Unknown Coasties searching for missing diver - Pompano Beach, Florida

[Divin'Papaw]

It has been years since I've dived in Pompano Beach, but all of the boats I use in Palm Beach County have added a pretty rigorous DM-led pre-dive check. This includes stepping the entire boat through a pre-dive check including pre-breathing your reg while watching your gas, testing your inflator, and checking weights (if any). For the last year or two, Pura Vida and Jupiter Dive Center, who are the two charter operators I use repeatedly, do this before every single dive.

For me, as a trained technical and solo diver, I have a rigorous self-check that I do before I ever get my butt out of my seat. I do it religiously every dive. IMO, everyone should be doing this. If diving with a buddy, a buddy check is also a good idea. Certainly does not hurt!

 

[Allen-1]

It has been years since I've dived in Pompano Beach, but all of the boats I use in Palm Beach County have added a pretty rigorous DM-led pre-dive check. This includes stepping the entire boat through a pre-dive check including pre-breathing your reg while watching your gas, testing your inflator, and checking weights (if any). For the last year or two, Pura Vida and Jupiter Dive Center, who are the two charter operators I use repeatedly, do this before every single dive.

For me, as a trained technical and solo diver, I have a rigorous self-check that I do before I ever get my butt out of my seat. I do it religiously every dive. IMO, everyone should be doing this. If diving with a buddy, a buddy check is also a good idea. Certainly does not hurt!

I was out with Jupiter Dive Center last August and Pura Vida last month. I can absolutely confirm what @Divin'Papaw stated about rigorous DM-led pre-dive checks.

My instructor insisted that I set up my gear each time, (and he led by example). It wasn't that he distrusted the staff at the resort we were at - it was that he wanted me to be responsible for my own safety, and be capable in case I dove somewhere where the staff wasn't as capable. I don't mind someone double-checking me, it's kind of nice - but it's my gear, my life - my responsibility.

 

[DandyDon]

Scubaboard had to come up with a lot of money once after being sued for that even tho the suit was thrown out.

For naming dive operations with questionable safety standards?

For naming an op that killed divers with CO tainted tanks. They had no chance in winning but defending Scubaboard was expensive.

 

[Jollymon32]

While not having the air supply turned on is a possibility, I can attest (14 dives with them since December 2024) that the crew on the LadyGoDiver are very good at ensuring that everyone's air is turned on before jumping off the transom. While not as coordinated as a DM led group exercise as depicted several posts above, the DM (or DM's depending on how many divers are on the trip) check for the air being on when they grab the tank's valve stem to steady you before the jump and prior to releasing you.

But it also could be that the diver lost his regulator when he jumped in and could not locate it or his octopus. The very same thing happened to me (although on the boat and not the water) when I dove my BPW for the first time. I think the tank may ride differently and the usual motion of swinging my arm back to locate the hose was coming up empty. My buddy had to locate it and hand it to me. I quickly made a mental note to get a necklace to ensure that the regulator is not further than my chin, and relocated my octopus to the top part of my right shoulder, also very reachable.

Also, I looked up the conditions on Saturday morning and it was breezy, 14-17 knots, but it was from the West. The seas were running 3 feet and the forecast called for a shift to the south later in the day. So the conditions, in the morning, were dive-able especially for a boat the size of of the LadyGoDiver. However, the conditions deteriorated rather rapidly as the shift to the south happened faster than expected.

I have had dives on the LadyGoDiver being cancelled on the morning of the dive (I dive with them a lot - love the boat and the crew) when the conditions are 5-7 feet waves and higher. So I do not believe it is a scenario of them going out at any cost, I do believe that the conditions were dive-able in the morning. Indeed most dive operators went out that morning.

Having said all that, I am not certain, but is it the DM's responsibility to ensure that everyone air is on? Obviously this is a good practice and should be done, but the question is, is it their responsibility? In other words, is there a gross negligence (they know they have to and did not) claim if a DM does not check for air being on? I was always taught that the responsibility lay with the diver to check their gear - and of course all Liability Waivers specifically denote that everyone is responsible for checking their own gear.

 

[VsubT]

Also, I looked up the conditions on Saturday morning and it was breezy, 14-17 knots, but it was from the West. The seas were running 3 feet and the forecast called for a shift to the south later in the day. So the conditions, in the morning, were dive-able especially for a boat the size of of the LadyGoDiver. However, the conditions deteriorated rather rapidly as the shift to the south happened faster than expected.

Not sure where you got that info. Winds were both forecast and actual from SE for this past Saturday AM off Pompano, with seas and winds building continuously through mid-afternoon. Gusts were in the 20's.

@NothingClever and I were watching the forecast closely for several days prior, and it stayed pretty much the same. The SE wind direction was a big factor in us not liking what we saw. Pretty sure winds shifted to coming from the west on Sunday/Monday, but I wasn't paying as much attention by then.

Lance

 

[lowwall]

This may be too early to discuss here, when we dont know everything, and maybe the information provided here isnt accurate.

I know that "balanced rig"/ no ditchable weight is looked on with favor by many, and there are safety reasons why folks advocate for no ditchable weight.

I myself, diving wet in CA, squarely believe that ditchable weight is the safest way for ME to dive (I've got about 10-12 lbs ditchable, the another 5-9 lbs in BP or trim). I will also admit that convenience is a factor for me. I dont want to be struggling with my buoyancy at the end of my dive, so I choose an easier route.

I wont say that everyone must accept my view of ditchable weight. What I will say is that you better be very well dialed into your gear and your correct weighting, even in warmer waters, if you arent gonna have any ditchable weight. No ditchable weight should not be ventured lightly. Also, the option of ditching your entire rig, sometimes discussed, just doesnt seem like a good, realistic option to me.

For a rig to be "balanced", you've got to be able to comfortably swim it up even with a full tank.

 

[The Chairman]

For naming an op that killed divers with CO tainted tanks. They had no chance in winning but defending Scubaboard was expensive.

Tens of thousands. She named ScubaBoard and 1 to 100 Does. In the end, she lost twice what we did. What she wanted from me was to divulge the names of the people who cited her, especially after she renamed her company. You guys are too smart to fall for that. The only times I have divulged names was twice in regard to 2 separate murder investigations by LEOs. Thankfully, no SB user had any culpability.

 

[The Chairman]

For a rig to be "balanced", you've got to be able to comfortably swim it up even with a full tank.

I would revise that statement to "easily" without any air in your BCD or Drysuit.

 

[Marty_C]

I had an incident with a brand new BP/W once. I had done two boat dives with it and had no issues. I was diving in horizontal trim (drysuit) so the problem didn't reveal itself until I did the third dive which was a shore entry.

We went out to the spot we chose to descend. I went down upright so I could keep an eye on my wife who was coming down a buoy line to a small wreck. I lifted my inflator hose and added air. I kept dropping. I gave it two more tries and switched to adding air to my drysuit. Something was clearly wrong.

Long story short the jet dump cable was a bit short so whenever I lifted the hose away from my chest it opened the jet dump and no air went into the bladder. I ordered a whole new hose and cable, replaced and tested it. Did a couple more dives and really never liked that rig even after I made it work safely.

So is it possible this person had a similar issue or did someone see that his inflator hose wasn't attached?

Anything possible without knowing but I still think it was a close tank situation. He wasn't in a dry suit and even if his inflator hose wasn't connected, but the tank was open, he could have breathed. No reason for him to grab his buddy's reg.

 

[Marty_C]

I would revise that statement to "easily" without any air in your BCD or Drysuit.

True- but new equipment and novice diver. The possible mistakes just keep compounding.