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Dangerous Crossing
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I am very thankful that all involve are safe and ALIVE; it is definitely better than the alternative.
As a relatively new diver, who is still taking as many training courses as possible, I have an appreciation for the threads in this post and many others similar post where I can learn from; less all of the personal criticism and denigration. I am always looking for anything that I can I learn from that will make me a better diver, father, person.
I think the group’s training, experience and leadership contributed greatly to the fact that they did not panic---and that is what I want to take away for this post. As I continue to take additional training, I view it differently now than when I took my OW four years ago. By reading the many posts on Scubaboard, I have gained a new found level of respect for the instruction materials and the instructors from whom I get my training from. When I read course materials, I am no longer just trying to pass a test and get a new card; I have a genuine and vested interested to lean as much as possible. By reading posts such as this one, I view my training differently and it enhances my education.
Thanks to all who have gainfully contributed to this post. And to the nine individuals, again I am thankful you are safe. And I am sure your family and friends are too.
~Michael~
As a relatively new diver, who is still taking as many training courses as possible, I have an appreciation for the threads in this post and many others similar post where I can learn from; less all of the personal criticism and denigration. I am always looking for anything that I can I learn from that will make me a better diver, father, person.
I think the group’s training, experience and leadership contributed greatly to the fact that they did not panic---and that is what I want to take away for this post. As I continue to take additional training, I view it differently now than when I took my OW four years ago. By reading the many posts on Scubaboard, I have gained a new found level of respect for the instruction materials and the instructors from whom I get my training from. When I read course materials, I am no longer just trying to pass a test and get a new card; I have a genuine and vested interested to lean as much as possible. By reading posts such as this one, I view my training differently and it enhances my education.
Thanks to all who have gainfully contributed to this post. And to the nine individuals, again I am thankful you are safe. And I am sure your family and friends are too.
~Michael~
elletek
Contributor
FYI This was posted on another board.
The following is part of an article translated from todays Por Esto which might be of interest:
¨The boat that sank last Thursday mid Cozumel Channel with nine people aboard, was not only inappropriate for such a trip but do not even named as stated, operated with license plate "overlay" and posing as another boat to navigate their permits within the Marine Park, all of which is only possible through corruption.
The sinking of the vessel "Nora Gabriela" true name of the boat that was operating illegally under the name "Living Underwater" last Thursday in Cozumel, not only put at serious risk the lives of nine people, but an incident that may become bare operates the way corruption and influence peddling between the Port Authority, the Federal Maritime Stewardship and employers and the island boatmen who like to go "for free".¨.....
¨The boat in question was a modified type boat glass bottom inadequate to travel across deep water and was also overloaded with nine people, 18 tanks, food, drinks and all equipment, trying to cross the Channel of Cozumel with a Yamaha 250 single-engine outboard and without notice of his departure to the Port Authority.
Now, after the sinking of the Captain authorities and the Marine Stewardship try to hide that it was a glass bottom boat and do not want modified further investigation because they know that the boat sunk data do not correspond to the officially settled 2304001014-6 enrollment, which does not belong to this town but the real "Living Underwater", a dive boat which began its days as the "Aldora II" which sank last last summer and now is relegated to a ground on the banks of the natural marine Caleta.
This boat actually belongs to Maximilian Zuniga, who runs a repair business and motor boats called "Max Marine Services", who rented unduly registration, certificates of maritime safety, marine tourism licenses and operating permits Park Marine "Living Underwater" Maurizio Torelli, (identified by other sources such as Mauritius Turilla) Scuba Mau operator and owner of "Nora Gabriela" boat never met the requirements for these permits and such certificates and therefore not could go to his real enrollment Marine Park.
You can not transfer such permits and registrations as well as officers and authorities of the Defense and Federal Maritime Cozumel, by Genaro Escalante Medina, and the Port Authority, headed by Eduardo Meixueiro Mancisidor, they would have realized immediately that the boat that called themselves the "Living Underwater" 2304001014-6 enrollment was actually the "Nora Gabriela" enrollment 230410161-4 since it is assumed that they have control and make daily inspections of vessels in the docks to check carry radios, vests and documents in order, plus the boat must give notice of his departure for the coast to the Port Authority for the case of an eventuality, as it happened.
