Diver lost 15 Jan 2013 Cozumel

[DandyDon]

Found this other story. No additional details.



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Devora’ mar a una turista

Google's translation for what it's worth...

Diving with Dive Paradise guide, when a current pulled her away from the group, search operation fails. A U.S. citizen tourist was lost while diving on the reef zone "Palancar", so that service providers aquatic, diving and various houses Naval authorities and the harbor master joined in the search by air, sea and land. A very early hours of yesterday, the tourist Lashle name Tamara, 43, originally from the United States, who vacationing with his family on island and were staying in Hotel Cozumel and Resort, as it came to diving, so around 10:30 hours with the house guides Dive Paradise aboard the Calypso boat went to the south where they were immersed Paradise on the reef. Upon completion of the tour surfaced and realized that Lashle, was not with them, so that maritime authorities implemented a wide operating by sea, land and air, hoping to find safe and sound to the tourist, which had dived with a group of friends in a cave in the south of the island. experienced divers who were assured by where the reef currents "Palancar" are changing, which allegedly caused the tourist diverted, so the maritime authorities, such as the Naval Sector Cozumel and Port Captain, implemented a search by sea, land and air, with the firm hope of finding alive the tourist. added that as the hours pass, the likelihood of finding her alive is very low, presumably could have been trapped in caves or was pulled by the current, so at press time at 18:30 the continued operation, in order to ascertain their whereabouts and hope is still alive. Source: Quequi
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[drrich2]

MoreCowBells:

As a healthcare professional I am required to work XYZ hours a year and fulfill a designated amount of time completing continuing education hours. I have often wondered why certifying dive agencies do not have these requirements.

I, do, have such a job and requirements. It shouldn't burden divers because:

1.) How our hobby is practiced doesn't change that much that fast, compared to health care, and the number of things to know is less for a recreational diver than for many health care professionals.

2.) It's a substantial burden to occasional 'vacation' divers, and would be an obstacle to the hobby.

3.) As you probably know from getting the required continuing ed. hours, people often load up on what's convenient and cheap or free, not necessarily what makes them competent or better. If someone wants to study and get better, nothing's stopping them now.

In Cozumel, you got separated from your buddy (husband). For many of us, finding ourselves unexpectedly alone on the reef would be jarring and anxiety provoking. But you indicated:

When I realized I was completely alone, it was single handed the most terrifying event of my life. I honestly think the only reason I didn't totally panic was because I read about a similar incident on the A & I forum before our trip. We all met up on the surface, but I was shaken up for several hours.

This is one of those things that bears on individual temperment. To me, at least, your reaction appears excessive. I am not belittling it or minimizing your situation; the prospect of ascending alone to possibly spend a few hours drifting waiting for an uncertain rescue while the tropical sun perhaps sunburns you badly is no small thing. But it didn't go nearly that far, and for what you experienced to be the most terrifying event of your life? Ron Lee's rec.s nailed it; Rescue Diver is a fine course, and SDI Solo Diver can reinforce some of the 'stop, think, act' type reaction to problems. I hope you will take this in the spirit it was intended, with no offense. Diving in nature tends to offer up some surprises from time to time, and panic can turn a surprise into a disaster.

Richard.

 

[ggunn]

Three different references I found online rate the site as intermediate.

The reference I trust the most, my own experience, tells me the same thing.

 

[MMM]

Hi there. I thought a bit about posting this, then not, then doing so...so take it for what it's worth. Getting separated from your group needn't be the end of the world if you keep your head. It happened to me last week...at Palancar Caves (and if it makes me look like a bit of a doofus, so be it).

We were doing a swim through and I was last through in the line. When I exited, I looked around and there were NO divers in sight (yep, guilty of lollygagging to take a photo). I figured that the group had gone one of two possible directions: out to the wall or cut back into the wall where the current would be slower...both were reasonable possibilities given the short distance either way.

Since it was fairly early in the dive, I decided they had gone out to the wall where I was very quickly swept along by the fast current. Seeing no bubbles of other divers, I (erroneously) thought, OK, they cut back into the wall and due to the fast current on the wall, they are likely behind me so I decided to ascend to the top of the wall and look for bubbles there. I looked behind me for a while, and saw some bubbles, so waited for them. Nope, as soon as I looked at their tanks, I knew it wasn't my group so that instead of being behind me, they were likely ahead of me. I turned and looked the other direction and there they were, waiting for me. Try to imagine your spouse standing with his arms crossed and tapping his foot with a "where have you been" look and that would about sum it up. This probably all happened in less than a few minutes although it seemed longer at the time.

Back on the boat, they told me that I had guessed correctly about them going out along the wall but due to the fast current they had been swept along the wall quickly and I was immediately noticed as missing as soon as a head count was done after the exit. They cut back up and into the wall and waited for me to appear.

