Diver death in Arkansas

[O-ring]

There was one in May of 88 where an IANTD trimix instructor took his students on their first trimix dive to 300' in FL. As if that wasn't enough, one student experienced an uncontrolled descent while she was supposed to be in deco and he did not realize what was going on (he was working on a downline or something) until she was quite a ways below him. One of the other students tried to get to her but efforts failed and someone ended up doing a body recovery.

Guess it goes to show you that you have to thoroughly check out your would-be instructors and refuse to play ball if you are placed in possibly unsafe conditions.

 

[pescador775]

"The PADI police"....indeed. I assume that the real police will treat this as a suspicious death and that forensics will do a thorough job, including a check on whether the girl was pregnant.

 

[Lost Yooper]

I agree with most everyone, especially Devilfish's last post about the system. It's obvious the instructor was at fault here, but at the same token, buddy diving isn't stressed enough right from the get go. We see this all the time, even with more experienced divers (at least I have).

Up here, the instructor has a max of 8-10 OW students with 2-3 DM's assisting. Even at that, and with decent vis, the instructor can't keep track of everyone, and shortcuts are often made as well. Invariably, at LEAST one diver won't be able to clear their ears, or will panic, or will have some kind of equiment problem, and a DM has to escort him/her back to shore. On every cert. dive I've been on, at least one one buddy team fails and nothing is done to correct it by the instructor.
I suspect this instructor is a "normal", honest, everyday instructor who is just trying to make a living, but is feeling the pressures of the scuba industry. There's just very little incentive to go beyond the minimum standards, and that's what we're seeing today, I believe -- minimum standards applied and divers with minimal inwater skills being cut loose.

Anyway, there is no friggin' way 14 OW students would work with one instructor and one assistant in 10' of vis. NO WAY. It shouldn't take a death to figure that out. I hope the instructor get's what he deserves. He got away with it long enough.

Mike

 

[Rooster1]

my prayers go out to the victim and all those who suffer from this unfortunate loss. God give them all peace.

 

[ScubaSteveC]

The facts that I've read are slightly different than what I've heard. Although, it really doesn't matter at this point, but I've heard that there were 14 students, but only 7 were in the water at one time. I hope this is true, because I agree that 14 in the water with only one Inst. is crazy. I can't handle 14 OW students in a clear pool with walls!

The statement of 14 students actually came from an owner of a competitor shop who I doubt knows any more than what was published by the media. I live in Tulsa and we only have 3.5 dive shops and the competitive dynamics between the shops are unreal, so I'm pretty confident in my statement that they don't know anymore than what the media published.

Rick, I agree completely about the statement of "holding hands". I read that said... oooohhhhh. That was not good.

Anyway, my dive buddy DIRlizard is a good friend with an instructor at the subject shop, but she wasn't there this last weekend. If we here anything enlightening I'll try to get him to post it or I will.

Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved. This tragedy was probably traumatic on everyone there.

 

[Iguana Don]

Being from Oklahoma, I know this shop well, matter of fact my dive buddy was certified there.

Here's the scary part----Randy Piper is a PADI Course Director!

That 9-10 viz is common for Oklahoma/Arkansas this time of year, so that doesn't suprise me. Hundreds of students have done their certs in exactly these types of conditions. The only difference is. The shop I dive out of has a 1-1 student/instructor/divemaster ratio.
That is 1 divemaster/instructor for each and every student.

In these kind of conditions you can't ever be TOO careful.

ID

 

[otter-cat]

One (of many) things that I don't understand about the way this OW class was reportedly conducted is this:

7 students, 1 DM, 1 Instructor are in the water. The boyfriend of the woman who drowned stated that it took 5 or more minutes to find a DM/instructor. So TWO out of seven students are missing, and it took FIVE minutes for one of the staff to surface?

Is the ratio of 7 students/2 staff within PADIs regulations? Are the regulations dependent on visibility, or are they the same for 100' vis as 5' vis? I got certified in the Pacific Northwest in awesome 10-15' vis, and did AOW in about 5' vis. I felt my classes were conducted safely, and when we got separated from one of the divers, the instructor noticed right away, and we ALL surfaced. What are PADI's rules about this?

otter-cat

 

[KC_Scubabunny]

Originally posted by Iguana Don
That 9-10 viz is common for Oklahoma/Arkansas this time of year, so that doesn't suprise me. Hundreds of students have done their certs in exactly these types of conditions.

I agree with ID. 9 to 10 foot viz probably sounds horrible to most of you but that is the reality of diving in Beaver, Table Rock or Bull Shoals which is pretty much what we have got to dive around here. In fact my husband dove Beaver the weekend before this accident and the conditions and temps described echo what he said.

My open water experience involved 4 students (2 buddy pairs) with an instructor, an AI and a divemaster candidiate. Vis was approx 10 - 15 ft but I remember always being able to see at least the instructor or the AI the entire time. Limited vis is still possible for training in fact I think my considerable diving in limited vis has made me a better diver but I do think 14 students is way to many to have in the water at once.

KC_Scubabunny

 

[TexasMike]

Originally posted by Iguana Don
Randy Piper is a PADI Course Director!

Since i'm not familiar with the term, what additional responsibilities does "PADI Course Director" place upon this individual?

 

[jbd]

TM--A course director is a person who certifies people to be instructors.