Diver Dead - Anacapa Island
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What a sad opening night it has been. My condolences to the family and friends of the deceased divers.
2cold4california
Contributor
Hmm I haven't heard about this, unfortunate.
Catalina H2o
Registered
Here is an article for the Orange County news.
Five divers have died off Southern California shores since lobster season began last weekend.
Four of the five deaths occurred while lobster diving, all at night. The lobster hunting season began locally Sept. 27.
Inexperience, weather conditions and health issues may have contributed, diving experts say.
A man who disappeared Monday evening near Catalina Island became the fifth local fatality on Thursday after his body was recovered 100 feet under water.
The hunt for the delectable crustaceans sometimes lures divers into dark ocean waters in pursuit of the nocturnal creatures. State law allows for an individual to possess seven lobsters at a time.
Complications arise from diving, especially at night, say officials and local scuba experts.
“More accidents or fatalities may occur in the first couple of weeks because the excitement of the new season brings out many divers, many who do not typically hunt or dive at night,” said Debbie Karimoto of Mission Viejo. She has been diving for more than 12 years and oversees OCdiving.com, an online forum and news site.
“Less experienced divers may not be prepared for the added risks of hunting or night-diving, or their excitement may cause them to forget the basics,” she said.
Coast Guard officials reported a death around sunset on opening night Saturday in Catalina, after a man surfaced complaining of health issues. A boat captain called for medical assistance, and the man died en route to a hospital, said U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Adam Eggers.
Another diver in Catalina went missing for days after he was reported in distress around 11 p.m. Monday. Heavy search efforts for the man lasted for than 69 hours before a helicopter, rescue divers and the majority of the search boats stopped around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday night.
“First several hours is deemed active rescue,” said A.J. Lester, a Los Angeles County Fire Department ocean lifeguard specialist. “After several hours, it is no longer deemed a rescue; it’s more like a body recovery, because there is no way someone can last that long underwater.”
The most recent victim was found around 11:30 a.m. Thursday about 100 feet underwater, just outside Emerald Bay.
Another lobster diver died Wednesday morning off the coast of Anacapa Island, within the Channel Islands National Park.
Another diver suffered medical complications around 7 p.m. in the San Diego Mission Bay channel. He began to struggle near the surface of the water and his partner attempted to keep him afloat until paramedics came, but the partner couldn’t hold on. The man was under water for about 6 minutes, said San Diego Fire Department officials. He was pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m. at a local hospital, said fire Capt. Joseph Amador.
Another scuba diver with medical problems was reported in distress around 10:40 p.m. in Long Beach near the jetty at the Alamitos Bay.
“Apparently the patient was just getting into the water, not yet started the dive and he experienced chest discomfort and lapses of consciousness,” said Long Beach fire Paramedic Public Information Officer Jake Heflin.
The man, who has not been identified, was transported on a rescue boat to shore, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m.
Bob Grundmeyer, a 34-year diving veteran and instructor at Orange County Dive Center, said divers need to constantly maintain and practice safety skills to avoid complications.
“The biggest thing about our sport is common sense,” he said. “(Instructors) make it that way on purpose; everything is designed to be easy and convenient. Unfortunately, you just can’t teach people common sense sometimes, even though you teach them safety.”
Karimoto said she plans to head back out this weekend with her dive club and hopes there will be no more loss of life due to lobster diving.
“It’s a wonderful sport and very safe as long as people dive within their training, experience and fitness levels,” she said. “No one’s life is worth risking for that tasty crustacean that could also be called an ocean’s cockroach.”
Local lobster season ends March 18.
Five divers have died off Southern California shores since lobster season began last weekend.
Four of the five deaths occurred while lobster diving, all at night. The lobster hunting season began locally Sept. 27.
Inexperience, weather conditions and health issues may have contributed, diving experts say.
A man who disappeared Monday evening near Catalina Island became the fifth local fatality on Thursday after his body was recovered 100 feet under water.
The hunt for the delectable crustaceans sometimes lures divers into dark ocean waters in pursuit of the nocturnal creatures. State law allows for an individual to possess seven lobsters at a time.
Complications arise from diving, especially at night, say officials and local scuba experts.
“More accidents or fatalities may occur in the first couple of weeks because the excitement of the new season brings out many divers, many who do not typically hunt or dive at night,” said Debbie Karimoto of Mission Viejo. She has been diving for more than 12 years and oversees OCdiving.com, an online forum and news site.
“Less experienced divers may not be prepared for the added risks of hunting or night-diving, or their excitement may cause them to forget the basics,” she said.
Coast Guard officials reported a death around sunset on opening night Saturday in Catalina, after a man surfaced complaining of health issues. A boat captain called for medical assistance, and the man died en route to a hospital, said U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Adam Eggers.
Another diver in Catalina went missing for days after he was reported in distress around 11 p.m. Monday. Heavy search efforts for the man lasted for than 69 hours before a helicopter, rescue divers and the majority of the search boats stopped around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday night.
“First several hours is deemed active rescue,” said A.J. Lester, a Los Angeles County Fire Department ocean lifeguard specialist. “After several hours, it is no longer deemed a rescue; it’s more like a body recovery, because there is no way someone can last that long underwater.”
The most recent victim was found around 11:30 a.m. Thursday about 100 feet underwater, just outside Emerald Bay.
Another lobster diver died Wednesday morning off the coast of Anacapa Island, within the Channel Islands National Park.
Another diver suffered medical complications around 7 p.m. in the San Diego Mission Bay channel. He began to struggle near the surface of the water and his partner attempted to keep him afloat until paramedics came, but the partner couldn’t hold on. The man was under water for about 6 minutes, said San Diego Fire Department officials. He was pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m. at a local hospital, said fire Capt. Joseph Amador.
Another scuba diver with medical problems was reported in distress around 10:40 p.m. in Long Beach near the jetty at the Alamitos Bay.
“Apparently the patient was just getting into the water, not yet started the dive and he experienced chest discomfort and lapses of consciousness,” said Long Beach fire Paramedic Public Information Officer Jake Heflin.
The man, who has not been identified, was transported on a rescue boat to shore, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 11 p.m.
Bob Grundmeyer, a 34-year diving veteran and instructor at Orange County Dive Center, said divers need to constantly maintain and practice safety skills to avoid complications.
“The biggest thing about our sport is common sense,” he said. “(Instructors) make it that way on purpose; everything is designed to be easy and convenient. Unfortunately, you just can’t teach people common sense sometimes, even though you teach them safety.”
Karimoto said she plans to head back out this weekend with her dive club and hopes there will be no more loss of life due to lobster diving.
“It’s a wonderful sport and very safe as long as people dive within their training, experience and fitness levels,” she said. “No one’s life is worth risking for that tasty crustacean that could also be called an ocean’s cockroach.”
Local lobster season ends March 18.
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