Accident & Incident Discussion - Northernone - aka Cameron Donaldson

[BRT]

I would just like to point out that I engage in solo dives that are, for one reason or another, not in compliance with some of the laws, ordinances, and administrative rules of the authorities having jurisdiction over the waters where I dive. I don't believe that makes my dives unsafe.

While we will probably never know the details of what went wrong on Cameron's last dive, I doubt very much if the outcome would have been different had this been a team dive.

I also disagree that the fact that he was in technical non-compliance with the various rules (etc) of the authorities having jurisdiction had much to do with the outcome. Surface support of some kind, whether a boat or someone on shore, reduces risk in many situations. There are other ways to achieve the same thing, PLB, marine radio in a basket on the surface, various other signalling devices. The shore diving risks at Cozumel are not unique but rather are present in the many places where shore diving is conducted in the presence of currents, tides, traffic, etc. For most people it is not feasible to pay to dive often, let alone daily, from a boat. Doing it in places where there are various rules (etc) against it does not affect the safety of the activity.

We spend about a month in Mexico each year and spend a lot of money on boat diving. It is great, but we also really enjoy our shore dives. I only know of shallow spots, and they are great. Slowly meandering along looking at all the small stuff is really enjoyable. People tell me at times it is dangerous, illegal or whatever. So far I have never felt threatened or in danger but one time we went off the beach near the airport there was enough current that we only spent about 15 minutes before exiting (where we went in). Shore diving in the PNW like we do requires planning and thought about where you are getting out if things don't go according to plan.

 

[MMM]

Thank you x 10. People seem fixated by this and I have been doing some quiet checking as well since I figured that this was a bad translation. Your explanation makes perfect sense. I know loads of people who shore dive there.

There is no law or regulation that prohibits shore diving outside of the Marine park.

The person who was quoted in the article is a representative of the dive charter industry.
As far as they are concerned, all diving should be done with a guide in the park.

Cam must have had a medical or environmental issue.
He could have been hit by the scooter.
He has had a few shark encounters in this area in the past. We talked about how the vibration from the scooter might be an attractant. A simple bump from a bull shark could have knocked him out.

 

[Jay]

The problem with the tone of some of the posters in this thread and others in this forum is that it discourages the free sharing of information that is known. That is the purpose of the special rules. Lion Fish eater and I have shared the only real information that comes from an eyewitness

Thank you for that.

I've attempted to update the earlier summary by @Pedro Burrito . with subsequent info from @RayfromTX and @lionfish-eater .

I hope this helps.

Have I missed any reasonably reliable information?

Post #59 by @Pedro Burrito was a nice summary of what we know. Copied here:

• He entered the water at 2:30 pm on Saturday, 16 March.

• He was diving on the northwest side of Cozumel

• He was solo diving

• He was diving side mount

• He was diving Air with two aluminum 80 cubic foot tanks

• He had a [relatively new] scooter with him

• He was wearing a full 5mm wetsuit

• The currents were reported to be strong in the area

and added info from @RayfromTX
• at the point of separation the scooter was in front of him (post 128)
• his mother re the current: "I have felt the current stronger there on other dives.. the current was strong but let's remember I was able to navigate 2 miles of that reef at 70 - 90 ft that day."(post 128)

• post 107 from Ray: They scooter out to the reef with a plan for how long of a deco or how long of a dive they want to do. She stays on the reef near the top of the wall while he explores deeper. He would typically have twice the tanks as her. She has been diving for perhaps 40 years? She would watch his bubbles as he descended and would find them again as he ascended unless he was on his rebreather. This time he descended more quickly than normal and without any bubbles which she took to mean there was a strong down current at that time. .... Midweek a diver on CCR discovered damage to the reef at 50 meters down current from where they had separated at 22 meters. It was reported that it looked like anchor damage but of course that was not a place for an anchor and the depth is far too deep for anchorage by any boat that would have been in that area. Boats don't anchor in that area even shallower because of the current.

• post 103 from Ray: Cameron's new scooter was a Silent Submersion uv18 (to replace the one that was lost) . She said it was very strong and much stronger than the old one. It had 6-8 hours on it. It was purchased from Kristoff in Playa del Carmen (post 92)

(post 92) She confirms that they separated about 10 minutes into the dive as per usual which is the typical time it took them to swim out to the reef from shore in that area.

And added info from @lionfish-eater (post 130)

•They usually use the scooter to get out to and return from the edge of the wall.
•Bonnie was able to wait at the top of the wall for an extended period of time looking for bubbles.
•She knew she had to swim in to shore and complete her deco.
•She was able to swim in and make all required stops.
•She completed 30 min at 10 feet and exited the water with two empty tanks.
•They normally have one full tank left when doing this dive.
•They had done the same dive the day before. On that dive Bonnie went with Cam over the wall. They spent about 5 min to a Max of about 140 before returning to the top of the wall.
•They dive everyday.
•They have residual loading and do extended Deco to be safe.
*They had plenty of gas to complete the planned dive.


