Paired with another 12-year-old

Unfortunately, she never got to live past 12, taken from this world that fateful August day. That morning, she and eight classmates, led by Armstrong and a dive master, were on a training platform 16 feet below the surface.

After a miscommunication, the students were brought back up and lowered again — but Dylan vanished.

Her family raised concerns that Dylan had been paired with another 12-year-old rather than an experienced diver, as they had expected, according to the Rockwall Herald-Banner. Additionally, the lake’s low visibility made it harder for instructors to keep students in sight and ensure their safety.

The Scuba Ranch has emphasized it does not employ instructors, and that all divers and companies using its lake are independent, though required to follow recognized scuba safety standards.

“All Dive Instructors are independent of The Scuba Ranch and not affiliated with us other than as a customer. We do require that all instructors using our facilities follow recognized scuba safety standards outlined by their credentialing agency, as well as professional judgment, to train students safely,” the statement read.