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Diver dies after being pulled from waters off West Seattle

Seeded on Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:05 PM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: komotv.com
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Seeded by Calvin Tang
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A scuba diver died after being pulled from the water near Alki in West Seattle on Monday.A dive instructor was underwater with a group of students when they noticed another diver unconscious. The man was not part of the instructor's class.The group pulled the man to the surface south of Seacrest Marina about 11:30 a.m. and called 911.Seattle Fire Department Lieutenant Harold Webb said medics performed CPR for more than 20 minutes but the man died at the scene.

Wow, yet another diver death in this area. Very sad. I hope it's not a friend of mine or someone I know. I'll be diving at this site in a few hours.

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lauhal

Dang. Please be careful...extra careful.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Wed Aug 1, 2007 1:25 PM EDT
Calvin Tang

It was a great dive! I saw an 8 foot sixgill shark, a rare sighting! :) :)

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Wed Aug 1, 2007 7:57 PM EDT
lauhal

Like did you actually count the gills? Forgive my ignorance, but what do you do when you first see a shark while diving? I know for certain that I would not have the presence of mind to count gills as I was peeing in my wetsuit while attempting to walk on water. :)

  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Wed Aug 1, 2007 10:27 PM EDT
Calvin Tang

A 'SixGill' shark is a specific species of shark, found around the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Here's a post about one I saw a few months ago.

As far as what you do when you encounter your first one, you typically freeze in fear. Only after you've seen a good amount of them do you realize that they're not the animals you remember from watching Jaws way back when. (still though, when provoked or when very hungry, they can be a pain)

  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Thu Aug 2, 2007 3:25 AM EDT
lauhal

Yeah, I remember that video. You mentioned that she (presumably) was lethargic and acting oddly.
I guess I'll have to stop avoiding the Discovery channel this week and watch one of those darn creepy Shark Week episodes. *shiver*

  • 1 vote
#1.4 - Thu Aug 2, 2007 8:25 AM EDT
Calvin Tang

Eeesh, I just discovered something that gives me the heebie jeebies. I found a mask on that dive, and now know that it belonged to the diver who died in the article. I'm going to find a way to return it to his family.

    #1.5 - Fri Aug 3, 2007 6:24 PM EDT
    Reply
    Nailer99

    That was teh awesome dive. Thanks, as always, for being my personal dive photographer, Calvin.

    (The reason we keep seeing the 6 gills is because of the raw chicken I tie to Calvin's back right after we descend....I just tell him I'm doing a "gear check.")

      Reply#2 - Sat Aug 4, 2007 8:42 PM EDT
      Calvin Tang

      The only thing better than being handy with a camera is having a friend with you who's handy with one ;)

      180+ feet today! Thanks for the dive Nailer, I'm not bent.... woohoooo!

        #2.1 - Mon Aug 6, 2007 2:06 AM EDT
        Nailer99

        You sure about that?

          #2.2 - Thu Aug 9, 2007 9:05 PM EDT
          Calvin Tang

          ..... no. :0

            #2.3 - Fri Aug 10, 2007 1:48 AM EDT
            Reply
            Hannahelizabeth

            Do you mean 180 feet down or am I being dumb? Just interested to know gonna get my PADI license soon! Yay! What kind of gas mix etc would you need for that? Guessing you're experienced and all but doesn't it scare the crap out of you? Esp when someone died there? xx nosey parker xx

              Reply#3 - Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:32 PM EDT
              Calvin Tang

              Yep, I did mean 180 down. We were on air, but carried with us stage bottles of varying % O2 (or Enriched Air Nitrox), for decompression purposes.

              No, it doesn't scare the crap out of me that there was a tragic accident there. This is one of the most dived spots in all of Puget Sound. Actually, I'm diving there again tonight.

              Congratulations on getting certified soon!

                #3.1 - Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:14 PM EDT
                Reply
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