CAYMAN ISLANDS (27 May 2008) — A tourist died in the Cayman Islands after a Sea Trek helmet diving accident. Authorities in the Caymans have not yet identified the victim, an American man on holiday with his family. Police said the victim was diving with his son when something went wrong and he lost consciousness. Sea Trek charter boat crew pulled the man to the surface and started CPR, but it was too late; the man never regained consciousness. Police are investigating the accident, the fifth diving death in the Cayman Islands this year. Helmet diving Unlike scuba diving, which typically requires that participants complete a certification course, helmet diving allows tourists to "jump in and dive" without any formal training. California-based Sub Sea Systems, which manufactures the Sea Trek helmets, promotes helmet diving as better than scuba diving because participants don't have to "give up precious vacation time for specialized training" and "don't have to be able to swim". Diver safety compromised in the Caymans 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. 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 NETWORK | 
