Diver Abandoned off Newport

[cdiver2]

It should also be stated that Capt. Ray also does alot of technical charters with alot of GUE trained tech divers and is known for his top-notch surface support. He took John Walker and Kendall Raine on their dive to the sub that he found outside of Santa Monica Harbor.

The shop that chartered the boat insisted on using their DM for the trip in question.

I guess this just go's to show that the system of divers using there own DMs on a charter boat doe's not work.

What should we do give the Capt a medal for finding a wreck, this doe's not make him competent.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I agree location means nothing. Nor does the captain's prior commendable record serve as an excuse or justification.

Life is not fair and this is perhaps to a limited extent one of those instances. The DM screwed up, but the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the vessel and those on board lies with the captain. It's unfair and unfortunate that the DM is still a DM (but hopefully an unemployed DM) as he shares some of the responsibility. It is also pathetic that the training agency is not taking steps to strip the DM of his status permanently. But again, the captain was responsible for ensuring the DM performed adequately and got everyone back on board. That level of responsibility and accountability for just about everything everything that occurs on board comes with the job and the license.

Everyone involved is very lucky the diver got picked up.

 

[WannaLaguna]

I agree location means nothing. Nor does the captain's prior commendable record serve as an excuse or justification.

Life is not fair and this is perhaps to a limited extent one of those instances. The DM screwed up, but the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the vessel and those on board lies with the captain. It's unfair and unfortunate that the DM is still a DM (but hopefully an unemployed DM) as he shares some of the responsibility. It is also pathetic that the training agency is not taking steps to strip the DM of his status permanently. But again, the captain was responsible for ensuring the DM performed adequately and got everyone back on board. That level of responsibility and accountability for just about everything everything that occurs on board comes with the job and the license.

Everyone involved is very lucky the diver got picked up.

Well said DA!

as a future DM I can't understand how this could happen.

 

[scubasean]

I think this is a lesson all of us future DM's can learn from.

I think this was a lesson for captains...

So far as I can tell, this teaches Captains not to trust DM's they don't personally employ...

Unfortunately, if the DM didn't get penalized, it taught the DM that he can make major mistakes and not suffer consequences...But I would think we don't know everything about the DM, his insurance company actions, if any, etc. At least, I do not know these things...Perhaps others do know.

 

[WannaLaguna]

I think this was a lesson for captains...

So far as I can tell, this teaches Captains not to trust DM's they don't personally employ...

Unfortunately, if the DM didn't get penalized, it taught the DM that he can make major mistakes and not suffer consequences...But I would think we don't know everything about the DM, his insurance company actions, if any, etc. At least, I do not know these things...Perhaps others do know.

Hey Sean,

Just because one DM didn't perform his duties doesn't mean that all DM's cannot be trusted. We cannot paint all DM's with the same wide brush. I personally know DM's that I would trust my life to. They are thorough and take all precautions when it comes to the divers they are responsible for.

I do agree that the DM needs to be held responsible. It was a mistake/oversight that this DM will have to live with for the rest of his professional career....if he still has one.

Unfortunately, the captain will also suffer.

 

[scubasean]

Hey Sean,

Just because one DM didn't perform his duties doesn't mean that all DM's cannot be trusted. We cannot paint all DM's with the same wide brush. I personally know DM's that I would trust my life to. They are thorough and take all precautions when it comes to the divers they are responsible for.

I do agree that the DM needs to be held responsible. It was a mistake/oversight that this DM will have to live with for the rest of his professional career....if he still has one.

Unfortunately, the captain will also suffer.

I didn't say all...Far from it...In fact, I specifically limited my observation to what a captain might think as to DM's they had not personally worked with before...

And I was talking about the lesson to the captain, which means he will not easily trust any DM he doesn't already know well....Trusting this one didn't work...at least from what little I know about this...And I admit that I am far below even a novice as to the facts of this incident.

 

[caveseeker7]

The captain's license comes with certain responsibilities and rights, and I'm pretty sure that the captain will be ultimately held responsible to some extend. Probably a large one.

Compare it to a pilot. He carries the ultimate responsibility for his passengers.
If the pilot gets landing clearance, then grazes an obstruction on the runway that shouldn't have been and a passenger gets hurt he'll likely sue everybody remotely involved, too. It was the tower personel's job to make sure the runway is approachable, much like it is a diver master's to make sure everyone is back on board.

Yet a simple fly-by and visual check could have prevented the incident.
But I haven't seen pilots do any of those at LAX lately ... probably because that task is delegated and pilots rely on the job being done.

Dive Master is a job that comes with training, test and certification. If as a captain you're supposed to not trust and rely on that person and instead do the job yourself, then what's the point of having the job and hiring them.
Might as well spend the money on a hula dancer for the surface intervals.

 

[scubasean]

If as a captain you're supposed to not trust and rely on that person and instead do the job yourself, then what's the point of having the job and hiring them.
Might as well spend the money on a hula dancer for the surface intervals.

My understanding is that the dive shop provided the DM...Not sure if that means the captain hired them, as you discuss....

I wonder if the Captain received a specific affirmation from the DM in charge that day that everyone was aboard...

 

[caveseeker7]

My understanding is that the dive shop provided the DM...Not sure if that means the captain hired them, as you discuss....

I ment in general, why have the position, the job and the expense of a dive master if the captain is expected to personally sign people off?

I wonder if the Captain received a specific affirmation from the DM in charge that day that everyone was aboard...

Obviously I wasn't aboard that day, but knowing Ray as I do I cannot imagine him not getting the okay from the DM, much less knowingly leaving a diver behind and least of all purposely giving the CG false information during a SAR operation.

 

[cdiver2]

My understanding of this mess the dive group provided there own DM the Capt accepted this...then accept everything that go's with it.