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I had to share this article...so many incidents in just a few days (and it wasn't even lobster mini-season).
Adrift divers rescued | KeysNews.com
This really prompted me to start this poll http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...you-carry-use-smb-spool-every-ocean-dive.html
Honestly, what got me about the article was the six (yes 6) divers in 7 days needed Coast Guard/FWC rescues fro drifting away from their boats. I am sure their boats would have picked them up if they'd been seen on the surface...but then again that begs to the competency of the captain. These incidents happened on private boats.
What was your "lightbulb" moment that made you be more cautious?
Adrift divers rescued | KeysNews.com
Adrift divers rescuedCoast Guard, FWC have busy week offshore
BY GWEN FILOSA Citizen Staff
gfilosa@keysnews.com
The Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wrapped up a busy week Sunday when it came to missing divers and boating accidents.
Within seven days, six divers in four incidents required rescue when each drifted away from respective boats, said Ensign Peter Bermont on Monday.
The Coast Guard typically receives one or two missing diver calls in a week, Bermont said.
"It stands out because of so many in so few days," Bermont said, as the six lost divers turned up between Thursday and Sunday.
All were found unharmed but the rash of diving scares prompted the Coast Guard to issue a strong reminder to locals and visitors to always have a plan, use a diver-down flag even if it's not required and keep an eye on one another.
"It really comes down to being vigilant on the water," Bermont said.
One diver bobbed around in the waters north of Fleming Key for almost three hours Sunday evening before rescuers pulled him to safety.
That rescue involved a search by water and air, as the Coast Guard launched a search plane from Miami, said Bermont.
By 8:05 p.m., a Coast Guard officer spotted through binoculars a diver waving his catch net in his direction.
Richard Alan Dayan, 63, had no injuries but was exhausted when found, according to an FWC report.
"He said that the current was strong and as he came up the vessel was no longer in his sight," Lt. George Cabanas reported. "He pulled and activated his PFD (personal flotation device) and waited for rescue to arrive."
Dayan was happy and "very grateful" for the FWC's rescue crew, the report said.
On Saturday, FWC reported two incidents on the water that in the end were only close calls:
At 1 p.m. offshore of Key Largo, near the popular Carysfort reef, a boat carrying six people sunk. A Good Samaritan pulled everyone to safety, FWC and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported.
At 1:30 p.m. off of Plantation Key, a woman was cut on the thigh by a boat propeller.
She had been lobstering, then started to climb aboard a boat that was still in gear.
She was treated at Mariner's Hospital.
"She got one large cut to the thigh and received a bunch of stitches," said Officer Bobby Dube, FWC spokesman.
gfilosa@keysnews.com
This really prompted me to start this poll http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...you-carry-use-smb-spool-every-ocean-dive.html
Honestly, what got me about the article was the six (yes 6) divers in 7 days needed Coast Guard/FWC rescues fro drifting away from their boats. I am sure their boats would have picked them up if they'd been seen on the surface...but then again that begs to the competency of the captain. These incidents happened on private boats.
What was your "lightbulb" moment that made you be more cautious?