Training Scuba Ranch TX Diving Accident

[divezonescuba]

The North Texas diving community was shaken today following reports of an underwater diving accident at The Scuba Ranch in Terrell, Texas. First responders, instructors, divers, and staff were quickly on site, working together with professionalism and care during a very difficult situation.


PEACEFULDEPARTURES.CFD
Scuba Ranch Terrell Texas Death, Underwater diving Accident News – peacefuldepartures.cfd

Reportedly a 12/13 year old girl enrolled in an open water course.

 

[johndiver999]

peacefully departed.

 

[Pi_grim]

We were out there yesterday when Careflight arrived.

Terrible tragedy for the family.

 

[kammel78]

Sigh. - I have mixed feelings about doing OW there. I ended up doing my 12 year old son's there but we had a lot more pool time than the "standard" and it was just me and him, but I've honestly driven 7.5 hours to do OW at Vortex or Morrison rather than SR or Athens.

I can't imagine what her family is going through right now. Sigh.

 

[alv0065]

Sigh. - I have mixed feelings about doing OW there. I ended up doing my 12 year old son's there but we had a lot more pool time than the "standard" and it was just me and him, but I've honestly driven 7.5 hours to do OW at Vortex or Morrison rather than SR or Athens.

I can't imagine what her family is going through right now. Sigh.

Preface. I am in the area, very familiar with Scuba Ranch and I do not know any details beyond just basic about what happened.

But... there has been some times where the visibility has been so bad at the Ranch I just can't imagine having divers on their first open water there. I can't imagine having myself and one diver there, I can't imagine having a group of first time open water divers with me. Honestly, gives me bad dreams thinking of it.

 

[texfox98]

Sigh. - I have mixed feelings about doing OW there. I ended up doing my 12 year old son's there but we had a lot more pool time than the "standard" and it was just me and him, but I've honestly driven 7.5 hours to do OW at Vortex or Morrison rather than SR or Athens.

I can't imagine what her family is going through right now. Sigh.

Are your reservations about doing OW related to the visibility?

 

[auto]

Was out there, allegedly equipment was found on the bottom, so the police were also out there, along with Careflight. I actually did my open water there, and I made the comment to a few people that I never took another class out there. It is extremely challenging from a visibility and vertigo perspective for a new diver. I actually got into a shouting match with our Instructor due to a disagreement, of which the visibililty did not help. In fact, I was able not to do some of the crap they wanted, because they could not even see us. The next problem is the size of the groups that some of the shops run, it is impossible to keep track of everyone. Hell, me and the SO and we got separated this weekend, viz was even bad for Scuba Ranch.

 

[alv0065]

Are your reservations about doing OW related to the visibility?

Yes.

 

[kammel78]

Are your reservations about doing OW related to the visibility?

Yes, combined with the quick drop in temps at the first and second thermocline can be extremely disorientating. Then add in the number of students there on any given weekend making conditions worse and a bottom that's so mungy you could lose any sense of direction if you stir it up.

I'll take tech students there specifically for those challenges. Low vis, bouyancy/trim/propulsion control, drysuit practice. OW classes, no.

 

[texfox98]

We were out there yesterday when Careflight arrived.

Terrible tragedy for the family.

Yes, combined with the quick drop in temps at the first and second thermocline can be extremely disorientating. Then add in the number of students there on any given weekend making conditions worse and a bottom that's so mungy you could lose any sense of direction if you stir it up.

I'll take tech students there specifically for those challenges. Low vis, bouyancy/trim/propulsion control, drysuit practice. OW classes, no.

That makes sense. I did my OW there less than a month ago with my 13 year old daughter. I was surprised at the near blindness, and had my hand on her almost the entire time. I mostly had no idea where I was under the water each time we left the platform. My brother was there this weekend doing his OW and texting me updates - no more detail than is in this thread. I don’t know if more details will become publicly available but I’d sure like to know as much as possible about what happened and what could be done differently. After spending 2 days mastering my own skills while managing a low level terror of losing my own daughter in that muck (and not being sure if I was overreacting, as none of the dive masters seemed concerned) I actually CAN imagine what the family is experiencing because I was imagining it for those two days. My heart goes out to that family.