Nice timing. Who could ask for better publicity? Coming to a theater near you.
Missing Diver incident
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IndigoBlue
Contributor
The Orange County Calif missing diver story has made its way from ScubaBoard and the local SoCal boards, to the local SoCal evening news, to the U.S. national evening news, and now also to the CNN world news. It has such a happy ending, with Boy Scout youth heroes and all, that it has become irresistable to the media.
Question is, would you want to trade places right now with the dive boat captain, the boat D/M, or the scuba store involved in the chartered trip? Probably not.
Question is, would you want to trade places right now with the dive boat captain, the boat D/M, or the scuba store involved in the chartered trip? Probably not.
IndigoBlue:
I can't believe how many people have forwarded me links to the CNN story today, since they know I dive in SoCal.
I'm still really curious how the guy got marked as going back in the water. One of my friend suggested it was probably a case of "I don't see him on the boat, so he must have gone into the water..."
maj2
Contributor
Forgotten diver saved by Boy Scout
This article appeared on CNN earlier today. The text will follow. Not a lot of details on the actual dive, but sounds like a good study on buddy separation (15 minutes before calling the dive??- no wonder he ended 400ft down current!), as well as for boat procedures.
Thankfully, he was picked up befre it was too late.
NEWPORT BEACH, California (AP) -- A recreational diver forgotten at sea by a boat crew drifted five hours and prayed for his life before a Boy Scout on an excursion aboard a century-old ship spotted him.
Dan Carlock, 45, was left by his diving group Sunday as he drifted for hours about seven miles offshore.
He noted the time of day on his small, waterproof writing slate and took photographs of himself to document that he'd made it to the surface.
Carlock, a former Boy Scout, recalled his survival manual: Stay calm. Think methodically. Still, he worried about how his parents would react to his death.
He said he prayed "God, I don't want to die," and "I want to be saved. I need your help."
The spacecraft engineer for Boeing Satellite Systems and three dive buddies entered the water at about 8:45 a.m. Sunday, but Carlock had problems equalizing the pressure in his ears and he fell behind. He tried following his partners' bubbles, but he lost them.
He decided to end the dive after 15 minutes, but he was 400 feet down current from an oil platform where the boat was anchored. He blew his whistle to attract attention.
"I figured when the dive was over they would realize I was missing and come looking for me," Carlock said.
But they never came. The boat left and headed for a shipwreck six miles southeast of the entrance to the Port of Los Angeles, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Collin Croft.
Five hours later, crew trainee Zack Mayberry, 15, stood watch on the stern of the tall ship Argus, which was full of Boy Scouts. The ship had changed course because of heavy fog.
Mayberry saw something in the water and grabbed his binoculars: About 150 yards away, Carlock's head was sticking out of the water. Mayberry handed the binoculars to a friend.
"I wanted to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me," Mayberry said.
The San Diego Boy Scout troop had drilled the rescue procedure the previous day and the rescue operation began. A small motorboat was sent to pluck Carlock from the sea and he was brought aboard.
Coast Guard officials Tuesday said they were investigating why Carlock was left behind, then not reported missing until his group reached the second dive location at 12:03 p.m.
The Coast Guard, recreational diving instructors, Long Beach lifeguards and Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel searched for Carlock near the second dive location until learning of the rescue.
Ocean Adventures Dive Co. owner Steve Ladd said he was trying to figure out what happened.
This article appeared on CNN earlier today. The text will follow. Not a lot of details on the actual dive, but sounds like a good study on buddy separation (15 minutes before calling the dive??- no wonder he ended 400ft down current!), as well as for boat procedures.
Thankfully, he was picked up befre it was too late.
NEWPORT BEACH, California (AP) -- A recreational diver forgotten at sea by a boat crew drifted five hours and prayed for his life before a Boy Scout on an excursion aboard a century-old ship spotted him.
Dan Carlock, 45, was left by his diving group Sunday as he drifted for hours about seven miles offshore.
He noted the time of day on his small, waterproof writing slate and took photographs of himself to document that he'd made it to the surface.
Carlock, a former Boy Scout, recalled his survival manual: Stay calm. Think methodically. Still, he worried about how his parents would react to his death.
