Scary Situation/Happy Ending/Good Lesson

[matts1w]

I was following this closely as it unfolded in what was/is my back yard. Fortunately all is well, but it not only shows the importance of NOT diving from an empty boat, but also being sure the person in the boat knows his/her rsponsibilities as surface support. Luckily the person left topside was able quickly call for help and all turned out OK thanks to the first responders.

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From NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida - Home
Missing divers found
Posted: Nov 20, 2009 4:30 AM
Updated: Nov 20, 2009 6:30 AM

Divers that went missing near the Sanibel Lighthouse have been found, according to emergency responders we spoke to.

They say the boat actually came off of its anchor and drifted off, without the boat's driver noticing.

When the Coast Guard arrived, they re-anchored the boat and then started their search for the divers.

They are in good condition and were in no need of medical attention.

LEE COUNTY: Emergency responders are setting up to search for two male divers who were reported missing near the Sanibel Lighthouse.

The Coast Guard is heading to the area where the divers were last seen – about 3.5 miles south of the lighthouse. Rescue teams have expanded their search area to a full six miles south of the lighthouse.

The person running the 30-foot vessel that the divers left from made the call to 9-1-1. Emergency dispatchers received that call just before 4:15 p.m.

A total of five different agencies are searching for the divers. Officials we spoke to say the biggest concerns right now are the loss of daylight and hypothermia.

 

[Teamcasa]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Moved to Accidents-Incidents

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[Splash-X]

We're starting to see more and more of these stories appear lately. Divers go out in a private boat and either leave it unattended or the person in the boat doesn't know how to operate it.

Two months back here out of Clearwater Beach some people I know (wife who doesn't dive, and husband who dives) took their boat out in the Gulf. He anchored the boat, went down to do some spear fishing (solo dive) and she stayed topside. The boat came un-anchored and drifted miles before she realized.

While she was trained to operate the boat I'm not sure she knew how to use the GPS to get back to the spot they anchored. Given that there were no points of reference it wasn't a simple "just head back north". She did radio in the Coast Guard who responded and located the diver.


While diving from a private boat may seem like an affordable way to go diving, unless you've planned for all emergencies the money you save may very well cost your life!