with an experienced instructor in shallow water at Fife Ness, near Crail, when she got into difficulty.
Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead on arrival at Ninewells Hospital.
An investigation is under way into the incident, which occurred just 200 yards from the coastguard station.
A report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal at Cupar, but Fife Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.
Mrs Eberst was a member of Dundee Sub Aqua Club with husband Alistair, a sports diver.
She was with six or seven fellow members of the club when the tragedy occurred at around 8.40 pm on Monday.
Accompanied by an experienced female instructor, she was practising in a channel only a couple of metres deep.
It is thought she encountered a problem with her diving gear and panicked.
She was pulled out of the water and a club member raised the alarm.
A Coastguard officer ran to the scene and police, paramedics, the St Andrews Coastguard team and a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth were drafted in.
A spokesman for Fife Police said, “At about 8.45pm police were called by the Coastguard to the car park at Fife Ness.
“An inexperienced diver who had been diving within a stone’s throw of the Coastguard centre had got into difficulties.”
Coastguard watch officer Simon Ward said, “At about 8.40pm a woman knocked on the front door in quite a bit of distress and indicated there was another member of their dive party in trouble on the foreshore.
“One of the watch ran down to see what assistance he could provide.”
Club members were trying to revive Mrs Eberst, he said, and it was clear she needed to be taken to hospital.
He said, “A helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was scrambled. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was continued on the foreshore, and when paramedics arrived they took over.
“The woman was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital and CPR was continued on the flight, but sadly she was dead on arrival.”
Watch manager Bob Abercrombie added, “As soon as we were alerted to this incident, rescue resources were sent to the scene and despite the best efforts of all involved, sadly this diver has died.”
A statement from the Dundee Sub Aqua Club (SAC) offered its “sincere condolences and support” to Mrs Eberst’s family and friends.
The statement described her as a “keen and enthusiastic member of the diving club,” who was “well-liked” and would be “sadly missed by all.”
The statement continued, “The police are undertaking an investigation and will be submitting a report to the procurator fiscal, and so we are unable to comment further.
“All members of the Dundee SAC are shocked by this incident and their thoughts are with the family and friends of our friend and colleague at this difficult time.”
Family members at Mrs Eberst’s Muirhead home were unavailable for comment last night.
Fife Ness is a popular spot for divers of all abilities. Relatively shallow, it is suitable for training, but it also has reefs with lots of sealife and wreckage from vessels. It is regarded as a fairly easy and safe dive from the shore. Various diving clubs use the area on a regular basis.