FWIW ... Please note there are separate threads discussing what risks are acceptable (or not) for solo diving. There also was a recent thread about solo diving prejudice. And there's a earlier thread about the history of the 130ft 'limit'.

 

[Akimbo]

Let's not forget that we have no proof that Cameron didn't make it to the surface and disappeared in the Gulf Stream. Just because a search covers an area does not mean that a person was not there. An SMB would reduce that risk but can't eliminate it. A PLB would be even better... if it works and the person is still conscious and can hold the antenna out of the water. A dive buddy could have just as easily ended up in two divers carried out to sea. Sometimes it just isn't your day.

Speculation is great for developing strategies to improve systems and procedures. It has no place in affixing blame absent of fact.

 

[tursiops]

let's remember I was able to navigate 2 miles of that reef at 70 - 90 ft that day.

This is nowhere near the 6 knots some have reported, unless she did it in 20 mins with no kicking. 6 knots is about 10 ft/s. People are notorious for overestimating currents, just like they overestimate wave heights.

 

[ChuckP]

I truly hope that some Russian freighter picked Cameron up and he's eating dinner with Raul as we speak comparing their beards, when they turn the internet on, he'll reach out to someone.

I've read well experienced divers say they are going to evaluate their own diving and or gear choices, I think we should all do that.

I'm relatively new at this, I happen to have a lot of training - this accident has made me look inward. I don't dive out of control but I did feel there is never an emergency underwater - we plan and train, therefore no emergency. Train enough to eliminate panic and everything will be OK, just a shorter dive is all. Well, I'm not so sure about that anymore. Two days ago, I tapped out of a dive cause I felt a bit seasick or overheated - a few weeks ago, that probably wouldn't have been the case.

Shore diving the North end, no boat support, no PAB - that is probably the risk I wouldn't take BUT I'm not exactly for sure the dive they were doing, how the currents run etc..... What I may have done yesterday, cause it had been done many times before, I won't do today nor will I ever.

Solo diving? I have mixed feelings here. We can plan and train all we want, triple redundancy - if the current rips your mask off and reg out at the right time all the while being tumbled around in a washing machine - do we lose one or two divers? Maybe one diver survives to give the accounting of what happened.

Currents. I should have close to 500 dives in Cozumel by years end, today I realize I will have learned no more than what most of the experienced DM's have forgotten over the years. I also realize, currents are probably somewhat unpredictable, I hope to learn more and more but am assuming the risk of the unknown, maybe lessons and experience can mitigate that risk.

Scuba diving has risks and potential loss of life - our training and experience help mitigate that risk. Everyone has different levels of that oh **** factor, maybe we should all dial that down just a bit. The complacency is a human trait that we all have to remind ourselves about - we also need to remind our loved ones and friends.

 

[pepperbelly]

FOr what my opinion is worth, the only decision I might-might wiestion is the dive in a strong current at that location. A strong current would seem to blow a diver from the island.
130’ isn’t a death zone. It is a suggested limit for new or rec divers.
Many divers have been deeper and solo. Diver on the Andrea Doria have been there routinely for decades.
I really feel for his mom, but he did nothing wrong. This sport can be very unforgiving of error and will trow the unexpected in a diver’s face.
Cameron was a very well trained and experienced diver. This dive does not sound risky. Sometimes fate claims someone.

 

[Christi]

Thank you x 10. People seem fixated by this and I have been doing some quiet checking as well since I figured that this was a bad translation. Your explanation makes perfect sense. I know loads of people who shore dive there.

Yes - it was a horrible translation - see my earlier post

There is no one proposing that shore diving be banned - in fact, we are discussing having signs made for shore diving sites with recommendations for the specific sites and risks, recommendations, etc. - NOT banning tham

 

[MMM]

Given all of the unknowns in this thread, I guess my big takeaway is that if he had an underwater medical incident, had been another diver there to witness/assist, it may have ended differently. The second takeaway (and maybe he had this, I don't know) is that should he have made it to the surface, sound surface signalling/alarms would have assisted in the search and recovery. Sound about right?

 

[BRT]

Yes - it was a horrible translation - see my earlier post

There is no one proposing that shore diving be banned - in fact, we are discussing having signs made for shore diving sites with recommendations for the specific sites and risks, recommendations, etc. - NOT banning tham

This is a great idea! Knowing the terrain and the risks is really important.