Please allow me to provide some details about the incident. As someone who has known her since 2005, I was once very close to the victim and her family.
The purpose of this post is to get additional insights, in-depth analysis or theories from more experienced divers.
I was there when she was found and the one to officially identify her remains. Took note of her physical state (along with about 20 people who were part of the search and rescue efforts) before she was sent for autopsy. Along with her OWSI in Sabang, we also checked her equipment state before autopsy was conducted.
Victim Profile
Certified Open Water Diver since May 2012 in Sabang, Puerto Galera. She did maybe 20 boat dives in Sabang, including Canyons, a known tricky dive site. About 5 dives in Subic with some wreck penetrations - all with me. We haven't been in touch for 3 years. From what I've heard, she stopped diving for about year and resumed in Anilao, Batangas, doing about 20 (?) more dives before the incident.
35 years old, physically well. Runs regularly and completes half marathons. Knows how to swim. Can tread water without equipment assistance.
No dive computer. Depth gauge on SPG.
Details of the Incident (Instructor, Buddy Assistant and Dive Group POV)
Disclaimer: This may be an incomplete recollection of what they told us. Further review of transcript will be made.
- The incident happened during the 2nd day of her Advanced course. Deep Dive portion. 4th of 5 dives if I am not mistaken - a successful night dive was completed the day before.
- 7 students including the victim. 1 instructor plus 2 (Rescue Diver) assistants
- Planned dive to 30m, reached only about 28-29m based on what they told us and verified by the dive computer of the victim's buddy, the instructor's assistant
- Visibility was poor from surface to about 15m, clear from 15m to 30m.
- Went down 11am-ish. Slack water. Supposedly an easy dive. Took them 16 mins to reach target depth, followed a slope downwards.
- Upon reaching target depth, instructor shook hands with students, congratulating them - total time spent at target depth is around 3 mins before instructor gave sign to go back up and to follow him back to the same slope/entry point
- Instructor was at the front, victim was at the back with buddy assistant
- Instructor saw victim finning up, signaled to assistant to follow/assist victim
- Assistant was banging his tank to get the victim's attention and signaling for her to go back down - victim never looked at him or responded and only continued up - fast. Exact rate of ascent unknown.
- Assistant followed victim - in the instructor's words, the buddy assistant controlled his own ascent rate for his own safety - he never caught or held the victim
- Lost visual of victim starting at +/- 15m due to bad visibility. Assistant stopped at +/- 8m (based on dive computer) for a 1 min safety stop and to deploy balloon since he assumed that the victim was at the surface and that the victim may be reassured, upon seeing deployed SMB, that there is someone below her and on his way up.
- After a 1 minute safety stop, the assistant continued to the surface and didn't see the victim.
- While this was happening, the instructor continued with the rest of the students following the same entry route
Search and Recovery
The victim was found at around 10:00 AM the following morning, almost 24 hours after they lost her. She was found at about 32 meters and not far from where they touched down the previous day.
- 150 bar left in tank
- BCD completely deflated, BCD chest strap, waist velcro and buckle undone. BCD not leaking air.
- Left arm halfway out out of BCD arm opening
- Mask on forehead, aligned with eyebrows, looked to be placed there properly
- 2nd stage out of mouth, spare properly clipped
- Tank valve took 2 and a half turns to shut off completely.
- Weight belt on. Buckle/belt in original position and completely shut
- Equipment verified to be in working order. Air has not been tested by investigating team.
-----
As I have told the instructor/buddy - we will remain objective and not play the blame game. We understand that this is also very painful for the instructor/buddy and all parties agree that some things could have been done better. I'm now a DM and help manage the dive shop where the victim took her Open Water course in 2012. Please allow me to reiterate that the sole purpose of this is to get more insights and analysis. The end goal is to help better prevent the same from happening to anyone.