Fatality on Benwood

[tridacna]

As an FYI, I always carry a 6ft SMB with a reflective strip. At no time did I think that the boat could not see us. We discussed inflating the SMB but we could either see the lights of the boat or the glow. We reckoned (correctly) that they were sufficiently elevated to see our lights. Just for the record, I had the DRIS 1000 lumen primary and stubby backup. Those things are like having your own personal lighthouse at the surface. When I got back to the boat, they confirmed that they had never lost sight of us. (I just bought a EPIRB).

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Nothing like a good torch for sure. We got out of the water after a night (shore) dive and some other divers approached us and said... "So which one of you guys has the Aircraft Landing Light?"

Obviously the decision not to inflate the SMB under the circumstances was the correct one. No sense adding unnecessary tasks. The good thing is that you had the equipment available if needed. It really sounds like people were thinking and making appropriate decisions rather than knee jerk reactions.

This incident has a sad ending but it sure illustrates what is possible when people maintain self control and think their way through problems. Clearly things could have turned out much worse! Too often we learn in this section because people make bad decisions. It is encouraging to have two active threads in here illustrating what happens with good decisions making!

 

[arrowskier]

Thanks, Captain Larry, for your input on Steve. It is good to know more about him and his background. This kind of thing is important to me, and my husband and I will always remember him.


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---------- Post added November 18th, 2015 at 10:18 PM ----------

Tridacna, unlike for you guys, I am going to bet the dive boat lost sight of us temporarily. I know for certain we lost sight of them at one point, and things got more dire feeling at that point. I might have to invest in one of those aircraft landing lights! Thanks to the folks here who mentioned effective use of the SMB at night. Hadn't thought of that and the suggestions are helpful!


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[chillyinCanada]

Steve_C

Thanks for the idea of picking up and carrying with me, a weight pocket to match my bcd. I'm always worried about losing one, everybody it's never happened to me. However,I have found the pocket(s) of others st depth which has had me thinking and causing my worry. I feel so silly now when it's such a light and easy fix.

As for the far more serious matters within this thread, I completely agree that arrow is amazing and a hero!!

 

[arrowskier]

Thank you chillyinCanada. I appreciate your kind words!


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[vincent54]

If I'm on the surface , waiting for pick up, no way am I dumping my weights. There is no need. You may need to descend if the pickup boat doesn't see you. Never know when people are not paying attention, not seeing a light, or not seeing an smb. You lose an option when you dump and can't descend.

If the BC can't keep you floating, you're overweighted or it's broke. Then dump the weights.

 

[tridacna]

Thanks, Captain Larry, for your input on Steve. It is good to know more about him and his background. This kind of thing is important to me, and my husband and I will always remember him.


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---------- Post added November 18th, 2015 at 10:18 PM ----------

Tridacna, unlike for you guys, I am going to bet the dive boat lost sight of us temporarily. I know for certain we lost sight of them at one point, and things got more dire feeling at that point. I might have to invest in one of those aircraft landing lights! Thanks to the folks here who mentioned effective use of the SMB at night. Hadn't thought of that and the suggestions are helpful!


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When we got back onboard, you guys were visible. You were a long way away but your lights were quite easily spotted. One of the first divers back on board confirmed to me that they never lost sight of you.

Having said all that, I am adding a small signal strobe light that can be attached to the top of my SMB. I'll send you some pics. (If there had been a chop, all bets were off).

 

[arrowskier]

We are all saddened by Steve's passing. I wanted to say a little more about him than what was mentioned here so far.

Captain Steve Kipp worked here at Key Largo Dive Center for several years. He started as a Scuba Instructor and had many years of experience before he even started to work for us. He was very familiar with the reefs and wrecks of Key Largo. He earned his USCG Captain's License and served as Captain on our Crusader dive boat the Garden Cove Diver. He was promoted to our Dive Center and Dive Operations Manger. He left Key Largo Dive Center a few months ago to pursue his personal business and he also worked at another dive center.

Captain Steve Kipp was also an avid fisherman, he owned a few small boats of his own that he enjoyed working on. He loved diving and underwater photo/video.

His passing is a great loss to the Key Largo dive community and he will be missed by his co-workers and by the many divers from around the world that he taught to dive, guided on dives, and Captained on dive boats.

