Scuba diver dies after being found floating at Kurnell, NSW, Australia

[MostlyHarmless]

Thank you Clownfish, and as I stated previously I apologize for how I read it.

 

[ScubaInChicago]

Ahh, I got it, she was solo diving with no redundancy... simple enough...

 

[Ayisha]

...In any case, the people who investigate them do not have any diving knowledge. They are police, pure and simple...

Michael, I am a little confused by your statement that the police do not have diving knowledge, since we have seen photos of the police divers on scene and retrieving Marcia's camera from the site.

Here are some links to some of the photos identifying divers as "police divers":

Scuba diver dies after being found floating in water

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1...igating-scuba-diver-death-at-kurnell/?cs=1507

Are you saying that these police divers were not actually certified divers? Or that these police divers were not involved in the investigation? Or were you unaware that police divers were involved in the investigation?

 

[clownfishsydney]

From past experience, police divers do not get involved in diving death investigations. The investigation is carried out by the first police on the scene. Again, from my experience, police divers are not necessarily knowledgeable about recreational diving - see my previous posts about the Tina Watson death and investigation.

The police divers who were there appear to have just been recovering gear (and from what I have supposed - not stated to me) was finding her camera.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Not to turn this thread into if police divers have the capacity to investigate as you've insinuated. Maybe it was an isolated case with the death you are talking about years ago.. however, I know personally quite a few cops that are divers. Some dive as part of their profession. I don't know of a single one that would over look downloading info from a dive computer. yeah, maybe 15 years ago when computers weren't part of ever recreational divers gear.. but not in this day.

 

[bilsant]

The police diving units in most places are tasked with:

Rescue of persons (rarely possible)
Recovery of deceased persons
Recovery of evidence and documentation of any crime scene. This certainly includes equipment and cameras. If a computer is to be downloaded there may be specific forensic procedures that need to be followed, so it may not happen on-scene.
Criminal investigation is generally done by a separate homicide unit.


But once it is determined that no crime occurred, it is not their job to investigate any further and at whatever point that determination is made, everything stops.



The police divers I've met are very knowledgeable about sport diving.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Bilsant hits it on the head. In NSW they only have this responsibility. Investigation is done by the first officer on the scene. My comments are based on all the diving deaths in NSW I am aware of over the past 25 years, including three in recent years where i have close involvment in one way or another.

In the case of a friend who died almost three years ago, the statements given were run by an officer who was an instructor (known to me) and he advised the investigator to ask more questions/clarify part of the statements. However, I find this rare.

In the case of Tina Watson, if the statements had been shown to experienced scuba diving experts (not the Queensland police divers who showed no knowledge of recreational diving in their statements and evidence to the coroner's inquest), Gabe Watson would never have been considered a suspect and perhaps the correct person would have been charged over Tina's death.

I am always amazed that police (at least here in NSW) do not consult with experts when investigating scuba diving deaths.

 

[Centrals]

I am always amazed that police (at least here in NSW) do not consult with experts when investigating scuba diving deaths.

"Experts' can also give contrasting opinions on the same topic.

 

[superchunk]

I have read way to much of this thread. Of the 100 different theories put forward all I really see is that she left her buddies went solo without the proper gear. Was there another lesson to be learned here in 80 pages of mindless speculation?

---------- Post added November 10th, 2013 at 06:21 PM ----------

Ahh, I got it, she was solo diving with no redundancy... simple enough...

I have read way to much of this thread. Of the 100 different theories put forward all I really see is that she left her buddies went solo without the proper gear. Was there another lesson to be learned here in 80 pages of mindless speculation?

 

[DandyDon]

I have read way to much of this thread. Of the 100 different theories put forward all I really see is that she left her buddies went solo without the proper gear. Was there another lesson to be learned here in 80 pages of mindless speculation?

A few, but you'd have to want them. Like ensuring against various risks, ensuring a CESA can be accomplished especially from a few feet, etc.