Divers Found Drifting Way Offshore

[NDL_Diver]

The challenge, especially in Cozumel (IMO), is that if you wait to deploy your SMB until you're at the surface you run the risk of not being seen by an oncoming boat. When ascending from my safety stop I'm basically looking around like my head's on a swivel, from 15ft and up. But if the boats are going faster than I can hear/see them, I may not be able to react quickly enough. With that in mind do you still think we should wait until at the surface, or maybe deploy at the safety stop? (maybe that's what you meant?)

Deploying at 15' is harder than at 30' (I do it at about 45'). You need to roll a bit on your back, unraveling the SMD and inflate. I try and be a little negative boyant because while inflating (2 breaths) since the SMB tries to pull you up (make sure you are not close to bottom).
I have seen people try at 15' and bounce to the surface if they are not really careful.

The deeper you deploy, the less you need to inflate it.

 

[GameChanger]

I know of a couple of Coz Dive Ops that mention in the pre-dive briefings that you are welcome to shoot your own DSMB if you like. I recall being asked the color of my DSMB too so that the Captain is aware. My experience has been that they are not mandatory. I have also been asked by DM 's to shoot my DSMB if he /she is tending to new divers or divers that require "special" attention during the dive.

 

[ReefHound]

The challenge, especially in Cozumel (IMO), is that if you wait to deploy your SMB until you're at the surface you run the risk of not being seen by an oncoming boat. When ascending from my safety stop I'm basically looking around like my head's on a swivel, from 15ft and up. But if the boats are going faster than I can hear/see them, I may not be able to react quickly enough. With that in mind do you still think we should wait until at the surface, or maybe deploy at the safety stop? (maybe that's what you meant?)

I was describing my boat's use case for Flower Gardens. We are 95% of the time the only boat out there. I'm not at all suggesting you wait until the surface in areas with boat traffic. Best to deploy from the safety stop there.

 

[Kimela]

I was describing my boat's use case for Flower Gardens. We are 95% of the time the only boat out there. I'm not at all suggesting you wait until the surface in areas with boat traffic. Best to deploy from the safety stop there.

Oops - got it. Thanks!

 

[gopbroek]

Kind of old information (given I am literally on the other side of the planet ), but FYI currents have been wicked for the past couple of weeks. This is coming via WhatsApp from a boat captain that has forgotten more than anyone on this board knows (bar none—period—full stop)

Not defending anyone for losing divers (and his boat doesn’t handle anywhere near 30 divers so it wasn’t him ), but be safe . I had been hearing from him about wicked currents for a few days before seeing this post about lost divers . I have no information about this specific incident, just passing along details about general conditions.

And top side doesn't look real pleasant. Current conditions.

 

[ggunn]

And top side doesn't look real pleasant.

Yeah, the National Hurricane center has a big red X at about the NE border of Belize; it's 70% forecast to go tropical in the next 48 hours and pass right over Cozumel.

 

[DandyDon]

Yeah, the National Hurricane center has a big red X at about the NE border of Belize; it's 70% forecast to go tropical in the next 48 hours and pass right over Cozumel.

Agatha to become Alex. The first Tropical Storm in both oceans for this year.

 

[gopbroek]

Yeah, the National Hurricane center has a big red X at about the NE border of Belize; it's 70% forecast to go tropical in the next 48 hours and pass right over Cozumel.

windy.com provides a nice 7 day animation that I have found to be a pretty good visual graphic. Currently the center of the low is near Tulum and should slowly move north and exit the Yucatan west of Holbox late tomorrow night. I understand the weather has been unsettled since late last week and the Southern dive sites were closed last weekend. The backside shows westerly winds into Saturday

 

[tursiops]

Yeah, the National Hurricane center has a big red X at about the NE border of Belize; it's 70% forecast to go tropical in the next 48 hours and pass right over Cozumel.

Welcome to the first day of Hurricane Season.

 

[pauldw]

And why would he make it up?

The Internet is chock-full of people making up stories and stringing people along, apparently for their own amusement. Not so much on Scubaboard, but SB isn't immune. In this case, OP says there was a very serious dive mishap that no one else heard about. No verification at all. No gossip amongst boats, no report to authorities, no news. Just hours of unfolding disaster with nothing happening. Then the miraculous sighting and rescue. But still, no verification. There's good reason to flesh out the story, and no legitimate reason not to. Despite that, no details that might not only confirm the story but save lives going forward. It smells funny.