That was about the point I had already decided to make my ascent to the surface if I couldn't reconnect. Admittedly, my heart rate was faster than normal but I was far from in a state of panic which is pretty much only something experience will buy. As a health care professional, you probably understand that.

Keeping a cool head is so important, but unfortunately, that generally only occurs with experience. Rescue training helps. So the use of a private DM for less experienced or rusty divers is, I think, a good thing. But like many things in life, I don't think it should be mandatory. Rather, it falls into the category of best practice, common sense, etc. etc.

 

[morecowbells]

MoreCowBells:



I, do, have such a job and requirements. It shouldn't burden divers because:

1.) How our hobby is practiced doesn't change that much that fast, compared to health care, and the number of things to know is less for a recreational diver than for many health care professionals.

2.) It's a substantial burden to occasional 'vacation' divers, and would be an obstacle to the hobby.

3.) As you probably know from getting the required continuing ed. hours, people often load up on what's convenient and cheap or free, not necessarily what makes them competent or better. If someone wants to study and get better, nothing's stopping them now.

In Cozumel, you got separated from your buddy (husband). For many of us, finding ourselves unexpectedly alone on the reef would be jarring and anxiety provoking. But you indicated:



This is one of those things that bears on individual temperment. To me, at least, your reaction appears excessive. I am not belittling it or minimizing your situation; the prospect of ascending alone to possibly spend a few hours drifting waiting for an uncertain rescue while the tropical sun perhaps sunburns you badly is no small thing. But it didn't go nearly that far, and for what you experienced to be the most terrifying event of your life? Ron Lee's rec.s nailed it; Rescue Diver is a fine course, and SDI Solo Diver can reinforce some of the 'stop, think, act' type reaction to problems. I hope you will take this in the spirit it was intended, with no offense. Diving in nature tends to offer up some surprises from time to time, and panic can turn a surprise into a disaster.

Richard.

I still think knowledge updates( i.e. how to handle a down current, how to be a better dive buddy, and knowing your limits) would be of tremendous benefit. I am not talking about a dissertation but perhaps a short quiz which not only helps refresh your skills, but keeps one current. PADI recommendations and research has changed over the past several years. Many people may simply not be aware that their knowledge is not up do date.

No offense taken. I agree that my reaction was probably excessive, but please keep in mind that I had no idea that my husband was with the rest of the group. I was guilty of envisioning him in a situation of danger and being alone. I cannot articulate my relief when I saw him and the rest of the group on the surface. I truly believe these situations(alas, terrifying for me)can be disguised as blessings. I got a kick in the butt for focusing more on capturing the perfect photo over being a reliable dive buddy. We have been much better dive buddies since. As for temperament, I am part Italian, of coarse we overreact

 

[Dr Dog]

You are indicating 100 + dives in your profile.. By that point you should be an ADV ow diver, if not in certification at least in experience. Panicking in the water over being alone... etc ...should not be an issue. Nor should being swept down walls, you should be past these things by now

 

[chillyinCanada]

It seems to me her concern was more for the potential loss/endangerment of her buddy/husband and not so much a fear for her solo predicament.

 

[MMM]

Chilly, the reason for concern probably doesn't matter. Keeping cool and your wits about you, is the most important thing, regardless of the reason. I will reiterate that in my opinion, unless you are a sociopath, and really don't care about others, experience is your next best option to making the best choices.

It seems to me her concern was more for the potential loss/endangerment of her buddy/husband and not so much a fear for her solo predicament.

 

[Mike]

Buddy separation is supposed to be a covered topic in pre-dive planning between yourself and an insta-buddy. If you dive with a regular buddy you should have already discussed it in the past and should have an established procedure such as look each other for X minutes, then surface and stay there. Nobody should be terrified for long if they suddenly find themselves alone, sure there might be an instantaneous moment of panic, but it should pass as you calm down and recall you lost buddy protocol and follow it. You should have the confidence that your buddy will be following it also. The worst case scenario should find yourself surfacing to find your buddy already waiting for you there. That should always be the worst case outcome if you get separated. If it's not then somebody has been trapped, died or somebody isn't following your pre-agreed protocol. If you're diving with insta buddies you should discuss this prior to the dive, if you dive with a regular buddy and haven't you should discuss this as soon as possible. Be sure to discuss the issue of the safety stop. Do you do one or not? Work it out now. I feel like a dive nerd sometimes when I have an insta-buddy, but F-it, it's okay, I want to live a few years longer so I'll be the nerd instead of the cool, macho diver and have a discussion with an insta-buddy about signals, lost buddy procedure, etc.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Mmm, how fortunate then that cowbell now has this experience, learned from it and also to have been able to confirm in the process that she is not a sociopath.

But back to our missing diver. I had held out hope that since she was wearing a heavier wetsuit, she would be found on the surface in relatively good condition. My thought are with the family at this time.