lerpy - 2/09/2016 4:19 PM
Hey there Ben, first, tough situation and it is unfortunate that you were involved in the death insomuch that you were present at the time. I have been in the same situation, as a diver/crew member on a boat. I work for a boat, but on this particular day I was diving instead of "working", and a diver passed. Myself along with others got the diver out of the water, and preformed CPR until the boat rendezvoused with EMS. Went through the same as you, we were held for several hours, interviewed statements etc. It was a log boat ride back, especially with the deceased divers friends all on the boat, and having the word that he had indeed passed.
A second diver death, although I was not there, was a friend of mine, a guy that took me under his wing if you will, after I got certified and helped me a lot with my diving skill, understanding, and a equipment. I did a dive with him of an evening, and the next day he did a dive and he passed. Both of these cases were heart attacks, nothing indicated that the dive caused the death, gear or otherwise, that just when the heart attack happened.
When my friend passed, I didn’t dive for about a week. I was shaken, I was new to diving, and I was personally attached to the diver, he was a friend, I knew his fiancé, and his future sister in law was a good friend, so it affected me deeply and personally. However, he would not have wanted me to quit diving, nor would he expect me to not dive for X period of time, it was my choice when I went back in the water. To this day I use several pieces of his gear, so I guess in a way he still dives with me.
The other incident, I was in the water two days later, it was my regular dive day when I get together with my buddies and we dive. The death shook me, and I carry it with me even to this day, but I didn’t not see a reason to not go diving.
A third event, I was in Fla doing training for a week, and on my first day of training, a diver came up and collapsed and ultimately passed. It was sad, it is tragic, and it shakes you, but I continued my week of diving.
I don’t think you are heartless because you continued with your dive trip. It was just a tragic event on your vacation, tragic events take place all the time and we can’t change everything because they do. I am driving to Fla next week, if there is a fatal car crash that I see, I am not turning around and going home, if a plane crashes the morning I am flying somewhere, I am not cancelling my flight. To some it may seem heartless, but personally I do not see it that way. To continue with your vacation does not change the tragic events of what happened to that diver and his friends and family. I think the best thing you can do, as I have done with the deaths I have seen or been involved with, is to continue have continued with your dive trip, but reflect on the events, and use them as a learning tool. Since my friend passing, and being involved in the other diver death, I take more care of myself, I pay more attention to my cadio health and things like that.
Sorry this is a long ramble, maybe sometimes voicing experience such as this is good, and I am sure you will do several times, as the reality it probably has affected you in some manner. But in short, your not heartless, just witness to tragic events, and I am sure regardless of you continuing your dives, you have reflected on this and recognize the tragedy for this man and his family.