Feb 19 2017 Cozumel diving fatality

[Jack Hammer]

Orally inflating a BC is not that difficult, it shouldn't be a big deal leading to "snowballing into disaster." That could easily change if some one is having a serious medical condition occurring as they may become physically unable to work the inflator mechanism or maintain a reg in their mouth.

Leaking at the inflator hose can be the hose or the nipple on the BC leaking. Regardless, It being disconnected may or may not be a factor in this incident. Even if a factor, it may be irrelevant to the outcome. No way to know at this point.

 

[GrandCODiver]

I wanted to thank the people that found Tammy and assisted in the recovery of her body. We had just spent time in Tulum on a yoga retreat and I want you to know that personally, she was a happy and beautiful soul. She died doing what she loved, and she will be missed by so many people in our small mountain town. Tammy was a very experienced diver who had traveled the world to dive. She was a bright, shiny light, with a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh.
Peace be with each of you the affected by this horrific tragedy. May the four winds blow you safely home

 

[SoFlaDiver954]

Orally inflating a BC is not that difficult, it shouldn't be a big deal leading to "snowballing into disaster." That could easily change if some one is having a serious medical condition occurring as they may become physically unable to work the inflator mechanism or maintain a reg in their mouth.

It may not have been a factor in this incident, but I think it is a good idea to abort a dive any time anext equipment malfunction like this is discovered. Anybody know if she was using her on gear or rental gear? You may miss one dive, but inflator hoses are pretty easy to find...

 

[GrandCODiver]

It may not have been a factor in this incident, but I think it is a good idea to abort a dive any time anext equipment malfunction like this is discovered. Anybody know if she was using her on gear or rental gear? You may miss one dive, but inflator hoses are pretty easy to find...

She had her own gear

 

[peeweediver]

GrandCODiver:

It must have been hard to post your message, so please accept my condolences on your and your community's loss. We read these threads to learn from these tragedies. Your post reminds me that there is a far greater human impact to each and every one of these. Having driven through your "small mountain town" many, many times taking my family on a summer vacation at a dude ranch in Grandby, I do appreciate the communal loss you describe.

Rob

 

[Divegoose]

No CPR was started from what I could see, but one of the rescuing divers was possibly doing an airway assessment. Regardless, in adult in warm water for that length of time (30+ minutes, possibly 45+) has virtually zero chance of survival. I am curious though who makes the call of futility there - the rescue divers on the boat likely don't have that kind of training, and in Canada even EMTs have to call a base hospital doc to abort CPR in many settings.

I was told search and rescue were called, but didn't see the boat in the 20+ minutes of commotion. Also heard anecdotally that this isn't an uncommon scenario to have an uncomfortably long wait for search and rescue.

A couple of excellent points - why was CPR not started ? Assessing an airway is one thing, but unless you are getting oxygen in, and the blood circulating, assessing an airway is not going to be beneficial. A BVM (bag valve mask) supplemented by oxygen, deployed by someone trained to use one, would be beneficial. Proper CPR combined with airway protocols would give someone at least a chance for survival.

Good point on who makes the call on resuscitation efforts - does someone have contact with a base hospital ? As a fire fighter, we attend many calls with the paramedics. I know that once we start CPR and resuscitation efforts, we continue until the emergency room doctor gives the order to cease.

I wonder if "search and rescue" should be renamed "search and recovery". From the time of the onset of the incident the clock starts ticking, the "golden hour" goes by rapidly, and chances of a successful resuscitation fade. If it is taking "search and rescue" a long time to respond, all they are actually doing is searching for the lost diver, and recovering the body, if not already done.

Divegoose

 

[Christi]

First, my sincerest condolences for those who lost their friend and family member - and to ALL who were involved in this tragic incident.

Thank you to Ravenware and DiverJ1234 for your accounts and your efforts. I truly hope this will not tarnish your love and security for diving and for Cozumel. I personally am grateful for your efforts.

There is a lot of speculation here and a lot of incorrect "facts" that I am not at liberty to post publicly. But there is a lot to learn here. I am placing NO blame on the victim OR the dive shop - these are simple takeaways regardless of the accuracy of the real facts.

