PORTLAND, UK (21 Apr 2007) -- COASTGUARDS warned divers to take safety precautions after a spate of rescues over the weekend. The plea came after the coastguard helicopter crerw were scrambled several times to emergencies. Portland Coastguard watch manager Ros Evans said: "The dive season has begun with a vengeance. "We would ask all dive vessels to be aware of the correct radio procedures and to call 'Pan' on channel 16 or 'Mayday' when a rapid ascent has occurred." The first alert came on Saturday afternoon when coastguards received a call from the divevessel X-dream with fears about a diver who surfaced after a rapid ascent at Lulworth Cove.Helicopter crew winched the man on board and then received another call from then dive vessel Sidewinder about another man who had surfaced quickly off Anvil Point, Swanage. The crew flew the two men for treatment in a recompression chamber at Poole.Half an hour later, Portland Coastguard were called by a third divevessel, Calne, after it broke down just off West Baywith divers in the water. The Lyme lifeboat and West Bay coastguard rescue team were called into action but the Susie B, a local boat skippered by Ron Bailey, already had the dive boat alongside. Lifeboat helmsman Dave Street said: "It was all pretty straightforward and handy that Ron Bailey was already in the area able and willing to give immediate assistance to the dive boat. | | "It would have been a different story had the dive boat drifted away from the dive area and the divers surfaced to find no boat waiting for them - an incident which we were involved in a few years ago." Portland Coastguard were also alerted to an incident involving a diver who was admitted to Poole Hyperbaric Centre for treatment following a dive from the Shiraz in Balaclava Bay, Portland, on Sunday. Following telephone advice, the diver was taken to the chamber by his buddy. SOURCE - Daily EchoSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
