The operators of Hartley’s Helmet Diving have had their licence renewed, but with new restrictions on their operations, following the death of a tourist.Head of the company Greg Hartley was informed of the news yesterday afternoon, following a meeting with officials from the Department of Marine and Ports on Wednesday.He said he was unhappy with what he described as “extraordinarily restrictive and unreasonable restrictions upon us” and that he would be consulting his lawyer.The popular tourist attraction had its operating permit suspended after cruise passenger Donna Zapata died of a suspected heart attack on June 7.The 52-year-old was in Bermuda with her husband aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas cruise ship and had just come up from a helmet dive when she complained of shortness of breath.Medical assistance was given at the scene and Ms Zapata, who was from the US, was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital by ambulance. Medics were unable to revive her and an on-call physician at the hospital pronounced her dead.The Department of Marine and Ports suspended the dive company’s licence two days later while an investigation was carried out. Mr Hartley was informed yesterday of the conditions for him to resume operations. “We have our licence back. We have to comply with a bunch of new regulations that are not suitable for helmet diving,” he said.Helmet diving is said to work like a glass turned upside down in water.The diver’s head stays dry in a helmet and there is a constant supply of fresh air pumped from the boat with the excess bubbles flowing out the bottom of the helmet.According to the company website: “You need no lessons or swimming ability; only a bathing suit, a towel and a spirit of adventure.”Mr Hartley’s father started the helmet diving enterprise in 1930 and invented the special helmet. There were no age restrictions on the enterprise until yesterday, and Mr Hartley said children as young as five have taken part before. Now, the company has been banned from hosting children aged under eight.“We are having rules enforced upon us that are nothing to do with helmet diving. I thought it was do with a lady and health issues, now we’re told we can’t take kids,” he complained.Mr Hartley said another rule among a “whole bunch of restrictions” is that there has to be a “safety diver” to accompany guests in the water.He questioned this, as according to him the guest divers, who hold on to a grab bar, are accompanied by a staff member at all times. “Everyone is all together. We’ve not had a safety diver. It’s a concept for people spread out in different directions,” he said.He plans to use his son as the safety diver but asked: “What happens when my son goes back to school? I guess I will have to close down.”Another new rule is that divers have to sign medical waivers, indicating whether they have abused drugs or alcohol. Mr Hartley was reluctant to list all the stipulations imposed by Marine and Ports but said it “goes on and on”.The police launched an investigation into Ms Zapata’s death, but Mr Hartley said he had not been given any information about this, or whether an inquest is to be held.He explained that some police divers, accompanied by a doctor, participated in a helmet dive during the course of the investigation.The police and Marine and Ports were invited to comment on this story, but no response was available by press time.