Diver Accident 4/17/2011 Monterey

[Leejnd]

I just found out. While I never had the opportunity to meet Kristina in person, we had many rousing conversations in PMs. We'd made plans a few times to dive together when she came down to SoCal, but something always got in the way. I think we got rained out once, and another time we were going to do Peace together, but I had to cancel.

She was such a vibrant personality...which came through in spades even though our interactions were solely online.

It's so incredibly sad to lose one of our own. I hope all of her friends, family, dive buddies and loved ones are able to find peace.

To know that she could touch people so much without having even met them in person, is a testimony to the positive impact she had on our community. She will clearly be greatly missed.

 

[Brewski]

I'm going to start a thread for the plaque discussion so we can keep this one free of clutter.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/norcal/379346-kristinas-memorial-plaque-discussion.html#post5854567

 

[iztok]

I found a photo of her when I dove with her once.

 

[poolsofblu]

Thank you for being there for my cousin and trying to save her life. We know you did all that you could. Thank you! Thank you. I'm sure you know what she went through with the first accident. So sad for my Uncle Paul, Aunt Sue and also Alan. I don't know you, but....bless you!

 

[kwest]

So sad to just learn of this today. I read the thread from the beginning hoping for the best with each new post only to be shocked by the outcome. Rest in peace Kristina.

 

[Guy Alcala]

Excerpted post by Michael Murphy today (4/23) copied from ba_diving, for those who don't follow it:

"Just got a call from Chuck Tribolet to say he found Kristina's tank & BC;
its seems to be in order. I'll let him report the details. He calculated
the position of where to look based on where I found the anchor last week.
He is handing it over to the authorities as I write. Good job Chuck"


Guy

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

I recovered Tina's tank, BC, and reg today. It had sunk under the boat
after being removed. I'd worked out about where the boat was based on
where their anchor was (thanks for that info, Michael Murphy), how much
scope they had out (based on the recovered anchor and rode), wind direction
and current direction). We dropped the hook on those numbers and I begin
searching. I found it about in 95' about 70' NW of the numbers, which would put it about
70' SE of Ball-Buster. It had 2050 PSI on the bottom. I did use a bit of gas to
make it more neutral. Power inflator and the dump on the end of the elephant
hose seemed to work OK, though they tended to leak a little for a few seconds
after venting. There was also a tiny leak at the bottom of the bag. I don't
see how the two small leaks could have contributed to the accident, though
they might have contributed to the rig sinking. There was about one half
pint of gas in the bag on the bottom.

The rig was turned over to Monterey County Deputy Sheriff Ivan Rodriguez
who will turn it over to the coroner on Monday.

I did not see her weight pouches. They may be hard to find as the are lots of
big boulders in that area, and cracks for them to hide in. The two pouches
should be very close together.

 

[andrewy]

Awesome job Chuck! i bet it was not THAT easy. he wing was repaired once so i guess thats the small leak you seen.

 

[DocWong]

Chuck you're the bomb!!! Thanks!!!!

Doc

I recovered Tina's tank, BC, and reg today. It had sunk under the boat
after being removed. I'd worked out about where the boat was based on
where their anchor was (thanks for that info, Michael Murphy), how much
scope they had out (based on the recovered anchor and rode), wind direction
and current direction). We dropped the hook on those numbers and I begin
searching. I found it about in 95' about 70' NW of the numbers, which would put it about
70' SE of Ball-Buster. It had 2050 PSI on the bottom. I did use a bit of gas to
make it more neutral. Power inflator and the dump on the end of the elephant
hose seemed to work OK, though they tended to leak a little for a few seconds
after venting. There was also a tiny leak at the bottom of the bag. I don't
see how the two small leaks could have contributed to the accident, though
they might have contributed to the rig sinking. There was about one half
pint of gas in the bag on the bottom.

The rig was turned over to Monterey County Deputy Sheriff Ivan Rodriguez
who will turn it over to the coroner on Monday.

I did not see her weight pouches. They may be hard to find as the are lots of
big boulders in that area, and cracks for them to hide in. The two pouches
should be very close together.

 

[fdog]

...Wet eyes...

Just came home from a week in Cozumel - deliberately "unplugged" while on vacation - to get this terrible news.

Goodbye, Kristina. I'll miss your wry smile.


All the best, James