Angler charged after pulling up diver

[heavierthanlead]

Guy's lucky it wasn't some commando from nearby NAS Key West, or he might have gotten himself C4'd into oblivion...

 

[yodelhawk]

All I can say is: WOW!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

This is why I won't use a dive flag except for classes (where I have to), and only in very protected waters where boaters don't generally go. Dive flags are dangerous, because there is little to no enforcement against boaters who choose to violate them. And as often as not, dive flags don't warn boaters away ... they attract them. Until that changes, laws requiring their use are only endangering divers.

If this woman had not used a dive flag, this accident would not have happened.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[OldNSalty]

I know that letting the legal system handle things like this is best for society but sometimes I wish there was an option to suspend the criminal findings in exchange for giving an a$$ kicking. Maybe the judge holds the guilty down for an appropriate amount of time based on your crime while the other side reminds you that your rights stop where someone elses begins.

'My fishing spot' indeed.

 

[drbill]

Dive flags are dangerous, because there is little to no enforcement against boaters who choose to violate them. And as often as not, dive flags don't warn boaters away ... they attract them.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Agree with Bob. Even the dive flags flying on our local dive boats attract other boats to us rather than keep them away. This is why dive boats should carry arms and fire warning shots instead! Just kidding... kind of.

 

[Mitchell Teeters]

IMHO the ONLY reason this is being prosecuted is because she is a protected class, a federal employee. If this had been one of us nothing would have been done. Unless we kicked the guys ass, then we would have been charged!

Sent from my DROID X2

 

[Strima77]

For sure he should have been charged with a felony assault. Most people around water understand divers have to come up slow. Also, I thought there was no fishing around Dry Rocks. Is WDR outside the protected area?

 

[Hickdive]

He shouldn't have hauled her to the surface but, equally, he shouldn't have been able to haul her to the surface. There is no excuse whatsoever for having an SMB secured to you in such a way that it cannot be immediately released, even under tension.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Perhaps an appropriate punishment would be to haul him to the bottom, and see how he likes it ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[beaverdivers]

It's a crazy world!