Diver's death 'could have been avoided'

David Apap

Mar 5th 2009, 15:56

Being the owner of www.scubadivinggozo.com I am deeply hurt to find a link to my site saying that on my sites it says something which can contribute to someone`s death.I remeber what I wrote and checked now on http://www.scubadivinggozo.com/xlendi-wreck.htm T the end of the description it says Good lights are recommended and penetration to be done only with instructor or with experienced
divers who are faniliar with tha area.
As one can see I said with instructor or divers which are familiar with the area.A british diver is not someone familiar with the area and an an local instructor is one.I penetrated many times but just in the car deck and not around stairs or narrow parts.Apart from what you find written there is always the law of common sense that very obscure paths of wrecks and caves should not be penetrated.I also learned in diving that what you do not know can hurt you so keep back.I am sorry for the fatality but as I saw I always avoided those parts of the wreck.
David Apap Padi diving Instructor

Peter Winton

Feb 24th 2009, 00:23

The comments about the signs were not to call for more signage around the wreck but to confirm that no signs were seen by any divers during the dive. When found during the subsequent rescue dives the signs were found detached, obscured and covered in algae - not fulfilling their purpose.

As far as pre dive research is concerned I would suggest looking on some of your own dive company's websites and see what warnings they have about the wreck:

http://www.gozodiving.com/divesites.htm
http://malta.greatestdivesites.com/gozo/mgarr_ix_xini/xlendi_ferry
http://www.scubadivinggozo.com/xlendi-wreck.htm
http://www.gozodive.com/site_threewrecks.htm

and your official tourism site:

http://www.visitmalta.com/xatt-lahmar-gozo

nearly 4 months since this accident I am disappointed that these sites remain unchanged. Changing these and updating the information board at the carpark would be low cost and far more effective than signs at 40m depth.

DBSaydon

Feb 23rd 2009, 15:45

As an experienced diver i disagree with a lot of the comments people are writing. First of all i am very sorry for all family and friends who have lost a good person.

Unfortunately, even though Mr. Swain was an experienced diver, he has played with his luck and unfortunately the outcome of this game was death. I think one thing his friends need to do is thank there lucky star for coming out of the wreck, inside there it is pitch black and visibility is down to a few inches!!!


The first dive to search for Mr. Swain was 118 minutes, and i can assure you, this was no joke and was not done with basic equipment.

Eternal rest for Mr. Swain. Courage for all family and freinds!!!!

sorry for your loss.

Charles J Zammit

Feb 23rd 2009, 14:25

Condolences to the deceased Divers family .
Being a Nautical incident strict safety should always be in the fore front .
When In Danger or in Doubt Stop It , Drop it , Go About .
When In Danger no Room to Turn Drop it Beggar it Go Astern.

GORDON J. GALEA

Feb 23rd 2009, 12:39

All those undertaking a diving course (whichever the organisation) are well informed and instructed on more than one occasion about the dangers/limitations whilst penetrating caves/wrecks etc.. In fact specific Skills Development Courses are offered outlining the dangers and precautions to be taken whilst entering confined and restricted spaces whilst diving.

The amount of meticuluos planning and preperation required was undertaken by the brave divers who entered the wreck to recover the body of Mr. Swain.

As a diver it is very sad to know pretty well that the death of Mr. Swain like most of the other underwater fatalities could have been avoided if more caution was exerted. RIP

On a different note I would like to point out that :
- Divers are usually breathing air and not oxygen.
- Whilst reporting diving incidents a clear distinction is made between apnea divers(free divers) and divers carrying the scuba unit.

Austen Lennon

Feb 23rd 2009, 12:28

What a world we are living in! There always has to be blame. Perhaps we should have signs on the footpath every 2 feet to warn us of the dangers of crossing the road. Life is a risk.

R. Formosa

Feb 23rd 2009, 12:21

Measures need to be drawn up to try and avoid any death, be it at sea, land, or air.

It was written in his destiny that this British diver had to die, unfortunately, but it is so.

Sympathy to his loved ones.

stephen camilleri

Feb 23rd 2009, 00:17

Plan your dive,dive your plan!!!!

J Chircop

Feb 22nd 2009, 20:46

Diver's death could have been avoided as much as World War II could have been avoided from being fought in Maltese shores and thousands of innocent maltese men and women. Who cares what an English court says? We are in Malta, under the legislation of the Soverign and Independent nation and Republic of Malta, an equal partner to (bankcrupt) UK in Europe. We will never be the UK's colony again, not now not never.

Viva Malta INDEPENDENTI till the last one of us is standing....

Graham Powell

Feb 22nd 2009, 16:00

Any fatality is a tragedy to the family foremost and my thoughts are with them. Accidents can and will happen. It is bad for the sport because it affects the publics overall impression on how safe the sport is and may infere that the industry needs stronger government legislation. The answer is that the sport is safe and although there are inherent risks, they are Manageable. There are limits on wreck penetration to no further than the light zone and using a line which you hold onto at all times plus max 40m from surface; if wreck is 30m go max 10m in. This you learn on a specialy course taught by a qualified instructor. If the deceased was an Instructor or just a novice diver, he would still know this. He died through mid adventure. Dive within the limits of training and use the appropiate techniques. They are there because we have already learnt. Enjoy the sport and be a safe diver!

Joe Borg

Feb 22nd 2009, 10:43

Those who play with fire.............

