Running the boat over my head after back roll.

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Jenny Vannari

Registered
Messages
58
Reaction score
26
Location
Estonia
# of dives
2500 - 4999
Hi guys
This is a difficult subject for me, bu if i don't bring this up, it won't be right, because this could happen to any of us, but we think "not to me". I thought so too. I was working in Grenada, in ScubaTech dive center for a few months. I am a MSDT, I had an assistant DM, who was a local guy, older than me, and showed quite a lot of disrespect and inadequate behaviour towards me and the fact that he was told by the dive shop owner to assist me. I was super friendly with him, as I always am with people, always seeing the best in them until they disappoint me. This DM tried to make me look bad in front of clients every single time he could. This time he made me look bad literarily.
Back roll after he stopped the engine and gave me a command to go. Blow on the head (in a 5mm hood). Surfacing to invite my guests to get into the water, when I see the boat moving away from me (in perfectly still water), and one of my clients already in the water between me and the boat (?!)… My head hurts like crazy, it takes me a moment to understand, what had happened. I take down the hood... and the blood bursts all over the place..my face, hands, water around me...

To cut the very, seemingly endless, story short - it was the boat propeller. DM had started the boat on my head and drove over me before i even got to the surface from the back roll. I got myself up on the boat, holding the splitting swollen head and trying to stop the blood. If i would have lost consciousness i would have died because he was going to drive me back to the dive shop, which was about 30 min away. I screamed at him to take me to the resort that was right in front of the dive site. The staff at the resort acted fast, trying to stop or slow down the bleeding, called for a car to take me to the hospital.

3 lacerations, 90 stitches - huge incredible luck to have the scull just scratched and a few hematomas inside, but brain still in tact - I am grateful to be alive.

The DM never came to see me in the hospital, he never sent me an sms, he never wondered if i am alive or not. The dive shop owner left me without the salary and threatened that i will never find a job in diving business if i speak about this. She told everyone it was a small bump on the head.

I should have listened to my gut, when that morning i did not want to dive. I cried and told the owner i didn't want to go (why? - maybe i knew this would happen), but she made me go.. i should have quit right there.

P.S. i did about 200 dives off that boat, i had a big orange buoy in my hand, i had over 2500 dives under my belt diving and working in diving all over the world. The dive shop owner said it was my fault...

I don't want you guys to feel sorry for me, because i am incredibly lucky. The lesson to learn from this is - ONLY dive with reputable dive shop, work/vacation, doesn't matter. If you see them breaking rules or standards or neglecting safety of yourself or guests - report them, don't dive with them! Please!

Thank you for giving an opportunity to speak about it.
 

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Wow, so sorry. Hoping you heal quickly.

How does the law work in Grenada? Seems to me you have a case at minimum for your wages.
 
Sorry to hear.
 
I'm assuming that the dm is Grenadian male? If so, no way is he going to admit he made a mistake. There's one reason he didn't come to check on you. The other reason is too awful to contemplate.
 
It seems unlikely that you did a backroll and before you could reach the surface, the operator put the boat in gear and drove over you. Without more information, I would suspect that the boat was in gear when you rolled and you got clipped by it instantly. You are lucky to be alive. Thanks for sharing.
 
Wow Jenny, you're lucky to be alive! Joined the Forum on Monday and get you head taken off on Thursday, thats gotta be a record.

I hope that you heal up well, come to an understanding through your lawyer with your employer that bankrupts her, and that the DM dies soon. If your employment situation is not fully legal have the lawyer file charges for knowingly employing an illegal, which would probably put your employer out of business for a long time and grant you an income while you are sick. Without a lawyer you won't get a nickel.
Wishing you the very best,

Michael
 
I should have listened to my gut, when that morning i did not want to dive. I cried and told the owner i didn't want to go (why? - maybe i knew this would happen), but she made me go.. i should have quit right there.

.................................
 
Wow, that left a mark. Glad you are here and able to post about it.

Do you think the hood might have muffled the sound of the command he gave you?
 
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