Diver dies at Casino Point Avalon Catalina!

[DandyDon]

Family and Friends, SB has set-up a thread where you can post your thoughts, condolences, and well wishes. I am going to make sure all of your posts are placed there - so none of this speculation touches what should be a remembrance thread. You can find the thread here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/passings/236519-condolences-catalina-fatality-5-31-08-a.html

Respectfully,

-MissD

That is best. We don't always do so, maybe we hate to, but it's best. Well put....

 

[bryanmc57]

To all who visit this site, or knew my brother.

My name is Dale Pike, I am a 20 year Pilot/Agent with U.S. Customs and Border protection, and I am David's older brother.

Dale...
I think we may have met somewhere along the line in our careers. I was a PA in SW Arizona and SoCal for many years. I'll have my "20" in September so I'm sure we've crossed paths. I did know your brother from time spent in that area.

All I can say is... He was a good hand to ride the river with.

Vaya con Dios mi amigo...

Bryan McDermott
SSA
DHS/ICE

 

[scubabri]

I have a friend who knew the diver. She mentioned that the instructor left the students on the bottom. I know thats probably not the case, but I just wanted clarification of fact to pass on to her that the students were NOT left unsupervised.

bsb

 

[on_two_wheels]

I immediately booked a flight home, and arrived on Sunday the 1st. I spoke with my family, the LASO, and anyone that I could find with information. It seems that David had his accident at the exactly the same time I had my "panic attack", 10:10 am, Pacific, 1310, Eastern. We gathered all his belongings, and have begun the memorial process. The autopsy was completed yesterday and David was transported to the McWane Funeral Home in Hemet, Ca.


( continued next post)

Care to shed some light and clear up speculation about what happened? I don't know if you know him or not but one of my co-workers got the call saturday night and left work early. He's an AF cop at March Air Base. Kind of a double whammy....lose a fellow diver and law enforcement brother.

 

[Missdirected]

Care to shed some light and clear up speculation about what happened? I don't know if you know him or not but one of my co-workers got the call saturday night and left work early. He's an AF cop at March Air Base. Kind of a double whammy....lose a fellow diver and law enforcement brother.

He knew him well. See post 27, it is his brother.

 

[Ken Kurtis]

She mentioned that the instructor left the students on the bottom.

That is absolutely NOT correct. The students were not left unattended.

- Ken

 

[on_two_wheels]

He knew him well. See post 27, it is his brother.

I know what you're saying. I was specifically refering to that poster regarding a co-worker of mine. My co-worker is NOT his brother. Thanks, though.

 

[av8nflyguy1]

From Dale:

We are not sure of all the facts, at this time. Please allow the process to come to the appropriate conclusions. I will ensure that that all details are made public after the investigation. As a long time diver, I know that we can all learn even from the most painful outcome. Take care all, and thank you for your kindness.
Dale Pike

 

[Papa_Bear]

I have talked in length with the instructor and I can tell you this: The computer of the instructor had a max depth of 13ft. The viz was 20ft. All three went down at the same time and the other student, not David, had trouble getting down as it was both of theirs very first time in Open Water. The instructor with David on her left looked up and saw the other student having trouble descending and "Reached up" and assisted him down. They settled on a rock at witch time she watched David settle as well as the other student next to her. She gave David the "Okay" hand signal and He returned it! She turned to do the same to the other student and looked back to see David was gone. She looked up and saw him on the surface floating on his back. She signaled the other student to surface with her and both surfaced in 13ft of water. The SBSO diver was already in control of David, being only a couple feet from him when he surfaced. The instructor and student followed them in to shore in case help was needed, but as she said "There were a lot of people that went into action"! She gave the rescuers his name so they could try and communicate with David.

As I have said before, if you where going to have this kind of accident you couldn't be with better more well trained divers and people! Period! The EMT's were there by the time he was carried to the top of the steps, the response could not have been faster!
It was a problem beyond the control of David, the Instructor, or any Rescuer! The is a said accident and the lesson for me is life is precious and we need to live life like everyday is our last, because when it's your time all the help in the world won't matter!

R.I.P. David Pike!

 

[DandyDon]

News articles often cause more confusion that they give information. Example: I think the original article said Dave gave the Inst a thumbs-up when in fact they exchanged OK signals. Divers use thumbs-up to indicate ascent which was not the signal used.

Thanks for the break-down PB, covered it very well.