As the hull of the "Nora Gabriela" sank in more than 500 feet of water, that boat will never be rescued and how those involved know that the papers are "crooked" confident that no one can prove that it was another boat and that the boat had a glass bottom, then as a modified box enhielar fish, unfit for such a trip that only by luck did not end in another tragedy for "Scuba Mau" and a devastating blow to the destination.¨
The link to the complete article in spanish is here:
Por Esto! | Yucatán
The following is part of an article translated from todays Por Esto which might be of interest:
¨The boat that sank last Thursday mid Cozumel Channel with nine people aboard, was not only inappropriate for such a trip but do not even named as stated, operated with license plate "overlay" and posing as another boat to navigate their permits within the Marine Park, all of which is only possible through corruption.
The sinking of the vessel "Nora Gabriela" true name of the boat that was operating illegally under the name "Living Underwater" last Thursday in Cozumel, not only put at serious risk the lives of nine people, but an incident that may become bare operates the way corruption and influence peddling between the Port Authority, the Federal Maritime Stewardship and employers and the island boatmen who like to go "for free".¨.....
¨The boat in question was a modified type boat glass bottom inadequate to travel across deep water and was also overloaded with nine people, 18 tanks, food, drinks and all equipment, trying to cross the Channel of Cozumel with a Yamaha 250 single-engine outboard and without notice of his departure to the Port Authority.
Now, after the sinking of the Captain authorities and the Marine Stewardship try to hide that it was a glass bottom boat and do not want modified further investigation because they know that the boat sunk data do not correspond to the officially settled 2304001014-6 enrollment, which does not belong to this town but the real "Living Underwater", a dive boat which began its days as the "Aldora II" which sank last last summer and now is relegated to a ground on the banks of the natural marine Caleta.
This boat actually belongs to Maximilian Zuniga, who runs a repair business and motor boats called "Max Marine Services", who rented unduly registration, certificates of maritime safety, marine tourism licenses and operating permits Park Marine "Living Underwater" Maurizio Torelli, (identified by other sources such as Mauritius Turilla) Scuba Mau operator and owner of "Nora Gabriela" boat never met the requirements for these permits and such certificates and therefore not could go to his real enrollment Marine Park.
You can not transfer such permits and registrations as well as officers and authorities of the Defense and Federal Maritime Cozumel, by Genaro Escalante Medina, and the Port Authority, headed by Eduardo Meixueiro Mancisidor, they would have realized immediately that the boat that called themselves the "Living Underwater" 2304001014-6 enrollment was actually the "Nora Gabriela" enrollment 230410161-4 since it is assumed that they have control and make daily inspections of vessels in the docks to check carry radios, vests and documents in order, plus the boat must give notice of his departure for the coast to the Port Authority for the case of an eventuality, as it happened.
As the hull of the "Nora Gabriela" sank in more than 500 feet of water, that boat will never be rescued and how those involved know that the papers are "crooked" confident that no one can prove that it was another boat and that the boat had a glass bottom, then as a modified box enhielar fish, unfit for such a trip that only by luck did not end in another tragedy for "Scuba Mau" and a devastating blow to the destination.¨
The link to the complete article in spanish is here:
Por Esto! | Yucatán
Since ScubaDoc mentioned that she may acquire a GPS, I will update my post about a PLB. This one also shows the GPS position on a display. I do not know how it works but assume that the position only shows up once you activate it. Then if you have a cell phone, you call also relay your coordinates to someone.
AquaLink View Personal Locator Beacon / Cobham - Beacon Solutions
My opinion is that if I knew I was going to be in the same situation, I would want a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) instead of just a GPS unit. Activating a PLB initiates the search and rescue and I am assuming that coverage of this signal is close to global (polar regions may not be as timely).
You can google PLB 406 MHz and get more info on this system.
Also check into dive canisters and other makers of PLBs to find what works for you. I did find a link that shows that most if not all of the ACR units are waterproof down to 33 feet for up to 10 minutes and much longer at shallower depths.
