"We're not sure where this will go .. We weren't there......" Divers almost run down.

Plane Fish n

This clip is self explanatory.

The FWC spokeswoman sounds ill trained for her job.

Will it take more legs cut off of divers for the FWC to do their job? In the meantime, there is another story on the same weblink below that talks of the FWC using radar guns in case you go ove 25mph in Martin County Waters.... sheesh!


http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/riviera_beach/boaters-calling-for-awareness-after-sailboat-nearly-hits-divers?CMP=201108_emailshare

Mackokid

I wonder why he didnt go under the channel part of the bridge? Are you allowed to dive that close (as in under) a bridge?

Plane Fish n

Mackoid,

That is a great question. :Agree

I have no idea why he would not go under the channel span however it is perfectly legal for the divers to be where they were but the divers have an obligation to make sure they were properly flagged which they were.

A boater has an obligation to stay 300' away from a divers flag in open water and 100' away in channels, rivers, etc. If they are to pass closer than 300' or 100' respectively, they are required to slow to idle speed which the sailboat seemed to be doing but again.. why was he out of the channel ignoring the shouts by the boat captain and other people? :shrug :huh

Tripleclean

Only thing I can think of is the blow boat driver had a visual on the dive boat and heard them yelling and waving, fixated on the dive boat, lost all situational awareness, panicked and made a bad call and drove for the ditch at which time he was confined and couldn't execute a 180 or a S-turn but had to maintain steerage way.

Or maritime law enforcement calls talk to my attorney and then do the carpet dance with a story like that.

Sure case of getting behind the curve with a 38 horse power diesel.

But I would also add don't ever take ANY instruction that involves danger and risk from a dude with dread locks. **** kind of mission planning puts noob divers next to an active channel? The hippy should have his ticket pulled.

I have also watched canoe club,shallow water sailors, coasties blow through there at 40mph.

TJ?

Tripleclean

The best unwritten maritime law is "The law of gross tonnage" which is I am bigger for which I shall go.

Capt_Gerry

Tripleclean wrote: »

The best unwritten maritime law is "The law of gross tonnage" which is I am bigger for which I shall go.

Sad but your statement has more truth to it then most know. Since the Sail appears to be under power or "power driven" it is now considered a power boat with all applicable rules attached. Just off the top of my head without knowing any fine details I can see several potential rule violations.

Rule 5 (Lookout) states, " Every vessel is required to maintain a proper lookout at all times using eyes, ears and any other means available. This includes radar when and if you have it and when it is in working condition." Clearly he was not looking where he was headed and certainly not at the hazards in front of his vessel.

Vessel operators must make a reasonable effort to maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from divers-down flags on open waters and at least 100 feet from flags on rivers, inlets or navigation channels. Vessels approaching divers-down flags closer than 300 feet in open water and 100 feet in rivers, inlets and navigation channels must slow to idle speed. Again this operator could have/should have stayed within the channel therefore avoiding this situation.

FWC is not going to release what they are doing since it is an open investigation. Lets not jump to conclusions before we see the outcome of this case. I hope that due to the media attention this case has generated we will see a positive closure. If nothing more, the word has gotten out about boating safety and the operation near divers. Most of the time these incidents could have been avoided simply by educating oneself on the navigational rules.

Tripleclean

The lookout or watch stander on the sailboat might not be able to pass a vision test today for a Florida driver license.
I don't like the divemaster, the divemasters I know don't look like him, they don't act like him, they take responsibility and are in charge, they dont leak videos to the news(they roll film 24/7). They got into it to kill people and break things or fix and recover things that do the same and if you were to put their men working below at risk they would stop you/full stop. This type would also handle this situation in a quiet professionall manner while respecting the mariner and not exposing a senior citizen to embarrassment.

krisis7

not condoning this by any means as I dive, but there is approx 3 ft more bridge clearance on that side of the span for his mast. Possibly why he went to that side.