Condolences for Catalina Diver died today

[SCUBA482]

Anybody have any more info on the person who died in Catalina today? I had heard a 56 year old female bolted from her instructor while in Catalina during a certification dive. Also heard she was taken to the chamber and later died, possibly of cardiac arrest.

[bjjman]

Condolences to her family.

[DandyDon]

Very unfortunate. Condolences to the family

[liuk3]

Deep condolences to family and friends of the loved one.

[Teamcasa]

This was in this mornings LATimes
Catalina diving victim identified | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/catalina-diving-victim-identified.html)


November 1, 2009 | 5:25 pm
A woman who died today after scuba diving off Catalina Island has been identified as Mona Towle, 56, of Redlands, according to the Avalon sheriff’s station.

Sheriff’s dispatcher Connie Shepard said Towle was taken from the Avalon dive park, along with her diving instructor, to a hyperbaric chamber.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department sent a helicopter to the scene, but Towle was taken by boat to the Two Harbors facility, which is run by USC, according to fire department inspector Frederic Stowers.

Towle was reportedly seeking her deep-sea certification when she suddenly rose to the top from more than 65 feet below the surface at the park, which is near the Avalon Casino.

-- Margot Roosevelt and Kim Christensen

Prayers and condolences to the family.

[HisLovelyBride]

My heart breaks for the family and for all who participated in the class! Before we dissect the causes too much, let's remember Mona Towle and that her life was cut short too soon! I will pray for all those involved that they may know God's peace at this most difficult of times.

[TMan2]

Condolences to the family, a reminder that life is fragile and we should live everyday as if it was our last.

[Red Vette]

My heart goes out for our fellow diver, her family, friends, and those who were with her.

[Bluesky65RS]

My condolences to her family and friends. Bless them.

[JMdiver]

My condolences goes out to the family of the woman who died at the park this weekend. Does anyone have any info on this.

John

[Jax]

Already posted at http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/accidents-incidents/310370-catalina-diver-died-today-w-instructor.html

[-]Also, Condolences belong in "passing" forum.[/-]


Threads merged

[waystngAway]

She was a speech teacher from the Perris elementary school district. All the staff and students are devastated! She was a wonderful person who just loved life. She was getting her advanced certificate for a upcoming trip to Honduras.
She leaves behind a daughter. We are waiting to hear more details on what went wrong.

[merxlin]

My condolences to her family and loved ones. We met her Saturday AM before diving as they were staying at the same hotel as us.

[drbill]

I spent a lot of time with the instructor (a personal friend) and her class both the day before the incident and immediately following it. I met her on Sat and spent time with both her BF and the instructor following the incident. Deep condolences to her family and friends and my deep concern for the instructor who is a safe, dedicated dive professional.

[InTheDrink]

My heart goes out to the instructor, it really does. It doesn't sound like an obviously preventable accident from what I've read on the presented facts. Condolences to the deceased loved ones and strength to the instructor - I can't imagine how this would feel.

J

[cruiser]

Mona (Betty) Towle


http://mi-cache.legacy.com/legacy/images/Cobrands/vvdailypress/photos/e817a10d-5800-4b1e-bbba-e1279ebc13d8.jpgMona (Betty) E. Towle was born Sept. 9, 1953 in Birmingham, Alabama. She passed away the morning of Nov. 1, 2009 while diving at Catalina Island. She was working on her advanced diving certification which she was very proud of and loved to do. Her sudden passing has left her family and friends in shock with a deep feeling of loss.

Betty finished a B.A. in Psychology early on in life and continued her education by completing her Masters Degree in Speech Language Pathology in 2006. Betty spent the first part of her working career as the Director of Children's Ministries at the Church of the Valley in Apple Valley. After completing her Masters Degree, she found excitement in a new career as a Speech Therapist at the Perris Elementary School District, where she loved and was loved by hundreds of students.

Betty was passionate about travel and was unafraid to challenge herself with new activities. Her appreciation for the natural world was matched by her interest in other cultures. She enjoyed hiking, backpacking, camping and traveling internationally, visiting many countries around the world. She always saw and appreciated the little things around her that others often didn't notice. She was one to stop and smell the roses. She had great compassion for others and that showed in her daily life. In April 2010, she was to administer Polio vaccines in India with the Rotary Polio Plus Program, a cause important to her. She was always a great support to many people and those around her will deeply miss her compassion.

Please join her friends and family in a memorial service and reception to celebrate this incredible woman and her life at Sunset Hills Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1pm. She is survived by her daughter, Megan Towle, sister, Martha Gruber, brothers, Bill and David Scott, her loving partner, Darryl Evey, sister-in-law, Michelle Scott, brother-in-law, Frank Reum, many nieces and nephews, and was preceded in death by her husband, Brad Towle.

In lieu of flowers a gift to the Rotary Polio Plus Program will carry on Betty's philanthropic mission. A donation can be mailed to Hesperia Community Rotary at 15075 7th Street, Victorville, CA 92392.

Published in Daily Press, Hesperia Star & Desert Dispatch on November 7, 2009