John O’Connell – Hawaii Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Accident Lawyer

Aviation and Maritime Attorney

John OConnell litigates serious maritime injury and wrongful-death cases arising from scuba diving accidents and snorkeling injuries in Hawaii.

Working with the maritime lawyers at McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky, he has jointly litigated numerous high-profile maritime cases in state and federal courts.  John’s clients include SCUBA diving students, recreational snorkelers, victims of rapid onset pulmonary edema (ROPE), maritime construction workers, and crew on ocean-going vessels.

Decades of Flight and Diving Experience

In addition to his legal credentials, Mr. O’Connell has scuba dived for more than 40 years. That experience gives him practical, first-hand knowledge of local rules and regulations in Hawaii’s waters, maritime rules and laws protecting divers and snorkelers enjoying Hawaii’s world-famous dive sites.

Scuba and Snorkeling Accident Focus

Mr. O’Connell’s litigation practice has have addressed negligence and product liability claims in boat-based charter accidents, shore-entry snorkeling injuries, defective and poorly maintained dive equipment, unsafe tour and charter operations, and negligence supervision by dive operators and vessel crew/ He has also litigated cases regarding violations of PADI, NAUI, and SSI safety standards.

National Trial Recognition

Mr. O’Connell has earned national recognition as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, Lawyers of Distinction, Top American Lawyers, The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Trial Masters, Keenan Trial Institute – Master’s Graduate, and is a verified Multi-Million Dollar Advocate. Best of the Bar has verified his Top 100 settlements and verdicts nationally and in Hawaii. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys, Hawai’i Association of Justice, Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association, American Association of Justice and a member of the state bar associations of Colorado, Hawaii, Florida and Massachusetts.

Scuba and Snorkeling Incident Checklist

Based on decades of maritime litigation and dive-specific experience, Mr. O’Connell has developed a practical checklist outlining what to do after a scuba diving or snorkeling incident.  The checklist focuses on preserving evidence, identifying witnesses, and protecting legal rights after a serious diving injury or fatality.

If you or someone  you know has been involved in a snorkeling or SCUBA incident you can review that checklist by going to What to do if a SCUBA incident has occurred.

He is admitted to practice law in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Florida. He is also a member of the Federal Bar for the 1st (District of Massachusetts), 9th (District of Hawaii), 10th (Colorado), and 11th (S.D. Florida) Federal Circuit Courts. In addition to multiple state and federal admissions he is also licensed as a patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.