Kauai Dive Instructor has leg cut off by boat propeller

[chepar]

I read an article about this in the paper yesterday - and found this update online this morning (hope the link works, never tried to do this before):


http://starbulletin.com/2004/07/23/news/index3.html


WOW! :11: I'm just kind of wondering if the divers had a dive flag flying from the boat (as a commercial operator, I'm sure they did) and if so, how far the divers were from the boat. Two were not certified, so I doubt they were that far.

 

[justleesa]

OMG!!! How bad is that! I hope everyone gets well soon. Thanks for posting

 

[ShakaZulu]

Dear God, that is sad.................

 

[DennisW]

How scary is that? Best of luck and prayers to everyone.

 

[Gilligan]

Indeed a tragic incident.
I am most interested in the results of any investigation that may result. I'm sure the USCG will be involved as respects the Captains License's of both boat captains. No doubt many questions will need answering:
How close was the perpetrator boat to the dive boat, which hopefully and likely was flying a dive flag?
How far were the divers from their boat?

 

[GrierHPharmD]

My family extends our thoughts and prayers,

-Grier

 

[Doc Intrepid]

My family extends our thoughts and prayers

Same. Thankful that both are still alive.

 

[String]

Ive seen (and heard) a diver roll off a boat only to be hit by its props.

Its not a nice experience.

 

[DennisW]

Ive seen (and heard) a diver roll off a boat only to be hit by its props.

Its not a nice experience.

I don't expect that it would be.

Unless the boat is moving fairly quickly, and the diver is a military diver on a mission, the engines should always be either shut down or the drive in neutral before anyone exits or tries to gain entry to a dive boat.

I always look at the props before I get close to a dive boat when trying to go aboard just to make sure. When I exit, I listen for the engines, if they aren't shut down, I look for the drive levers. It may not be fail safe, but I do look.

 

[justleesa]

I'm glad to dive off a jet boat....