Captain Larry, another thought I had regarding your post: it is good to know how experienced Steve was. In the confusion and stress of being swept away from the dive boat by the current, I wasn't sure in the moment who had come to help us. All I heard was his voice and saw a light. And then he started coughing, which escalated rapidly. I was slightly separated from the two men (he was with my husband and I was a few yards away), but when I heard this, I came over to them to investigate - and at first, could not locate Steve - shortly thereafter (no more than a minute or so), I found Steve unresponsive, not breathing, mouth open, face up. Part of the shock of that was that he didn't appear to have any floatation, nor a mask (I realize now that if he had suffered cardiac arrest, he might have removed and lost his mask). I was kind of blown away by this, thinking to myself at that time "but this guy has no gear to protect himself....". I realize now that he had likely brought a rescue line with a buoy attached, but we were far beyond the reach of that, so he let go to get to us (without any protection for himself), not knowing how strong the current was....your comments make me realize that sometimes one can be VERY experienced, and yet - tragedy can occur.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

All I heard was his voice and saw a light. And then he started coughing, which escalated rapidly. I was slightly separated from the two men (he was with my husband and I was a few yards away), but when I heard this, I came over to them to investigate - and at first, could not locate Steve - shortly thereafter (no more than a minute or so), I found Steve unresponsive, not breathing, mouth open, face up.

To me - this is very interesting/telling. I have done lots of shore dives and a few times I have pulled my regulator out of my mouth before being completely on shore or being able to stand up. I have inhaled droplets of water (best way I can describe it - not a mouth full) and have gone into a severe coughing spasm. It has caused my throat to shut down and I could not get a breath of air in my lungs each time it has happened to me - luckily I was within a very short distance and could get myself to shore and it would take all my concentration to stop coughing and get a breath of air in my lungs before I thought I would pass out. Had I not been on land I am not sure I would have been able to steady myself and get a breath... I now make sure my reg stays in my mouth until I am on the boat or standing in waist deep water.

What you described sounds similar to my type of episodes - I have no history of lung issues or asthma - I am very active in running and working out. But the few times it has happened to me - I have been somewhat incapacitated and I can not imagine being in open water without support to regain my breathing. It is possible that he took on some water and had a similar episode... Even a snorkel can in my opinion help in these situations.

 

[arrowskier]

To me - this is very interesting/telling. I have done lots of shore dives and a few times I have pulled my regulator out of my mouth before being completely on shore or being able to stand up. I have inhaled droplets of water (best way I can describe it - not a mouth full) and have gone into a severe coughing spasm. It has caused my throat to shut down and I could not get a breath of air in my lungs each time it has happened to me - luckily I was within a very short distance and could get myself to shore and it would take all my concentration to stop coughing and get a breath of air in my lungs before I thought I would pass out. Had I not been on land I am not sure I would have been able to steady myself and get a breath... I now make sure my reg stays in my mouth until I am on the boat or standing in waist deep water.

What you described sounds similar to my type of episodes - I have no history of lung issues or asthma - I am very active in running and working out. But the few times it has happened to me - I have been somewhat incapacitated and I can not imagine being in open water without support to regain my breathing. It is possible that he took on some water and had a similar episode... Even a snorkel can in my opinion help in these situations.

You know, that is the first thing I had wondered myself! There was a light chop where we were, and I was wondering if he had inhaled some water. But when I found him, my second thought was that he had tried to swim against the current, as we had been trying to do - and the strain on his heart may have been too great? "Severe coughing spasm" describes perfectly what I heard that night. I was very grateful for my snorkel, as the amount of chop that night would not have allowed me to breathe comfortably without it.

I would like to understand better what actually happened with him. Not knowing is too big a burden, especially insofar as we were part of the accident - but I do realize we may never get it figured out.

---------- Post added November 19th, 2015 at 10:39 AM ----------

When we got back onboard, you guys were visible. You were a long way away but your lights were quite easily spotted. One of the first divers back on board confirmed to me that they never lost sight of you.

Having said all that, I am adding a small signal strobe light that can be attached to the top of my SMB. I'll send you some pics. (If there had been a chop, all bets were off).

I am going to kiss that light and its SOS flash mode - $ well spent. Which EPIRB did you buy?

---------- Post added November 19th, 2015 at 10:44 AM ----------

By the way - you guys and ladies have been great support here. I like bowlofpetunias sticky on surviving victims. That describes me to a T. We tried to talk to family and friends about what happened, but got a lot of "shoulds" and "should nots" and "let's talk about something else, this is too morbid" responses. I realize they don't understand we are hurting, that us telling our story is not merely anecdotal in nature, but rather, a way to cope and process this. It is as important as getting that new EPIRB, or air horn, or all the other new things we are going to have as a result of this accident. You have to get your gear right, to be sure...but you also have to get your mind right before you go underwater again.