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From: 13 divers rescued after boat takes on water | StarNewsOnline.com | Star-News | Wilmington, NC
A yacht that rescued passengers from a boat that began taking on water arrives Wednesday at the Bridge Tender Marina in Wrightsville Beach. Thirteen passengers were rescued from a dive boat operated by Aquatic SafariS when the boat started taking on water more than 20 miles southeast of Wrightsville Beach in the Atlantic Ocean.
Wrightsville Beach - The divers came from as far as Baltimore to explore a wreck, not go down on one.
But for a moment Wednesday afternoon, the 13 customers and three crew on Aquatic Safaris I readied themselves for just that more than 20 miles offshore.
About 2 p.m., a propeller shaft to one of the boats two 540-horsepower engines sheared, sliding out of the boat and exposing a 3-inch hole that gushed in water into the engine room. Passengers said the break sounded like they had hit a log or even a whale.
The crew prepared for the worst, handing out life jackets, sunscreen and drinking water, and telling everyone to put their wet suits and buoyancy controls back on.
We were preparing to float for hours, diver Kevin Annas said.
As it was, the drama passed about 30 minutes after the Mayday call with no one getting wet but the crew.
The boats mates dove beneath the boat, straining to push the couple-hundred- pound shaft back into its hole and stuffing in trash bags to stop the leaks. The bilge pump emptied the water. And a passing yacht picked up the divers who soon seemed less concerned about what happened than impressed with the presence of mind of their crew.
Id go back with them to dive to there again because they know what they are doing, Jerry Bentley, a visitor from Hickory, said after arriving back in Wrightsville Beach.
Capt. Roy Taylor, a co-owner of Aquatic Safaris who was not on board at the time of the accident, said the crews performance reflected rigorous training that stresses passenger safety.
An amateur crew would probably have gone down in the same circumstance, he said. But even with no help, the Aquatic Safaris I could have taken everyone back to Wrightsville Beach on its remaining engine, he said.
The Coast Guard sent one rescue boat from Wrightsville Beach station, two from Oak Island and a helicopter from Elizabeth City. By the time the boats arrived, the situation was under control, Petty Officer Josh Weaver said.
It had huge potential of being bad, Weaver said. But with the Good Samaritan offering help and the crew of the Aquatic Safaris reacting the way they did, it turned out good.
Taylor said he didnt know what caused the shaft to break -- an occurrence that Coast Guard responders called rare. A team from the Wilmington Marine Safety Unit interviewed returnees to try to find out. The 43-foot boat received its annual Coast Guard inspection in April.
Its very unusual, Chief Warrant Officer Kenny Raifsnider said. Thats why were here.
Wednesdays accident occurred after the divers were returning to shore after making two dives near Frying Pan Shoals, including one at the Capt. Greg Mickey, a ship deliberately sunk last year to create a reef in honor of its namesake, a Wilmington diver who was lost at sea three years ago.
A yacht that rescued passengers from a boat that began taking on water arrives Wednesday at the Bridge Tender Marina in Wrightsville Beach. Thirteen passengers were rescued from a dive boat operated by Aquatic SafariS when the boat started taking on water more than 20 miles southeast of Wrightsville Beach in the Atlantic Ocean.
But for a moment Wednesday afternoon, the 13 customers and three crew on Aquatic Safaris I readied themselves for just that more than 20 miles offshore.
About 2 p.m., a propeller shaft to one of the boats two 540-horsepower engines sheared, sliding out of the boat and exposing a 3-inch hole that gushed in water into the engine room. Passengers said the break sounded like they had hit a log or even a whale.
The crew prepared for the worst, handing out life jackets, sunscreen and drinking water, and telling everyone to put their wet suits and buoyancy controls back on.
We were preparing to float for hours, diver Kevin Annas said.
As it was, the drama passed about 30 minutes after the Mayday call with no one getting wet but the crew.
The boats mates dove beneath the boat, straining to push the couple-hundred- pound shaft back into its hole and stuffing in trash bags to stop the leaks. The bilge pump emptied the water. And a passing yacht picked up the divers who soon seemed less concerned about what happened than impressed with the presence of mind of their crew.
Id go back with them to dive to there again because they know what they are doing, Jerry Bentley, a visitor from Hickory, said after arriving back in Wrightsville Beach.
Capt. Roy Taylor, a co-owner of Aquatic Safaris who was not on board at the time of the accident, said the crews performance reflected rigorous training that stresses passenger safety.
An amateur crew would probably have gone down in the same circumstance, he said. But even with no help, the Aquatic Safaris I could have taken everyone back to Wrightsville Beach on its remaining engine, he said.
The Coast Guard sent one rescue boat from Wrightsville Beach station, two from Oak Island and a helicopter from Elizabeth City. By the time the boats arrived, the situation was under control, Petty Officer Josh Weaver said.
It had huge potential of being bad, Weaver said. But with the Good Samaritan offering help and the crew of the Aquatic Safaris reacting the way they did, it turned out good.
Taylor said he didnt know what caused the shaft to break -- an occurrence that Coast Guard responders called rare. A team from the Wilmington Marine Safety Unit interviewed returnees to try to find out. The 43-foot boat received its annual Coast Guard inspection in April.
Its very unusual, Chief Warrant Officer Kenny Raifsnider said. Thats why were here.
Wednesdays accident occurred after the divers were returning to shore after making two dives near Frying Pan Shoals, including one at the Capt. Greg Mickey, a ship deliberately sunk last year to create a reef in honor of its namesake, a Wilmington diver who was lost at sea three years ago.
. Another first-rate operation - boat was ready
