Diver dies in Islamorada

[Cave Diver]

For some women and some types of fins/fin straps, getting the fin straps over the wrists may be difficult to do.

I have spring straps and my very small feet don't extend past the foot pocket (XS), so neither do my spring straps. I cannot get my hand through my straps, so if I must, I put my fingers through the straps and hold onto the ladder too. My grip on a ladder is not as secure as it could be, especially in rough seas. A fins-on ladder is so much more preferred.

Are your springs flexible enough to pull them down, below your foot pocket? Even if there's not enough of a loop to pass your wrist through when they're in the normal position to contact your heel, if you push them either up, or down you can often make a loop large enough to get your hand through.

 

[Scott L]

Fins on wrist when climbing the ladder

Ditto. I never pass fins up on a boat. They're either on my feet or on my wrists.

I could not agree more when diving a doubles configuration. Seperation from the boat or trail line without fins would leave a diver in a very bad way simply stabilizing one's position in a safe up-right poistion...

 

[Tricia]

First, thanks to the OP for posting this. Because it made me realise something I have taken for granted for years.

I always dive with the same dive op, whether in the Bahamas or the Caribbean. And there are times when I've sat out the second dive due to rough conditions or sea sickness (I'm an old gal now and I dive my limits. "Live to dive another day" is my motto!) So I've been on board during the second dive of the day.

But this particular dive op has a rule that in addition to the captain and any crew members who stay on board, there must always be an instructor on board ready to enter the water at any time to help a diver. There are also tanks on either side of the back of the boat, marked in yellow, that are specifically reserved for this person (called the "Dive Master", but that's a misnomer). In addition, there's a zodiac boat always rigged to go. Frankly, until this post, I always assumed this was "the law" and every dive op with multiple divers (more than 10, for example ) had to do it. What an eye opener!

On more than one occasion, as I've been hanging out during the second dive, a diver has surfaced and has been in serious trouble. The Dive Master evaluated the situation (communicating with the diver and deciding whether to enter the water.) And in some cases, he strapped on the tank and fins - amazing quickly, I might add- and got in the water with the diver in difficulty.

Now in the situation in this thread, I admit that we don't know the qualifications of the "crew members" as they are called in the news story. But it seems that either they weren't qualified to get in the water - or weren't trained to do it. But had there been a "Dive Master" like at the ops I dive with, I suspect the outcome might have been quite different.

OK, this is speculation on my part. But it has opened my eyes to the importance of having such a trained person remaining on the boat (and ready to "do the necessary"). I already know in advance that some of you will disagree because you live near the ocean (or other body of water) and you dive year-round, so it's not economically feasible (or very nice) to insist that a trained rescue diver remain on board your small boat. I agree. But when it's a resort dive op, with people like me who only get to dive once or twice a year, then yes, I think they should go to the expense of doing this. And I'm very grateful my dive op does it.

Just my 2 cents!

Trish

 

[knowone]

Mask on face. Reg in place. Fins on feet. Till bum in seat.

 

[Jax]

Disclaimer . . . no expert here with my 80ish dives, but would like to put a thought forward to those who question that her husband-buddy didn't accompany her.

I have a standing agreement with my husband-buddy that if I start a dive, and find it isn't going to 'work' for me (never mind the reasons), he goes on with the group if I thumb the dive.

Let's guess that Mrs D wasn't feeling well . . . Most women don't know women's symptions for heart attack, for example. She might have told her buddy, "I'm not feeling well. I'm going to try it, but if I don't feel comfortable, I'm coming back to the boat and you go on with the group."

So, don't be so quick to point out the buddy wasn't with her, as none of us have info on their communications and understandings.

 

[stevep4444]

I might have missed an earlier post but it I am surprised that there isn't more focus on the opportunity to have available and execute on rescue options a boat captain would have before having to make the last choice option of entering the water on a situation similar to this. I don't know all the circumstance but a throwing assist (rope with floatation attached) or even just tossing a life jacket or an inflated BCD to a diver may complete the rescue or buy you enough time to recall divers. Again many variables with the diver condition and the conditions in the water but having to go in after someone is usually the last resort. As in the rescue diving course material, I am always aware of non swimming assists available to me on the boat. I try to be aware of everything on the boat that floats and may be of use should a rescue situation arise.

 

[bsee65]

What we've really learned is that if the diver followed training, which includes:

• Re-boarding with fins on her wrist
• A regulator in her mouth
• Her buddy nearby

she would not have been left drifting, wouldn't aspirate water (no idea if this happened, but a reg would prevent it) and would presumably have received immediate first aid.

The is Yet Another Fatality involving buddy separation.

Maybe first aid wouldn't have helped, but I'm pretty sure that floating for 15 minutes didn't do any good either.

Terry

Sorry, Terry, but I think you're one for three. We have no idea where her fins or regulator were. Since we don't know cause of death, it would be jumping to a conclusion to suggest that she drowned with no fins and no gas supply while bobbing on the waves as you seem to. We can say that if any person were in the water with her that she probably would have been recovered to the boat promptly. Since we don't know what killed her, we don't know if even that would have saved her life, but it certainly would have been a preferable procedure in terms of improving the odds.

Normally, I would lay that responsibility on the buddy, and you could still do that at some level. However, as I look at the description of the incident, I would say that "buddy responsibility" for the victim transferred to the instructor when he escorted her to the surface while leaving the other divers to continue the apparent class. He then transferred the responsibility to the crew on the boat, but they apparently weren't prepared to accept it in full. So, the lack of some assisting partner may have played a part in her demise, but I'm not sure which of the three parties that could have been there for her would be the most culpable.

 

[Bronson]

That is why i am the a last one out of the water when i have students.

 

[Mike Boswell]

A diver without fins is pretty much helpless.

Unfortunately that is very true, because most divers nowadays can't swim, and swimming is no longer deemed to be a neccessary skill.

I frequently read SB threads about OW certification classes and the difficulty of passing the 200-yard* pool swim. Many posters advise going slow, taking frequent breaks, dog paddling or some other preposterous strategy to game the requirement.

And I shake my head and wonder:

"What will he do when he is in the ocean, burdened by gear, with wind and current with 7-foot seas?"

*Just as a point of interest, to a SWIMMER, 200 yards is a sprint. A SWIM is a mile or more.

 

[Scott L]

Unfortunately that is very true, because most divers nowadays can't swim, and swimming is no longer deemed to be a neccessary skill.

I frequently read SB threads about OW certification classes and the difficulty of passing the 200-yard* pool swim. Many posters advise going slow, taking frequent breaks, dog paddling or some other preposterous strategy to game the requirement.

And I shake my head and wonder:

"What will he do when he is in the ocean, burdened by gear, with wind and current with 7-foot seas?"

*Just as a point of interest, to a SWIMMER, 200 yards is a sprint. A SWIM is a mile or more.

Assuming one's BCD is functioning what swimming is required in these situations? If an initial effort to kick back to the boat fails due to current one needs only to bob above water with the assitance of a BCD until picked up. I will never agree to hand over fins again while attempting to board a boat having read this thread. That's why these discussions are valuable...

Lastly, if the diver was not utilizing paddle or blade fins no amount of effort would have you make headway against a material current if disconnected with the trail line...