WELLINGTON, New Zealand (25 Apr 2006) -- A Wellington dive boat has been the subject of a second full-scale rescue mission in as many days at the south coast spot where a man spent 12 hours lost at sea. The Westpac rescue helicopter and the Lady Elizabeth III police launch responded to a callout at Thoms Rock yesterday after two female divers were reported overdue. They were ultimately found by their dive boat. The alert came two days after the same boat, Southern Comfort, operated by dive company Splash Gordon, was unable to find a diver who spent the night drifting in Cook Strait. Splash Gordon owner Dave Drane said yesterday that the boat's skipper had been following safety procedures when he alerted nearby boats in the latest incident. Both divers were experienced and dive conditions were good, he said. One of the divers, Fran Aston, said the incident had been no big deal and she would continue to go diving with the company. "I think we drifted underwater and we spent about 30 minutes on the surface but we weren't panicking. These things happen." Southern Comfort skipper Dave Watson said he called yesterday's radio alert as a precaution. "We have a very conservative approach to diving at Thoms Rock because it's a potentially dangerous place to dive. "As soon as I've got two divers overdue – more than 10 minutes overdue – they know that I'll be calling for help. | | SA second missing diver emergency in as many days for PADI dive shop Splash Gordon's Southern Comfort dive boat. "That's a standard procedure, more conservative than the police recommendations." But experienced diver Tim Steeneken, who was not on the trip, questioned the decision to go out. "The waves at Sinclair Head were standing up maybe three metres because of the current. There's lots of crays there at the moment but I wouldn't go out there in this weather." Malcolm Blair, a Wellington diver of long standing, said south coast currents were dangerous but the area was highly popular with divers. SOURCE - New Zealand PoliceSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