Personal Locator Beacon Comparison Chart / Cobham - Beacon Solutions
I read a few descriptions that mention floating in water as well.
AquaLink View Personal Locator Beacon / Cobham - Beacon Solutions
My opinion is that if I knew I was going to be in the same situation, I would want a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) instead of just a GPS unit. Activating a PLB initiates the search and rescue and I am assuming that coverage of this signal is close to global (polar regions may not be as timely).
You can google PLB 406 MHz and get more info on this system.
Also check into dive canisters and other makers of PLBs to find what works for you. I did find a link that shows that most if not all of the ACR units are waterproof down to 33 feet for up to 10 minutes and much longer at shallower depths.
Personal Locator Beacon Comparison Chart / Cobham - Beacon Solutions
I read a few descriptions that mention floating in water as well.
WSOPFAN
Contributor
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Or the english link here as the article has more than was posted. Kudos to Por Esto for all the info...
Google Translate
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That's a pretty straight forward article.
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Mike
Contributor
Ugly and uglier...
Uncover the sewer
COZUMEL, February 5. - Sinking boat uncovers the cloaca. The boat that sank last Thursday mid Cozumel Channel with nine people aboard, was not only inappropriate for such a trip but do not even named as stated, operated with license plate "overlay" and posing as another boat to navigate their permits within the Marine Park, all of which is only possible through corruption.
The sinking of the vessel "Nora Gabriela" true name of the boat that was operating illegally under the name "Living Underwater" last Thursday in Cozumel, not only put at serious risk the lives of nine people, but an incident that may become bare operates the way corruption and influence peddling between the Port Authority, the Federal Maritime Stewardship and employers and the island boatmen who like to go "for free".
Moreover, in the case of the company involved, Scuba Mau, this is just the latest in a series of problems and incidents involving a terrible diving accident that occurred on September 3 last year, when staff who were then and the guides of that business, participated in a diving excursion with each other, which ended in tragedy.
Since there was no complaint about the events and tourists were involved, the matter was a tragic anecdote known only in the middle of the local dive and among many foreigners that aired on the Internet, but now has resurfaced following the sinking of the boat .
In that accident three divers suffered severe decompression caused by what many on the island qualify as a reckless dive which took unnecessary risks, of which Heath Hood, American, was the least affected and after hyperbaric treatment was recovered almost completely, another Gabriel Silva, "The Fool Gabi" Mexican Cozumeleno, was hit in both legs because a bubble is lodged in the spine and prevents it from moving around, but is not terminally ill and is undergoing treatment.
The worst U.S. fought the nozzle was Opal Torelli Cohn, senior partner at the time of Scuba Mau, who emerged from that fatal dive conscious but paralyzed from the neck down and whose condition was getting worse until he died days later at a hospital in the U.S. which was transferred by plane from Cozumel by his family and where he already comatose.
None of them had insurance and among divers in Cozumel and his friends made collections, dinners, auctions and bank accounts were opened up to support them.
After the tragedy, the company Scuba Mau was divided into two different businesses, one retained the business name and the other is called "Opal's Dream" (the dream of Opal) also divided the property and the company took the name retained the vessel "Nora Gabriela" that was what really went down last Thursday.
The boat in question was a modified type boat glass bottom inadequate to travel across deep water and was also overloaded with nine people, 18 tanks, food, drinks and all equipment, trying to cross the Channel of Cozumel with a Yamaha 250 single-engine outboard and without notice of his departure to the Port Authority.
Now, after the sinking of the Captain authorities and the Marine Stewardship try to hide that it was a glass bottom boat and do not want modified further investigation because they know that the boat sunk data do not correspond to the officially settled 2304001014-6 enrollment, which does not belong to this town but the real "Living Underwater", a dive boat which began its days as the "Aldora II" which sank last last summer and now is relegated to a ground on the banks of the natural marine Caleta.
This boat actually belongs to Maximilian Zuniga, who runs a repair business and motor boats called "Max Marine Services", who rented unduly registration, certificates of maritime safety, marine tourism licenses and operating permits Park Marine "Living Underwater" Maurizio Torelli, (identified by other sources such as Mauritius Turilla) Scuba Mau operator and owner of "Nora Gabriela" boat never met the requirements for these permits and such certificates and therefore not could go to his real enrollment Marine Park.
