Let me say that I'm still working on this incident, that today was the first payday of the year, and I'm really busy, but that I hope to respond in full and pray that someone is still interested.
When you investigate an accident or an incident, you have to listen, take notes, and when you first open your mouth it's to ask questions. When the info well runs dry, you write up your conclusions, often spot clues for follow up, check them out, integrate any new info and then review it again looking for anything overlooked. Then, or if and when you realize you are at fault, apologize, do everything you can to make it up to the injured party, and don't forget to implement what you can to keep from falling in the same hole again.
In this case it's luckily an incident rather than an accident, and after going over the sequence of events for about 3 hours yesterday morn with Jonathan and Morgan, we did not manage to clarify and synchronize what happened, as there are about 2 or 3 minutes there where it remains murky. I'm still learning about buoys, about the present conditions on Paradise, and following up on clues as to who said what and when. To follow up I have to wait for someone's day off, to get out of instruction class, to get back from a dive trip; while trying not to overlook what I have to get done.
There are some interesting clues which only one reader has so far picked up on, and while we may never - or at least I may never know exactly and for sure what happened out there, there's a lot to learn from both the on-board and in-water perspectives.
Please stay tuned if for nothing else to find out whether if my Captain is indeed shortsighted.
This internet forum and experience has truly busted my gut; it's been quite an experience, and I do indeed promise a full report. I've been advised to hurry up but I am commited to getting it right over getting it in quickly.
Sinceramente,
Bill Horn
