Ana
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Lobster mini season 2019 came and went and it appears there was one fatality. It happened very close to were we (my husband and I) were diving. When the call for help came from the Coast Guard it made us pause.
First it was a private boat calling for assistance with a missing diver. At that time there were several calls in the radio from minor cluster fk's , a Capt. asking where is boat this or that because he had one of his divers and like I said minor things. That missing diver call didn't quite registered as a terrible thing just a temporary issue.
From our vessel we are taking turns, and at the end of each dive we'd ask, did they find that diver? no, it turns out he didn't have fins, damn. Next dive, how about now, did the diver show up? no, it was a 60 y/o male, the boat Capt. said the diver came up normal and handed over his fins, 2 seconds later he slipped back in the water and that was it, damn again.
Now it wasn't just conversation between BSO/ marine patrol and the boat captain, after about 2 hours it was the Coast Guard asking all the vessels to be on the look out. It hit us hard, and of course you start to speculate because you just do.
Then the call to stop looking because the body was found, well crap, not what anyone wants to hear.
So in our speculation I'm thinking I don't want my last action alive to be handing over some stupid fins. What if I use that last bit of energy to ask for help or to hold on to the ladder, or just look at the person on board (usually my husband) and tell him I love you as I slip back in the water. Not only elevates the chances of surviving if I hold on to the ladder but it fully communicates to the person on board you are in trouble. This person on board then can activate a plan and proceed to help.
Of course in order to activate a plan, you need a plan and that is what we are trying to figure out. Obviously all this is the result of our speculation, we don't know much besides what we heard in the radio, the news said it was a 70 y/o and that he fell of the boat. Whatever, I doubt we'll know. For sure feels better to think he was 70 than 60, for one he lived longer and it doesn't hit so close because we aren't in our 70's (but hopefully we will)
Anyway, the idea is having something very close to the ladder easy to grab/deploy that would help to either hand over to the diver or for the topside person to jump in the water to help and remain connected to the boat.
The trick is that it needs to be handy but not in the way, because chances are we will never use it (like the tourniquet in the 1st aid kit) but when you needed it should be right there.
For now, we are thinking the float we use for freediving, orange plastic bullet shape, with a line attached to a cleat opposite side of the ladder. When we bring up the dive flag that can be put in place. In addition to a better adherence to the OK surface protocol. Lack of clear OK at the surface and then when the boat approaches will mean you are not ok.
What else can be done that is practical. If it isn't practical then it won't be done regularly.
First it was a private boat calling for assistance with a missing diver. At that time there were several calls in the radio from minor cluster fk's , a Capt. asking where is boat this or that because he had one of his divers and like I said minor things. That missing diver call didn't quite registered as a terrible thing just a temporary issue.
From our vessel we are taking turns, and at the end of each dive we'd ask, did they find that diver? no, it turns out he didn't have fins, damn. Next dive, how about now, did the diver show up? no, it was a 60 y/o male, the boat Capt. said the diver came up normal and handed over his fins, 2 seconds later he slipped back in the water and that was it, damn again.
Now it wasn't just conversation between BSO/ marine patrol and the boat captain, after about 2 hours it was the Coast Guard asking all the vessels to be on the look out. It hit us hard, and of course you start to speculate because you just do.
Then the call to stop looking because the body was found, well crap, not what anyone wants to hear.
So in our speculation I'm thinking I don't want my last action alive to be handing over some stupid fins. What if I use that last bit of energy to ask for help or to hold on to the ladder, or just look at the person on board (usually my husband) and tell him I love you as I slip back in the water. Not only elevates the chances of surviving if I hold on to the ladder but it fully communicates to the person on board you are in trouble. This person on board then can activate a plan and proceed to help.
Of course in order to activate a plan, you need a plan and that is what we are trying to figure out. Obviously all this is the result of our speculation, we don't know much besides what we heard in the radio, the news said it was a 70 y/o and that he fell of the boat. Whatever, I doubt we'll know. For sure feels better to think he was 70 than 60, for one he lived longer and it doesn't hit so close because we aren't in our 70's (but hopefully we will)
Anyway, the idea is having something very close to the ladder easy to grab/deploy that would help to either hand over to the diver or for the topside person to jump in the water to help and remain connected to the boat.
The trick is that it needs to be handy but not in the way, because chances are we will never use it (like the tourniquet in the 1st aid kit) but when you needed it should be right there.
For now, we are thinking the float we use for freediving, orange plastic bullet shape, with a line attached to a cleat opposite side of the ladder. When we bring up the dive flag that can be put in place. In addition to a better adherence to the OK surface protocol. Lack of clear OK at the surface and then when the boat approaches will mean you are not ok.
What else can be done that is practical. If it isn't practical then it won't be done regularly.