Kategorie: News
Terrible accident on a daily diving boat
Just over a week ago, a terrible accident happened on a daily diving boat in the Hurghada area. A diving group from the Regina Hotel was travelling to the Abu Ramada reef on the boat of the local diving centre. The level of training of the divers in the group is not known. According to statements from fellow divers, the dive itself was without any problems. The group was apparently travelling without a guide, but this information has not been confirmed.
When the diving group returned, a Prodive dive boat was moored and manoeuvred to the final mooring near the Hotel Regina's day boat. The diving group returning from the dive was probably directly under the boat at this point. There were no warnings from anyone about this situation. The diving group itself did not submerge again or turn to the reef; a bad mistake that unfortunately ended terribly.
A 50-year-old female diver was pulled into the propeller and suffered serious injuries. An eyewitness on the Prodive ship reported: "I was on the boat out of Hurghada from Prodive that she was sucked under... she was pulled between our prop and rudder - and after a few minutes a guide on another boat saw and then they all dived in and she was brought back to the boat".
The eyewitness reports that the diver was caught between the rudder and the propeller. Several guides who witnessed this then jumped into the water and brought her back to the boat. It is not known how long the rescue operation lasted - the eyewitness accounts differ considerably. What is certain, however, is that attempts were made for some time to stabilise or resuscitate the diver. After a good half hour, however, this was abandoned and the diver was declared dead.
The topic of propellers and accidents is a problem area that is often not sufficiently mentioned in the briefing. A very good treatise on the prevention of propeller accidents can be found on the DAN Europe Website.
Prevention - propeller injuries
DAN Europe's Propeller Injury Prevention Campaign focuses on the concept of risk management from two points of view, the boaters' and the divers'.
Of all the various types of diving injuries, those involving propellers are the most frightening. Sadly, several divers have been killed or seriously injured by propellers.
DAN Europe believes that many of these accidents can easily be prevented by raising awareness, exercising good seamanship and respecting some basic rules as a diver.
Safety rules for boaters
- Stay at least 100 metres away from diver-down / alpha flags, unless conducting SCUBA, snorkel or free diving activities. Bear in mind that divers often have difficulty estimating distance underwater and could drift away from the flag.
- Don’t let anyone onto the swim platform while the engine is in gear. Swim platforms tend to be slippery and divers could fall into the propeller.
- If you are leading a group of divers, make sure that no diver gets close to the propeller when entering the water: they are sharp and dangerous, even if they are not moving.
- Ensure an easy and safe re-boarding.
- Before starting the engine, make sure that there is no diver near or under the boat.
Safety rules for divers
- Always place the diver-down / alpha flag before diving. The flag can be attached to a float or mounted on a vessel and clearly visible from all directions.
- Always surface within 50 metres of your dive flag or, if available, close to the reef.
- Use a surface marker buoy if you have to surface far away from the diver's flag due to an emergency.
- Pay attention to your buoyancy and avoid uncontrolled ascents.
- Look around you and be very careful as you ascend.
Further information on the DAN Europe page: www.daneurope.org/en/propeller-injuries