grumble.....
Okay, just got done reading this entire thread. If others have read the whole thing, then you'll see that I responded to it early on, but since then, I haven't given it much thought. I revisited it today and I just have a few observations:
"It's a Dive" is a very, very professional operation. I would stack it against any operation in the Keys (confident statement as I lived there for six years), and be satisfied that it would come out ahead of, or equal to anyone else. It is my preferred operation down there and I'm always impressed with the professionalism of the staff and their obvious concern for safety. Recently, I was getting ready for a routine dive with them on the reef. The weather wasn't ideal and I watched them turn away three snorkeling teams and a new diver team because it 'might be a little rough out there'. Not many operations in the Keys or elsewhere would turn away paying customers in conditions short of a hurricane!
If you haven't dove the SG, then it's hard to grasp how difficult a dive this can be. In a way, it's a lot like the Great Lakes. Beautiful but can turn nasty in the blink of an eye. Currents, depth, and heavy seas can conspire to turn an advanced dive into a serious challenge. This is why I suggested in my earlier post that this dive should be reserved for EXPERIENCED divers, not just those with an Advanced Certification
Some other points to consider.
If the boat is free of the mooring, they instruct divers to let go of the ball. Why? Because other divers are comming up the line. They need the divers to be away from the line so they can pick them up. If the diver is holding on to the line, and there are divers below, then the prop can turn the submerged divers into chum real quick.
If the boat is still tied off, then the diver should go hand over hand to the stern of the vessel and subsequently board her. The boat shouldn't release the mooring ball if the diver releases the mooring and becomes adrift because there are more divers under the water that the boat is responsible for. The diver who is now afloat should simply inflate the BC, deploy a surface marker and wait for pick up. If the diver becomes concerned, then ditch the bloody weights! I donno, but the $60 I have invested in my weights are worth a lot less than my life - but that's just me.
Speculation as to what the diver should have done or could have done is just a waste of electrons. Yes, it's sad when a diver dies, can't agree more. But I think that jumping on the dive operation (no, I have no financial connections to them other than my admiration for their skill and professionalism) or the diver without first hand knowledge is ill advised.
Baitedstorm did us all a great service by bringing this unfortunate event to our attention. What I would take away from this thread is twofold.
First, we shouldn't do a dive that is beyond our capabilities. Heck, I'm an instructor, but I won't go into a cave! Never be apprehensive about 'calling a dive' I have and don't regret it one bit.
Second, we should review what we would do in a similar situation. What would YOU do if you were tired, out of air, and in heavy seas with a current? What are the proper proceedures? I frequently mentally review them so that if I encounter a similar situation, I have a pretty good idea as to what to do. Suggest you do the same.
Mempilot - what you said about conditions out there are 'Spot on'. Speaking for myself "Been there, done that, and have the mediallion". Thanks for your input.
Baitedstorm - thanks again for bringing this to our attention and your insistance that we don't jump to conclusions before all the facts are in. The analysis of any situation is difficult at best - and impossible without all the facts.
"It's a Dive" - I will continue to dive with you and, what's probably more insightful, I will continue to allow my wife, niece and others I hold dear to dive with you, without hesitation. You have always treated us well, without acting like we are children - a fine ballance to maintain. I can assure you that you continue to have a loyal customer.
In conclusion, I'm sure others will find adiquate fodder contained in this post to blast me out of the water. But unlike a lot of folks who have posted in this thread, I've been to the SG and dove with "It's a Dive" I can assure you that I'll be doing both again, in the very near future.
Warmest Regards and Safe Diving,
Lee
