Diver Indicted in 2003 GBR mishap

[Missdirected]

He was not oblivious - the tourists were. Additionally, it is a tourist with the occy not the husband.

Almity, please merge this thread with this one: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/210900-murder-scuba.html

 

[almitywife]

He was not oblivious - the tourists were. Additionally, it is a tourist with the occy not the husband.

yep - got that bit, just commenting on the holding the occy bit....

..Almity, please merge this thread with this one: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/210900-murder-scuba.html

as ive posted in this thread i cant do any mods but i have asked one of the others in the green team to do the merge

:wavey:

 

[Missdirected]

Oh yea, doesn't seem like much of current does it?

I thought you guys could still do administrative stuff either way... guess not.

Wonder if the cops were waiting until he got the settlement to do anything. It has, as was pointed out to me, been four years since she passed.

 

[almitywife]

Not to long ago there was a RI dive shop owner under investigation for mysterious diving death of his wife too.

5 days ago he was charged; Husband Charged In Woman's Scuba-Diving Death - Boston News Story - WCVB Boston

and just like the topic of this thread, its just as contentious as no-one really knows

seems like bumping off a loved one while diving might be a easier than outright shooting/poisioning/ect because physical evidence is not black or white

in regards to the topic - i cant decide if he did or didnt, info is too unsubstaintiated (sp and cant be bothered with spell check )

 

[Doubles]

Very sad that she died

The story really doesn't provide any real information so it's virtually impossible to discuss what might have gone wrong etc.

A single photo - without a time line is hard to interpret.

I found the article a bit interesting where they said "The picture, taken by two tourists apparently oblivious to the drama going on behind them..." How does one take a photo of something behind them u/w?

The story about a strong current may not float. If you enlarge the picture you can see the diver that was circled in red is lying on what appears to be a sandy bottom. The diver heading in that direction is on a heading that would not be consistent with anything but a head-on current. But if it was a head-on current I would think the diver on the bottom would be lying in a position with the current????

The diver with the Octo in hand also appears to be checking their dive computer - which would be prudent prior to attempting a rescue.

I wonder where in the Coral Sea this took place.

-s

 

[Missdirected]

Found this bit:

Expert finds no medical reason for dive death

Posted November 23, 2007 08:31:00

Map: Townsville 4810
Theories about how an American honeymooner died at a north Queensland dive site in 2003 are beginning to emerge at a coronial inquest in Townsville.

Tina Watson, 26, was diving with her husband Gabe Watson on the Yongala shipwreck, south-east of Townsville, when she sank to the bottom and drowned.

The inquest heard evidence yesterday from the forensic pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination.

Professor David Williams said he found no medical reason for her death.

The barrister representing Ms Watson's parents asked Professor Williams if it was possible that Ms Watson's oxygen supply had been turned off during the dive.

He also asked if there was evidence to suggest she had been grabbed from the front and prevented from spitting her regulator out.

Professor Williams told the court the rapid retrieval effort and attempts to resuscitate Ms Watson had made it difficult to determine what caused her to drown.


One more:


FBI agents raid US homes in Mike Ball diver death probe
Powered by **** - CYBER DIVER News Network

HOOVER, Alabama (23 Apr 2007) -- Queensland Police and FBI agents have conducted a raid in the USA in relation to the death of an American tourist during a scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef in 2003.

Officers from the Townsville homicide unit, the FBI and local police officers raided residences in Hoover and Helena in Alabama.

The raids are in relation to the death of Christina Watson, a tourist from Alabama who died while scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef in October 2003.

Mrs Watson - who had been married just 11 days - was on her honeymoon in North Queensland when she died during a dive on the Yongala Wreck Reef off Townsville with the Mike Ball Dive Expeditions 'Spoil Sport' liveaboard.

At the time of her death, she was diving with her husband, Gabriel Watson.

Through his attorney, Mr Watson last year told CBS television affiliate WIAT42 that his wife panicked in rough conditions and accidentally pulled off his mask, blinding him. He said she was pulled away in a strong current.

Mrs Watson's body was recovered by another dive boat and unsuccessful attempts were made to resuscitate her.

Queensland police today refused to comment on the investigation.

 

[Wildcard]

Like the media cant be bothered with fact check....Also posted in Accidents forum.

 

[Doubles]

Thanks Missdirected

Well that may account for the current. The Yongala is one dive I have never made in Australia. But I have heard the currents can be tough there. A quick check online shows it's 84' or so to the sandy bottom where the wreck lies.

Hopefully we will see more facts on what happened. Queensland has some rather tough regulations on diving. I would hope they would require some gear inspection and tank content testing.

There must be some information on the gear config and air quality.

-s

 

[almitywife]

some local links

Novice diver an 'easy target' | The Courier-Mail
Dead diver's husband lodges compo claim | PerthNow
http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,23739,21636307-27197,00.html
Sinister twist to death on the reef | The Australian
Police deny husband arrested for murder of American diver

 

[Missdirected]

cdndndnddndn is not a media link to be using... the editor over there carries on like my mother

I've skimmed a lot of the news and none of them seem to contain any info. Guess we will have to wait until after the inquest. Sounds like a mighty big chunk of change for such a young couple. I do hope it was just a sad accident.