The first thing I noticed about this place was that although the gear was set out for us, there was no help at all in loading it into the boat. We did this ourselves and my brother and I made sure that every ones regs, weights and tanks were properly stowed in the tiny craft which was not even outfitted for divers. That should have been the first clue and I didn't give this much thought until later. Upon arriving at the site, the dive master informed us that our dive would be short and that he would be back in about thirty minutes. He was not staying with us! He then informed us that the wreck we'd be diving on was in an area that boats were not permitted in and even pointed out a large sign at the mouth of the small cove which stated just that. Because of this, he said, there was no need for a dive flag. The dive master then informed us that there was a chain which led from our get in point all the way to the wreck. We would get in, swim to said wreck, take a short look around and then return back to our point of entry which was a small dock. So far this sounded simple enough.
The dive master then said that the weather had been rainy and windy so the visibility beneath the surface was clouded and low. I asked him were exactly the guide chain would be found. He told me it was right on the bottom and that if we could not locate it, we shouldn't be diving. I thought this was kind of rude but I just let it go at that. We had five very inexperienced divers in our group and with the dive master saying things like that and being generally unhelpful all around, I was sort of glad to see him leave. Although I had never dived this area before, I felt that with my brother's experience as well as my own, we were in safe and good hands. After all this was just going to be a very short and shallow dive.
When all of us were ready to get in, Mike and I decided that I would lead while he followed the group. Four eyes are always better then two and this would make it easier to keep everyone together anyway. With that being said, the dive was begun. When all of us were together at the surface, I descended first to find the chain which was supposed to be right there beneath us. Well....it was definitely there but I had to reach down into the silt bottom to feel around for it and pull it up. With the chain now visible, we were ready to head out to the wreck. Every few feet or so, I would reach down into the mud bottom so that we could continue using the chain to guide us as we made our way.
Just about ten minutes into the dive, I noticed my wife having difficulty clearing her ears. She was a few feet above and I signaled to my brother that I was heading up to check on her. He would now be leading the dive. Upon meeting her, she pointed to her ears and signaled that she could not equalize. She'd decided on ending her dive and did just that. My wife broke the surface and immediately looked down to me moving her hands frantically in a repeated downward motion! It was too late. I was only five feet beneath her (if even that) as the boat cruised in! The vessel went right between us so at that moment, we were completely blocked from being able to see one another. She was able to lean back, swimming backwards to avoid being run over, while I had to push off of the bottom of the boat, arch back and kick away to get out of there! It was that close for me! If I hadn't raised my arm while ascending, I probably would've smacked right into the boat's bottom with my big fat head. That was definitely a close call for the both of us and we were extremely fortunate. The boat was one of the dive shops very own!
Back to the story. Because my wife couldn't see that I was alright, she naturally assumed that I'd been struck and from her perspective, that's exactly what it looked like. Again, it was that close and she was in a panic! As this scene played out, I was so focused on what I had to do to get myself out of this scary and possibly horrible situation that I didn't hear my wife yelling for me, attempting to make sure that I was ok. Unbeknownst to me, my brother was also on the surface helping another member of our little group who was having buoyancy problems. He'd instructed my dad, mom and brother and sister in-law to stay right where they were while he went up to check on our other friend with the buoyancy troubles.
Both my brother and our other friend immediately saw that I was able get away without injury and began telling my wife just that. Our friend then swam to my wife, all the while reassuring her that I was neither injured nor dead. When she realized this, my wife's next worry was the possibility of more boats coming in while the rest of our people were still on the bottom (actually the safest place they could be at the time). Anything can happen with new divers and my brother and I needed to get back down an bring them up as safely and as soon as possible! Their bubbles were moving further out. They were headed to the wreck and we had to get down there!
It took my brother and I somewhat longer to find them because they weren't were they were supposed to be and the low visibility certainly added to our difficulties. Finally, finally, finally.....we found them! We got everyone together and began moving them up the gradual topographic ascent. In other words we followed the bottom back rather than heading straight up. Obviously none of them were aware of what just happened and so did not understand why my brother and I were in such a rush to get them to safety. Fortunately for us (and them), we at least were able to get them to follow us without delays or questions and it's pretty hard to argue under water anyway. My mom has a habit of not quite kicking when she thinks she is while diving. She was putting forth all this effort and still wasn't getting the result that this situation called for. My brother grabbed her tank from behind and pushed her all the way in! He also did this partially for my brother in-law. They never even realized this at the time and my mom thought she'd really learned how to kick. In her words, she felt as if she were "flying underwater"!
