75 yo North Dakota man dies off of Cozumel

[DandyDon]

No real info in the new article other than implying that he was an experienced diver. Anyone know what happened?

Retired Fargo attorney ?marched to his own beat? | INFORUM | Fargo, ND

Gene Johnson once remarked that he wanted to be the world’s oldest scuba diver.

The retired Fargo lawyer never realized that goal. He died Sunday at age 75, in a scuba diving accident in the waters off Cozumel, Mexico, his favorite diving spot.

(article continues to include that he was certified at age 60)

 

[KY_BOB]

I was there at the time and didn't know anything about it.

CDNN :: Cozumel Scuba Diving Accident Kills Renowned Community Leader

 

[idocsteve]

At age 60, Johnson became certified as an advanced scuba diver whose goal was becoming the oldest active scuba diver in the world. We dont know if he accomplished that, but dove in his beloved Minnesota lakes, and made annual trips to go diving in the Caribbean where he suffered his fatal injuries.

I can tell you right now he was not the oldest active scuba diver in the world.

My dad was 80 in January and we all went diving together in Caymans and Cozumel during a cruise in honor of his birthday.

My dad Rocks.

 

[DandyDon]

I was there at the time and didn't know anything about it.

CDNN :: Cozumel Scuba Diving Accident Kills Renowned Community Leader

Nah most dive destinations try to keep accidents as quiet as possible.
Bad for business! Caymans seems more open than most...

 

[firstdive2005]

I met and had coffe with him on Coz several times, an amazing man. His name was Gene.
An anyeurism was his issue. He came out of his dive feeling sluggish. Went to the chamber, then home. Passed shortly after. Great great man. He was so soft, humble, you would never know he was as accomplished as he was unless someone told you. Thats how I found out. He just never brought attention to himself. Amazing guy. He loved his family, spoke of them often.
It WAS NOT the dive that did it.

 

[KY_BOB]

Thank you very much Firstdive. I was especially interested in what happened since I was there at the time.

In the US, that would have been the talk of the town but I never even heard about it while on the island.

 

[robint]

Please please please - everyone, CDNN is the National Enquirer of the diving world. Take everything you read there with a grain of salt.

 

[DandyDon]

Please please please - everyone, CDNN is the National Enquirer of the diving world. Take everything you read there with a grain of salt.

Well, my short quote came from a different news source originating with a google alert, but that link now requires a log in.

CDNN is indeed a questionable source, but one can often use articles there to search for true info. In this case, the article there is not inflamatory.