Snorkelers lost/dead at Hol Chan in Belize
- Thread starter AWMIII
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KellyBracket
Registered
Ayisha
Contributor
Wow, it seems the currents were really rough all around Belize and Cozumel that week. Two snorkellers dead, one under observation, some scratched. Sounds like some very rough conditions.
PeterLester
New
My family and I dived there a day or two previous to this tragedy. We were forewarned by the dive master of possible strong currents thru the funnel just before we jumped in but simply enjoyed the drift diving towards the sea. Current tapered as ebb tide shifted to landward tide so the return trip was easy. Then we shifted to a safer location for the snorkelling part of the trip (away from the "funnel"). Note: This reserve is several miles away from Ambergris caye where reef approaches, but does not reach the surface.... no land nearby. Winds were strong most of the week excerbating the outward current conditions.
According to amandala belize newspaper, Tsunami Tours of Caye Caulker was the tour operation for this tragedy using the boat named Cyclone. The tour guide for this trip was Marcel Alamilla. If news data to date is accurate a few simple safeguards could have been prevented this tragedy. Caye Caluker is advertised as the most laid back tourist island spot in Belize...... perhaps a bit too laid back!
As a safety specialist, I am familiar with root cause anaysis of accidents. From my perspective, based on what I have read to date from media reports, there was not formal safey process for determining water current conditions, dive time was far from ideal with respect to the tide, boat and boat operator were poorly equipped/trained. Tour company demonstrates a poor attitude with respect to the safety of tourists. Lack of accountability enforced. Reserve policing is aimed primarily at obtaining park passes, not equipped to provide safety assistance.
1st world tourists must realize that the mind-set of developing world tourist services is that human life is of little value. Case in point was the front page newspaper photo of the two dead divers with their heads covered in garbage bags!
According to amandala belize newspaper, Tsunami Tours of Caye Caulker was the tour operation for this tragedy using the boat named Cyclone. The tour guide for this trip was Marcel Alamilla. If news data to date is accurate a few simple safeguards could have been prevented this tragedy. Caye Caluker is advertised as the most laid back tourist island spot in Belize...... perhaps a bit too laid back!
As a safety specialist, I am familiar with root cause anaysis of accidents. From my perspective, based on what I have read to date from media reports, there was not formal safey process for determining water current conditions, dive time was far from ideal with respect to the tide, boat and boat operator were poorly equipped/trained. Tour company demonstrates a poor attitude with respect to the safety of tourists. Lack of accountability enforced. Reserve policing is aimed primarily at obtaining park passes, not equipped to provide safety assistance.
1st world tourists must realize that the mind-set of developing world tourist services is that human life is of little value. Case in point was the front page newspaper photo of the two dead divers with their heads covered in garbage bags!
AggieDiver
Contributor
We dove the entrance to the channel once back in the late 90s when there was large surf crashing onto the reef. Looking back, I am not sure what the DM/captain were thinking, but it was pretty obvious the current was ripping through there. We got in and made it partway down the edge and the current got so bad, we basically had to crawl our way out one hand hold at a time. We had one diver in our group who blew out his knee trying to fin against the current and had to be picked up out in the surf zone. That area is typically a fairly placid dive that is portrayed as a nice easy shallow dive. But when the conditions are wrong, it can be very treacherous.
PeterLester
New
To prevent an incident from re-occuring a root cause analysis must be performed. In some cases the root cause points to a device or a system... But in most cases it points to human error and a specific individual or the individual's attitude about safety. But to use the term "accident" obscures facts so that corrective measures are not implemented.....
The term ‘accident’ is often bandied about loosely in modern life. Accident means something that happens without prior mediation; that is unintended, sudden and unexpected.
Most people would probably associate ‘accident’ with car crashes. On hearing, ‘John’s had an accident’ most would probably assume that John had been the victim of a mishap on the road.
However, the fact is that, while many ‘accidents’ may indeed be unintentional, they are the result of poor planning, negligence, carelessness, defective equipment, poorly maintained environment, and so on. A genuine accident has no repercussions for the person or people that caused or allowed it to happen.
Road accidents are rarely nobody’s fault. Yes, the person who triggers a crash may certainly not have wanted it to happen, but if they end up killing or injuring somebody it is often not sufficient for them to say ‘I didn’t mean to do it.’ If they have been driving dangerously, speeding, tailgating, drink-driving etc then they should be held responsible for their actions if they affect an innocent party.
ROOT CAUSE: Greed? Fear of job loss? Attitude? Lack of safety training and implementation?
The term ‘accident’ is often bandied about loosely in modern life. Accident means something that happens without prior mediation; that is unintended, sudden and unexpected.
Most people would probably associate ‘accident’ with car crashes. On hearing, ‘John’s had an accident’ most would probably assume that John had been the victim of a mishap on the road.
However, the fact is that, while many ‘accidents’ may indeed be unintentional, they are the result of poor planning, negligence, carelessness, defective equipment, poorly maintained environment, and so on. A genuine accident has no repercussions for the person or people that caused or allowed it to happen.
Road accidents are rarely nobody’s fault. Yes, the person who triggers a crash may certainly not have wanted it to happen, but if they end up killing or injuring somebody it is often not sufficient for them to say ‘I didn’t mean to do it.’ If they have been driving dangerously, speeding, tailgating, drink-driving etc then they should be held responsible for their actions if they affect an innocent party.
ROOT CAUSE: Greed? Fear of job loss? Attitude? Lack of safety training and implementation?
t4e
Contributor
Does anyone know if this op requires snorkels to wear flotation devices? I snorkeled at hol chan on a dive trip once and don't remember wearing one (had a sinus issue on the trip that cancelled my diving).
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