2 Japanese divers drown in Saipan

[pakman]

Wonder what happened as she was ascending with the assistance of the instructor...

I guess anything can happen with a diver in panic....


Thursday, July 21, 2005 at 07:16 JST
TOKYO — Two Japanese women drowned Saturday while scuba diving in Saipan, Foreign Ministry officials said Wednesday.

The officials identified the two as Mayumi Fukuda, a 25-year-old scuba diving instructor in Saipan, and Megumi Morita, a 25-year-old tourist. (Kyodo News)


From the Saipan Tribune
(for some reason the copy n paste from this site didn't capture the full story. link as follows.
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?cat=1&newsID=48994

Local
DPS: Low air blamed for Grotto drowning

By John Ravelo
Reporter

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Police believe that the diving student who drowned at the Grotto Saturday got low on air while she was several meters underwater, causing her to panic and to attempt ascending fast to the surface.

Divers who assisted police in searching for 25-year-old Megumi Morita found her underwater without her scuba tank regulator in her mouth. She was motionless when the divers found her, police said.

Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric David said Mayumi Fukuda, a 25-year-old dive instructor for the Past Time dive shop, ascended with Morita after being informed that the student was panicking.

Police said other divers who witnessed the incident believed that an emergency situation was happening, saying that Morita and Fukuda were ascending very fast. Fukuda's body was found after a search the following day.

Citing findings of a police investigation, the DPS spokesman said that Fukuda and six female student divers, including Morita, went to the Grotto at about 3pm Saturday. Within 10 minutes underwater, the group was about 25 meters deep.

At that time, David said Fukuda was conducting advance course lessons for two students, Morita and Naomi Tsumura. The group then proceeded outside the Grotto about 20 meters deep.

Police said Tsumura noticed Morita panicking and notified the instructor about it. The group stayed at that level as Fukuda and Morita ascended.

Another group of divers approached the female group and asked the latter how much air was left in their scuba tanks. Sensing that the female group was low on air, a Japanese diving instructor signaled the woman to follow him and his group to the cavern and safely back up on the rock.

Several dive groups who were at the Grotto Saturday assisted in searching for Fukuda and Morita. Police could not say whether the water was rough on that day. Saipan was experiencing bad weather that day due to the passage of supertyphoon

 

[pakman]

Been to Saipan but never dove there. Appears the grotto is an underwater cavern...

Saipan Grotto, Northern Mariana Islands
A beautiful sunken pool connected to the ocean by underwater passages. The sunlight shining on the ocean outside the cave gives the water its amazing deep blue color with typical visability of 100 plus feet. The Saipan Grotto is one of Saipan's best diving spots. Considered by many as one of the best shore cavern dives in the world, this must do dive site in Saipan is sure to amaze you.
After entering the water through a large limestone hole, divers realize they are in a huge cavern. From here, there are three different exit holes to the sea. Once outside, there are beautiful walls, swim-throughs, and caves to explore. Turtles, sharks, and wrasse, are some of the many types of sea life to be seen at this magnificent dive site.

 

[diver_paula]

Pakman,

I haven't been following them but believe this is at least one other thread already discussing this incident. You might want to go there for more of a discussion.

Paula

 

[pakman]

Hi Paula,

Which forum are those articles in? I didn't see any before I posted. but maybe I missed them.

 

[Scubagolf]

Hi Paula,

Which forum are those articles in? I didn't see any before I posted. but maybe I missed them.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=104843&highlight=saipan+grotto+deaths

 

[diver_paula]

Scubagolf,

Thank you for posting the link. I knew I had seen the story. It was listed when I hit 'new posts' and couldn't locate it now.

Paula

 

[pakman]

thanks for the link.

always threw saipan and guam into other asia... silly me, was looking in the wrong region...

 

[drbill]

Sad news.

Since I'm diving with my nephew this week (and am therefore buddied up), I spend a lot more time with my eye away from the viewfinder so I can make sure he is OK.