Posted on 9/10/2006, 3:18:47 PM by driftdiver
TWO American tourists are lucky to be alive after they went missing from a diving boat in northern Queensland, in what could have become a tragic repeat of the disappearance of another US couple in 1998.
The man, 40, and woman, 38, who are believed to be married, were seen in the waters near Lizard Island by a Cairns rescue helicopter hours after they were reported missing from the Nimrod Explorer on Friday. Emergency services were contacted at 6.55pm after the pair failed to resurface from their fourth dive of the day.
A Dive Queensland spokeswoman said the couple were experienced divers on a relatively simple drift dive, where divers jump into the water and allow the current to move them along.
"The operator and the rest of the passengers were pretty ecstatic [on hearing the good news]," she said. "Unfortunately, the two divers went ahead of their dive leader and lost contact with them.
"By the time they surfaced, they realised they had drifted away from the vessel and the current was still too strong for them to get back to the boat.
(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...
Judging from your screen name I gather that you know something about this sort of thing. Preparation is the key in most survival situations.
"Judging from your screen name I gather that you know something about this sort of thing. Preparation is the key in most survival situations."
Not an expert but considering my screen name I just had to post this article. :)
Amazing how a $2 item literally saved their lives.
Australia sounds like a good place NOT to go swimming.
I think I'll stay on shore eating shrimp and drinking their really good wines and fighting off the voracious and dangerous Australian women. ( Well I can dream can't I?)
Certainly possible and I think a small number of people use them. Not too likely they'll become widly used. Would just be one thing more for people to manage under water throwing their boyancy off.
They really aren't necessary when people do what they are supposed to. You're supposed to stay with someone who has a float. The float is attached to a line that you drag along. Not as hugh tech as the beacon but a lot cheaper. All the boat captain has to do is keep the floats in sight.
the Nimrod Explorer
A buddy of mine was trolling (for fish) and hooked his line(heavy duty, 30lb test+) on a float from a diver. He though he'd hooked the biggest fish in his life :).
"A buddy of mine was trolling (for fish) and hooked his line(heavy duty, 30lb test+) on a float from a diver. He though he'd hooked the biggest fish in his life :)."
Probably scared the heck outta the diver. I've gotten tangled in the stuff, almost invisible underwater.
My understanding was that the diver was pretty angry, but they invited him on board, went to the guy's little boat, lashed it along side, had a bbq and some laughs.
" My understanding was that the diver was pretty angry, but they invited him on board, went to the guy's little boat, lashed it along side, had a bbq and some laughs."
Condering they almost killed him I think he has a right to be angry. Especially since boats arent supposed to be within 300 ft of the flag he was towing.
My first reaction, too.
Nimrod.....hehe....hehehe.
Okay, did he get to keep the diver or did he have to throw him back? I imagine it would be really difficult to get one mounted.
heh. Far as I know, they still keep in touch. The Diver's wife probably would have objected to the "mounting"
"before I am too old for the very long airplane flight."
I know what you mean. Did you know that they actually have ships (freighters) to Australia. A long voyage and not especially cheap, but possible.
Lizard Island sounds wonderful. Thanks for the tip.
I like your tag line too. You should send it to George Bush and the Dims.
Glow sticks are nice, but I used to have a flair duct-taped to my leg knife.
I found diving to be a fantastic sport, but it's not a sport for those who don't bother to prepare for the unexpected.
I have had to pull more dead divers from the water than I care to count. Generally, they died because were not prepared, or they panicked.
Flair= flare!
"Glow sticks are nice, but I used to have a flare duct-taped to my leg knife."
Most of my diving is near shore in low current conditions. In the Florida keys or Australia I could see where a flare would be a good idea.
"I have had to pull more dead divers from the water than I care to count. Generally, they died because were not prepared, or they panicked."
Lotta people let their egos, poor judgement, or friends pressure them into something beyond their abilities. People also forget that mother nature is gonna beat them everytime if they don't follow the rules.
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