Two divers missing Whitsunday Islands

[DandyDon]

Take a Dive Alert whistle. I hope this couple now realizes the value.

 

[String]

For what its worth i dont believe a word they're saying. Everything i can see about this incident screams at it being pre-planned.

As for the alert horn things - nice if you're 20ft away. Otherwise useless. Storm whistles are better but even those aren't great in wind and rough water.

EDIT:- from elsewhere

....about 9 miles from where they had entered.

...had a 2m long SMB and tied themselves together.

A day after returning ashore, Neely and Dalton were reported to have secured a deal with a british newspaper for an exclusive account of their experience which included fear of attack by sharks. But reports of the account have varied greatly.

(then goes on to quote £1m to AUS$250,000)

Max Markson, an Australian celebrity agent appointed to represent the pair in media negotiations ...... but deals are being sought for interviews with Australian, British and American TV networks, and that book and film deals were possibilities.

Reacting to the claim the pair had secured a large sum for a story the Australian rescue services, backed by the Premier of Queensland, Anna Blight, sggested that Neely and Dalton consider making a sizeable contribution to the cost of their rescue which included 7 helicopters, three planes and six boats.

Markson has said that Nelly and Dalton will respond to that request. (NOTE:- They havent yet...)

The request for a contribution was given added impetus by the reported claim of one of the charter boat divers, Briton Matt Cawkell that Neely and Dalton had become separated through their own irresponsibility, venturing further from the vessel than advised and being whisked away in a current.
"He [neely] was told to stay in the lagoon" Cawkwell told Australian media "but there's no way he could have done that and got lost".

(The surfacing within 200m claim is disputed by all on the boat). .. the pairs absence was noticed and that eyes had been peeled for them.

"There were about 22 people standing on the roof looking for them, There were at least 4 pairs of binoculars, and it wasnt that rough. There's no way they came up in the lagoon"

(OTHER NOTES:- They went in at 2pm and weren't due back until 3pm. The police were called at 5.30pm and that should have been made 1 hour earlier ideally according to the police. Charges are unlikely for that apparently)

Neely and Dalton are reported to have remained in Townsville since their rescue, planning the publicity deals.

In short i don't believe them. It was either deliberate OR they screwed up and trying to save face. They're going to get rich out of it either through deliberate action or by sick and tasteless profiteering off what was likely their own mistake.

£1,100,000 isnt bad for 19 hours work.

Most likely from what i can see is either through incompetence or deliberate they ignored the brief and want off outside the lagoon. They surfaced and couldnt get back to the boat. They then lied to save face about the screwup. The operator delayed an hour too long before calling for assistance but the root cause was them doing what they shouldnt have.

 

[almitywife]

heheheheh - i already have a whislte but after El's recomendation i ordered a storm whistle and hope it arrives tomorrow

 

[DandyDon]

As for the alert horn things - nice if you're 20ft away. Otherwise useless.

I take it that you have never blown one yourself. I did it without ducking my head in the water once! Never forgot again.

heheheheh - i already have a whislte but after El's recomendation i ordered a storm whistle and hope it arrives tomorrow

This is a Storm whistle, the best mouth power you can get if OOA.

$8 US

​

This is the Dive Alert I referenced, connect to back gas....

$40 US

​

If this couple and the Komodo 5 had had one, we'd had to argue about something else.

 

[String]

Yes i know what they are. Ive seen them. Ive also found them utterly inaudible after 15-20m in a rough sea, with wind and/or with engines running whilst providing boat cover.

Audible signalling devices aren't terribly effective. Visual is FAR better.

 

[DandyDon]

Yes i know what they are. Ive seen them. Ive also found them utterly inaudible after 15-20m in a rough sea, with wind and/or with engines running whilst providing boat cover.

Audible signalling devices aren't terribly effective. Visual is FAR better.

If their crew had looked, sure.

Ok, you've changed "20 ft" to "15-20m in a rough sea, with wind and/or with engines running whilst providing boat cover."

Argument over, TY

 

[String]

20ft in a strong wind and its unlikely you'd hear them.

Given completely calm conditions, no wind, no chop, boat engines off AND someone alert on the boat you might here it from 15-20m. Over that they're completely useless. Ive not come across any one of the 10+ brands that are any good at all over that distance.

And why would a crew NOT be looking to cover its divers?!

 

[Geoff_H]

For what its worth i dont believe a word they're saying. Everything i can see about this incident screams at it being pre-planned.

Like what, exactly?

 

[String]

Like how there isnt a chance in hell they surfaced where they said they did, the fact they left the lagoon and how the views of 20+ people on the charter conflict with their version of things.
They screwed up, they lied, they used the screwup to make a massive amount of money.

 

[DandyDon]

Like how there isnt a chance in hell they surfaced where they said they did, the fact they left the lagoon and how the views of 20+ people on the charter conflict with their version of things.
They screwed up, they lied, they used the screwup to make a massive amount of money.

Since you know so much more about the facts than the official investigators who are there on the scene, you really should tell them.