mstudley
Contributor
I think the 'shark infested' comment was unnecessary.
Twelve divers missing in Red Sea
- Thread starter vjongene
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In the sea for 13.5 hours and found 45 miles from drop in point - thats a 3.3 knot current - a lot for a diver. And it would have to be a constant current.
Wonder if these distances are exagerrated somewhat. Then again, its not beyond the realms of impossibility, currents such as that are found elsewhere albeit mainly in tidal areas.
Wonder if these distances are exagerrated somewhat. Then again, its not beyond the realms of impossibility, currents such as that are found elsewhere albeit mainly in tidal areas.
OP
vjongene
Contributor
String:
Both the times and the distances traveled were extremely variable from one news report to another. One report gave the distance as about 10 miles, which would be more consistent with time of drift. I have not experienced currents in excess of 2 knots at the Brothers (but then, I spent only a few days there).
Ive never been there hence the comment. Ive seen everything from 35 miles from the nearest LAND to 45 miles from BOAT.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. At 2kts even assuming a constant current (unlikely over 13hrs imho) th could be maybe 26 miles max.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. At 2kts even assuming a constant current (unlikely over 13hrs imho) th could be maybe 26 miles max.
H2Andy
Contributor
this is the key to me:
The five were in a party of 12 experienced divers who dived at 9am off al-Akhawain, the twin Little Brother islands. During the dive they were excited to see a hammerhead shark and two grey reef sharks on the reef.
They surfaced early and, following diving procedure, positioned a Surface Marker Buoy to alert the Oyster crew, although the current had already caused them to drift.
But, possibly because of the sun and the reflection on the water, the marker buoy was not spotted by the crew.
some thoughts:
when diving in a current, you need to be aware of where
the boat is at all times. if you drift even a little, it's going
to be hard for the boat to spot you.
if the current was so fast (sounds like a fast current
to me, and it doesn't take much), maybe you should call the dive before it starts? it appears that they "called the dive" (surfaced early) after they became aware that they were drifting with the current, but they were not seen by the Oyster crew.
why the failure of the crew to spot them, even though
a marker was deployed? surely there were dedicated spotters
on board?
The five were in a party of 12 experienced divers who dived at 9am off al-Akhawain, the twin Little Brother islands. During the dive they were excited to see a hammerhead shark and two grey reef sharks on the reef.
They surfaced early and, following diving procedure, positioned a Surface Marker Buoy to alert the Oyster crew, although the current had already caused them to drift.
But, possibly because of the sun and the reflection on the water, the marker buoy was not spotted by the crew.
some thoughts:
when diving in a current, you need to be aware of where
the boat is at all times. if you drift even a little, it's going
to be hard for the boat to spot you.
if the current was so fast (sounds like a fast current
to me, and it doesn't take much), maybe you should call the dive before it starts? it appears that they "called the dive" (surfaced early) after they became aware that they were drifting with the current, but they were not seen by the Oyster crew.
why the failure of the crew to spot them, even though
a marker was deployed? surely there were dedicated spotters
on board?
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It may be impossible to get the facts, but - if the dive was shallow enough for a current to push them out of sight, was a crew member not watching the groups bubbles? But crews do lose sight of bubbles on many drift dives, don't they - usually from not paying attention to duties.
And the "shark invested water"... My Gawd, we're still doing the Jaws terror. Shorty wet suits and bacteria kill many times more divers.
Jeez!
And the "shark invested water"... My Gawd, we're still doing the Jaws terror. Shorty wet suits and bacteria kill many times more divers.
Jeez!
Paul Evans
"Mr Mares"
If........... and it is only a if, why did'nt the DM send up a DSMB when they realised the current was strong :06:
Surely they would have spotted this :06:
Surely they would have spotted this :06:
Paul Evans
"Mr Mares"
v_1matst:
It sells newspapers
As I wrote in other thread - currents there sometimes go with the speed of 2-3 meters per second - don't ask me how many knots is that becaouse I have no clue.
My first guess was that they left the reef - where currents are always much less strong - to have a look at the shark and then were swept away by current. If your diving with the strong current you should stay as close to the wall as it's possible.
Mania
PS. They are lucky to be back safely!!!!
My first guess was that they left the reef - where currents are always much less strong - to have a look at the shark and then were swept away by current. If your diving with the strong current you should stay as close to the wall as it's possible.
Mania
PS. They are lucky to be back safely!!!!
H2Andy
Contributor
2.5 meters per second would be 9 km per hour or so, which is 5.5 mph or so,
which is about 5 knots
that's fast
which is about 5 knots
that's fast
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