Subic Bay - 17th Jul - 2 divers missing on USS New York

[cruiser]

Two missing foreign divers found dead in Subicabs-cbnNEWS.comPosted at 07/19/2011 1:32 AM | Updated as of 07/19/2011 10:51 AMMANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Rescuers finally retrieved the body of an American dive instructor who went missing along with a Chinese diver in waters off Subic in Zambales province.Dive instructor Steve Brittian’s body was retrieved around 7 a.m. Tuesday.Brittian and Chinese diver Shun Chuen Tin went missing last Sunday while conducting a diving course at the shipwreck of the USS New York.On Monday night, the body of Tin was retrieved around 8 p.m. by rescuers from the 80-foot deep waters. However, the operations were halted at night in consideration of the rescuers’ safety.The victims were trapped at the back part of the shipwreck’s canon near the engine room.The rescue team said Tin entered the wrong part of the ship and got trapped, causing Brittian to come to his rescue. The American dive instructor, however, was trapped as well.Another diver accompanying the two, Chinese Fung Long Chow, survived the incident.The three divers left 3:30 p.m. last Sunday for a technical wreck diving course. Fellow divers declared them missing around 5 p.m.They said the very poor visibility in the area aggravated the situation of the trapped divers.Fellow divers added that Brittian, who is an expert of Subic’s ship wreck sites, is a big loss to the diving industry.Johan de Sadeleir, owner of the dive shop where the 2 rented their gears, said it was supposed to be a fun dive. – Report from Abner Mercado and Dominic Almelor, ABS-CBN News

 

[ScubaSteve]

.......they apparently went into the wrong side of the vessel where there is no way out.......

If you can get in, you can get out.

 

[DandyDon]

Wrong side? Any penetration includes special challenges, which I am sure the Inst was teaching the students - but what does that means/

 

[RikRaeder]

Did you see the recovery, Rovic? Was he wearing doubles?

 

[rovic]

yes, the American instructor was wearing two yellow scuba tanks when he was recovered and still wearing his artificial hand.
i didn't see the chinese diver tho.

 

[rovic]

the chinese apparently got lost inside the vessel and steve went out of his way to find him.,until the tank ran out of O2 pressure on both of them.
wonder if they have communication device with them (??)...cuz that could've saved their lives.

 

[Matthew]

I believe certain Phil Depts would have the proper account from the third diver who managed to get out of the dive. Even though he could NOT tell the full story
I read in HK that the surviving diver would not issue any public statement on the incident.
He even poured scorn and disputed certain "facts" published in our pathetic newspapers.

That, to me, is most irresponsible.

The reason why such an experience diver(Steven) would tragically got lost inside the wreck is very hard to apprehend.

What was Steve's wreck diving background/qualifications? His SB profile (which may not be up to date) only says he is a PADI MSDT, IANTD Adv. Nitrox Instructor and Trimix Diver.

 

[rovic]

Mat,.. steve has 30+ years of diving experience,and i know that you'll agree that experience is the best teacher.

 

[Tortuga68]

the chinese apparently got lost inside the vessel and steve went out of his way to find him.,until the tank ran out of O2 pressure on both of them

1. It's unlikely they were breathing oxygen

2. Do you know for a fact that they were both Out Of Gas? Because I heard differently (only third-hand "info" though)

 

[lionfish-eater]

Very unfortunate and sad. Condolences to all who knew the divers. Perhaps they were looking for the third diver who may have bailed without letting the others know he was leaving. If I thought that one of my team were lost, I would look all over that ship, perhaps to my own demise.