Again, I dunno - never been to Africa. I do work at safety diving and boating both, even tho it's just not my maverick nature. I'm often the only one testing his tanks for Carbon Monoxide and often the only one wearing an inflatable vest on the boat - depending on the situation. It's common in NC waters and the 3 hour ride out to pee off of the stern, but when bodies are found at sea it's common to find them with their flies open. If the boat hits a surprise wave on my turn, at least I'll float. If I were to be fortunate enough to go to Africa, I'd do a lot of research on the destinations & operators, then do everything I could to secure my safety for the entire trip - and if i was doing a beach landing at significant speed, I'd damned sure be holding onto something, even if it was a bungee or rope from my own dive bag that I tied to the boat.
We do stress safety in OW and other training in part to prepare for unsafe situations that happen to tourist divers traveling the tropics. Either hire a bodyguard or think for yourself and dangers lurk everywhere, more so in some parts of the world.
I agree Don however there was no mention of a rogue wave. The problem seems to have been that the wave immediately behind the boat was closer to the boat than the captian thought. This sort of sounds like it myight have been an error in judgement on his part. Being a professional Captian as the letter writer "tooted", I do not think it fair that we call this a rogue wave when it is quite possibly Captain judgement error (which happens). Is it fair to think it is judgement error? I am not a captain so I cannot say for sure.
Like I said, I wasn't there (and didn't read the lengthy email, wow) - pilot error or rogue wave? Caca happens, prepare for contingencies.
When my stuff was stolen - it was like they didnt want to take any responsibilty for it. Its not like i knew who exactly took it - it may not have even been one of their employees - it could have been someon else. But a simple - 'i am really sorry' would have sufficed. Instead it was - 'Monkeys like shiney objects and must have ran off into the trees'. - my shirt was on top of any tiny shiny object. in fact, the only shiny object was my 14guage nose ring. (very small) My watch strap is black velcro. bezel was black, and face was yellow.
And I don't wear jewelry onto a dive boat; sorry, but it just strikes me personally as a poor plan. I don't want to wear any in the water to attract predators, nor do I want to leave my personal items laying around on the boat as temptation to monkeys, low income employees, or admiring guests. Wow?
"dive watch, tank top, pair of hand carved horn earings, and a surgical steel ring for my septum." You left all that laying out? Secure the jewelry in a hotel safe or locked bag in your room, keep up with your personal belongings - wear them or stow them. In visiting a country where I'd read
"The minimum legal salary is around US$60 per month" and much more about like
"resettlement of civil war refugees" of the previous decade - I'd expect anything I left laying anywhere to be seen as fair game.
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Todo...!"
