View Full Version : Sound of Mull Three incidents in a week
A reminder for us all to take care out there. There have been three incidents reported this week in the Sound of Mull.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/search/display.var.2505803.0.diver_is_rescued_off_mull.ph p
http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s090501b.html
http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s090501.html
That's shocking to read :(
It happens, but lets hope there's not any more :o
It happens, but lets hope there's not any more :o
That's really shocking, another death on the Rondo. There tends to be a spate of incidents around April/May; is it something to do with the beginning of the dive season? Perhaps some of the more experienced divers on this site, could give us an explanation, lessons to be learned?
Sad news indeed :(
That's really shocking, another death on the Rondo. There tends to be a spate of incidents around April/May; is it something to do with the beginning of the dive season? Perhaps some of the more experienced divers on this site, could give us an explanation, lessons to be learned?
It has been noted that there seems to be a spate this time every year. Would appear to be folk dusting off the gear after the winter then jumping into the same depths they where diving when they hung it up for winter.
Obviously a major generalisation and I can't speak for any incidents in particular.
But if you have not been in the water for a while* then depth should be built up
*the length of "a while" is open to discussion...
In my opinion, and I'm not talking about these two deaths in particular, but I think it does coincide with the start of the new diving season. Not all divers dive all year round and some only dive at inland quarries with no current or the other hazards of open water. Age and physical fitness are other factors.
It closely resembles the motorcycling season, a lot of deaths happen early in the season (which as happened this year also), people remember what they were riding like during October the last time they were out.
It's sad, but it acts as a reminder to us all and we should always learn from our mistakes.
Interestingly enough though most car drivers/motorcyclists don't see any risk in the way they drive because the way they drive goes unpunished. i.e. they don't crash every time they make a mistake, so they don't learn from their mistakes. Whos used a mobile telephone while driving and ran wide on a corner or been in the wrong gear for a roundabout? It doesn't stop you from using the phone! Again I think that could be related to diving.
Please note I'm not talking about the incidents over the last week but diving incidents in general.
pays your money takes your chance
dive granny
04-05-09, 23:00
That is scary news indeed.That is why I do what I feel comfortable with.:o
I've posted this link before (with Christine's permission) but I think it bears repeating. Although the particular incident was on a rebreather the basic sentiment applies to us all, so please everyone, read at least the first and last posts on this thread, and make sure you all get home for dinner :(
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/general-diving-news/11110-right-you-lot-take-notice-chrissie.html
Yogi Diver
05-05-09, 07:51
I've posted this link before (with Christine's permission) but I think it bears repeating. Although the particular incident was on a rebreather the basic sentiment applies to us all, so please everyone, read at least the first and last posts on this thread, and make sure you all get home for dinner :(
http://www.rebreatherworld.com/general-diving-news/11110-right-you-lot-take-notice-chrissie.html
Wow. That brings it all home doesn't it? I defy anyone to read that and not be moved by it.
Yup it was a real smack in the face when I first chanced across it :( I now keep a laminated copy of the first post in my kit up box and when I have had the pleasure of signing people off as qualified I let them read a copy as a reminder of the risks of what we do.
I've only ever dealt with Christine by email but she seems a quite remarkable woman. I would ask, if anyone replies to the thread that they exercise due tact and courtesy if they mention her husband (I know you all will, but just in case!)
Safe diving to all of you.
GS
dive granny
05-05-09, 15:13
That was very moving. I got shivers reading it.
Very moving reading that :(
And I do think as some have said that to an extent the large number of divers suddenly hitting the water on the Easter club outing after 6 months not diving is responsible for a disproportionately high number of incidents compared to other times of the year.Take any of the wrecks in the Sound Of Mull for example (not saying a lay-off from diving caused any of these recent incidents,just using the Sound Of Mull as an example)... a lot of us dive regularly and are dive-fit, but imagine jumping in for a deepie on The Rondo after 6 months not diving, or pulling yourself down the shot to The Hispania against a stong current when you haven't been in the water for half a year.
Sadly they have just announced on the BBC website that the 3rd diver, who was airlifted to Aberdeen, has died.
Sadly they have just announced on the BBC website that the 3rd diver, who was airlifted to Aberdeen, has died.
It never fails to move me and I'm sure it's the same for all of us when we read of events such as this. I'm sure all our thoughts are with their loved ones!
THere was an April / May like this a few years ago ... was it 2002? when there were a load of deaths in very quick succession. Really sickening. :(
a sad week for the diving world.
Angela Robson
01-03-10, 12:23
I remember that week, I was there with RoHo Dive Club during the May Bank Holiday. It wasn't the best news to hear when your there!
Diving Now
02-06-11, 13:10
I dived at SOM in 2009, and whilst on the boat out to the first site, i got chatting to a guy from our club that I didn't know that well.
He mentioned that he set his computer to a conservative mode, and I made a slightly dumb comment about getting a bend.
He then told me that he'd had one already, and was keen to avoid it. And as you do we had a bit of a laugh and a joke about it.
Yes, you guessed it, second dive of the day, he got another one.
Now I have to say that having had one already, his actions were not the smartest, but long story short, he was put on O2 when we got back to shore, and the guys at Lochaline Dive centre could not have been more helpful, helping us out with O2, and calling the coastguard, and helping us getting him to the RNLI boat that came for him, in by that time some really foul weather.
We (the rest of the group) discussed it that night, and there is nothing in terms of the dives that he did wrong, or that we could have done differently, within practicality.
He got the best prompt care from the authorities and with no finger pointing or accusations.
You could say 'its just one of those things'. We take a risk every time we dive, but we manage those risks with good training, and suitable kit. If its going to happen its going to happen, but isn't it fantastic, that even with all that effort, when an accident happens, we know, the coastguard, and RNLI will come for us, and that others in the diving community will bend over backwards, to help us out.
Angela Robson
06-06-11, 15:49
I remember those 3 incidents well. I too was diving the SoM in May 2009, the same weekend to be precise.
It was my first ever trip to SoM, and I have to say, it scared me to think that these incidents were happening around us. Thankfully everyone from my trip made it home incident free.