Snorkel boat kills Maui diver

[DandyDon]

Diver Killed in Lana'i Boating Accident | Maui Now

A 51-year-old man suffered fatal injuries while diving off Lana’i today, when he was struck by a tour boat off Kaumalapau Harbor, according to authorities.

Rescue crews responded to the scene following the report made at 10:36 a.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2011 just outside the entrance of the harbor. Crews from the Maui Fire Department’s Engine 8, along with medics recovered the diver from the water. Medics pronounced him dead on arrival.

According to authorities, the victim was struck by the Wiki Wahine, a Zodiac snorkeling tour boat, operated by Ultimate Rafting Maui, a company based out of Lahaina.

 

[joe8mofo]

Great, now boat operators in Hawaii are killing divers.....

 

[Dack]

And the rush to judgement begins!

Seriously though...the article lacks some details that usually accompany other diving reports and contains one auspicious detail ("diving just outside the harbor").

I'd be asking: was there a diving flag in use and did the boat heed it? Diving near where you know non-diving boats commonly travel requires some extra care.

- Dack

 

[UWPhotoKeith]

Maui News online has some more info including: "Police said the Lanai man, who was free diving, was using both a float and a flag"

Rough conditions, near a harbor entrance, boat and free diver are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sorry for all those involved.....

 

[Dack]

Thanks for the new info. Difficult to know what one might do differently. Yep, truly tragic.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

Since the Coast Guard has perhaps made it's first and last statement regarding this incident ....

A Coast Guard official said the results of the investigation will not be released to the public.

.... it seems we are free to speculate.

I see many free diver floats w/ flags that are not "legal flags."

Since this linked Maui News article quotes a well known local spear fisher using the term "legal flag" twice, I will just say that if the flag is not at least 12" x 12" it is not a legal flag.

 

[danvolker]

I would say that a freediver, by themself, is FOOLISH to freedive with only a flag, particularly in choppy seas in an area of boat traffic....Here in South Florida, where there is plenty of boating traffic over any of the reefs, you would be deluded to believe that a boat going 20 mph or faster, will "notice" your tiny legal flag in time to miss you, if they had been headed over your position.

A flag is great for a charter boat. actively looking and watching the flag, to keep track of divers with..... But huge numbers of boaters do not see dive flags in their path, often do not know what they mean ( or care), and the "legal flags" offer no protection. The authorities rarely if ever, ticket boaters for getting too close to dive flags.

If you want to be "SAFE(ER)" , and if you must dive without a charter boat or private boat protecting you, tow a bright colored kayak with a high flag. This will make you safer-er...because most boaters do not want to damage their props by running over the kayak...many of these will never consider, or have any thoughts whatsoever, about any diver below the kayak or flag.

The charter boats in Palm BeACH, constantly scan the horizon for boats headed toward their divers, in an intersecting course--if they see this, they put their boat in the path of the oncoming boat, and FORCE the assh*les to change course. It is much smarter to pay for the charter boat and this protection, than to hope no boats will run over you on your own.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

... and since we're speculating ... sometimes an accident is just an accident ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[JonKranhouse]

Boating community mourns Lanai diver

August 21, 2011

The Maui News

​

The Lahaina boating community recently flew black flags at half-staff on their vessels in memory of Lanai diver Alan Amoncio, who died July 31 when he was struck by an inflatable boat while diving near Kaumalapau Harbor. The Maui Nui Explorer pictured here and 22 other boats flew the flags Aug. 13, the day Amoncio’s services were held, organizers said. Boaters who travel to Lanai also collected donations among themselves for Amoncio’s family. The Coast Guard is investigating the case.

DANONE SHAFFER photo

And because news stories disappear so fast, but searching ScubaBoard via Google is such a wonderful research tool for divers IF the data is preserved here in the first place (use search terms per Google's format, then site:ScubaBoard.com), here's the previously cited article:

Man is dead after being hit by boat

August 1, 2011

The Maui News
AUMALAPAU, Lanai - A 51-year-old Lanai man died Sunday morning after being run over by an inflatable tour/snorkel boat while diving near Kaumalapau Harbor on Lanai, a fire official said.

The man's body was recovered about 150 feet from the entrance to the harbor, the official said.

The incident occurred at 10:36 a.m. and involved the vessel Wiki Wahine out of Lahaina, the official added.

Lee James, president of Ultimate Rafting, owner of the boat, was not present, but he said the diver "popped up" without warning in front of the 30-foot Zodiac. "We feel horrible about it, obviously."

He said sea conditions were rough and the water "was white," reducing visibility. As far as the boat operator could see, there was no dive flag out, although "there may have been a dive float."

Police said the Lanai man, who was free diving, was using both a float and a flag.
Alcohol and speed are not suspected as contributors to the accident, police said. The name of the victim was not released by police.
James said the Wiki Wahine's captain, who he did not identify, jumped in, but by that time it
was too late to help the diver.

He said his company has been operating in that area for 20 years.

"It's a tragic accident," James said. "The captain never even saw him."

The Lanai fire crew responded to the incident. Maui police and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources began investigating the case, but late Sunday it was turned over to the Coast Guard for further inquiry.

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