LIHU'E, Kauai (21 July 2001) -- Twelve divers and crew are all safe after Dive Kauai's 30-foot dive boat, "Scuba Cat", was swamped by heavy seas off Ele'ele in Kauai and sent out a distress signal. Seasport Diver, another commercial dive operator, picked up the distress signal and immediately launched from Kukui'ula Harbor in Po'ipu about a quarter mile from where divers and crew abandoned Scuba Cat. The rescued divers and crew were taken to Kukui'ula Harbor and Scuba Cat was towed to Port Allen Harbor in Ele'ele. US Coast Guard officials told CDNN that Scuba Cat left Port Allen Harbor with nine divers, two dive instructors and the captain after a delay due to trouble starting one of the vessel's engines. | | On the way to the first of two scheduled dives, the engine again malfunctioned and stopped but the vessel continued on its second engine to the first dive site. After the first dive, Scuba Cat headed for the second dive site with one engine in heavy seas. While anchoring at the second site, the boat was swamped by a large wave shortly before 1 pm. Everyone aboard abandoned ship and used a dive float to stay together in the heavy seas. Dive Kauai owner, Michael Gough, said that the swamping was caused by a combination of mechanical problems that left Scuba Cat with only one engine, odd wind patterns and heavy seas that the vessel sitting sideways instead of bow-first into the oncoming waves. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
