Spear fishing near miss after unmanned boat goes drifting

[BlueTrin]

Florida Skin Divers Association

Saturday, November 2, 2019 started out as any other planned, leisurely spearfishing trip out in the Gulf of Mexico for Florida Skin Divers Association members Michael Yagmin, Melody Shearin Engle and close friend of theirs. As it goes with many trips offshore doing what many of us love to do (dive and spear fish), things didn’t go as planned. At one of their spots along the gas pipeline about 25 miles offshore, Mike set the anchor on his 42-foot boat and they all geared up for the dive in calm surface conditions. At the bottom, Mike reset the anchor from the sand to the large boulders that were along the pipeline for added security. During the dive Mike realized that the anchor had slipped, and everybody surfaced together. Upon surfacing the three immediately knew that they were in big trouble. The surface conditions had changed causing the anchor to come free, and the boat was far on the horizon. Their only hope was for the anchor to grab and for one of them to catch the boat. Melody was the strongest swimmer and there were several times where she wanted to quit, but in her mind, she didn’t have a choice. She could not let Mike and her friend down. Using this determination, Melody battled those conditions for 3 hours, ultimately reaching the drifting boat which according to the boat GPS, had drifted almost 3 miles. She immediately called the Coast Guard on the VHF radio and relayed to them that she had two divers still in the water, not knowing their condition. The Coast Guard deployed two helicopters, a C-130 aircraft and a 45-foot rescue boat. By this time, surface conditions ranged from 5 to 6-foot waves, and some bigger. By coordinating with and following heading instructions from Melody, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew spotted Mike and hoisted him into safety after swimming for 4 hours. A U.S. Coast Guard Sector St Petersburg 45-foot Motor Lifeboat rescued her friend and pulled her to safety after drifting for 5 hours. Mike suffered severe leg cramping and her friend had mild hypothermia from being in the water. Scuba diving and spearfishing are high risk sports and we all can learn from each other and from events like this one. What counts here is that everyone is safe. As a direct result from Melody’s heroic actions and her physical and mental fortitude, and swift support from the US Coast Guard, all three friends are safe and back home with their family and friends. “We are very grateful for the US Coast Guard and their fast response. With sunset approaching, if Melody had not reached the boat the outcome could have been very different for all of us”, said Mike. Pictured below is a photo taken by Melody as the Coast Guard is airlifting Mike to safety.

 

[CuzzA]

Melody saved everyone's life and her athleticism is probably unmatched by 75% of guys who dive everyday. That said, on our FB group she admitted how over time with their experience they became complacent. Breaking unwritten rules and neglecting the little things, like her Nautilus left in the gear bag on the boat.

If you're hell bent on diving on an unmanned boat, you better have a PLB on you, IMO. Some crews run their boat that way and I've participated, but I have a PLB on me every dive.

 

[BlueTrin]

Melody saved everyone's life and her athleticism is probably unmatched by 75% of guys who dive everyday. That said, on our FB group she admitted how over time with their experience they became complacent. Breaking unwritten rules and neglecting the little things, like her Nautilus left in the gear bag on the boat.

If you're hell bent on diving on an unmanned boat, you better have a PLB on you, IMO. Some crews run their boat that way and I've participated, but I have a PLB on me every dive.

Out of curiosity which PLB do you use ? And if you were to buy a new one which one would you buy ?

 

[Diver below 83]

Out of curiosity which PLB do you use ? And if you were to buy a new one which one would you buy ?

X2

 

[CuzzA]

I have the previous model ResQLink+ PLB and a Mylar hood cut off from a thermal blanket poncho in a CustomDivers canister. This kit goes in a Dive Gear Express (or XS Scuba) lift bag sleeve mounted under my wing. I also carry an 8 foot Piranha Dive Mfg. DSMB in the sleeve as well as a 3 foot DSMB for various utilities. Having deployed both before waiting for boat pickup it was nice to rest my arms over the 3 footer and use the 8 footer for signaling. In 4 ft. seas that meant my 8 footer was only showing about 3 feet. From a distance of a quarter mile, it was just enough to get spotted.

If I were buying a PLB today I would buy ACR's latest PLB which was released a few months ago.

 

[johndiver999]

Everyone jumping in and leaving the boat 25 miles offshore is something I will not do on scuba. Did she ditch her scuba gear for the swim?

 

[Rooster59]

There aren't many who can swim 3 miles. Melody, this Bud's for you