California diver dies in heavy surf

[Bubbletrubble]

1: If it's a bad surf day, don't go in.

2: If the surf is too much for a safe exit, don't. Pop your SMBs and wait for help.

@DandyDon: Those are two very good take-away points. Often times when the surf is high, the vis underwater is crappy.

There are a few dive sites here in San Diego notorious for having big surf that can break quite close to shore if conditions are just right. When diving those sites, it's good to consider alternative exit points in pre-dive planning, since there are nearby areas that can offer more shelter from waves/surf.

In case anyone is interested and happens to be in the San Diego area, the San Diego Council of Divers (in conjunction with the San Diego Lifeguards) sponsors a summer program called Rocks, Rips, and Reefs (3Rs). The program schedules an event at a local dive site every other Saturday morning at 8am. Essentially, the program is an in-water "class" geared towards snorkelers and divers -- teaching them how to read the surf and enter/exit the water safely. During a typical 3Rs session, the head lifeguard gives a short talk on the site, points out hazards, gives a crash course on reading/working with water movement (surf, rips, longshore currents), discusses tidal considerations, and recommends the best entry and exit points. He also tells a lot of fun stories about rescues they've made over the years. Then each participant zips up his/her wetsuit, grabs mask/fins/snorkel, and enters the water. The rest of the session is a snorkel tour of the site. A nice touch is that safety divers with rescue floats are around to help out any snorkelers who are struggling in the water. I can't think of a better, safer way to get introduced to San Diego diving. Afterwards, one of the local dive clubs provides drinks and sweet treats to the group. And one of the best things about the experience...is that it's free! The 3Rs at Goldfish Point/La Jolla Caves is my favorite. Koch's Crack is fun to enter when the conditions are right. You could practically have a private picnic inside.

There have been a number of shore dives where I've been put in a position to exit in very active surf. In those cases, one of the best ways to get through the waves is to kind of "catch" a wave, i.e., kick hard as the wave is cresting. It can be a fun ride if you're used to bodysurfing or bodyboarding. (Note: I would not do this at an unfamiliar dive site or an exit point with a steep drop-off near the water's edge, rocky outcroppings nearby, etc.)

 

[Sat Diver]

Not sure how bad the surf was and what the exit point was like, but a possibility is to doff your gear, fill the wing full, clip your dive reel to it, exit and then reel it in. Never tried it, but think it might work.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Not sure how bad the surf was and what the exit point was like, but a possibility is to doff your gear, fill the wing full, clip your dive reel to it, exit and then reel it in. Never tried it, but think it might work.

The issue I see with that logic is as follows:

I know one issue for those that dive in cold water (e.g. here in SoCal) is that our exposure suits are extremely positively buoyant. If I were to ditch my gear (even keeping my weight belt in place), I'd float.

Also, it might help in certain circumstances, but I would think once your reel reached it's maximum, it would likely be harder to control than when the gear is on your back.

Finally, with the money I have invested in this sport, there is no way I am trusting it all to a piece of twine and a chunk of plastic . If it is a dire situation then yeah no problem, but I feel more confident with my gear on my back rather than 50' or 150' away hopefully attached to a piece of string. Just my $0.02

 

[DandyDon]

UPDATE: Autopsy: Diver in heavy surf died of cardiac disease | siglock, diving, surf - News - The Orange County Register

LAGUNA BEACH A Tustin diver who was pulled from heavy surf earlier this week died of cardiac disease, an autopsy has concluded.

Bryan Stephen Siglock, 36, was diving with his brother on Tuesday afternoon off the coast of Totuaya Beach. A witness saw the two men being tossed in the waves and trying to get to shore.

The brother managed to reach the rocky coastline and get rid of his diving gear before diving back into the water and pulling Siglock to shore. Police, fire and lifeguards tried to resuscitate Siglock. A helicopter took him to Mission Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The autopsy listed cardiac disease as the sole cause of Siglock's death, Supervising Deputy Coroner Larry Esslinger said. It was not immediately clear whether Siglock had a medical emergency before or because he got into heavy surf.

Police examined Siglock's diving gear and found nothing wrong with it, Laguna Beach Lt. Jason Kravetz said. "It appears to have been a natural death," he said.

 

[VooDooGasMan]

Thanks don, never know when the problems arrive or how they get increased while diving, yet we should have a higher level rescue class, for medical issues during diving.

 

[Garth]

I never shore dove period but I would like to someday.

Would it ever be easier to inflate wing completely, doff gear and pull gear to shore? Running into problems would be a simple as letting go. Am I crazy?
I dive doubles and was just thinking about it that way. Using long hose, keeping mask and reg in mouth, spitting reg and swimming to shore it problems arise.

 

[Garth]

The manifold would be a good handle..

 

[Hatul]

UPDATE: Autopsy: Diver in heavy surf died of cardiac disease | siglock, diving, surf - News - The Orange County Register

I wonder what "cardiac disease" he died of? I would have thought the autopsy would be more specific than that.

Adam

 

[ScubaSteve]

I shore dive a lot but never in anything as severe as what is describe here so take my input as you see fit. I still believe it would be much easier to control your gear when it is on your body. You have the weight of the gear to work WITH you assuming you position yourself properly for the crashers. If you think about the surface area of your doubles wing and tanks etc. and heavy surf, I bet you would be hard pressed to keep control of the situation as well as a good solid hold as the wing/tank get thrown about separate from your body. When the tank is on your back, you have two hands if needed. Plus, that long hose and mouthpiece are not going to hold on for long when fighting the waves if you lose your grip on the manifold.

I never shore dove period but I would like to someday.

Would it ever be easier to inflate wing completely, doff gear and pull gear to shore? Running into problems would be a simple as letting go. Am I crazy?
I dive doubles and was just thinking about it that way. Using long hose, keeping mask and reg in mouth, spitting reg and swimming to shore it problems arise.

 

[Hatul]

I never shore dove period but I would like to someday.

Would it ever be easier to inflate wing completely, doff gear and pull gear to shore? Running into problems would be a simple as letting go. Am I crazy?
I dive doubles and was just thinking about it that way. Using long hose, keeping mask and reg in mouth, spitting reg and swimming to shore it problems arise.

I would not do it. In heavy surf I keep my mask on reg in mouth, deflate BC and crawl out on fours.

Adam