I realize this is a snorkeling fatality and not diving related, but since many of us have friends and family who snorkel while we go out diving, I think it raises an interesting point about snorkeling in very remote areas.
Apparently a young woman was snorkeling at a resort, which just happened to be less than 50 miles from a crocodile sanctuary. Apparently no warning signs were posted and the snorkeler was not warned by resort staff.
It was a tragic incident that for most came out of the blue. Very few had thought of the possibility of a crocodile attach on Havelock Island.
The young lady was in fact snorkeling and not diving or skindiving. She went in the water together with her boyfriend. The water was unusually warm and there was a very low tide. The crocodile attached when she swam past it and the boyfriend was able to capture part of the incident with his camera.
A large search party went out to find the crocodile and the body. Both was found and the body was brought in for cremation. Foreign and Indian experts on salt water crocodiles came in to investigate what had happened and to help trace the crocodile who had left the place they saw it when the body was found. As salt water crocodiles are classed as endangered animals in India a permit to catch it had been applied for as well. It was granted and after a month it was caught and now have a new home in the Port Blair Zoo.
Everyone knew there were salt water crocodiles in Andaman Islands, but as none had ever been seen near or on Havelock Island no warning signs were put up. As now one have been there information will be given in some shape or form to tourists.
The incident was tragic, but statistically it is unclear if crocodiles or falling coconuts actually pose the largest threat to tourists on Havelock Island. Everyone who visit Andaman Islands should have the risk of crocodiles in mind, but it is not so that a visit to the islands went from no fear to all fear overnight here.
The number of crocodiles will now be kept under control by the Forest Department, and the outmost will be done to make sure attacks do not happen again. Experts say it was a freak but tragic accident, as it happened in daylight in more or less open sea. That is very unusual crocodile behavior.
It can be said that number of customers who went diving in the month after the incident was far higher than the same month a year before. The pre-bookings for next season are also far higher than the year before. The government have decided to support the dive business on Havelock Island so no banning have happened.
I work on Havelock Island in the season by the way.
It was a tragic accident and I my deepest sympathy to her family.