Scuba Diving Self Situational Awareness Ribbon

[Bigbella]

 

[mcohen1021]

Congratulations, you win the internets today

 

[happy-diver]

And tomorrow!

 

[SDSA]

While I am sorry that you have lost a loved one and it is never easy, can you please discuss more of what you believe happened? I have looked all over for this incident and while I have found details on him, I have been unable to find details on the accident.


Are you saying that as a beginner diver someone told him during his dive to go do his own thing solo, or that he and his buddy got separated or that his buddy ditched him?

Do you happen to know how many dives that he had?

Do you feel that it was your cousin missing situational awareness, the buddy or both?


Mindfulness of your surroundings, being aware of your own limitations, the willingness to learn and understanding your equipment and more all come into play for situational awareness.

Situational awareness is a conscious effort and something that more effort can be given to. While some have more natural situational awareness than others, it can be taught.

Again my delay has been just the fact of going thru holidays and other things going on. I have to say this is one of the best responses yet. And im happy to answer best I can. As to the details of the incident no there aren't any to find. I myself have tried I've and over but I think its due to the fact it's still pending and an open investigation. Although for some reason I do know this dive buddy/instructor did leave the country about 2 days later. And this is just from what we no which is the experienced diver told him he would certify him for night diving. And from I believe is what he said was by the time he remembered to look for him when he was looking is when he found him floating again some things may be altered since its an open investigation. I believe it took the diver about an hour or so to get help I guess he was taken out the water by small boat but I think he walked into the water and by the time help got to him itd been lil bit. He was helped by medics started cpr he was in full arrest got small pulse took him to chamber the doctor there worked on him over an hour and they had to make him stop and call it. He was a very very well know internationally known surgeon. All his gear was top of the line and newly bought there was nothing wrong with his gear or tanks. They said what happened is rare and it was very severe but I think he had a stroke in water maybe but was only in the water 15 min. And medical finding said it would gave started as soon as he got into water to go down and that his dive computer is gonna be checked because he'd have to have known. Also the damage was so severe that once they revived him the first time he didn't even know it his brain damage would have left him in vegetative state. So I'm kinda ok he wasn't revived 2nd time it would be unfair to have him live thar way being one of America's top 50 neurosurgeons and spine specialist. It' is hard to say it was just an accident. I've thought and my cousin a lot of us for me I've gone I've and over and again I'm not a diver but my gut knows something isn't right. The fact thar his daughters mom was also there and they were drinking together before and he had an instructor who he was only comfortable with so somehow this guy came into play and she helped it along then turned away. How can she not stop it and how can this supposed dive buddy/instructor allow him to try to scuba dive knowing he's beginner and not himself say no we can't do this. And for him to leave the county 2 days after. And also in the past couple months a bystander came forth to the police with a cell phone recorded video and turned it over. So its still pending and I hope it's resolved soon. Which ever way it goes I do hope that all scuba divers can remind themselves to be aware to help prevent accidents.

 

[Scraps]

SDSA,

Your latest post raises at least three issues:

1. If you want to give your inquiry some focus while the investigation pends, you might endeavor to clarify the exact relationship between your cousin and the other diver. You're still equating the terms buddy and instructor. This confusing language makes it hard for the divers here to make sense of the scenario. Do you know if the other diver was in fact an instructor? Do you know the other diver was your cousin's instructor? Was your cousin taking a night diving specialty course from the other diver? Perhaps your cousin left behind credit card records or course materials or other training documents or emails with links to on-line courses that would shed light on his relationship with the other diver. Answering these questions might help establish the level of care the other diver was expected to demonstrate.

2. You say your cousin may have had a stroke. As you seek solace, it may be helpful to know that a significant portion of deaths that occur during scuba dives begin with medical emergencies that are not inherently connected to the activity of diving--heart attacks, strokes, and other events that more often occur on dry land. The chance of surviving these situations is lower when they happen under water than on land. Often these situations involve no fault on the part of either the victims or their companions.

3. It is very disturbing to read your suggestion that any of the divers might have been drinking before the incident. If this is true and can be substantiated, the investigating authorities should be made aware of it. Among every diver I've ever known, the first alcoholic drink of the day marks the end of your diving for the day. Pre-dive drinking would be a very big red flag if it occurred.

Regards,
S