Heisler Park fatality - Laguna Beach, California

[DandyDon]

They state his age so I guess they identified him but aren't releasing that yet.

Orange man dies scuba diving off Laguna Beach – Orange County Register

An Orange man who was scuba diving is now the third person to die while diving off the Laguna Beach coast this year.

The 48-year-old man was spotted floating on the water by a swimmer at 7:50 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, about 50 yards off Picnic Beach in Heisler Park, said Marine Safety Capt. Kai Bond.

The swimmer brought him to shore where Laguna Beach lifeguards took over performing lifesaving measures before handing him off to Laguna Beach Fire Department paramedics.

The diver was taken to Mission Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

 

[wgw04024]

Where was the other diver?

 

[scubadada]

Orange man dies caught my eye, it was not what I hoped for. Sorry, I expect this post will be deleted by one of my colleagues, sorry

 

[azstinger11]

Per a local facebook page he was an instructor. Didn't say if he had students with him when he passed or not.

 

[Bob DBF]

Where was the other diver?

What other diver?

 

[wgw04024]

What other diver?

His buddy...

 

[DandyDon]

His buddy...

It seems that he was solo.

 

[Bob DBF]

His buddy...

Since he was found by a swimmer and no other diver was mentioned I would extrapolate that he was solo diving.

 

[HBVetera n2312]

Aw man that is horrible. Did a lot of diving and teaching there.

 

[Sam Miller III]

Victim Rich Halpert - A new PADi Instructor - "Active SoCal Laguna Beach Diver'
Diving alone -Shaw's Cove ( why would an active 'Diver" chose Shaw's Cove ?)
Discovered floating but DOA
Indication is a CVA

3 "diving related" death this year/

1) Most recent
Rich Halpert

2) June 2020
Shaw's Cove
Female diver reached down to rinse mask
Collapses Had possible CVA

3) October 2019
Free diver drowns in South Laguna
Suspect equipment entanglement

Three "dive related" deaths with in a year

Lobster season is rapidly approaching
There is a often an poorly trained, ill equipped, inexperienced
over enthusiastic diver who will trade his life for a lobster.

The Laguna Beach city fathers have read the reports in the news paper
They could be once again looking at diving with a jaundiced eye
( Certainly with the Conception tragedy only 120 miles north)
Who wants dead bodies popping up in front of their multimillion dollar homes?

Perhaps another look at the 1960s Diving ordinance ?
( I am the only survivor of the Battle of Laguna Beach which began at Shaw's Cove)
t that time Divers were organized; Surfers were totally disorganized
2020 Surfers are organized; Now Divers are totally disorganized

A review or revision of the Dive Ordinance ?
Certainly a possibility,,,

Samuel Miller , III

CC
@Scuba Lawyer ( you have lived in Laguna all your life )

@HBVeteran n2312 with your vast and varied instruction in Laguna Beach- Comment ?