Don Foster's Dive Boat Struck by Lightening - Grand Cayman

[KathyV]

Happily no one was on the boat, Cayman Sky, when it got hit and damaged; but I guess this counts as a "near miss" especially because it happened just before the morning dive.

You know how divers always say that "the worst thing that could happen when you go diving in a rain storm is that you might get wet!" Well, it seems that there is another more serious possibility although thankfully it is a rare occurrence, but it might be better to stay off the water (and off the golf course!) during a lightning storm.

Dive boat damaged after lightning strike near Don Foster’s

Dive boat damaged after lightning strike near Don Foster’s
August 3, 2018

Joe Avary

Employees at Don Foster’s Dive Cayman told Cayman 27 a bolt of lightning apparently struck one of the company’s dive boats. It happened Friday morning (3 August) just before 8 AM.

No one was on the boat at the time and no one was injured, but nonetheless, it gave staff members quite a shock.

“We were all sitting here trying to figure out a plan for the day, we weren’t sure what was going on with the lightning storms,” said Lauren Mann of Don Foster’s Dive Cayman. “Then we heard the biggest crack of lightning for the morning, I knew it was really really close, saw the flash, so we immediately ran out to check the boat. There was a huge cloud of smoke coming out.”

A neighbor captured the puff of smoke on camera moments after the flash. Don Foster’s dive vessel Cayman Sky took the brunt of this apparent lightning strike.

“It was super super loud. Very unexpected,” said Ms. Mann.

“There was a massive bolt, it look like it arced over to that crane, over at the construction site at Fin there, and there was another massive bolt that came down right after it, right over top of the dive shop,” said Nick Curtis.

From his bicycle on Memorial Drive, he had a different vantage point.

“I didn’t see it actually get hit, we were just talking with the neighbors, they said there was a little bit of a fireball, and a big puff of smoke,” said Mr. Curtis.

Both Mr. Curtis and Ms. Mann told Cayman 27 the vessel itself is still structurally intact, but a fire extinguisher and some electrical components were destroyed.

“We’ve got to replace the wiring harness, we’re going to need a new radio, a new antenna,” said Mr. Curtis.

“All of the wiring behind the helm station is completely melted and the wires have actually burnt through and detached themselves completely,” said Ms. Mann.

“It was definitely a shocking start to the morning,” quipped Mr. Curtis.

All joking aside, staff at the dive centre are acutely aware that the scenario could have played out much differently.

“Thankfully nobody was out on the boat just yet,” said Ms. Mann.

“We are just blessed, blessed that no one was on board and no one was hurt,” said Mr. Curtis.

By early afternoon calm had been restored and guests could be seen snorkeling on the house reef.

Don Foster’s Dive Cayman said some rewiring will be necessary to get Cayman Sky back up and running. The boat is expected to be out of service for just a few days.

 

[KathyV]

This article in Undercurrent is from 2007 and it talks about the danger of lightning strikes for divers and advises staying off and away from the water when lightning threatens, and for 30 minutes before and after strikes. It also says that "potentially, lightning is the biggest weather danger for divers."

The article also gives advice for what to do when you are on a boat during a lightning storm, see below.

https://www.undercurrent.org/UCnow/dive_magazine/2007/LightningStrikes200709.html

When Lightning Strikes During a Dive

from the September, 2007 issue of Undercurrent

Florida gets more lightning strikes than any other state, and its most recent victim was diver Stephen Wilson, 36, who died in July when a lightning strike hit his tank. Despite a severe thunderstorm warning being in effect, Wilson went diving with three friends in a small boat near Deerfield Beach, 40 miles north of Miami. Wilson had resurfaced 30 feet from the boat when the lightning bolt struck his tank and knocked him unconscious. The other divers struggled to get Wilson back into the boat and radioed for help, but to no avail. He was pronounced dead from electrocution minutes later.

While 75 percent of fatalities by lightning strikes in the U.S. are in open fields or near trees, 12 percent take place in or near the water, in boats and on docks. So potentially, lightning is the biggest weather danger for divers.

Oceans rarely attract lightning because the surface water does not heat up enough to cause the positive charge needed for lightning to occur. Also, water is always the lowest object around, compared to land’s higher elevations and warmer temperatures. But the main problem for divers is that water is a good conductor of electricity, therefore the current of a lightning strike can be carried through water for significant distances. The last jump of a forming lightning bolt is only 100 to 150 feet long, so lightning can strike water more than 150 feet from shore and even if you are considerably below the surface, you can still get electrocuted. However, because the surface of a lake isn’t covered with dead fish after it’s struck suggests the current weakens in short distances.

But what precautions should a diver take while caught in a storm? Are you safer in the water than in the boat? If shore diving, should you stay in the water or go ashore? When I took my basic certification course in the 70’s, we were told to get out of the water in a lightning storm and, better yet, didn’t dive if lightning threatened. Today, however, diving courses are shorter than ever so the question of what to do about lightning is often ignored. PADI’s Open Water manual has no reference to lightning or storms.

Jed Livingston, vice president of training for NAUI, says it’s an obscure risk so there’s no need to cover it in courses. “It might be in our First Aid book but it discusses how to treat an electrical burn. We assume divers already learned what to do a long time ago during their swimming class in school.” Scuba Schools International leaves it up to the instructors’ discretion, says training director Dennis Pulley. “Those who live in areas more affected by lightning are more likely to discuss it with students than those who don’t.”

Lightning is likely to strike the highest thing around so if you’re on the water during a storm, the boat and everyone in it are prime targets. Diving underwater may not be an option because lightning can be even more deadly when its electricity flows through the waves. Underwater caves can be an especially dangerous location. Two cave divers were shocked by lightning while diving in Florida’s Ginnie Springs Cave. They were 900 feet from the entrance when lightning struck - - twice - - but they survived.

If the forecast is for thunderstorms, don’t go out on the water. Or you should return to shore before the storm arrives. If you’re out diving and can see lightning or hear thunder, you’re already at risk for a lightning strike. If the clouds are coming your way, it’s time to head for shore. If you see lightning, the flash-to-bang method can also help determine whether lightning is moving closer (sound travels about one mile every five seconds).

If you’re in a boat during a storm, David Sawatzky, M.D., medical columnist for the Canadian magazine DIVER, says it’s best to huddle in the middle of the boat as far as possible from water, electrical equipment, radios and anything metal. Lower the antenna and anything else sticking up on the boat. If there is a lightning protection system on the boat, don’t touch it.

The ultimate advice is to avoid diving or being in or near water during a storm, and 30 minutes before and after it hits. And don’t sit out on the dock or climb to the top of the boat to enjoy the lightning show.

 

[Schwob]

Years and years back I recall a lively discussion on wether sailboats (tall, mostly very conductive masts) are better or worse off spending money on grounding all well to the water. The arguments pro being as I recall that one would limit the damage to nesr that path of discharge. The arguments against having been that that better discharge parh is just going to increase the chance of a strike and damage is unavoidable if hit. That seemed a bit odd to me for a lonely boat (only mast) in a large sea and maybe make more sense in harbor, but... I don't know and did not keep up reading if there ever was a clearcut answer...
but one thing I got out of it:
There is nothing really obscure about the risk to be struck by lightning. If I was a teaching agency, I would cover it (Not understanding the Naui person quoted in the above undercurrent article citation).

 

[Wookie]

I don't know many boats that have not been struck, the Spree did many times. It usually fried the Single Sideband radio before going to ground. I was onboard twice for that. It's really loud.