Diver Dead in South Florida

[dmaziuk]

So the operator has the engine off and just waits for a while until the divers seem far enough or deep enough and then starts the motor and puts it in gear?

I've been in a slight chop once or twice, when the captain can properly judge waves and wind he usually has to adjust the boat's position every once in a while. They keep the engines running. On the way in, the briefing was go straight down and meet up at the bottom, captain and DM tell you when to jump, a that point they cut off the props and keep it off until you're under. On the way back the captain drops a rope, everyone hangs on to the end, the captain will wave the next one in when the props are off and it's safe to get to the ladder.

Like you say, "safe" as in "props not spinning" does not mean safe from the platform coming down on top of your head, banging your shins on the steps, falling off, and so on and so forth.

 

[jadairiii]

I have seen many times when dropping divers in a current and wind, that the boat "wants to" drift back next to or on top of the divers.....

A result of a captain that does not know how to gauge current, wind, or both.

 

[Wookie]

A result of a captain that does not know how to gauge current, wind, or both.

More like the difference between a Captain and a boat driver, or a paper tiger.

 

[Jcp2]

Death of diver (Palm Beach County Fl): case settled

Case settled.

 

[DEEPLOU]

Death of diver (Palm Beach County Fl): case settled

Case settled.

Some info on settlement

 

[Biotech Diver]

I may have been a little insensitive in some of my other posts in the related thread. I may not agree with who was sued but at the same time what’s most important is that the family of the diver has some closure and that the settlement helps them. In doing some self reflection, who really cares if some insurance company had to pay out a settlement. Any amount of money will never bring her back or help her family in dealing with their loss.

Now let’s hope the the boat captain faces some criminal charges.

 

[cfberry]

Liveboating is inherently dangerous, and absolutely required as a pracrice in the dive industry. This is a tragedy and the specific details of how the diver got into the props are not publicly known. Utlimately the Captain is responcible for that even if she swam headfist into the prop on purpose. The purpose of this section of the forum is not to heap judgement but to learn from tragedy. Lets learn the details of the tragedy and learn from them rather than waste everyone's time by asserting our deep knowledge and virtue signal our opinions.

FYI Prop Shrouds are used to increrase thrust and not to protect things in the water, on commercial (not charter) boats they serve the additional benefit of making it harder to get an umbilical caught in the wheel while "walking the dog."

well said

 

[MrChen]

4 years later, we have an update.

‘Watched in horror:’ Florida man arrested after diver was fatally entangled in boat propeller

According to court records, he took a couple out on his boat for their first dive back in 2020, though the wife was sucked under into the propeller when he put it in reverse.

www.clickorlando.com

MIAMI, Fla. – An Ocala man had his first appearance on Thursday after being charged with several crimes related to his scuba charter business — including “seaman’s manslaughter,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In a release, USAO officials said that the man — Dustin McCabe, 49 — bought a 48-foot boat dubbed the “Southern Comfort” in March 2020, which he’d told the U.S. Coast Guard was for recreational purposes.

 

[MrChen]

I dove with Dustin and his wife several times. It's unfortunate that he made a mistake, and it cost someone their life.

 

[hroark2112]

This has been too long coming. Captain Ziptie should have been in jail long ago.