Diver Dead in South Florida

[Protondecay123]

According to the lawsuit

- The victim was under the influence of marijuana and amphetamines. Irresponsible! May weaken the lawsuit. The attorneys (who are also suing the marina -deeper pockets-) contend that the drugs had nothing to do with the accident. Well of course they're going to say that!

There is a difference between having laboratory detectable levels of a drug and being under the influence of it. Marijuana can stay detectable for up to 30 days in your bloodstream after usage.

 

[hroark2112]

IIRC the amphetamine is from weight loss pills. Not like she was a meth addict tweeker under the influence. I’m sure if I took a blood test I’d pop positive for amphetamines as well since I’m on Adderall. I disclose it on any dive medical release and keep a current doctor signed physical on file just in case, but I don’t think either drug she allegedly had in her system had any impact on the accident.

The best swimmer you know, 100% free of any kind of drugs in their system, is not going to out swim a 40’ boat in reverse. Add in all the gear, waves, and a boat backing down on you and none of us would have stood a chance.

 

[gamon]

Add in all the gear, waves, and a boat backing down on you and none of us would have stood a chance.

From what I read, a diver on the previous day's charter was resourceful enough to get out of harm's way.

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

From what I read, a diver on the previous day's charter was resourceful enough to get out of harm's way.

That diver had a speargun in hand to use as a dive boat stick. Resourceful? I believe that lucky is the word you’re looking for there.

 

[gamon]

He never should have taken the boat out that day. Period.

Well let's see.. assuming everything posted is true.

1- The marina was closed to recreational dive charters due to COVID- yet he went out anyway
2- On the very first day operating the new boat with divers, he had difficulty controlling the boat and ran aground damaging the rudder- yet he went out the next day anyway
3- He almost backed over a diver on that first day who saved herself using a speargun to hold her away from the props- yet he went out again the next day anyway.
4- Numerous divers begged him not to go out until he got more experience and repaired the damage to the boat- he went out anyway.

He certainly can't say he wasn't warned

That diver had a speargun in hand to use as a dive boat stick. Resourceful? I believe that lucky is the word you’re looking for there.

True, I'm thinking of options for us non spearfishers... not much you can do with a snorkel.

 

[hroark2112]

Lucky is definitely the word. Resourceful too, but damn lucky!

I was trying to get up a ladder one day in similar conditions. The waves picked the back of the boat up and I caught the dive ladder in the sternum. Knocked my breath out of me, hurt for a few days. It all happened so quickly I barely had time to react. Lucky for me I learned to dive in NC where we are told by boat captains to leave our regulator in our mouth until both feet are on the deck. I was under water for a few seconds and was thrown face down away from the boat. As long as I could breathe I was OK, so nothing more than bruised ribs and a badly bruised ego!

 

[Cert1967]

According to the lawsuit

According to the newspaper article?

 

[gamon]

According to the newspaper article?

It would have been more accurate for me to post "according to the article" however almost everything in the article is "according to the lawsuit".

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

There is a difference between having laboratory detectable levels of a drug and being under the influence of it. Marijuana can stay detectable for up to 30 days in your bloodstream after usage.

I had no idea so I looked it up.

Mayo Medical Laboratories provides an estimated duration period for various types of marijuana users:

Marijuana Detection Times (Urine):
Single Use3 Days
Moderate Use5 Days
Heavy Use (Daily)10 Days
Chronic Use30 Days

How long can a drug test detect marijuana in your system? Weed stays in your blood for two to seven days and in your urine for up to two months.

 

[Catito]

From what I read, a diver on the previous day's charter was resourceful enough to get out of harm's way.

What? That diver was very lucky. I do not use a speargun. In the same situation my dive knife would not save me. Terrible tragedy by a Cpt who was irresponsible.