Abalone diver dead - Van Damme State Park, California

[DandyDon]

"...still wearing his weight belt..."

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5731907-181/diver-dies-off-mendocino-

A Manteca man died last week while diving for abalone, the third person to perish this season while hunting the mollusk on the Mendocino Coast.

Robert Hagedorn, 69, had been diving in the ocean at Van Damme State Park for about 15 minutes on June 7 when one of his four companions saw that he was struggling, said Mendocino County Sheriff’s Lt. Shannon Barney.

“He was yelling for help,” Barney said. Hagedorn sank and surfaced several times before his friend reached him. He was unresponsive by the time his friends were able to pull him from the water and into their Zodiac inflatable boat, still wearing his weight belt, Barney said. They transported him to the beach, where they were met by emergency responders who attempted to revive him, he said. Hagedorn was pronounced dead at the scene, Barney said.

Two other men have died while diving for abalone since early May. David Tan Le, 57, of Oakland, and Kevin Francis Frewen, 57, of Carmichael, both drowned, Barney said.

The cause of Hagedorn’s death has not yet been determined.

 

[Scubagolf]

This is free diving with a weight belt. Not on scuba.

Free-Diving for Abalone in Northern California

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Good write up the WSJ.
Condolences to the friends and family of the victim.
Unfortunately, we are statistically about half way there for fatalities for the year.

 

[Laurie S.]

That's where we dive for abalone. We'll be there in September. Sad.

 

[DandyDon]

This is free diving with a weight belt. Not on scuba.

Correct, all legal diving for abalone is done that way.

 

[ajduplessis]

I would like to know how many divers lost their lives looking for abalone in the last 10 years.

Sad to hear

 

[iamrushman]

Condolences to the friends and family,,,,,,

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

I would like to know how many divers lost their lives looking for abalone in the last 10 years.

Sad to hear

We lose on average 7 divers per year to ab diving.
It can be a treacherous undertaking for some, but it doesn't have to be that way with a little training, physical fitness, knowing where to dive, and mostly knowing when to stay out of the water.
Most people who die are not locals, they are from out of the area and have limited time to hunt, and that can cloud their judgement.
Abalone are good, but they're not that good.

 

[ajduplessis]

Agree

 

[Bob DBF]

Most people who die are not locals, they are from out of the area and have limited time to hunt, and that can cloud their judgement.

In addition the rules changed last year so that only half of the yearly limit can be taken in Sonoma county, this forces divers up to Mendocino county where some have no experience with the dive sites and conditions when making the decision to dive.

Abalone are good, but they're not that good.

Agreed!


Bob