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In the past, I've kept quiet on the Internet. Yes, I do read the slanderous B.S. that is the "main stay" of messages from everyone but I've chosen to stay out of it. Maybe, it's because I was raised with the concept that "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all." It is almost humorous that everyone is speaking out and spewing the "facts" regarding the bent diver at Whitefish. Even more humorous is the fact that not one of those speaking out were on the boat, heard the communications via radio or were on the boat after the incident. You've heard the facts from the Captain - that's not good enough - you have better facts than he does. Well, here are the facts, a little more detailed, from the first mate. Imagine this, the facts from someone who was ACTUALLY aboard the Scuba Tank that day. A diver surfaces from his dive and is okay for a few minutes - no signs or symptoms of anything wrong. After sitting on the bench for a few minutes, diver complains of pain and is assisted out of his gear. Diver then lays on boat deck and was given his O2 reg as it was the closest available until the DAN O2 kit was available. DAN O2 kit handed to me from below - already pre-assembled in the box for expedient administration. Tank was turned on, demand mask checked for O2 flow and diver began sucking O2 from D cylinder. Delay: approximately 2 whole minutes. (Please note, I am certified and qualified as a DAN O2 Provider). Meanwhile, Captain Mike McKay was on the radio with the USCG informing them of the situation and requested medical assistance on-shore. He also told them there was a diver still in the water. USCG hailed all vessels in the area for assistance in picking up diver that is still in the water fulfilling his deco obligation. Chicago Diver responds to USCG hail and agrees to help and pick up in-water diver. USCG tells Capt. McKay to break mooring and get bent diver to shore ASAP and boat is on the way for diver. Capt. McKay in turn questions USCG about leaving diver in the water as he had no intention on doing so. USCG responds with orders to leave diver, medical assistance will be waiting and diver will be picked up. So, off we head to shore. I closely, as well as other 2 divers on board, monitored the bent diver's condition on deck. When approaching harbor, we did have to slow down to avoid running into Darryl Ertel's boat. At dock, medical assistance is there and ambulance personnel and EMT's (I do not know names but would recognize faces) arrive on scene. At no time was the bent diver ever unconscious as some have fabricated. Bent diver is hauled away in ambulance - many by-standers crowded in the area. Chippewa County wanted info and I told him he would have to wait until Mike was available for a report. USCG also in area to get info from Mike. As some have mentioned, the Scuba Tank then sat there at the dock before getting diver. This is almost true. While Scuba Tank was sitting at the dock, Mike was talking with officials and I was in the pilot house on the radio with the USCG and Chicago Diver to check the status of our diver. USCG again hailed all vessels in area to see if anyone was closer than Chicago Diver. I responded to the USCG and Chicago Diver to inform them we were closer and could get to diver sooner. I interrupted Mike's conversation with authorities to update him on the situation, we unloaded the boat (only a few minutes) and left harbor. Chicago Diver said they would act as backup. Reached diver approximately five minutes later. Diver is intelligent and figures out that something had to be seriously wrong for us to leave. As for Darryl Ertel's boat, yes, we did have to slow down. Supposedly, he had boat problems that morning and had no radio. I talked to divers from the boat that assisted him and brought him fresh battery packs. At no time did Darryl make any attempt, even after he knew what was going on, to retreive our diver. I did hear laughter from his boat echoing across the harbor. (I thought this was rude considering the circumstances). As far as the group of divers who chartered the Scuba Tank that weekend, they are safety conscious tech divers. I've been in the water with them on several dives over the past few years. Anytime, anyplace, I would trust any one of them with my life if I was ever in a situation that warranted it. (God forbid). They are well trained and experienced and the diving that they were doing is not out of their range. As we all know, once you get into tech diving, the number of people you would actually jump in the water with greatly diminishes. Many of them did the same profile that day, one got bent, must have been his unlucky day. If we go back to what you should have learned in Basic Scuba Course, on any given day, even if you do EVERYTHING right, you are at risk of getting bent. There are deserved and undeserved hits. If you for enough diving and take every necessary precaution, it can happen and sooner or later it will. Hope your DAN Insurance is paid up because if you haven't been there, just like me, eventually you will be. As for the Captain of the Scuba Tank, he is a licensed Coast Guard Captain, DAN O2 Instructor and a formerly-certified Ambulance Attendant. He responds well to emergency situations and is always concerned for everyone's safety. He handled this situation as he should have and with expedience and minimal risks for all concerned. GROW UP BOYS!! You are worse than a room full of snippety old hags!! Spit the facts out ONLY if you know them - if you were there throughout the ordeal. There are only five people qualified to do this - Capt. McKay, the First Mate, 2 divers and one bent diver. I'm sure, just because of the nature of the forum, you'll indulge in your slanderous remarks to throw back to me. Let me assure you, they will not negatively affect my life. As a final thought - does slamming everyone and every situation give you a false sense of being better than everyone else or is it a vice to boost you testosterone-driven egos??? Cynthia Branigan, First Mate, Scuba Tank Manager, Underwater Outfitters NAUI, IANTD, TDI Instructor DAN O2 Provider -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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