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Diver recovered unresponsive - San Carlos Beach, Monterey, California
- Thread starter DandyDon
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BikerBecca
Contributor
Hi all,
I was there today at the Breakwater in Monterey CA and it was not a good day. A diver went missing. A massive search began. A U.S. Coast Guard boat, Monterey Fire Dept boat and JetSki. Two life guards on boards. FD Ladder truck extended out over the water, a fireman at the top of the ladder searching with binoculars. Two more Engines. Three or four Monterey police cars, and, of course, ambulances descended upon San Carlos Beach in minutes.
100's of people were watching the water. I, and I'm sure many others, noticed the diver they were searching for pop up suddenly, not moving. The fireman on the boat spotted him at the same time too. The life guards were on him first, then the JetSki. They transported him to shore where CPR was performed. He was then transported to the hospital.
Our FD contacts let us know he didn't make it, but I still have no confirmation.
We were about to do a third dive with our OW students but we gathered together and asked them to vote if they were done for the day or wanted to dive. They were all done for the day. I'm glad they voted that way because I was very sad too and would not have wanted that to be a factor in their safety. We live to dive tomorrow and they'll finish their last two OW dives.
There must have been 100's of people all around the pier, but you could hear a pin drop. People started crying when his lifeless body was brought to the beach and CPR was started. I really wanted to cry but wanted to be strong and level headed for the students. I'm in my hotel room crying now.
If he truly did not make it I want to extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to his family and friends. As he has not yet been identified I am scared to death that I may know him. I'm sure we'll learn his identity in the coming days.
Best,
Rebecca
I was there today at the Breakwater in Monterey CA and it was not a good day. A diver went missing. A massive search began. A U.S. Coast Guard boat, Monterey Fire Dept boat and JetSki. Two life guards on boards. FD Ladder truck extended out over the water, a fireman at the top of the ladder searching with binoculars. Two more Engines. Three or four Monterey police cars, and, of course, ambulances descended upon San Carlos Beach in minutes.
100's of people were watching the water. I, and I'm sure many others, noticed the diver they were searching for pop up suddenly, not moving. The fireman on the boat spotted him at the same time too. The life guards were on him first, then the JetSki. They transported him to shore where CPR was performed. He was then transported to the hospital.
Our FD contacts let us know he didn't make it, but I still have no confirmation.
We were about to do a third dive with our OW students but we gathered together and asked them to vote if they were done for the day or wanted to dive. They were all done for the day. I'm glad they voted that way because I was very sad too and would not have wanted that to be a factor in their safety. We live to dive tomorrow and they'll finish their last two OW dives.
There must have been 100's of people all around the pier, but you could hear a pin drop. People started crying when his lifeless body was brought to the beach and CPR was started. I really wanted to cry but wanted to be strong and level headed for the students. I'm in my hotel room crying now.
If he truly did not make it I want to extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to his family and friends. As he has not yet been identified I am scared to death that I may know him. I'm sure we'll learn his identity in the coming days.
Best,
Rebecca
RockiesFan
Banned
Never a good day when someone dies diving.
MichaelMc
Working toward Cenotes
Thanks Rebecca. Being able to dive tomorrow is always the top goal.
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Condolences to the family
@BikerBecca
"I really wanted to cry but wanted to be strong and level headed for the students. I'm in my hotel room crying now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good for you Becca..You demonstrated great leadership qualities- Lets hope you never will witness a body recovery again in your future diving career
Sam
SDM
@BikerBecca
"I really wanted to cry but wanted to be strong and level headed for the students. I'm in my hotel room crying now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good for you Becca..You demonstrated great leadership qualities- Lets hope you never will witness a body recovery again in your future diving career
Sam
SDM
BikerBecca
Contributor
Thank you Sam. Coming from you that means a lot. I take my new and growing diving career extremely seriously. The students mean the world to me and their safety, education, and happiness are so important to me. Yesterday, being strong, was me looking out for their happiness because, to be honest, some people were crying but I think we all wanted to lose it.
I'm elated to say that, despite some fears by some guys and gals over what happened yesterday, they all got right back in the ocean today, we helped build their confidence and made their last two dives very exciting and memorable. There were smiles all around and they are now all certified OW divers!
Thank you again.
Edit: "Lets hope you never will witness a body recovery again in your future diving career."
Sam, from your lips, to God's ears.
Be aware that there could be delayed reactions from people. Ones that they may not recognize. It's why I started handing out my PTSD in Recreational Dive Rescues to every student regardless of level. I also have a frank discussion about how people die doing this with new OW students before they even get in the pool.
BikerBecca
Contributor
You are absolutely correct. The instructor and I let the students know that if they have any sort of issues, concerns, questions, sadness, etc about what happened yesterday to please reach out to us. They were all very happy and excited today, but the stress of yesterday might not truly hit them for another day/week/month. Who knows.
Would it be possible to get a copy of your PTSD in Recreational Dive Rescues? I'd love to read it and, with your approval, also share it in the future after events like this.
Send me your email. The Ontario Underwater Council uses it in events like this as well. It can also be found in the files section of the Facebook accident group I run along with a lot of other safety and risk management content. It's at the bottom of the list of files. They are arranged by date entered. It was one of the first ones I uploaded.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1612046102342961/files/
BikerBecca
Contributor
Thank you. I sent a message to your Inbox with my email. Also, I am not on Facebook.
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