Karpata incident confirmation?

[JW13]

I am looking to find out more about an incident I came across recently, but so as not to spread any misinformation, I will try to clearly distinguish what I saw from what I was told by other people.

WHAT WE SAW
After diving for a week on Bonaire, Saturday March 7 was our off-day before hopping on a plane to come home the next day. During a mid-afternoon drive around the island to see the sites, we came upon Karpata where something bad had clearly happened. There were two police vehicles (we had not seen a single one all week until this time) parked at the site and about 20 people standing around the parking area all looking toward the water. There was a coast guard boat in the water at the mooring and a coast guard plane flew over during the five or so minutes we were there. Not wanting to get in the way and also not wanting to witness a diver being dragged out of the water, should that happen, we went on our way to Rincon and the east side of the island.

WHAT WE HEARD
The next morning, at the airport, an AB Carrental employee asked us if we had heard about the accident the day before at Karpata. She said a 43 year old female had died. She also said the diver was a "divemaster" (though presumably not leading a group) and that the diver's boyfriend was visiting from the Netherlands.

- Does anyone know the facts related to this incident?

- I am surprised this has not been "reported on" before now. Is this sort of info typically slow in coming out when it happens on Bonaire?

- Are police incident reports on bonaire available to the public if you know enough to ask but not personally involved?

Thanks, John

 

[coldwaterlloyd]

Bonaire Talk - The place to discuss everything and anything about Bonaire!
local items

 

[stortecky]

Wow, that is sad. Just so in case you are lazy like and do not want to go to bonairetalk.com here is the news story

Source: nu.nl | Het laatste nieuws lees je het eerst op NU.nl

Farewell letter found from diver on Bonaire

Amsterdam - The Dutch diver who is missing on Bonaire since Saturday morning on Bonaire, has left a farewell letter. This is being reported by the Antilliaans Dagblad.

The 43 year old Sylvia van Aarsen drove to Karpata alone on Saturday morning. Some time after that her boyfriend reported her missing.

During a search the Bonairian police found the car from Van Aarsen at Karpata. Van Aarsen, an experienced diver, has not been seen since.

It has been made public that there was a farewell letter found in the car of the woman. This was reported by the Antiliaans Dagblad.

 

[BonaireDan]

The most recent posting on Bonairetalk (3/14) did not have any additional information. She has apparently not been found.

No news items on BonaireInsider as of today regarding the incident at all.

No news on the latest Bonaire Reporter either.

 

[dvrliz1]

Dear All,

I knew this woman as an acquaintance. She was a very lovely woman. There have been many reports, but nothing confirmed. I know they searched and searched for days. No, they never found her and as reported, we are also hearing that a note was left, but then again, we have heard it was a "dive accident". The currents and surf were very rough just before and during the time of her dissappearance.

She does have a teenager, so I think that if it was not a "dive accident" you may not have heard much in the press out of respect for her, her child(ren) and her family. She was well known on Bonaire, and well liked, so out of respect, I think that is why you have not heard much. That is the "tradition", for lack of a better word, they follow down here.

Please respect her and her family and wish them condolences if you would like.

No matter the reason, we have lost a great divemaster and person.

Liz

 

[BonaireDan]

Well said Liz.