Unknown Authorities close dive club after fatality - Cape Dramont in Saint-Raphaël, France

[DandyDon]

Un club de plongée fermé "en urgence" après un accident mortel au large de Saint-Raphaël

Le préfet du Var a pris un arrêté de fermeture " en urgence" – c’est-à-dire sans mise en demeure préalable – à l’encontre d’un club de plongée dont l’un des membres est décédé lors d’une sortie en mer le dimanche 2 juin au large du cap Dramont à Saint-Raphaël. Richard Decouflet, 71 ans, était orig

www.varmatin.com

Google translation...

A diving club closed “emergency” after a fatal accident off the coast of Saint-Raphaël

After the death of a man in his seventies, a diving club is accused of a series of breaches of safety rules. The authorities announced a strengthening of controls this summer.

The accident occurred this Sunday, June 2 off Cape Dramont in Saint-Raphaël.

The prefect of Var issued an “ emergency ” closure order – that is to say without prior notice – against a diving club where one of the members died during a sea trip on Sunday June 2 off Cape Dramont in Saint-Raphaël .

Richard Decouflet, 71, was from the village of Espalem in Haute-Loire. Municipal councilor in this small town, he was also deputy treasurer of the Esprit Plongée Brivadois association which organized this trip to the east of Var.

The findings carried out by the nautical brigade of the Issambres gendarmerie (Roquebrune-sur-Argens) highlighted “ numerous dysfunctions ” which motivated the decision to close the club.

Expired emergency equipment
“ It appears from the administrative investigation that the establishment (...) does not respect the regulatory security conditions ,” summarizes the prefect’s order dated June 6. The diving club is closed “ until compliance is achieved ”.

“ No diving director organized the activity, nor wrote a safety sheet ,” it is noted. The equipment needed for first aid (oxygen therapy) had also expired for more than five years.

Finally, " the divers descended to depths of 64 meters in the morning and 78.2 meters in the afternoon (dive during which the accident took place) ", i.e. well beyond a legal threshold set at 60 meters ( (this is a so-called "air" dive) for safety reasons.

Following this accident, the Mediterranean maritime prefecture announced a strengthening of control operations with diving associations and clubs.

 

[chillyinCanada]

A septuagenarian died while taking part in a sea trip, organized by a diving club, off the coast of Saint-Raphaël. The prefecture decided to close the establishment “urgently”.
A fatal accident took place at sea on Sunday June 2, off the coast of Saint-Raphaël. A 73-year-old man died during this outing, organized by an associative diving club of which he was the deputy treasurer.

According to Var-Matin, the prefecture issued an "emergency" closure order against the club on June 6.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Since the start of 2024, Cross Med has reported 8 deaths and 59 rescue operations involving divers. Fatal diving accidents are on the rise this year, which has prompted Cross Med to remind users to be careful.

 

[lowwall]

Finally, " the divers descended to depths of 64 meters in the morning and 78.2 meters in the afternoon (dive during which the accident took place) ", i.e. well beyond a legal threshold set at 60 meters ( (this is a so-called "air" dive) for safety reasons.

Did something get lost in translation or did this group really attempt an air dive to 78.2 meters (256 ft)?

 

[LFMarm]

Did something get lost in translation or did this group really attempt an air dive to 78.2 meters (256 ft)?

This is exactly what the source article in French says. Very hard to believe though.

 

[Edward3c]

Did something get lost in translation or did this group really attempt an air dive to 78.2 meters (256 ft)?

The French are unlikely to use the British measure of ft, so m it will be. Remember the French recreational limit is 60m.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Did something get lost in translation or did this group really attempt an air dive to 78.2 meters (256 ft)?

No, not lost in translation.

#Above all, "the divers descended to depths of 64 meters in the morning and 78.2 meters in the afternoon (dive during which the accident took place)", specifies the prefecture, while the legal threshold is set at 60 meters. #

 

[rmorgan]

Since the start of 2024, Cross Med has reported 8 deaths and 59 rescue operations involving divers. Fatal diving accidents are on the rise this year, which has prompted Cross Med to remind users to be careful.

Chilly, these are chilling numbers . . . I’ve not been able to figure out what Cross Med is—could you post the reference?

 

[rx7diver]

Couple of things:

1. I wonder if a 60 m (200 fsw) air dive was usual for this (presumed experienced) diver.
2. I wonder if the 60 m dive was a warm-up dive for the 78 m dive.

3. What does it mean for the emergency oxygen gear to have been "expired"? The [medical] oxygen cylinder's hydro had expired? If the emergency oxygen was kept in a scuba cylinder, then the cylinder's VIP and oxygen sticker had expired? Some other meaning? Is this something that any of us who own (personal) emergency oxygen kits (like DAN sells) needs to be concerned about?

rx7diver

 

[lowwall]

3. What does it mean for the emergency oxygen gear to have been "expired"? The [medical] oxygen cylinder's hydro had expired? If the emergency oxygen was kept in a scuba cylinder, then the cylinder's VIP and oxygen sticker had expired? Some other meaning? Is this something that any of us who own (personal) emergency oxygen kits (like DAN sells) needs to be concerned about?

Pure speculation here, but it sounds like the responding authorities were determined to shut them down immediately and these were easy technical bases that they could cite as a reason for doing so. Presumably there will be some more concrete safety requirements they will have to meet if they want to restart club activities.

Frankly, if the club was organizing or even condoning activities like this 80m air dive, it's hard to fault the decision of the "nautical brigade of the Issambres gendarmerie" even if the announced bases were kind of weak.