GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands (13 May 2008) — A tourist died on Monday afternoon while scuba diving off Grand Cayman. Authorities declined to identify the victim, a 45-year-old woman from Texas. Witnesses told police they saw the woman unconscious at the surface with another diver who was waving for help. Paramedics rushed the woman to hospital where she was pronounced dead. The accident is under investigation and an autopsy has been scheduled. The fatality was the fourth watersports related death in the Cayman Islands this year. Dive operators ignoring safety regulations Government officials in the Caymans want dive operators to comply with regulations aimed at enhancing diver safety, however, local dive shop owners led by strident tourism promoter Steve Broadbelt of Ocean Frontiers say that doing more to make scuba diving safer is just plain bad for business. One of the regulations requires dive boat operators to keep at least one crew onboard, a safety precaution that is common at many popular dive destinations around the world. The regulation under the Port Authority Law states: "At least one person shall remain on board and act as lookout on any dive–boat or other vessel whilst divers therefrom are down." Broadbelt, who owns a liquor store, dive shop and condo development and has repeatedly lied about scuba diving accidents in the Caymans, argues that all diving activities should be self-regulated to ensure the profitability of local dive shop owners. | Despite too many tourists dying while scuba diving and snorkeling in the Cayman Islands, local tourism promoter, liquor store owner, condo developer and Ocean Frontiers dive boat operator Steve Broadbelt wants authorities in the Cayman Islands to continue ignoring basic dive boat safety procedures accepted at popular dive destinations throughout the world. Government officials said Broadbelt is wrong and cited several recent scuba diving accidents that could have been prevented by simply requiring at least one qualified crew to remain onboard. While dive operators in the Cayman Islands continue to ignore safety regulations, Coast Guard regulations at other popular dive destinations require liveaboard and day charter dive boat captains to remain onboard at all times. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum | 
