Diver dies in Islamorada

[reefman]

winds @1000 on molasses this morning were EAST; 25kts with gust to 27kts. winds last night were gusting 30+ kts. numerous upper keys dive and snorkel operators cancelled yesterday and today's AM trips. conditions have been ugly offshore since monday,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[deepstops]

Please await the outcome of the investigation before discussing what happened.

Seriously Chris, with the exception of a few caving accidents, the investigation never seems to get made public..... Speculation is all that's left.

 

[vladimir]

It's so easy to second guess and play Monday morning quarterback. None of us were there, and there is always more to the story. Let her rest in peace, no post-dive forensics will prove anything here.

And yes, we were diving in the Keys on Thursday; the seas were a bit challenging.

Speculation is not helpful, although I understand the desire to do so.

Unless you have read the Sheriffs report and seen the medical examiners report also, you cant really have any viable comment.

This dive operator has been around a long time and runs a quality operation. Please await the outcome of the investigation before discussing what happened.

Condolences to the family

I usually just avoid these threads, but it seems in every one somebody has to make a post like these. If you don't like the speculation that goes on here, don't read the thread. They're all pretty much the same, and the board has decided to provide a place for just this sort of discussion. Some members find them useful; if you don't, don't read them, and don't post to them. If you insist on posting to them, read the stickies--it seems I've cut-and-pasted them a dozen times. You will find that condolences don't belong here, and that speculation is allowed. Posters are encouraged to label their speculation as such.

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

Give it rest Vladimir. My post remains as stated. Let the victim rest in peace.

 

[Thalassamania]

This is not speculation.

If, in fact, she was abandoned at the surface by her buddy/instructor and no one on the boat was surveilling her, that was a breach of duty. If that is the case, the only way to "peace" is to deal with what appears to be the poos decisions of the instructor and the boat crew.

 

[vladimir]

Give it rest Vladimir.

What does that mean? That you would like to make your viewpoint known, and I should keep mine to myself?

My post remains as stated.

I see two possible interpretations:
1) "You are right, speculation is explicitly allowed, but I would like to try to enforce my own view of what the rules should be," or
2) "I am too lazy to read the sticky, but I think I'm probably right."

Here are the relevant rules from the sticky:

(5) No "condolences to the family" here. Please use our Passings Forum for these kinds of messages.

(7) If your post is your hypothesis, theory, or a "possible scenario," identify it as such.

Let the victim rest in peace.

Nothing we post here is going to affect the victim's peace--she is dead. I am sensitive to the feelings of her loved ones, however, and I agree that the conversation should at all times be respectful.

 

[Indian Valley Scuba]

I am speechless.

 

[diverrex]

Maybe there was a medical issue (speculation) and nothing done would have made a difference. But the idea that a diver is at the back of the boat and then drifts away without someone jumping in or at least throwing a line to her (I guess if she was unconcious (speculation) that wouldn't really help) is really disturbing.

 

[reefman]

Very sad indeed.

It was just surprising to me to read how one minute she is at the back of the boat removing gear and then floated away before anyone could reach her for another 20 minutes or so. I would have thought a crew member would have jumped in and just towed her back to the boat. I guess it wasn't that simple.

if the dive boat had 6 divers or less(not including the instructor), such vessel is required to have only one crew member, the master(captain) on board(typical of the majority of dive/snorkel operations in the keys taking 6 or less passengers). if indeed that was the case here, the captain would be hard pressed(i believe legally as well) to leave the vessel to assist the diver in question in such conditions(noted in previous posts) with other divers still underwater(possibly compromising their safety as well). just a tragic event for all parties,,,,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[DivingPrincessE]

if the dive boat had 6 divers or less(not including the instructor), such vessel is required to have only one crew member, the master(captain) on board(typical of the majority of dive/snorkel operations in the keys taking 6 or less passengers). if indeed that was the case here, the captain would be hard pressed(i believe legally as well) to leave the vessel to assist the diver in question in such conditions(noted in previous posts) with other divers still underwater(possibly compromising their safety as well). just a tragic event for all parties,,,,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

The article states that an instructor got her to the ladder but just couldn't seem to wait the 1-2 minutes it would have taken her to get on the boat (and saved her life). Also the article says "crewmembers" and "they" indicating there was more than one crew member on board.

The instructor helped her to the surface, then returned to the group underwater, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Deputy Becky Herrin said.

Herrin said #### made it safely to the stern of the boat. She was removing dive gear when she began drifting away from the boat. When crewmembers couldn’t reach her, they banged on the aluminum ladder to call the divers to the surface, Herrin said.