We lost a Norcal abalone diver Nov 21, 2009

[mdb]

-------Terra Linda resident and an experienced abalone diver, drowned Sunday while diving off the Sonoma County coast with one of his sons, his wife said Monday.

---------- said she received a call from her son at 2:45 p.m. Sunday with the news. He told her that large waves "came out of nowhere" as they were on their way back to shore at Horseshoe Cove, part of Salt Point State Park.

---------reached shore first and realized his father was struggling, so he went back into the surf.

"--------- said he was able to grab him but couldn't pull him in. "-----is strong and has amazing will, so that tells you how rough it was.

An autopsy to determine the cause of death is to be completed Tuesday by the Sonoma County Coroner's Office, a spokeswoman said.

 

[cruiser]

Also--

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office received a call at 1:06 p.m. of a subject floating face-down in the water near Horseshoe Cove. A helicopter was sent and a 100-foot rescue line was strapped around the unconscious man. He was airlifted to the top of a nearby bluff and declared dead.

Tom Stone, a 35-year abalone diver from Novato who operates Bamboo Reef Dive Center in Terra Linda, said six or seven people die each year while abalone diving on the Northern California coast. Most diving is done in 15 to 30 feet of water. Air tanks are not permitted.

The abalone season runs from start of April to the end of November with July off.

How does the "strap around the unconscious man" work? Is there a gurney supporting his body? Just sounds painful.

 

[Cave Diver]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Condolences can be expressed here: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/passings/313117-remembrance-brian-dinday-nov-21-2009-a.html

A facts post will be added soon.

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Thanks in advance,

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Known Facts:

• Victim was a 62 y/o Male, Brian Dinday.
• Victim was separated from his 30 y/o son in heavy waves during abalone hunting.
• Rescue helicopter was dispatched to Horseshoe Cove in Salt Point State Park around 1 p.m.
• Victim was lifted to the top of the bluff surrounding the cove and pronounced dead.

 

[Grover48]

It depends on the type of harness. There is a three point harness that looks and works like and is called a diaper harness. there is a harness that goes around each leg with a chest attachment. Both would require someone in the water to hook them up to the victim.

 

[Teamcasa]

New Info:
Criminal Defense Lawyer Dies While Abalone Diving at Horseshoe Cove

SONOMA COUNTY (BCN) -- The Sonoma County coroner's office has identified 62-year-old San Rafael resident Brian Dinday as the diver who died at Horseshoe Cove on the Sonoma County coast Sunday afternoon.

Dinday, a criminal defense and personal injury lawyer with offices in San Rafael and San Francisco, was abalone diving with his 30-year-old son Matthew when they were caught by surprise by heavy waves, Dinday's wife Mary said Monday morning.

Matthew tried to rescue his father and made contact with him but the waves carried the elder Dinday farther from shore. Matthew was able to make it back to shore, Mary Dinday said, “They were both good divers. They always checked the weather. The waves started quickly. They didn't expect them.”

Her husband had dived for many years, but gave it up for a while, she said. He had resumed diving about two years ago. Her son Matthew informed her about her husband's death at about 2:45 p.m. Sunday, she said.

The Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter Henry-1 was dispatched to try to rescue Dinday at about 1 p.m. at Horseshoe Cove in Salt Point State Park.

Dinday was partially out of the water when they arrived, Sgt. Dave Thompson said. Pilot Paul Bradley and paramedic Scott Westrope used a 100-foot long-line rope attached to the underside of the helicopter to retrieve Dinday's body.

Dinday was flown to the top of the bluffs surrounding the cove and was pronounced dead at 1:08 p.m.

 

[Peter_C]

I do not know anyone from our crew who would have tried to go diving on the North Coast this past weekend.

 

[Bob DBF]

It depends on the type of harness. There is a three point harness that looks and works like and is called a diaper harness. there is a harness that goes around each leg with a chest attachment. Both would require someone in the water to hook them up to the victim.

Pilot Paul Bradley and paramedic Scott Westrope used a 100-foot long-line rope attached to the underside of the helicopter to retrieve Dinday's body.

The paramedic hangs at the bottom of the line and the pilot sets him by the victim in the water, on a cliff, anywhere / anytime a rescue needs to be done. The pilot does it by the seat of his pants, a thing of beauty to behold.

Bob