Galapagos Scuba Diving Fatality - February 12, 2010 - Eloise Gale

[openmindOW]

I was on the Aggressor II for the trip 11-18 Feb 10 and would like to add some additional information that may fill in some gaps regarding the initial report and the replies and questions. My understanding was that Eloise was a qualified Master SCUBA Diver with 50+ dives experience and not a Dive Master. Her last dive, according to her declaration, was during April 2009.
Before the second dive of the trip I was interacting with Eloise regarding measuring her nitrox mix and setting her computer to reflect the reading. The mix was 32% nitrox. She was not familiar with how to use the sensor so I showed her and advised her that her computer needed setting to this reading. She had a 'Gecko' dive computer so, using her abbreviated instruction card, we set it and checked her PPO2 setting. It appeared to me that she was not very practised in using nitrox.
During the initial phase of the dive I did notice her descent from the 'panga'. I noticed she was descending and was holding her demand valve in her mouth with her hand. Although I was concerned by her relative inexperience and the fact she had not dived for a year, I was reassured by the fact that her buddy was a Dive Instructor.

Thank you, Keith, for your post.

Do you know how the two divers became separated?

Was the victim undergoing some kind of instruction?

 

[Bubbletrubble]

My condolences to the family, friends and those who were on the Aggressor with her.

Some may be interested in this: Eloise' dive buddy, Denise, has responded at John Bisnar's blog:

"I’ll add to John’s note, a few insights that may help in consideration for diving safety. First off, E.G. and I were not as far as part as these comments are beginning to allude towards and it does concern me that it is becoming portrayed that way.

During our first checkout dive the day before the accident, E.G. assembled all her equipment properly and seemed very comfortable with the gear. She had a new Suunto Gekko dive computer and asked the gentleman sitting next to her on the dive bench about the controls. He was the most experienced diver on the boat and probably the one I would have also asked for advice about setting up the computer."

Cont. here:
Scuba Diving Fatality - Galapagos - February 12, 2010 - E.G. :: California Injury Blog

Thank you, Keith, for your post.

Do you know how the two divers became separated?

Was the victim undergoing some kind of instruction?

@openmindOW: Texas Torpedo linked to Bisnar's blog page that details the tragedy. Near the bottom of the page you'll find a comment made by Denise, the dive instructor who was Eloise's designated dive buddy. Denise's words shed some light on what led to the buddy separation. Take a few minutes and read it. It's pretty clear that Eloise was not receiving any kind of instruction on the fateful dive.

 

[InTheDrink]

I dive regularly in California but my wife won't (so far) dive in cold water so she is a twice a year vacation diver with about 90 dives and AOW. We have talked about going to Galapagos some day but I want her to get a lot more experience first. She has at least made a couple dozen dives in Cozumel current. Our LDS we would book through has made it clear she should make some California cold water dives in a thick suit first before going to Galapagos and I agreed. I suspect after reading this thread and others on Galapagos we may never make it there, but that's okay cause there still lots of interesting places to go. For instance for the same money or less I could happily go to Truk and have some great dives.

I think it's important to not build the Galapagos into somewhere it isn't. It may be somewhat challenging diving but I don't think it's necessarily particularly challeging diving with the appropriate experience and there are plenty of places that present very similar challenges no douby closer to home. I most certainly wouldn't rule your wife out at all from diving there. If she's comfortable in the water and can deal with a bit of current there's no reason why she or anyone else with 90 dives couldn't or shouldn't dive there.

I've also noticed that in single file diving it's usually the less experienced diver following. I understand why that diver finds it comforting to be following along keeping the diver ahead in sight, but that's backwards, it's way too easy for something to happen to the inexperienced diver that the experienced diver just doesn't see quickly enough. The experienced diver should be behind if not side by side, side by side of course being vastly preferred.

Whilst I appreciate precisely what you're saying and know it has validity, don't underestimate the additional stress putting a diver out in front can have. I know that on several occasions I felt really unhappy cos I was out in front. On accasion the additional stress really did make me feel anxious. So whilst shepherding from behind might make the most logistical sense, don't forget that a less experienced diver out in front could suffer from anxiety which as we all know can lead to problems all of itself.

As you saliently observe, side by side in these instances would, I think, be best.

J

 

[InTheDrink]

This may have been mentioned before. But looking at the website whence the original post came (link provided by Bubble, thanks), it is under 'wrongful death':

Home > Personal Injury Water Recreation Wrongful Death > Scuba Diving Fatality - Galapagos - February 12, 2010 - E.G.

I have no background in law but that sounds pre-judgemental to me and definitely colours the overall picture.

J

 

[HBO MD]

I have to applaud everyone on the sensible discussion that has emerged from this tragedy. So if I may : thanks.