He said he prayed "God, I don't want to die," and "I want to be saved. I need your help."
The spacecraft engineer for Boeing Satellite Systems and three dive buddies entered the water at about 8:45 a.m. Sunday, but Carlock had problems equalizing the pressure in his ears and he fell behind. He tried following his partners' bubbles, but he lost them.
He decided to end the dive after 15 minutes, but he was 400 feet down current from an oil platform where the boat was anchored. He blew his whistle to attract attention.
"I figured when the dive was over they would realize I was missing and come looking for me," Carlock said.
But they never came. The boat left and headed for a shipwreck six miles southeast of the entrance to the Port of Los Angeles, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Collin Croft.
Five hours later, crew trainee Zack Mayberry, 15, stood watch on the stern of the tall ship Argus, which was full of Boy Scouts. The ship had changed course because of heavy fog.
Mayberry saw something in the water and grabbed his binoculars: About 150 yards away, Carlock's head was sticking out of the water. Mayberry handed the binoculars to a friend.
"I wanted to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me," Mayberry said.
The San Diego Boy Scout troop had drilled the rescue procedure the previous day and the rescue operation began. A small motorboat was sent to pluck Carlock from the sea and he was brought aboard.
Coast Guard officials Tuesday said they were investigating why Carlock was left behind, then not reported missing until his group reached the second dive location at 12:03 p.m.
The Coast Guard, recreational diving instructors, Long Beach lifeguards and Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel searched for Carlock near the second dive location until learning of the rescue.
Ocean Adventures Dive Co. owner Steve Ladd said he was trying to figure out what happened.
IndigoBlue
Contributor
alaity47:
You can bet that is the part the peeves the U.S. Coast Guard the most! Especially since it resulted in making the Boy Scouts of America look like a more effective coastal rescue squadron than the big boys on the cutters are.
As always, following an incident of any magnitude, people will immediately begin to apportion blame.
Having read all the above posts, which were interesting and had some excellent points, I have come to a conclusion. You may not agree with it, but I feel it has to be aired.
On the dive ...
1. The boat was anchored. The diver surfaced early, attempted to contact the boat. He then decided to WAIT, in a CURRENT that was taking him away from the boat.
Why did he not take a compass bearing, descend 10 to 15 feet, and fin towards the boat for ten minutes? Upon re-surfacing he would have been nearer, and probably would have caught their attention.
Instead he used his whistle. Why not his lungs, and SHOUT! Surface location aids are readily available accessories, but many divers don't make that purchase, and consider it unnecessary.
Initially the diver lost the boat, not the other way around, as the boat was anchored.
2. I would love to know from Dazedone if the lost diver was too unfit to make that swim back in safety. Was he noticeably overweight? Being so may have decided him to wait on the surface.
Also, I wonder if it was the first time that the diver strayed a safe diving distance from a cover boat? When he dives is he aware of what direction a current is taking him from his point of entry? Has he taken a bearing before he descends, or is he a diver that justs follows the leader?
If he separates from the leader, is he then in control of HIS dive?
I believe that lost diver should take a long, hard look at his training up to this point, and take remedial action where necessary.
Contributory negligence may be an issue here.
The bottom line - any diver who dives offshore should be prepared through equipment, and training, to deal with situations that may arise in such environments. If one does arise, and he has taken all reasonable steps to ensure his safety, by having the proper equipment and by following safe dive procedures, then all liability would transfer to the carrier.
3. I do, of course, believe that the carrier - Sundiver in this case - was ultimately responsible for the diver's safety visa vie his not being accounted for - TWICE!
But up to the point of the boat's weighing anchor, some responsibility must attach to the diver in the water.
Would I dive from this boat?
Most certainly! This is one boat where an incident like this is virtually guaranteed not to happen again!!
But I will be sure to bring my usual DSMB, mirror, EPIRB and DiveAlert with me. Not to mention my compass and a strong voicebox.
Dive safely.
Seadeuce
Having read all the above posts, which were interesting and had some excellent points, I have come to a conclusion. You may not agree with it, but I feel it has to be aired.
On the dive ...
1. The boat was anchored. The diver surfaced early, attempted to contact the boat. He then decided to WAIT, in a CURRENT that was taking him away from the boat.
