Captain Lost Our Group

[Texas Torpedo]

Is that really good advice? Swim to shore in Cozumel? I would think that it might be more practical to inflate the SMB, try to relax and pray that sooner or later the capt will be able to find you down current and down wind. Actively swimming may put the diver much closer to shore than would be expected and might be harder to find. It also will tire the diver out and may make it harder for buddies to stay together, may tend to induce decompression sickness due to the post dive exertion and having to actively swim toward shore may induce panic in some people.

Since I've only dove Cozumel a few times, I am curious if "swimming for it" is good advice for that location.

If I were in a very remote location and feared that the dive boat had been disabled, or forgot me, or sunk or something, I might try to swim for shore, but in a location where there are other resources to perform a search for lost divers, I think I would rather float than swim.

Obviously, in this case, there were no boats to be found in the area and they were close enough to shore to safely swim to it.

Everyone dives with a Marine Park accredited Dive Master in Cozumel. If they think it is a good idea to swim to shore I suggest everyone do just that - just as they did here.

A mild swim in light current isn't going to get you bent unless you are pretty much going to already be bent from a dive. I can't count how many LONG shore dives I did while living in Cozumel, many of which were beyond NDL. (I was equipped for it) Never even had a niggle.. Slowly swimming ones gear to shore isn't like running... But, if anyone has a problem walking a half mile without getting gassed, you may want to get some exercise in your life. That's not diving's fault..

 

[zinmaker]

I know the currents can be pretty swift at Tunich, and had quickly searched through the thread to see where they reached shore, only so I could gain even more respect for the current. Glad everyone made it out without incident, however sucks that the new diver had the leaky BCD. I would probably would have offered to swap my BCD on the surface and orally inflated the bad BC every couple of minutes while heading towards shore, probably wouldn't don it just use it as a floatation device, but that would depend on the new divers size, and wouldn't be comfortable in an extra small or small BCD. Also would have headed down current towards the nearest beach bar/ hotel, but then again, I read far too many Dirk Pitt - Clive Cussler books. Glad there has been a resolution and everyone is safe.

 

[beaverdivers]

I guess the location of where the lost divers reached shore will remain one of the Isla de Golondrinas Mysteries!

 

[DandyDon]

Swimming for shore just does not appeal to me at all. Yeah, if we need to - I'll ditch weights and go for it, and surely get to land somewhere between the southern resorts and the northern hotels, but looking for better ways is preferable. Boarding a single engine boat to cross the channel is not longer on my possibilities tho after a different incident.

I was going to ask my dive bud to rent and carry a PLB & dive case, as I have my hands full carrying our tank analyzers, pony bottle, my camera, etc. - but he bailed on the trip. There's just so much I can carry and keep up with, and I am already infamous for more than most - but I have my own minimums. I've seen a lot of divers go to sea without sausages, mirrors, lights, strobes, Storm & inline whistles - but I am going to carry those at least, and have used most of them already. Which works best in some situations and which won't can be an interesting discussion, but like the mirror - it may not work, but it's nothing to carry and worth a try.

Most Coz diving is done so close to shore, not much to worry about. I've been to many other locations much more remote.

 

[Sue Sue]

Is that really good advice? Swim to shore in Cozumel? I would think that it might be more practical to inflate the SMB, try to relax and pray that sooner or later the capt will be able to find you down current and down wind. Actively swimming may put the diver much closer to shore than would be expected and might be harder to find. It also will tire the diver out and may make it harder for buddies to stay together, may tend to induce decompression sickness due to the post dive exertion and having to actively swim toward shore may induce panic in some people.

Since I've only dove Cozumel a few times, I am curious if "swimming for it" is good advice for that location.

If I were in a very remote location and feared that the dive boat had been disabled, or forgot me, or sunk or something, I might try to swim for shore, but in a location where there are other resources to perform a search for lost divers, I think I would rather float than swim.

If you read my comment again, I did say that swimming to shore would be a Plan B . or even Plan C. If floating, signaling with SMB's and then realizing there are no boats in sight, especially with night approaching, when shore is within sight, yes, the attempt to make it to shore is feasible. Obviously, the divemasters in this case, and considering their circumstances, found this step to be their best option and I for one would have followed that lead without hesitation. As far as other risks involved, yes of course, this can happen as well, but once all factors have been considered, swimming to shore may be the best choice.

 

[redacted]

a half mile to a mile with fins is really quite easy. I think I would have been leaning that way as soon as I realized the boat was not en route. You could probably enjoy a snack and drinks at the Fiesta Americana. Or you should easily end up on the cruise ship pier. Doing nothing (just waiting) is a good start for a trip to Cuba.

 

[ggunn]

I guess the location of where the lost divers reached shore will remain one of the Isla de Golondrinas Mysteries!

What difference does it make? Look at a map, find Punta Tuniche, see what is a little north of there. That's where they went. Jeez, let it go already.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Obviously, in this case, there were no boats to be found in the area and they were close enough to shore to safely swim to it.

Everyone dives with a Marine Park accredited Dive Master in Cozumel. If they think it is a good idea to swim to shore I suggest everyone do just that - just as they did here.

A mild swim in light current isn't going to get you bent unless you are pretty much going to already be bent from a dive. I can't count how many LONG shore dives I did while living in Cozumel, many of which were beyond NDL. (I was equipped for it) Never even had a niggle.. Slowly swimming ones gear to shore isn't like running... But, if anyone has a problem walking a half mile without getting gassed, you may want to get some exercise in your life. That's not diving's fault..

As I said, I have not dove there much. That is why I asked if swimming for it is a good idea? If it were 1/2 mile or even a mile and the current was not adverse, I could see doing that. But I would hope that the operators are qualified enough there to know that they lost a diver and would be able to mount a good and effective search, even if it takes a while.

I've had my share of being lost in Florida and always just floated, but often the current takes us offshore. I now carry a marine radio.. just charged mine today...I've only used it twice.

 

[beaverdivers]

What difference does it make? Look at a map, find Punta Tuniche, see what is a little north of there.

I guess it would be nice to know if they ended up in Chankanaab or San Juan.

Did they drift & swim a few miles or 10's of miles?

How close were they to missing the island?

The site where they started was Punta Tunich, mayan for Punta Piedras or point of stone in english.

Why the Mystery?

 

[Basscat]

They were floating for 55 minutes, can't find how long their dive lasted before that, but figuring an average current (2-3 knots?), it seems unlikely they drifted for tens of miles or were close to missing the island....

I guess it would be nice to know if they ended up in Chankanaab or San Juan.

Did they drift & swim a few miles or 10's of miles?

How close were they to missing the island?

The site where they started was Punta Tunich, mayan for Punta Piedras or point of stone in english.

Why the Mystery?