You can not transfer such permits and registrations as well as officers and authorities of the Defense and Federal Maritime Cozumel, by Genaro Escalante Medina, and the Port Authority, headed by Eduardo Meixueiro Mancisidor, they would have realized immediately that the boat that called themselves the "Living Underwater" 2304001014-6 enrollment was actually the "Nora Gabriela" enrollment 230410161-4 since it is assumed that they have control and make daily inspections of vessels in the docks to check carry radios, vests and documents in order, plus the boat must give notice of his departure for the coast to the Port Authority for the case of an eventuality, as it happened.
As the hull of the "Nora Gabriela" sank in more than 500 feet of water, that boat will never be rescued and how those involved know that the papers are "crooked" confident that no one can prove that it was another boat and that the boat had a glass bottom, then as a modified box enhielar fish, unfit for such a trip that only by luck did not end in another tragedy for "Scuba Mau" and a devastating blow to the destination.
Although everyone in Cozumel are happy they have come out alive, there is also a strong criticism of the diving operation that is not part of any trade associations, which now appears to lack a place (the place it was "Opal's Dream") and only works through Internet, on a page which incidentally, is offering its services as usual, at which point needlessly risking the lives of their customers and employees and implement risks Cozumel image as a safe and high standards for diving.
Paradoxically, in the pages of travel as "contributions", the dive shop "Scuba Mau" gets the highest marks of those "up" his criticism of these forums, but locally, his fame has not gone well rid of all these incidents.
As authorities Harbor Master and Maritime Ward, the wreck of the "Nora Gabriela" naked you handle the weaves that exist between these entities and those who like to "oil the bureaucracy" to make things work, the other explanation is that not knowing about it and would show that simply do not work.The trouble is that it puts human life at risk and never noticed this until, finally, accidents happen.
WSOPFAN
Contributor
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Just a thought....
If the boat were registered properly, not overloaded, and structurally sound and seaworthy, why didn't they at least notify the Port they were making that crossing? Maybe because none of that is true?
Mike,
I doubt any official boat tag would apply to a modified boat with a glass bottom installed. I wonder how much it would change the weight issue though after modification. Maybe somebody knows....
If the boat were registered properly, not overloaded, and structurally sound and seaworthy, why didn't they at least notify the Port they were making that crossing? Maybe because none of that is true?
Mike,
I doubt any official boat tag would apply to a modified boat with a glass bottom installed. I wonder how much it would change the weight issue though after modification. Maybe somebody knows....
Magnolia3
Contributor
Michael, a local USCG Aux. safe boating class would not hurt. If nothing else it will make you aware of the boats you go on.The very basic class that is.. and the cost is usually nominal. No matter how boring take the time to note where the lifejackets are on the dive boat. Have your own escape plan in your mind and place your equipment in light of that. I never go out in a boat, no matter what I am doing without taking the time to look at the local marina forecast. I know my comfort zone and try real hard to not exceed that... if I can that is.. ymmv...
Mike
Contributor
This is what I would like to know too, like I said, I'd like to know the details of there inspections and the requirements. Without knowing those details it's hard to say really how negligent anybody is if at all.
Would an inspection have tagged the boat as only able to cruise close to shore? Would it have flagged them with the harbor master and if they were required to tell the harbor master where they were going would have have denied them? I'm sure one of the dive operators here knows all these details about how it works.
The articles point to modifications to the boat, changing of names, pay offs etc... it's Mexico, how illegal is any of it actually? If so what are the punishments? a 100 peso fine? Jail time? I'd think it's the former before the latter.
Gross negligence? Illegalities? Still hard to say. However, tried in the court of public opinion, it's pretty easy to personally draw your conclusions in regard to whom you're likely to contact to go diving with or not.
Shoestring is as shoestring does. A small factor why I dive with whom I dive with, they cost more, but I know at least they should have enough profit to maintain their equipment and provide for my safety.
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