Why did he not take a compass bearing, descend 10 to 15 feet, and fin towards the boat for ten minutes? Upon re-surfacing he would have been nearer, and probably would have caught their attention.
Instead he used his whistle. Why not his lungs, and SHOUT! Surface location aids are readily available accessories, but many divers don't make that purchase, and consider it unnecessary.
Initially the diver lost the boat, not the other way around, as the boat was anchored.
2. I would love to know from Dazedone if the lost diver was too unfit to make that swim back in safety. Was he noticeably overweight? Being so may have decided him to wait on the surface.
Also, I wonder if it was the first time that the diver strayed a safe diving distance from a cover boat? When he dives is he aware of what direction a current is taking him from his point of entry? Has he taken a bearing before he descends, or is he a diver that justs follows the leader?
If he separates from the leader, is he then in control of HIS dive?
I believe that lost diver should take a long, hard look at his training up to this point, and take remedial action where necessary.
Contributory negligence may be an issue here.
The bottom line - any diver who dives offshore should be prepared through equipment, and training, to deal with situations that may arise in such environments. If one does arise, and he has taken all reasonable steps to ensure his safety, by having the proper equipment and by following safe dive procedures, then all liability would transfer to the carrier.
3. I do, of course, believe that the carrier - Sundiver in this case - was ultimately responsible for the diver's safety visa vie his not being accounted for - TWICE!
But up to the point of the boat's weighing anchor, some responsibility must attach to the diver in the water.
Would I dive from this boat?
Most certainly! This is one boat where an incident like this is virtually guaranteed not to happen again!!
But I will be sure to bring my usual DSMB, mirror, EPIRB and DiveAlert with me. Not to mention my compass and a strong voicebox.
Dive safely.
Seadeuce
kelpmermaid
Contributor
Seadeuce, despite the way it is reported in the article, oil rig dives here are done live-boat. The boat would not have been anchored - it's a long way to the bottom... One enters the water from the boat and swims over to the rig structure.
There is no "leader" to follow. There is, however, a signficant structure. When I've done oil rig dives, the dive briefing has usually included instructions about maintaining contact with the rig at all times, and tucking in behind the structure if current is strong. I wonder what the briefing included on this trip?
There is no "leader" to follow. There is, however, a signficant structure. When I've done oil rig dives, the dive briefing has usually included instructions about maintaining contact with the rig at all times, and tucking in behind the structure if current is strong. I wonder what the briefing included on this trip?
Seadeuce, despite the way it is reported in the article, oil rig dives here are done live-boat. The boat would not have been anchored - it's a long way to the bottom... One enters the water from the boat and swims over to the rig structure.
Thanks Kelpermaid.
Yes, the pre-dive brief should have included advice to stick to the only large identifiable structure for miles around.
Sorry for the sarcasm, but where does commonsense enter the equation?
Surely the boat dropped the divers upcurrent from the rig?
If so, how could he have missed it? Big enough to take a bearing from in any case.
I don't mean to "hammer" this guy. but I feel I must point out the consequences of not being fully prepared for remote, offshore divesites in significant currents.
Being carried away was a wholly foreseeable situation.
Being left there was definitely not.
Seadeuce
Thanks Kelpermaid.
Yes, the pre-dive brief should have included advice to stick to the only large identifiable structure for miles around.
Sorry for the sarcasm, but where does commonsense enter the equation?
Surely the boat dropped the divers upcurrent from the rig?
If so, how could he have missed it? Big enough to take a bearing from in any case.
I don't mean to "hammer" this guy. but I feel I must point out the consequences of not being fully prepared for remote, offshore divesites in significant currents.
Being carried away was a wholly foreseeable situation.
Being left there was definitely not.
Seadeuce
Willar
Contributor
Check this out!
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/04/29/forgotten.diver.ap/index.html
Diver left at the dive site. Blows whistle but now one hears it. Man, I'm getting a safety sausage, but I don't know that it would help in this situation. What the H*LL happened to his dive buddy?
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/West/04/29/forgotten.diver.ap/index.html
Diver left at the dive site. Blows whistle but now one hears it. Man, I'm getting a safety sausage, but I don't know that it would help in this situation. What the H*LL happened to his dive buddy?
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