I think that there is no obvious way that a group discussion can emerge from this venue which will impact on either the licensing agencies or the live aboard companies.
For example, in Australia, it is mandatory to have a diving medical prior to embarking upon a dive course by dive medicine specialists. Such a demand would be shot down here in the US, and would also meet the disdain of the licensing agencies ; anything that would potentially infringe on someones capacity to dive would be unacceptable commercially. I know because as a hyperbaric doc, I asked US them at a UHMS meeting.

Further, there is rarely if ever any indication on advertised trips regarding the prohibitive nature of conditions, the proximity or lack thereof of medical facilities, or the ratio of divers to dive guides, for example. In terms of practices, the operators almost always state that they put the comfort of the client first for a dive experience of a life time.

Perhaps we,as traveling divers, should have our own checklist of questions and prerequisites which we can review with dive operators prior to booking a vacation that address such issues?

Whether we're fortunate enough to travel with friends, family, spouses etc that will buddy us during dives, the standards that we set for ourselves in terms of safety, based upon our own experience and such discussions may prevent such tragedies in the future and Eloise's death would have made a difference to us as a group, irrespective of the cause.

 

[dave4868]

I have to applaud everyone on the sensible discussion that has emerged from this tragedy. So if I may : thanks.

I think that there is no obvious way that a group discussion can emerge from this venue which will impact on either the licensing agencies or the live aboard companies.
For example, in Australia, it is mandatory to have a diving medical prior to embarking upon a dive course by dive medicine specialists. Such a demand would be shot down here in the US, and would also meet the disdain of the licensing agencies ; anything that would potentially infringe on someones capacity to dive would be unacceptable commercially. I know because as a hyperbaric doc, I asked US them at a UHMS meeting.

Further, there is rarely if ever any indication on advertised trips regarding the prohibitive nature of conditions, the proximity or lack thereof of medical facilities, or the ratio of divers to dive guides, for example. In terms of practices, the operators almost always state that they put the comfort of the client first for a dive experience of a life time.

Perhaps we,as traveling divers, should have our own checklist of questions and prerequisites which we can review with dive operators prior to booking a vacation that address such issues?

Whether we're fortunate enough to travel with friends, family, spouses etc that will buddy us during dives, the standards that we set for ourselves in terms of safety, based upon our own experience and such discussions may prevent such tragedies in the future and Eloise's death would have made a difference to us as a group, irrespective of the cause.

Scuba mishaps are relatively rare, IMO, precisely because the vast majority of divers assume the risks and take responsibility for mitigating the risks as needed. You're right that these discussions and this tragedy will make a positive difference for those who find the lessons.

My basic OW training made it clear that continuing personal experience and assessment is essential for diving within my abilities. The danger of not doing so was made very clear and the lesson was reinforced by further experiences (and some mistakes).

The result was increased diving freedom and broader diving experiences (even in my limited log). It has been well worth the risks to make my own diving decisions, IMO. I've almost never been better off when someone else made them for me, in fact, usually worse off.....

Dave C

 

[merxlin]

@merxlin: Are you saying that having odd-numbered buddy teams is unsafe diving practice?

Of course, I'm not saying that safety should be compromised by stability/capacity of the pangas.........

No, odd numbered buddy teams are not unsafe for the right teams. But one insta-buddy is hard, two would be harder.

I've never seen/heard of anyone diving solo...nor have I ever seen/heard of anyone traveling with a friend/buddy and then being forced to buddy with someone else due to panga arrangements.

If the 7+7 was mandated as SOP surely we'd have heard complaints of one or both of these two situations, no?

I don't think I said they would separate buddies. But they do seem to stay to that strict 7+7 arrangement. So if you and 7 friends are diving together, I'm curios how they would handle that.

 

[Thalassamania]

This may have been mentioned before. But looking at the website whence the original post came (link provided by Bubble, thanks), it is under 'wrongful death':

Home > Personal Injury Water Recreation Wrongful Death > Scuba Diving Fatality - Galapagos - February 12, 2010 - E.G.

I have no background in law but that sounds pre-judgemental to me and definitely colours the overall picture.

J

Wrongful Death is the type of suit that would be filed (in the US) in this sort of situation. I suspect that, given the nature of the website, in this case it was just a term used for key-wording.

 

[Misa]

I guess many of you heard about Galapagos currents but havent seen`it in action. Here is a sample

 

[BOHUNTER]

Preventable.

Unexperienced diver in very strong current, seperated, washed out, mask blown off, panic, went too deep blacked out and then lost reg.

Very sad, 23 years old. Im 39 and current kicks my butt. I cramp and it sucks but I prepare for it! I know which way is up and know my limits and never go beyond my comfort. I dont dive to show off, or prove anything to anyone else. I have a game plan and when my time is up, Im headed up!

This site is full of education. Best book on the web!

Steve


Who was Denise and was she bouncing to 165' after a previous dive already??? Nitrox or not. Anyone get bent?