Lost at Sea

[Lloyd Jones]

Do you think that a signaling mirror would have worked in these conditions?

Unfortunately we were between the search area (and direction of boat traffic) and setting sun - so we could only reflect into a non search area.

 

[vjongene]

Recently while on a dive holiday at Vanuatu (South West Pacific), due to a lack of communication and experience of boat operator, we were lost at sea for 2 hours after surfacing from a dive. I have read of a recent incident in Fiji (Sept 2004)

- I am from Queensland, Australia where there are strict rules, guidelines and heavy penalties for such an incident. Not to mention strict building/equipment codes applied to dive boats and qualified boat drivers.

I have several reasons for my incident as mentioned above, fortunately all turned out for the good. I would be interested to hear of other "lost at sea" incidents other than the incident in Fiji.
Marine Teacher sailteam@mail2me.com.au

Have a look at a previous thread in this section, about 12 divers being lost in the Red Sea. From your description of the incident, it doesn't look like Aussie rules would have made much of a difference. S**t happens. Boats get pulled from their moorings. Divers get swept by currents. Signalling devices are forgotten or don't work.

 

[TropicalDiver]

Doc - any idea where you'd get the dive flag with the bungeed pole? Sounds like a handy item!

 

[docmartin]

Doc - any idea where you'd get the dive flag with the bungeed pole? Sounds like a handy item!

lp has it:
http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.aspx?op=ItemDisplay&ProductID=AQUF5

 

[SterlingDiver]

Yet another good reason to visit Scubaboard regularly. We always do extensive research on this site when we plan to travel. The information from people who have been there, done that is completely invaluable. Don't know what we would all do without it.

 

[DewyDDS]

Do you think that a signaling mirror would have worked in these conditions?

I was in Fiji in in Sept when 2 divers were lost, they are still looking for them. My take aways are as follows. Have a dive alert. a CD to work as a reflecter and a dive flag or suasage. I will also check into the seach and rescue for the country as Fiji has no air seach avilible if you have missing people.

 

[android]

Have a dive alert. a CD to work as a reflecter and a dive flag or suasage.

This is one of my favorite subjects to harp about, so I will repeat myself.

Folks, an old AOL CD is NOT the signal device that you want to have if you are lost in the big blue sea. Get a real signal mirror. Search for Rescue Reflectors or StarFlash to find one that has a chance of being seen by searchers.

A decent mirror will only set you back about $20. You're worth it, right?

 

[farrakhan]

Lloyd,

As I've been to Vanuatu before and had no trouble at all with the operators I'm curious of a few things.

1) Where was it that you were diving where you were "lost at sea". I know in Port Vila 95% of the diving is close to shore, as well as in Santo.

2)If the gear was your own then are you not also partially resposible for not having your own safety sausages and whistles.

I have dived with 2 of the operators in Port Vila, as well as both operators in Santo, and although they safety standards are agreeably lower then in Australia they have always had an impecable safety record when I've dived with them.

I'm not trying to point any fingers at all but if the lack of safety equipment was a concern to you before the dive then why did you do the dive at all. I think it's time for people to start taking a little more personal responsibility for thier diving.

I'm also a bit curious how the divemaster reacted to this "lost at sea" situation, did he/she remain calm and reassure everybody, or was he just as frightened as everyone else.

 

[ShakaZulu]

I've had a boat come lose on a mooring bouy where the divers were in the water. They can be lucky we came to the same spot..........just reinforces the need for safety gear as part of your dive package.

 

[Lloyd Jones]

Lloyd,

As I've been to Vanuatu before and had no trouble at all with the operators I'm curious of a few things.

1) Where was it that you were diving where you were "lost at sea". I know in Port Vila 95% of the diving is close to shore, as well as in Santo.

2)If the gear was your own then are you not also partially resposible for not having your own safety sausages and whistles.

I have dived with 2 of the operators in Port Vila, as well as both operators in Santo, and although they safety standards are agreeably lower then in Australia they have always had an impecable safety record when I've dived with them.

I'm not trying to point any fingers at all but if the lack of safety equipment was a concern to you before the dive then why did you do the dive at all. I think it's time for people to start taking a little more personal responsibility for thier diving.

I'm also a bit curious how the divemaster reacted to this "lost at sea" situation, did he/she remain calm and reassure everybody, or was he just as frightened as everyone else.

I would prefer not to name names but dive was not in Port Vila nor on Santo - I think in a previous text I did take responsibility, I am also a sailor and know that you should not go to sea without being able to get out of any situation yourself.

The DM was pretty cool (he had at least 5000 dives) for we were in sight of land - however, if current was running the other way we could have had problems (we did have sausage and whistles amongst group).