Mary and Ben were an experienced buddy team. They had an amazing day of boat diving planned with a divemaster, and conditions were perfect. But even well-planned dives can end in disaster due to complacency and panic.

By the last dive of the day, Mary and Ben had gotten into a rhythm. The last three dives went smoothly, and their gear hadn’t changed, so it was easy to stride into the water without a predive safety check. Unfortunately, this lapse in judgment proved deadly. The toggle attached to Ben’s BCD dump valve had gotten caught beneath his shoulder strap, holding the valve open and dumping the air from his BCD. No one noticed before Ben entered and quickly descended.

At the end of their dive, Mary and Ben stayed to watch an eel as the divemaster returned to the boat with the others. When they ended the dive, Ben was able to ascend by kicking, but was seen struggling to stay at the surface. He tried to inflate his BCD, but the air just whooshed out of the dump valve. After four dives, Ben was likely tired, making it harder to stay at the surface. He thrashed his arms, fighting to keep his head above water, and continued attempting to inflate his BCD to no avail.

Related Reading: The Danger of Losing Your Dive Weights

Due to her lack of in-depth rescue training and Ben’s panic, Mary was unable to help effectively. His flailing arms dislodged her gear as she tried to assist. Ben didn’t think to drop his weights—a skill learned in any open-water course—and, apparently exhausted by panic, sank underwater to the bottom.

Mary could have shouted or signaled to the boat or divemaster for help, but she decided to try to save Ben on her own. She followed Ben to the bottom but couldn’t figure out how to remove his weights. Had they completed a predive safety check before entering, Mary likely would have become familiar with the rental gear and dropped Ben’s weights. Feeling herself running low on air and starting to panic, Mary dropped her gear to make a rapid ascent for help. She could have made a safer ascent and saved precious time by keeping her gear on.

When she broke the surface, she called for help, and the divemaster was able to descend and retrieve Ben, unresponsive, only a few minutes later. However, every minute matters when your brain isn’t receiving oxygen. Despite resuscitation efforts, Ben never regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Related Reading: What Happens if You Miss a Decompression Stop?

Lessons for Life

• Perform a predive safety check every dive. Confirm your gear and your buddy’s gear are in good working condition, with correct placement and access, before you descend. Ensure dump valve toggles are free and clear, and become familiar with your buddy’s releases and weights.
• Take the PADI Rescue Diver course. You’ll learn how to recognize and manage panic in yourself and others, assist in an emergency, and keep yourself and your buddies safe. To minimize panic in an emergency, practice in-water emergency scenarios, like sharing air and CESA, regularly.