Diver Accident Death

[paulw]

Craig66 said: I don't recall anybody complaining that the papers shouldn't have covered the story because of how traumatic it must have been for all of us. I don't see why dive shops deserve a pass, even good dive shops run by good people.

Sorry but this sounds like sour feelings.

As to what happened, I presume the accuracy of the OP's account, but it is second hand, after all, so we don't know. Some statement by the diveshop would help in this regard.

As I have mentioned, I like and respect SM, too. There are no (metaphorical) sacred cows, however. To mix metaphors, the wagons seem to be circling. That makes me nervous, not the original accident as described.

Once again I'm sorry but I don't believe the DM or the shop owe us any explanation and we have no right to demand one. I believe all divers would like to know what happened in any dive accident so we can learn from the incident but it appears this could not have been prevented and so there isn't much to learn. As for the circling of the wagons, what circling

If you were not on the boat, diving with the operator or even on the Island you don't have anything but second hand information and I don't think you should criticize anyone or accuse anyone of doing or not doing anything BUT that is just my opinion and it probably isn't worth much.

Sorry for the rant and I am still praying for all involved.

Paul

 

[Mawg]

You're absolutely right. You are not even close to being the person that Lloyd Bridges was.

 

[ReefHound]

In fact, divemasters are far more like EMTs than chefs. The conclusory declaration that there is a "world of difference" between an auto accident and a diving accident fails logic.

The "world of difference" was in comparing a third party newspaper reporting on the accident versus expecting the party involved to offer up this news himself to everyone he deals with in the future. If some newspaper decides to run a story on this accident I'm sure nobody here will complain as long as they get it straight.

What would you like them to say? "Good morning, boys and girls. We're going to have some fun and safe dives today. Unlike yesterday, when only 5 of 6 divers returned to shore alive. Now let's go have some fun!!!" And how long should they tell people? 3 days, 2 weeks, ten years?

If your point is that there should be some kind of regulatory requirement for dive ops to report accidents so there is a public repository of data, that's another issue. But to demand a dive op to welcome it's customers with irrelevant tragic news is ridiculous. Let's put it this way. Do you know of any dive op anywhere, that has had an accident, ever greet it's customers with this kind of news? It just isn't done. Ever. For one thing, it would just lead to all kinds of misinformation and rumors by people who are half listening and misunderstand or misremember what they were told or simply embellishing the story. Within days we'd be hearing a dozen variations of the story.

 

[firstdive2005]

Please everyone, this thread was for the family and those of us that wish to convey condolences.
Please NLB you could have talked to Opal instead of posting this self-centred note. She is very approachable as you would know. Or should. By the way she will talk to you today and please do not post your conversation here. Thank-you.

 

[Reef Tank]

Information is good and as much as I would like to know about every incident I don't see how anyone can expect there be a large board at the shore showing "Accident Free Days = 43" like many american factories. Maybe we can expect there be white crosses where someone dies, like along the roadside in Montana.

 

[firstdive2005]

I have been informed the poor diver that died diving had trachia collapse as a result could not breath, apparently this can result from coughing underwater.

Thankyou all for the kind words to the divemaster, they have helped him get back in there. He dove yestarday with a group. He did well.
Thankyou all for the words to Scubamau, they read this and it made their hearts soar. They will only get stronger with friends from the community like you.
To be sure, this note was intended for the FAMILY as Opal gave me permission to say some words.
This note is to the family, may your journey forward be one of peace with this incedent knowing it was truly an accident and you sweet young diver please dive again. I have been told you will make a great diver. Peace to you- kevin

 

[NotLloydBridges]

"Self centered note?" That and most of the posts responding to my concerns are remarkably self-righteous. I mentioned I was disturbed that I dove an hour or so after a fatal accident but didn't here about it until days later on the Internet. That's hardly an outrageous sentiment.

Reef Hound said: "What would you like them to say? "Good morning, boys and girls. We're going to have some fun and safe dives today. Unlike yesterday, when only 5 of 6 divers returned to shore alive. Now let's go have some fun!!!" And how long should they tell people? 3 days, 2 weeks, ten years?"

This is a childish caricature. In my case, Opal could have spoken to me when we were alone chatting on the day of the accident. Or maybe when I spoke to a DM perhaps an hour after the accident and asked if Opal was around, he might have said something more than that "she's at a lawyer, she'll be around later." Actually he did make a remark that was more offensive in context, but I won't repeat it here because there are some individuals who would likely question my veracity based on past comments.

And yes, they could have said something to folks on the next boat out. An adult, sensible conversation might include an outline of the accident's facts and a statement about how terrible they felt but that they nonetheless felt sufficiently composed to safely lead the afternoon dive. If, on the other hand, everybody was devastated, it might have made good safety sense to call the afternoon dive.

Reef Hound said: "If some newspaper decides to run a story on this accident I'm sure nobody here will complain as long as they get it straight." The problem is that newspapers rarely report on diving accidents, and then often only in a non-English language and in a publication unavailable on the Internet. We depend on dive shops to come forward. Failing that, we get what we got here, a second hand account on a message board.

To the gentleman who claims earlier in this thread that I must have shadowy motives because I didn't start posting on scuba board until after this accident, please click the little link called "posts" below my handle. You'll see that I posted days before the accident that I was heading to Cozumel and would likely dive with Scuba Mau.

Firstdive2005 said: "By the way she will talk to you today and please do not post your conversation here." I'm not saying that I will or won't post anything that anybody tells me in person, but why do you presume to instruct me on what I should censor?

 

[NotLloydBridges]

I forgot to add a response to the question "for how long should a shop inform patrons that they had a fatal accident?" It's a fair question, and I don't have a more precise answer than this: At least on the day of the accident.

 

[DiverG]

NotLlyod, I can't see how you would expect them to say something "one" hour after the incident. The people involved the DM and shop owners have to be shocked at what just happened. They are dealing witht he immediate aftermath of one of their divers that has just died. At the very moment I would think they are concerned about the family of the dead diver and their DM. I don't know who was around the shop at the time you went on your dive. If Opal or Mau were not then maybe the other employees did not think it was right to say anything.

Personally, like you I would have like to known about it from the dive op, but I understand why it didn't happen. You said other then not knowing about the incident and one dive that wasn't great you liked the operation. Hopefully, you are able to enjoy the rest of your time diving in Cozumel with SM.

 

[NotLloydBridges]

Thanks for the good wishes DiverG. After the vitriol expressed here because (like you) I said I would have preferred to hear about this accident, and the knowing comment from somebody that "Opal will talk to me but don't repeat anything," I'm on the fence about continuing to dive.

You are absolutely correct that I like the operation aside from the items you mentioned. I made that clear early on here. With good business partners just as with good friends, one should feel comfortable about opining that something concerns you.