Condolences Catalina fatality 5/31/08

[Teamcasa]

Reed, please pass my condolences onto his family and friends.
I was also on the KN with Dr. Bill and it seemed like a flurry of rescue activity going all directions that morning. Very sad news.

[ianw2]

I was aboard the Magician at Isthmus Reef when we saw the helicopter land at the chamber.

Sad day.

My condolenced to his family.

[Wlenton]

PaPa Bear I wanted to thank everyone who helped Dave. I stumbled on this site looking for information. The news starting filtering in yesterday to his Law Enforcement brothers. A lot of us still don't know the full story but reading everyone's posts are filling in some blanks. I worked with Dave for many years on the streets, he was one of the best people I knew. Thanks for posting the picture he looked happy! Thanks again.

[dashark]

I am so sorry for your loss.
I understand what it is like to lose one of your own.
It was an unfortunate accident. we don't always get the answers that we need.
Most of us on this site involve ourselves in disussions like these to learn from unfortunate events and use any knowledge gained to prevent future tragedies. I hope any friends or family that may read this will understand that. I also hope we can continue to respect the loss in future posts.
my condolences to his friends, family, and brother officers.....

[diverdwn71]

My heart goes out to all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers for his family, friends, fellow divers, and officers. I am truely sorry for your loss.

[Ann Marie]

Please limit your posts to words of sympathy for Mr. Pike's family and friends. Accident discussion can be found here. (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-incidents/236296-diver-dies-casino-point-avalon-catalina.html) Thank you.

[Beachlover]

My prayers and condolences go out to Mr.Pikes loved ones.

[300bar]

very sorry to hear we lost an other good diver.
My condolances to all freinds and family.

[Mack Diver]

My condolences Papa Bear. I am glad to see that this thread has remained civil and respectful. Thanks also to the good doctor who reminded us all to state hearsay as exactly that. It is truly amazing how we never know when it is going to be our time and when it does come, no amount of human effort can change that fact.

[BillHullman]

Dave leaving here brought a little more sunshine to heaven. We will all miss him terribly. He was a really fun guy who will be missed by us all. God Bless all those who helped Dave! May God give strength and peace to all of us who knew him that have lost him for now.
Bill

[hyper jose]

I have known Dave for over 30 yrs. He was like a brother and I will miss him dearly. We love you Dave, the Nevarez family

[hyper jose]

Can you please direct me to where I can see/view the photos of Dave on his dive. Thanks

[Papa_Bear]

They're from video capture so sorry for the quality. I was supposed to go with them to Avalon and video the class, but had a prior commitment in the Bahamas! I will try to get a few more of him in class if I can.
http://wsm.ezsitedesigner.com/share/users/21/218534/websites/478769/images/790_DSC01149_Class_Mates.jpg

[hyper jose]

I would like to thank all of your for your kind comments about Dave. He would have made a hell of diver. I have known him and his family for about 35 yrs, and worked in law enforcement with him. No better man to "go through the door" with.

Joe Nevarez

[av8nflyguy1]

To all who visit this site, or knew my brother.

My name is Dale Pike, I am a 20 year Pilot/Agent with U.S. Customs and Border protection, and I am David's older brother. I have been a certified diver since 1975, with over 200 dives, and had no idea that Dave even had an interest. I was on assignment in Puerto Rico, staying in Aguadilla. We had a terrific dive site off the back of our apartment, called the "Blue Hole". This site is about 75 to 100 yards offshore with a mild shore break reef. One of my crew mates and I decided to make a two tank day of diving the reef. We hit the water at 1300 Eastern time and were on the reef about 10 minutes later. As we dropped through about 10 feet, I experienced what I thought was a heart attack. I had pain in my chest, difficulty in breathing, and thought I was dying. I got my dive buddy's attention, and we surfaced. I told him I had never felt this before, and thought I was going to die. He began to help me into shallow water, and as we reached the inner reef, I was able to stand. The entire feeling passed in a matter of a few minutes, I felt great, got back on my regulator, and dropped into about 10 feet to see how I felt. We were able to finish the dive, and had a great time. Afterward, we talked about it, and he thought I had had a panic attack, as I had not been down in a while, but I felt that something was not right.

I was having a drink in a little tropical bar, when I got a cell call from my sister, telling me the facts of David's accident, (continued next Post)

[av8nflyguy1]

I immediately booked a flight home, and arrived on Sunday the 1st. I spoke with my family, the LASO, and anyone that I could find with information. It seems that David had his accident at the exactly the same time I had my "panic attack", 10:10 am, Pacific, 1310, Eastern. We gathered all his belongings, and have begun the memorial process. The autopsy was completed yesterday and David was transported to the McWane Funeral Home in Hemet, Ca.

Some of the events surrounding his death are unclear, but I'm sure that everything will come to light. It appears that he was on his final openwater Cert. dive, was in about 15 feet of water, sitting on a structure. We are told that he gave his dive master the ok or thumbs up sign, and she surfaced to bring down another student. I am told that David experienced some issue and made an emergency ascent on his B.C. From accounts he was marginally conscious, then became unresponsive. He was taken to the hyperbaric chamber, where he later prounounced dead, by a physician.

( continued next post)

[av8nflyguy1]

My brother was a guy's guy, and a man's man. He loved being a cop, and loved those that worked with him. David was what he did. He was Deputy Sgt. David Pike, and he was great at it. He served for 28 years with the Riverside County Sherrif's Department, and retired on the 28th of April 2008. For anyone that knew him, he always made a connection, and made a difference. I can't say that he would have chosen to end his life this way, but it would be close. Learning something new, having an adventure, and being larger than life.

To all those that helped him, and were with him at the end I, and my family thank you dearly. You treated him with respect and kindness, and with the professional courtesy he deserved. To LASO Deputies Austin and Penneton, to the SBSO dive team that came to his aid, and to the LA Coroner's office, our most heartfelt thanks.

David would have been a great diver, and proponent of the sport. He did everything in life with enthusiasm, and joy. For further information regarding Memorial Services and Interrment, please E-mail me at Av8nflyguy1@aol.com God Bless.

[Scott Riemer]

Dale, thanks for posting here. I know it is a difficult time for all of the family. There are some here that knew your brother personally and others who only know of him because of this situation. But, he is a diver and that binds us together as a community. I hope I speak for the diving community when I say we're so sorry for your loss.

[barias4641]

I am an RSO Dispatcher and Dave was a great man. I remember being in radio training nearly 4 years ago and getting words of encouragement to help me thru training, he was one of the patrol watch commanders on my shifts. He gladly would have given his shirt of his back if someone needed it. I was actually at work when supervisors told us and it was a somber rest of the day.

Rest in Peace brother we now have the watch

Brandon

[FlipDiver79]

My prayers and condolences go to Dave and his Family.