Belize Dive Haven boat Incident – May 26, 2021

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adamsfam

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Location
North Plains, Oregon
# of dives
500 - 999
Since I haven’t seen anything about this incident, I thought I would post this thread.

My husband and I arrived in Belize on Saturday, May 22 for a week of scuba diving at Belize Dive Haven Resort. Wednesday, May 26 we were on a boat with other divers that would take us to the Blue Hole. There were large swells and surf and the boat was bouncing up and over many waves. When the boat hit a very large wave, we were lifted off the bench inside the cabin of the boat and were slammed down on the bench when the boat came back down on the waves. We both immediately suffered severe lower back pain, at which time the boat stopped and returned to the resort. Five divers were injured on the boat and 3 of them were hospitalized.

By Friday, May 28 arrangements were made to fly my husband and me off the island on Saturday May 29, to be evaluated by medical personnel due to continued severe back pain and decreased mobility. On Saturday, May 29, we arrived in Belize City by charter plane from the island and were immediately taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Imaging was obtained and it was found that I had suffered an L1 stable fracture and 2 herniated disks, and my husband had a severe contusion to his tail bone and 2 herniated disks. We remained as inpatients in the hospital for 4 days.

Due to the severity of our injuries, DAN provided a medical flight nurse escort who coordinated flight arrangements, accompanied us, and provided wheelchairs and baggage transportation to our home in the US.
 
I'm very sorry that this happened to you. I have been on boats where I expected as much would happen and have also seen some passengers have their mid spines smashed onto gunnels.

Wishing you both speedy recoveries and good treatment.
I've had tailbone injuries from various events over the years and through trial and error of using sundry assorted seat cushions including donuts, eggcrate cushion comes out on top by a far cry.
 
sorry to hear about this, and glad you had DAN to back you up during these circumstances
 
Since I haven’t seen anything about this incident, I thought I would post this thread.

My husband and I arrived in Belize on Saturday, May 22 for a week of scuba diving at Belize Dive Haven Resort. Wednesday, May 26 we were on a boat with other divers that would take us to the Blue Hole. There were large swells and surf and the boat was bouncing up and over many waves. When the boat hit a very large wave, we were lifted off the bench inside the cabin of the boat and were slammed down on the bench when the boat came back down on the waves. We both immediately suffered severe lower back pain, at which time the boat stopped and returned to the resort. Five divers were injured on the boat and 3 of them were hospitalized.

By Friday, May 28 arrangements were made to fly my husband and me off the island on Saturday May 29, to be evaluated by medical personnel due to continued severe back pain and decreased mobility. On Saturday, May 29, we arrived in Belize City by charter plane from the island and were immediately taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Imaging was obtained and it was found that I had suffered an L1 stable fracture and 2 herniated disks, and my husband had a severe contusion to his tail bone and 2 herniated disks. We remained as inpatients in the hospital for 4 days.

Due to the severity of our injuries, DAN provided a medical flight nurse escort who coordinated flight arrangements, accompanied us, and provided wheelchairs and baggage transportation to our home in the US.
Yikes. That had to be one heck of a landing. the boat driver should have his license revoked and demoted to tank filler! Hope you guys are feeling a bit better. A fracture and herniated discs are nothing to make light of.
 
How terrible, wishing you both a speedy recovery.

The dive shop should get a very severe reprimand from PADI or whoever for taking you into such a situation. We have all been on dives where conditions changed unexpectedly underwater. But come on, what bit of the big waves did the captain not see ?????
 
Heading out to lighthouse atol isn’t a simple stroll in the park, nor are the conditions known before you pass through Turneffe Atol, where you are no longer in protection of the 2nd largest barrier reef on this planet.


Whenever I venture out that way, I always board last, and lay down at the stern over the diesel engines.. a nice rumble, ‘white’ noise for a nap, and a fairly smooth ride out.... although, coming back in,many other divers have now learned from the trip out, that sitting on the fibreglass seating towards the bow isn’t the best place to be for the few hour trek....


Sorry to hear about your injuries,


_R
 
If the seas are rough you’re much better standing and hanging on so you can use your legs as shock absorbers. Hope you guys have a full and speedy recovery get to a pt…
 
Our adventure to the Blue Hole, revision 1, wasn't as bad as that but we did go aground on the Turneffe reef. There were no injuries. Luckily there were parts on board to replace the screw on the usable shaft that also had an undamaged rudder and we limped back. We were put on another boat the next day after getting two free dives the afternoon of the grounding.

I hope all involved in your accident heal well with no lasting problems.
 
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