Canadian dead in Dominica

[DandyDon]

Diver dies in Dominica - Divernet

A Canadian scuba diver is reported to have died following an underwater incident on the Caribbean island of Dominica.

The incident occurred yesterday morning (10 April) at the Champagne Reef dive-site in the Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve in the south of the island.

Dominica’s best-known site, Champagne is named after the volcanic bubbles that seep out of the seabed in the hot springs section, which is only about 5m deep.

The diver was said to be a 65-year-old man. Cause of death is unknown, though there has been speculation in local press that he ran out of air. (At a site 15 feet deep?)

He was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital in the capital Roseau some 10 miles from the dive-site, but was pronounced dead there.

 

[SimonWalsh]

Diver dies in Dominica - Divernet

Our local press is notorious for speculating before facts are known. We will be taking this matter up with them so stop incorrect facts being published. We do not have the facts yet so there is no point speculating. My condolences to his family and all those diving with him on his trip.

 

[arcticat99]

i just dove the champagne reef back in February it is relatively a shallow dive starts at 50 ft and runs to 15 ft .i was the last diver in our group on board other than one dm who stayed down with me and i came up with 1500 psi .condolences to the family though but i would be surprised if someone ran out of air on that particular dive unless maybe a free flo problem

 

[Marie13]

With a 65 year old, I’d suspect a medical issue as a likely cause.

 

[ReadyDiverOne]

Indeed. Super mellow easy dive.

 

[ibj40]

With a 65 year old, I’d suspect a medical issue as a likely cause.

At 69, notwithstanding the subject matter of this thread, I have to say I am more than a little offended that a diver's age is immediately identified as "a likely cause."

Age, while potentially one of an inventory of factors, is not necessarily always either the primary cause, or even a contributory cause.

 

[DandyDon]

At 69, notwithstanding the subject matter of this thread, I have to say I am more than a little offended that a diver's age is immediately identified as "a likely cause."

Age, while potentially one of an inventory of factors, is not necessarily always either the primary cause, or even a contributory cause.

I usually just smile, maybe chuckle, as it is a common reaction here. I've known several half my age who incurred strokes and cardiac events.

Even if he did run out of air, and even if it was at the 50 foot area instead of 15, my first guess would be diver error. It's too easy to do a CESA from 50 feet, or it was last time I erred and did one. Most diver bodies found are found with weights still attached.

 

[ReadyTo Dive]

Indeed. Super mellow easy dive.

Agreed - a site so mellow that I’d consider it “relaxing” vs diving/anything else; it’s one of the last sites I’d expect anything bad to happen on. My very deepest condolences to the family.

 

[Steelyeyes]

Agreed - a site so mellow that I’d consider it “relaxing” vs diving/anything else; it’s one of the last sites I’d expect anything bad to happen on. My very deepest condolences to the family.

I thought the same thing after Wakatobi had their first ever fatality. I read the story and I'd just been diving on that site a month or so before so it was fresh in my memory. Things can happen under water. Sometimes bad things in seemingly placid surroundings.

 

[Stoo]

I love these threads when everyone agrees that nobody knows anything, so we shouldn't speculate... Then we all go on to speculate. I suspect he was fluke-smacked by a whale btw. They have those things there.

Age in now the leading causative factor in recreational diving fatalities... Not because the diver is old, but because the diver has the "health" of an aging person. A perfect reality check is to climb on to a treadmill or elliptical that has a heart rate monitor. I can remember not very long ago that my target heart rate was 180 bpm for a good workout. Now the machine sets it at 112. I lie to a machine about my age so I can get a better workout. I assume this keeps dropping until it's about 12 bpm, then you die.

I'm 63 btw.