GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands — Another fatal scuba diving accident in the Cayman Islands killed an American tourist. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the scuba diving accident victim, but told CDNN a 52-year-old woman suffered fatal injuries while diving off the north side of the island with Resort Sports, one of about 30 local companies that sells scuba diving and snorkel diving trips. Witnesses said the woman encountered problems while diving with her husband. He and a staff diver employed by Resort Sports attempted to revive the victim, but she never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at a hospital in George Town. Police spokeswoman Janet Dougall said the woman was an experienced scuba diver from Utah who was visiting the Cayman Islands on a cruise ship. Just two weeks ago, CDNN reported that popular California soccer coach, Martin Linley, who was visiting the Cayman Islands with his wife, died while scuba diving with a local dive operator. In 2008 and 2009 at least 15 tourists died while diving in the Cayman Islands. Dive operators ignoring safety regulations According to liquor store owner Steve Broadbelt, a strident local developer who also owns the Ocean Frontiers dive shop and heads CITA's Watersports Committee, he and other dive operators in the Cayman Islands typically ignore government regulations aimed at enhancing diver safety. One of the government safety regulations they ignore 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 said he and other local dive operators refuse to comply with the regulation because they don't want the government telling them how to run their businesses and because such regulations have the potential to make their dive shops unprofitable. Unsustainable tourism Once considered the best scuba diving holiday destination in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands have steadily declined in popularity over the past decade due to overpricing, overdevelopment, eco-unfriendly cruise ship tourism, marine wildlife harassment (Stingray City), coral reef degradation and increasing concerns about callous dive operators who blame tourists ("pre-existing medical conditions") for fatal diving accidents while failing to comply with commonly accepted dive safety procedures. Hoping to lure divers back to the Caymans, local tourism promoters announced last October that the government would adopt Florida's scheme to replace dying coral reefs with "value-added scuba diving product" comprised of scuttled U.S. Navy warships. Promoters said they hope to sink the 77-meter, 2,290 tonne USS Kittiwake later this year. | 