While my brother took care of his end of the group, I noticed my dad turning into a "bobber". Now he was having buoyancy control issues and the last thing I wanted was for him to pop to the surface considering what'd just happened to my wife and I. I grabbed the shoulder strap on his bcd and pulled him down to the guide chain. And placing his hand on the chain, I showed him to "monkey up" hand over hand. I then gave him the sign for boats and hoped he would understand. Fortunately he did. With my dad firmly on the line and not letting go as he made his way up, I moved on to my brother and sister in-law. They followed my dad and I but still (obvious again) had no idea of the danger we were still in. I dropped back to where they were and pointed for them to keep moving up the slope. Now we were just in front of the dock in about fifteen feet of water. I looked up. There was another boat right on top of us! My brother and sister in-law started their ascent without looking up. Thankfully I was able to grab and pull them back down to the relative safety of the bottom as my brother in-law was headed straight for the prop!
While the now docked boat's propeller wasn't spinning, he probably would've received a nasty cut had he not been pulled down and instructed to get to the other side of the dock where no craft was moored. When everyone was at the dock and on the surface, my brother and I told them to get out of the water as safely but as quickly as they could. He exited first, knowing they'd need help exiting as fast as was called for. He dumped his bcd (and tank) and began pulling them from the water and up the ladder while I kept everyone close to the dock so they could move quickly to the ladder once it was cleared. It was a huge relief when everyone was on the dock and out of harms way.
Our dive master was on the dock and did not even help with the process of gearing down. Our taxi driver (who'd returned for us) actually did that. I told the dive master that we were done diving and explained what had just happened. Next, I firmly but politely as I could, told him that we weren't going to pay for this dive and would also expect a full refund. He told me that we were to blame because we didn't follow our dive plan or his instructions and that if we felt a dive flag was needed, we should've asked for one! I informed him again that he'd specifically told us that boats weren't permitted in this area. I also stated that we had indeed followed the exact plan he'd suggested. Furthermore, I said why would we think to ask for a dive flag if we were told by you that a flag specifically wasn't needed? The guy was back tracking, either because he didn't fully understand our situation or to make himself appear blameless. I hope it was the prior but this was truly a major flip-flop and my brother and I weren't buying it!
Back at the dive shop, I asked my wife to take a walk with me around the small resort's grounds. She was angry (who wouldn't be?) but I wanted her completely away from the situation. I wanted her with me. Just her and I. My father and brother would take care of trying to get our money back in the most respectful but firm way possible. Honestly, I figured we didn't stand much of a chance at getting refunded but we were alive and it was worth a shot. Especially if it was handled with the thought that once the dive shop said no, we would completely drop the issue and just be thankful to have gotten out of there still in good health. I was mildly and pleasantly surprised upon reuniting with the group and hearing that we indeed were fully refunded. I thought "Finally this place was doing something right." My brother also told me then that the dive master seemed legitimately apologetic and humble after he (my brother) again explained what had just happened. The dive master even admitted that their own divers and boats don't always follow standard diving safety practices especially regarding off limits areas to boats and the carrying of surface markers or dive flags!
He even went so far as to say he would talk with the owners of the dive shop and request the changes necessary to avoid this situation or worse. In other words, he would do his best to make things right. I hope for the safety of this company's future customers and employees that these changes are put into motion and do happen. It's also my hope that this dive master holds true to his word. That being said, I would never dive with this organization again unless I could definitely see these changes enacted in policy and enforced.
Another thing that really bothered me (and still does) is that the captain of the offending boat never stopped to see that we were really OK. The boat's crew only looked over the sides upon the realization that they were now directly over divers in the water! They only new this when the snorklers aboard their craft informed them of us! Further more, they compounded this thoroughly bad situation by yelling at my wife, friend and brother for not having a dive flag! After demanding the boat shut off it's engine for our group's safety, my wife and friend yelled "It was your company who told us we didn't need a flag!" Still a couple more things I found extremely frustrating were the facts that this boat never fully stopped upon that discovery of us beneath them! They merely slowed and never offered assistance in helping the surfaced members of our group out of the water! Once they'd seen that none of the group on the surface were hurt, they simply left. With divers still submerged and yes,.....with engines blazing! Unbelievable!
One thing that this frighteningly horrendous and extremely chaotic situation has taught me is that there should never be any rush to find a place to dive just for the sake of diving. If the time simply isn't there, forget it. Find something else to see or do. If we have any blame in how this all unfolded, I believe that's were our fault lies. We were lucky. Miss one dive, live to dive another day.
The boat that almost ran us over
Ryan, these are great stories! You are an awesome writer. I am able to clearly visualize everything you say and it makes me want to get out and do some exploring with you guys. I am looking forward to reading more of your adventures.
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