Not every cruise ship diver is inexperienced, solo or renting gear. There are divers who plan to dive in every port and take their own gear. Also ones who do have a dive buddy with them. In this case, at least from the info that's been reported, it seems to me the issue is a solo ascent and possibly no smb or other signaling device. Could just as easily have been an experienced diver with their own gear staying on the island... in fact, a couple accidents last years were.
My experience in Cozumel and most places I've dived, is that what's discussed as "the rules" in the dive briefing and what transpires during the dive don't always match. I've also never been on a boat in the Caribbean where having an SMB is required, or the buddy system is really enforced. I've routinely seen solo ascents in Cozumel. Most with the DM aware and shooting their marker, the diver ascending close to the line, but a number of them have been a diver signaling the DM or their buddy and before anyone can do or say anything, they're on their way. With a current, you can be 20 ft above or below someone and be traveling a totally different rate and you can't just catch up to them. Even with a DM's SMB, and seeing the diver reach the surface, anything can happen once you're on the surface. You can't have a group finning against a current to stay in place until the diver is climbing into the boat. It's not practical.
Something I learned early on in diving, and something enforced in other dive training I've done, is to dive with a buddy but think as if you're alone. If you can't self-rescue, or get a handle on the situation long enough to think and get yourself to another diver to get whatever assistance you need, then eventually, if you dive enough and dive long enough, you will find yourself in a situation that if not for luck, you won't be getting out of. Even the most trained and experienced diver can get into a panic situation, have a medical or gear emergency and need help. That's ok, we're all human. I think too many divers don't seem to ever think in terms of what if they're the one having to provide assistance, or what if they end up on their own. I don't think there's enough emphasis in the cert course about what being a "buddy" real means. It's more than just not diving alone. So much about what you learn and how well you get trained has to do with the individual instructors you choose for your courses.
Accidents happen, and they can happen to anyone at anytime. Surfacing with a buddy might not change the outcome, but if you aren't picked up or have some other surface emergency, two heads are better than one. Your chances of a good outcome are always going to be better if you aren't alone.
I hope this story has a positive outcome. My heart goes out to the diver's family. It's got to be so stressful waiting on information and not knowing what happened or where she is.
My experience in Cozumel and most places I've dived, is that what's discussed as "the rules" in the dive briefing and what transpires during the dive don't always match. I've also never been on a boat in the Caribbean where having an SMB is required, or the buddy system is really enforced. I've routinely seen solo ascents in Cozumel. Most with the DM aware and shooting their marker, the diver ascending close to the line, but a number of them have been a diver signaling the DM or their buddy and before anyone can do or say anything, they're on their way. With a current, you can be 20 ft above or below someone and be traveling a totally different rate and you can't just catch up to them. Even with a DM's SMB, and seeing the diver reach the surface, anything can happen once you're on the surface. You can't have a group finning against a current to stay in place until the diver is climbing into the boat. It's not practical.
Something I learned early on in diving, and something enforced in other dive training I've done, is to dive with a buddy but think as if you're alone. If you can't self-rescue, or get a handle on the situation long enough to think and get yourself to another diver to get whatever assistance you need, then eventually, if you dive enough and dive long enough, you will find yourself in a situation that if not for luck, you won't be getting out of. Even the most trained and experienced diver can get into a panic situation, have a medical or gear emergency and need help. That's ok, we're all human. I think too many divers don't seem to ever think in terms of what if they're the one having to provide assistance, or what if they end up on their own. I don't think there's enough emphasis in the cert course about what being a "buddy" real means. It's more than just not diving alone. So much about what you learn and how well you get trained has to do with the individual instructors you choose for your courses.
Accidents happen, and they can happen to anyone at anytime. Surfacing with a buddy might not change the outcome, but if you aren't picked up or have some other surface emergency, two heads are better than one. Your chances of a good outcome are always going to be better if you aren't alone.
I hope this story has a positive outcome. My heart goes out to the diver's family. It's got to be so stressful waiting on information and not knowing what happened or where she is.
