Difference in Shadow Divers and The Last Dive

[lakewinni]

Hey I just finished reading The Last Dive after reading Shadow divers. I have a question. In both books if you read the sections about the Rouse's incident you come across two totally different accounts according to John Chatterton. In one book he insists that the father goes on the helicopter and in the other book he insists that he stays on the boat. It's not a huge deal but if you read that sections its just amazing how totally different the accounts are of what he says. Does anyone know what the real deal is?

Thanks

 

[Diesel298]

i asked the same question. and from what ive herd shadow divers is the acurate info...

 

[Robert Phillips]

Chatterton did not write "The Last Dive." That was Chowdhury.

 

[Diesel298]

Chatterton did not write Shadow Divers either

 

[Paco]

It would seem to me that Chrissy Jr. went on the helicopter to be taken to recompression. Even if the father was already dead before getting on the boat, wouldn't the Coast Guard take his body too? Or would they let it to a charter boat to bring a body in? I guess I read both books so long ago now, that I don't remember what the authors said about the father. I should read for more detail.

 

[Don Burke]

It would seem to me that Chrissy Jr. went on the helicopter to be taken to recompression. Even if the father was already dead before getting on the boat, wouldn't the Coast Guard take his body too? Or would they let it to a charter boat to bring a body in? I guess I read both books so long ago now, that I don't remember what the authors said about the father. I should read for more detail.

The Coast Guard does not want to be in the business of transporting bodies since it ties up resources that could be used for rescues.

Both books say Chris Rouse's body was flown back by the Coast Guard. The discrepancy is about who said what on the Seeker.

 

[coach_izzy]

Well Summarized Don. I thought the same when I finished reading "The Last Dive". I read "Shadow Divers" first. I kind of forgot about the whole thing, and what remains on my mind is what a terrible writer Bernie is.

 

[Diesel298]

In The Last Dive..... The coats gaurd was not gonna take Chris Rouse because he was already dea, and acording to the book Chatterton convinced them to take him, and they did.. all acording to the book..
In Shadow Divers. The coast Gaurd wanted to take Chris Rouses body, and did, even with Chatterton telling them not to.....
Reason #2 i thing Shadow Divers is the more acurate story........The USCG has SOP for situations like that... and whatever it is. a civilian is not gonna let them change that... those USCG guys have a job to do and are gonna do it
The Last Dive has Chatterton getting therm to change there mind. i dont think thats a reality... in Shadow Divers the CG stuck with the original decision to take both men...
just my .02

 

[lakewinni]

I think that diesel is probably right on this one. I would assume that the USCG has a procedure that they always follow in this type of situtation. I would also guess knowing what I know that Shadow Divers is accurate just because of the detail the author went into when investigating the book and the closeness of his communication with Chatterton. What I just don't understand though is, assuming Bernie is incorrect (which is just a guess) how did he get it so wrong? I mean the accounts of what chatterton said are EXACTLY opposite. Its kinda hard to get things that wrong.

 

[rawls]

Hey I just finished reading The Last Dive after reading Shadow divers. I have a question. In both books if you read the sections about the Rouse's incident you come across two totally different accounts according to John Chatterton. In one book he insists that the father goes on the helicopter and in the other book he insists that he stays on the boat. It's not a huge deal but if you read that sections its just amazing how totally different the accounts are of what he says. Does anyone know what the real deal is?

Thanks

I read Shadow Divers in August of 2004. The thing that captured me was the cover at first. Such a good sleeve Anyway, I read Last Dive, Dark Descent and Fatal Depth within a short period of time after Shadow Divers. And I wondered the same exact thing when I came to the discrepancy in the two accounts. I have met John Chatterton and Richie Kohler on 2 different occasions and afterward wondered why in the heck I didn't ask them about it. Don't get me wrong...I'm not buddy, buddy with them I was at a benefit for his old co-host on Deepsea Detectives, Mike Norwood. It seems practical that the version in Shadow Divers would be the accurate one. Here you have Chris Rouse who Chatterton knew was dead, and Chrissy who was still alive, albeit barely. I'm not sure, based on the shape the kid was in, that I would want to be. It would simply make sense that you try to save the one who is still alive. I know some people think Chatterton is overrated, and who am I to argue. He may well be. I do know one thing. He is a very approachable and down to earth person. He is very unassuming and seems to be a very caring person. I never once saw one hint of egotism in him. It was the same way with Richie Kohler. I simply think that it makes more sense that these two guys would do their absolute best to try to get Chrissy Rouse to a recompression chamber as soon as possible. For me...There is no doubt in my mind that the Shadow Diver version is accurate. There is a website Chatterton has, johnchatterton.com. He also has a contact prompt. If you go to the site and email him I am certain he wil reply to your question.