Man who died at sea off the coast of southern Massachusetts remembered as larger than life, fearless, kind, deeply committed to justice

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced a death at sea of a 48-year-old man that occurred on July 29, 2025. 

Attorney Joseph Mazraani of New Millstone Township New Jersey was part of a group of scuba divers aboard the vessel “Tenacious”, a 45-foot boat, which the decedent owned.  The group was out to sea approximately 150 miles east of Cape Cod scuba diving and exploring shipwrecks in the area of George’s Bank.  At some point during the dive, Mazraani, experienced a possible medical emergency.  Other members of the group pulled the decedent from the water and attempted lifesaving measures but were unable to revive Mazraani. 

The Coast Guard and New Bedford Police were notified, and the vessel began its return to port in New Bedford. 

The vessel arrived at the Fleet Marina in New Bedford at approximately 6:00 am on July 30, 2025. 

Investigators spoke with those on board and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiners took custody of the decedent. 

Foul play is not suspected. 

The vessel Tenacious issued a statement some of which is below:

“With profound sadness and an indescribable sense of loss, we share with our community that Captain Joe Mazraani has left this world. Joe died on July 29, 2025, in a diving-related incident. While we are choosing to keep the details private, we currently have no reason to suspect diver error or equipment failure. All indications point to a medical emergency. Of course, the full investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred approximately 200 miles offshore, on the eastern edge of Georges Bank, during a dive to a shipwreck the team called The Big Engine Steamer.

“We cannot—and will not—try to sum up Joe’s extraordinary life in a single Facebook post. There will be more complete tributes to come.

“For now, we’ll simply say this: Joe Mazraani was larger than life. He was kind, compassionate, and generous. A mentor and a student, a friend, brother, son, and partner. Whether motoring aboard the D/V Tenacious, diving into deep and dangerous water, or defending his clients in court, Joe demanded the best of everyone around him. Sometimes he demanded it grumpily—but he always demanded by example.

“I loved Joe fiercely, and he loved me back just the same. We were partners in everything—especially this.

“Some will say exploration like this is not worth the risk. If viewed in isolation, perhaps it isn’t. But this wasn’t just a dive. It was our way of life. Joe understood better than anyone that life offers no guarantees. He lived every moment fully, without compromise. He did not want to die doing what he loved—none of us do. He wanted to survive it, to grow old doing it. But when you live at the edge, sometimes the edge pushes back.

“This loss is still too raw for us to make any decisions about the future of D/V Tenacious. For now, we’re keeping this page and the website open—because they chronicle not just Joe, but our crew and our adventures over the last decade. And, though we don’t yet know exactly how, this space will be part of how we carry forward Joe’s work and legacy.

-Jenn Sellitti on behalf of Atlantic Wreck Salvage and D/V Tenacious

New Jersey Office of the Public Defender issued the following statement:

“With deep sadness, we share the loss of Joe Mazraani, beloved partner of Public Defender Sellitti and a cherished member of the legal and diving communities. Joe passed on July 29 in a diving-related incident, believed to be caused by a medical emergency.

“Joe was larger than life: fearless, kind, and deeply committed to justice. Our hearts are with the Public Defender and his loved ones.”

This matter is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts Coast Guard and the New Bedford Police Department.