Dive Report: Lost Diver Search, then Datura Street Night Dive Friday 9/12/03 5:30 PM

Photos:
http://www.geocities.com/tiswango/0309norm/

Team 1: Norm Blitch, Suzy, and Gillie
Team 2: Matt H, Mike W., and Christos K.

While were setting up and testing gear at the Datura parking lost we hear a Fire Rescue truck go by. 5 mins later, a Fire Truck, then the thumbing of a helicopter with a big 7 on the side trying to catch the excitement. We went out on the beach to catch the excitement and saw all the action was one block South at Hibiscus Street. The Broward Country Sheriff's helicopter showed up. 3 Seatow boats, 1 tow boat US, 2 orange Coast Guard ribs, and another CG boat came flying up from Port Everglades launching itself out of the water. Drive it like to Government paid for it I guess?

** Disclaimer **
I did not see any of which I'm about to report. It is a collection of rumors spread around the beach. It makes a good story so I'm typing it. I did not interview the participants and have no first hand knowledge.
** ** **

It seemed three divers went in for a shore dive lobster hunt. One buddy become separated and the two with the flag surfaced, then exited to look for their buddy. After waiting 25 minutes they made the call to 911 and reported a lost buddy. 3 searching dive teams went in at Hibiscus, the Coasties pulled up all the dive flags to check the divers in the water even on the North side of the pier. Team 2 was packing full doubles and the Lauderhill Dive Search and Rescue truck pulled up and I tracked down the officer to volunteer us as another search team. I couldn't find the officer. Since there was so much boat traffic we decided to postpone our dive until things calmed down.

Around 6:30 PM helicopters left and boats dispersed. We found out the search divers found the diver and the diver walked out of the water. No one was hurt, thank goodness. There is no law against solo diving, no law against being a moron or loosing your buddies, but after all those public servants coming out to check on your well being, I don't think that was the most ideal time for the missing diver to have short lobsters in his bag :)

Seas 3ft
Vis 10ft
Depth 18ft
Bottom time 45 minutes
32% Nitrox

At 6:45 PM the fun was over and it was time to dive. The plan was to head out over the second reef and look for bugs. The waves were a little big for a first time surf entry, but Gillie did well and we swam out to the snorkel trail. We descended and I only counted 5 divers, we were missing Gille. I surfaced up the flag line and found her 20ft South, trying to kick back on one fin. She thought she had broken the fin strap. It was all rental gear, so I wasn't surprised. I took a quick look, found the quick disconnect had done just that, then got her finned back up.

We started back out over the reef. In the bad vis it was hard to keep everyone together. After 10 minutes we got to the Swiss cheese and decided to forget about the second reef line and head South down the cheese and look for bugs. We found some and I they chased them around for a bit. Afterwards Norm told me it was his first time and chasing bugs isn't as easy as it sounds!

Gillie hit turn pressure and we headed back in. Crazy Christos still had to go home to WPB, pack, and head up to the caves that night. He bolted off and Mike and I went with the gang to Mulligans for diner and drinks. Norm told some good stories about surprised skinny dippers above the Devils eye and ear when he would return from cave diving. Suzy told me how to land a helicopter without and engine, very interesting, I didn't think it could be done. After a few drinks political conversations flew up as the liberal kept pushing buttons on the two ex-military conservatives. Good Stuff! Where was Eric S. when I needed him?

--Matt