Technical diver Sven Paepke, 42, from the Sydney Project dive club died on October 27 while diving on the wreck on the edge of the continental shelf 14-kilometres off Bermagui.

A group of Victorian technical divers did dive on the wreck the weekend after the accident, but equipment problems meant only one diver made it to the bottom and his short search did not locate the body.

Water police from Eden had hoped to use side-scan radar to locate the diver’s body believed to be only a short distance from the wreck.

But according to Senior Constable Alex Barrell the police had not able to locate and procure specialised equipment required consisting of a “sonar fish” that would have to be towed at depth behind a vessel.

Locating the body with sonar was crucial as divers at this depth only have a maximum of 15 minutes of bottom time and so any search would need to be narrowed down.

“We are still hopeful the body can be recovered at some stage,” Constable Barrell said.

Police are now preparing a brief of evidence including detailed statements from all involved for the coroner, who is expected to hold an inquiry into the death.

Scuba tanks prepared for the fateful dive have also been sent off for analysis.

Both police and Sydney Project members said recovering the rebreather and tanks from Mr Paepke’s body would be crucial to work out what went wrong.

A club member who was diving on the day of the accident Paul Garske said even though the body may never be recovered, the club members still wanted to know what went wrong that day and were analysing all the facts.

“We are looking for lesson that can be learned to make the diving safer,” Mr Garske said.

The club and its divers spent weeks preparing for each dive where safety procedures and protocols followed, he said.

A memorial service for Mr Paepke was held at La Perouse on the weekend attended by his wife, family from Germany and members of the Sydney project.