I ask because yesterday, here in NZ there was an incident off the Kapiti coast.
This is the news report:
Now 'idiot' dad's really in for it
By KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post | Monday, 19 May 2008
A sheepish Tim Rees was left diving for cover after a stern reprimand from police - and his teenage daughter - when his trip for crayfish sparked a fullscale emergency.
It was the second time in less than a month that the Kapiti Coast diver has had to be rescued because he did not have basic safety gear. Sergeant Aaron Alderton, of Wellington, said he could face charges: We think he's a fool.''
His daughter Briana, 15, agreed. He was an idiot. I am glad he is okay, but he is in trouble, he is going to have a right kick up the a***. He cannot go out again until he has the proper gear.''
When Mr Rees, 49, failed to surface at 1.15pm yesterday, the two-hour search began, involving a helicopter, a fixedwing plane, the Kapiti coastguard and a police search and rescue team.
Speaking soon after he was plucked from the sea, Mr Rees agreed his actions were foolish.
I feel an idiot, I am really embarrassed, especially when you have to face your buddies on the beach.''
Mr Rees was swept south of Brown's Island, off Paraparaumu Beach, then east of Kapiti Island over a distance of about two kilometres - but not before he had caught several crayfish. He gave three of them to rescue team members after being pulled from the water.
The biggest lesson he had learnt was to always take a dive sausage with him.
In future I will take two. You cannot alert people by waving your arms,'' he said.
Though he surfaced as scheduled, he was 300 metres or more from his dive boat and was not spotted in the choppy conditions.
He said the current was extremely strong and fast as it was nearly a full moon.
It was very scary, I just went with the flow.''
Less than a month ago, he sparked a search in the same area. He had been diving alone and was caught in a rip that took him into mid channel between Kapiti Island and the mainland.
Last time he caused us to do a full alert to try to rescue him, a whole bunch of problems were identified,'' Mr Alderton said.
He dives on his own, has poor equipment and doesn't follow safety regulations.''
The two searches had cost thousands of dollars, he said.
The bit in red is slightly inaccurate in this case as there are no regulations relating to scuba diving in NZ, only industry recommendations (such as carry an SMB, don't dive solo without adequate training / experience, service your equipment annually eta) issued by the training agencies and the New Zealand Underwater Association.
My question is do you think there need to be laws in place for the individual divers /the industry at large, if these recommendations are not being taken seriously. I think in the very least this diver should be made to pay reparations to his rescuers...!
A couple of years ago there was another incident in the South Island involving the death of a diver. He was also diving solo - he ran out of air and he was found at 25m (approx) with 25 crayfish attached to his weightbelt (the limit is six and I'm fairly sure it's against industry recommendation to attach your catchbag to your person). Each time a fatality like this one or a an incident like the one yesterday is reported, there is talk of introducing legislation...
What do you guys think? Do you think that would help? I would be interested to know your thoughts.
This is the news report:
Now 'idiot' dad's really in for it
By KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post | Monday, 19 May 2008
A sheepish Tim Rees was left diving for cover after a stern reprimand from police - and his teenage daughter - when his trip for crayfish sparked a fullscale emergency.
It was the second time in less than a month that the Kapiti Coast diver has had to be rescued because he did not have basic safety gear. Sergeant Aaron Alderton, of Wellington, said he could face charges: We think he's a fool.''
His daughter Briana, 15, agreed. He was an idiot. I am glad he is okay, but he is in trouble, he is going to have a right kick up the a***. He cannot go out again until he has the proper gear.''
When Mr Rees, 49, failed to surface at 1.15pm yesterday, the two-hour search began, involving a helicopter, a fixedwing plane, the Kapiti coastguard and a police search and rescue team.
Speaking soon after he was plucked from the sea, Mr Rees agreed his actions were foolish.
I feel an idiot, I am really embarrassed, especially when you have to face your buddies on the beach.''
Mr Rees was swept south of Brown's Island, off Paraparaumu Beach, then east of Kapiti Island over a distance of about two kilometres - but not before he had caught several crayfish. He gave three of them to rescue team members after being pulled from the water.
The biggest lesson he had learnt was to always take a dive sausage with him.
In future I will take two. You cannot alert people by waving your arms,'' he said.
Though he surfaced as scheduled, he was 300 metres or more from his dive boat and was not spotted in the choppy conditions.
He said the current was extremely strong and fast as it was nearly a full moon.
It was very scary, I just went with the flow.''
Less than a month ago, he sparked a search in the same area. He had been diving alone and was caught in a rip that took him into mid channel between Kapiti Island and the mainland.
Last time he caused us to do a full alert to try to rescue him, a whole bunch of problems were identified,'' Mr Alderton said.
He dives on his own, has poor equipment and doesn't follow safety regulations.''
The two searches had cost thousands of dollars, he said.
The bit in red is slightly inaccurate in this case as there are no regulations relating to scuba diving in NZ, only industry recommendations (such as carry an SMB, don't dive solo without adequate training / experience, service your equipment annually eta) issued by the training agencies and the New Zealand Underwater Association.
My question is do you think there need to be laws in place for the individual divers /the industry at large, if these recommendations are not being taken seriously. I think in the very least this diver should be made to pay reparations to his rescuers...!
A couple of years ago there was another incident in the South Island involving the death of a diver. He was also diving solo - he ran out of air and he was found at 25m (approx) with 25 crayfish attached to his weightbelt (the limit is six and I'm fairly sure it's against industry recommendation to attach your catchbag to your person). Each time a fatality like this one or a an incident like the one yesterday is reported, there is talk of introducing legislation...
What do you guys think? Do you think that would help? I would be interested to know your thoughts.
