Nusa Penida, Bali accident

[DandyDon]

Oh sure, I think the Padi limit for Discover Scuba is 40 ft - but that rule is worthless. The operator will do whatever he wants without any recourse from Padi. Change it to 30, 20, 10 - it'll have zero effect on what happens in the actual world. In the Caribbean and most of the tropical world, rules are only suggestions.

We have some additional protections in the US & Canada.

 

[kathydee]

Steve I did 3 dives on my Discover Scuba in the Caribbean before certifying. Pretty much as you described, except the quick explanations were on a dive boat, then to 40 ft. My third not-certified dive over two days was to 100 ft. Wrong, but happens a lot.

Did DSD in Bali too at a little no-name shop. 1st dive 30ft -slow progression without certification to 6th dive 75 ft, then the 7th. Dive Master broke the rules, but in his defense he dove the same site every day for many years, was very attentive and careful, and taught me almost the entire open water course.

Then got certified in Bali at a very professional shop in Padangbai: "Absolute Scuba" - who was horrified at my dive log. I can deffinately recommend diving with them! One office is in Sanur the other in Padangbai (sp?)

Heard from a senior instructor that Nusa Penida has currents that can sweep you down & up in a 100 ft circle. Poor beginner diver. What a shame.

 

[kilo_fox]

Did DSD in Bali too at a little no-name shop. 1st dive 30ft -slow progression without certification to 11th dive 75 ft. Dive master broke the rules, but in his defense he dove the site every day for 4 years, was very attentive and careful, and taught me almost the entire open water course.

Heard from a senior instructor that Nusa Penida has currents that can sweep you down & up in a 100 ft circle. Poor beginner diver. What a shame.

Then got certified in Bali at a very professional shop in Padangbai: "Absolute Scuba" - who was horrified at my dive log. I can recommend them! One office in Sanur the other in Padangbai (sp?)

Hi Kathy,
just out of curiosity - if I understand your post well, you did 11 "DSD". That's sounds really a lot to me.. What was your motivation to do so many DSD and not straight the OW course?
Cheers..

 

[DandyDon]

In some areas, common in the Caribbean, once a Discover Scuba is accomplished, the customer is allowed to continue diving under the supervision of a DM with shallow maximum depths - and some providers even issue temporary certificates honored by neighboring operators. I used to know a family who did DSD classes every year in Jamaica then dived all thru each vacation.

News of any accidents in those areas is often efficiently suppressed.

 

[kathydee]

Hi Kathy,
just out of curiosity - if I understand your post well, you did 11 "DSD". That's sounds really a lot to me.. What was your motivation to do so many DSD and not straight the OW course?
Cheers..

Humm, oopps thought the DSD's were 11, but just checked my log book and they were only 7 (so dive 6 was 75 ft). Took the OW course just after the 7 DSD's, then went straight back to the first dive shop for 4 more (there's the 11). Memory must be going with age Will edit the earlier post.

Motivation: The first DSD dive cost something like $30US & included a 20 minute brief & lots of hand holding. Business was slow, so the rest of the dives (with shaby gear rental) were only $15 each including a private DM.

Another traveling DM strongly suggested an intro course - so by that time I liked SCUBA enough to spend the money for a cert course and went searching for a good school.

Actually, I think the prior experience made the OW course more practical than theoretical as I could understand the use for more knowledge & skills. However, I would not recommend the same for anyone else as potential for accident is higher without proper training.

 

[kathydee]

Here is a little more information that might help understand the accidents circumstances.

What many tourists don't know is that the typical working class person on Bali earns about $2 US per day. Dive masters generally earn $3 per dive or less. (this makes a $2- $5 tip incredibly appreciated). (& justifies why locals will always try to rip you off for 3-4X actual prices)

In a resort area, 3 dives can earn a DM $9 per day, which, by Bali standards is a substantial income. Many DM support entire rural families with their income - especially DM's named Wyan (usually the first born).

Don't get me wrong, Balinese people are some of my favorite in the world. At the very core of their culture is radical flexibility, the ability to humor mishap and the philosophy of hiding the unpleasant from sight. Because Bali's economy is dominated by tourism, when times are tough - DM and small shops may well bend the rules and make unsafe judgements to earn $20-$60US - (which is a fortune to them). Especially--if potential tips are involved. IMO this isn’t right, but it is-what it is for now.

I know Bali well, but suspect the same dynamic is true in many dive shops in developing countries.

I think the professional shops always stand out by their willingness to say "NO that's against dive regulations!" In Bali, I feel Absolute Scuba is one of these shops (taken both OW & AOW with them)- I am sure there are others.

When diving in developing countries, I think it's best to trust your own skills & your partner much more than the DM (actually probably true everywhere). It is also important to do your homework about the area before leaving home.

With $20-$60 considered a fortune in Bali -- imagine how much of one's salary/or one's profit, DM certification must cost. Have heard many people claiming to be "DM's" in SE Asia or other parts of the world are not actually certified – might be worth asking to see proof of certification.

As for beginner divers who don't know any of this – it’s all so unfortunate.

 

[Seadeuce]

Lurker onboard!

Have seen many instances of $ before Safety on dive trips.

Remember one couple on a dive to the Orson Welles, Grand Bahama.
She had the OW ticket, but had not been diving in over a year, he had NEVER done scuba.
They were given the gear and left dive unsupervised as a buddy pair. They did survive.

Blue Hole, Belize - I held the hand of a guy, diving with his wife, on their FOURTH open water dive. We were on a liveaboard.
No DM, just a dive brief to the group showing the site and its 140ft depth. She was okay, he would not have made it.
Had to show him buoyancy and trim on the second dive of the day.

Have been with many dive centres that never check for a card, or do a check dive. "Standards" are compromised throughout the industry where the buck is king.

A shame, but that's how some unfortunate divers die. In the above cases I would even go so far as to say - if there had been a fatality - that it was Assisted Suicide.
The ill-informed customer does not realise they willingly place their very life in the hands of merchants who couldn't give a rat's a$$.

It really bugs me!

Apologies for the rant,


Seadeuce

 

[kathydee]

Just emailed with a local DM friend from Bali who shared the following information:

"Last month in Crystal Bay one japanese diver died because he panicked at 18 meters and went up to surface. Maybe his lung was blowing up so he died."

When we dove Crystal bay, the water was relatively calm & there were lots of SCUBA divers swimming along an underwater ridge to view Mola Mola. The scenery was quite expansive & there was a lot of blue. Can see how a DSD could panic. Still, it's not a place I think a brand new diver should be & certainly 18 meters is too deep for DSD.

 

[Bali-Freak]

They weren't on a DSD, but they were on their honeymoon.

 

[ScubaSteve]

So if they were not on a DSD, how does their existence at 18m beneath the surface get explained? Just curious as I am sure others are as well and it seems like you might "be in the know".

They weren't on a DSD, but they were on their honeymoon.