1. Always have a buddy, regardless of how experienced you THINK you are - medical issues and equipment failure can happen to ANY of us regardless of experience. Although a seasoned experienced diver may be able to handle certain situations better due to experience, it doesn't mean that they will always have the capacity depending on the issue and situation. Your chances are ALWAYS better with a buddy or two. FYI - 50 dives is still considered a new diver with very limited open water exposure, especially with S**t hitting the fan.
2. If you don't have a buddy, hire a private DM to be your buddy - isn't your life with $50 - $60 dollars?? It is NOT the Dive Shops responsibility or obligation to provide you, a CERTIFIED DIVER with a dive buddy if traveling solo - if logistics allow and they can, GREAT - but don't go in with that expectation. MANY places around the world do not even provide an in-water Dive Master for certified divers. It is done here as a Marine Park regulation - and they are Park GUIDES - of course they are there to assist in emergencies and to facilitate a safe and fun dive experience. However, they too are human!
   
   Additionally, the DM cannot be anyone's dedicated dive buddy. He or she is there for the whole group, not one person. So again, if you are traveling solo and the dive shop does not have the ability due to who is on the boat that day/week to pair you up with another solo and willing diver, then be prepared to hire a private DM. You are WORTH it! (despite what some believe, this is NOT a profit center for a dive shop, in FACT, it is technically a loss because the extra DM is taking a seat away from a paying customer - the fee only covers their salary for the day and tanks - but it's a financial hit I am willing to take for safety)
3. Going into a dive knowing that your equipment is malfunctioning is just a big NO-NO. Things happen during the dive that have to be dealt with, but going into a dive knowing your equipment is having issues, just a bad idea.
4. Everyone should have and know how to use a surface marker
5. Every diver should certify at least through Rescue Diver - forget all the stupid unnecessary specialties that are only for card collectors and spend your money and time getting at least through Rescue. This does not make you a professional rescue diver by any means especially as the standards are quite low - but it is more training that can help you save yourself and assist with rescues.
6. NO diver should EVER surface alone or without a suface marker - ever! My shops policy is that no one ever surface alone, if someone is low on air or having an issue, the buddy has to go up with them - if it's a case of low air, the DM is to check everyone's air and the closest one must surface with the low on air diver. This policy has been reinforced with my crew in light of this tragedy.
7. For those who think this is being "hushed" or that "the island doesn't want this to get out" because it's "bad for business" - nothing could be further from the truth and that is actually laughable. We haven't taken out an ad, but it is in the papers and has been on the local radio multiple times a day. It's also here on Scubaboard and I imagine in other Scuba Forum discussions. When there is a death in Anytown USA or Canada - I don't say "they don't want that to get out" because I didn't happen to hear about it in the way I think it should be broadcast? That's simply ridiculous! So just because it's not being broadcast in your town or in the manner you feel it should be, don't accuse it of being hidden and kept quiet. The sense of entitlement to know ALL of the facts and details around these tragic events always astonishes me. Put yourself in the shoes of those involved for a moment and have some compassion. That's an insult to everyone, including all scuba divers. It's not bad for business, it's a tragic learning experience. Unfortunately, most growth and learning results from pain of some sort.

I think that's enough out of me

Thank you again to those who were part of the rescue efforts and again, my sincerest condolences to all who were involved, including family, friends, fellow divers, and the dive staff and shop.

 

[Divegoose]

Well stated Christi !!

Great points on training, and use of malfunctioning equipment.

Divegoose

 

[DreaminOfSand&Salt]

Very well said Christi ....

 

[EcoDivingPlaya]

It was a chaotic situation, with several boats crisscrossing the water in front of ours and desperate radio messages from a different dive centre's skipper (not Scuba Mau) calling for assistance.

In fact, at that moment there were two other boats from different diving companies searching the surface for their own missing divers.

I found the body from the surface and marked the spot by dropping a weighed belt some 10 metres up current, tied to my SMB's finger spool.

We circled the spot for some minutes with my scuba gear ready to submerge, waiting for Search and Rescue (whom we never saw, either at the scene of the accident or on our way back to downtown) or a boat with either another dive professional or any other diver with sufficient enough training to assist me in the body's recovery.

Scuba Mau's boat showed up with two divers whom I know work for the company.

Apart from the skipper there were no other divers (clients) aboard.

The divers proceeded to descend and recover the victim's body.

No rescue breaths were attempted in-water (it was less than 5 minutes to an exit, i.e. their boat) or on the boat after the victim was hauled aboard bent backwards over the boat's side.

As I stood (I'm 1.80m tall) on my boat's deck some 10 to 15 metres away I saw no search for pulse or any other emergency procedure during the very brief space of time the Gaviota was within sight and before it sped off towards land.

I would be available to reply to any questions the Mexican authorities might see fit to ask me but, so far no-one has attempted to make contact with me.

Having seen the body on the reef I personally feel a huge amount of grief for a fellow diver who perished doing what she loved, and I can't even begin to imagine what her family and loved ones must be going through at the moment.