Joe Xuereb

Feb 22nd 2009, 09:42

cont./ Guys who reject State nannyism because they want to experience the full frisson of their petty adventures are missing the point. If these guys end up paying the ultimate price - sure, R.I.P. But only because they are victims of a system that perpetuates the dictum 'boys will be boys'. I would rather be a 'ġifa' than a hero,albeit a dead one - dead equals no frisson, of any kind - who died pursuing his manly addiction. And if I want to experience Everest from its roof, I can access this (for all it is worth) from aeroplane shots, etc. Gaze in wonder from the comfort of my armchair, my toes warm as toast. It is frisson as I prefer to experience it.

Joe Xuereb

Feb 22nd 2009, 09:28

@ Steve Elliot. R.I.P.s are mere ritual. Unless directed at those soldiers killed in Iraq, for instance (although some might argue that opting to 'soldier' is questionable), or murders victims, victims or terrorism - you get the picture. Rips without learning lessons are empty.
Guys like sport that endangers life. A warning sign could indeed be an added incentive to go havea look at silt, dead algae, etc. For sport guys are known to blast birds out of the sky. There are so many beautiful things to be enjoyed safely and profitably. Thus expanding one's mind. But of course some guys are more interested in looking at algae closehand. And go from one wreck to another, repeated experience. Just notches on one's watery CV.
Unfortunately, the only thing water they end up with is their grave. It is a guy thing. It is an addiction. And as we all know, addiction kills.
At the foot of Mount Everest, the signage would say: 'Beware, you could end up Rest In Pieces'. Signage is valid for the unwary, the innocent (children and open cisterns for instance). Cont./

Ramon Casha

Feb 22nd 2009, 06:40

I am no expert on scuba diving, but even I know that diving into wrecks carries additional risks, and I can't believe that someone like Mr. Swain would have been unaware of them, so any warning signs at the wreck site would not say anything that Mr. Swain did not already know before he started the dive.

Besides, these risks are very similar to the risks of cave diving - so what should one expect? A warning message at the mouth of every underwater cave warning divers that diving into caves is dangerous?

I'm sorry for his death and for the pain his family went through, but the court was given incorrect information. The warning signs - which according to others in this thread are there and are clear - made no difference. Having decided to go on this dive, and having researched it thoroughly, they would not have turned back at the entrance just because ofa warning sign.

M Saliba

Feb 22nd 2009, 03:11

Although I consider a tragedy every loss of human life, I fully agree with Brian Ferrante. As an experienced diver like Paul Swain, as an instructor, should have known the dangers of penetrating a dangerous wreck such as Xlendi. Some considerations that he should have considered and planned are clearly explained by Mr Ferrante. I think the Xlendi wreck was visited by many divers in the past years. Even divers less experienced than Mr Swain was and I cannot recall of any other divers who lost their lives only because they dived near this wreck. I myself as a diver can count around fifty diver on the Xlendi and I never planned to go inside the wreck because I dont have the necessary equipment and even if I do have the proper equipment, still I will not try to enter this wreck. This because there are other risks.

I disagree about the improper signs. The signs are 1m by 1m in measurement and are in every possible entry of the wreck. Plus they are design with highly reflective material so that they can also be noticed in low visibility.

stephen camilleri

Feb 22nd 2009, 00:34

And another thing i want to add,you have to be realy pushing your luck to penetrate that wreck and not use a reel,good nite to all....i know what i am talking about.

stephen camillerid

Feb 22nd 2009, 00:27

If they did so much research before they did the dive on the wreck,then they would have known how much danger there was,and you would not enter with a 12litre tank,come on guys get real!!

steve elliott

Feb 21st 2009, 21:21

never mind pointing fingers how about R.I.P

Joseph Farrugia

Feb 21st 2009, 20:54

Every loss of a human life is a tragedy for their relatives and friends. However I think that as an experienced diver and instructor, he should have certainly noticed that the Xlendi wreck is definitely not a dive for conventional scuba equipment when considering serious penetration.
Because of depth and distance from shore, this dive requires a considerable amount of gas and deco time. Imagine penetrating this wreck which is upside down, dark and full of fine silt and dead algae.
About the warning signs not being visible or not in the correct position, well these signs are outside the wreck, very well visible and the warning is clear.
People take life too much for granted, maybe because of (I know it all) or they don’t realize their limitations.
This wasn’t a death due to equipment failure. Know your limitations, use proper equipment, plan your dive and dive your plan.
Hope that all of us learn from this fatality and that by being more responsible toward our selves and our buddies or students, we can keep this fabulous sport as safe and enjoyable as possible.

Adrian Borg

Feb 21st 2009, 18:46

Yes of course! Point your finger at the Maltese authorities!

By any chance, you don't want the seabed to get paved as well so you can safely walk on it?

lgalea

Feb 21st 2009, 18:20

Franco Farrugia
Do you expect the authorities to seek every wreck, cave and whatever and fill them up with danger signs?
Does not diving itself entails danger especially if you are alone or entering any wrecks or cave?
What has the accident got to do with our professionalism Franco?
What has the accident got to do with our level of safety standards?
Do you expect the authorities to go hold the hands of everyone who goes diving, flying, sailing etc because they may find themselves in danger?
The others who have posted their comments also answer you indirectly Franco.

Simon Sullivan

Feb 21st 2009, 18:12

Typical nanny state verdict. Maltese readers take heed ! Lets keep our country free from this pathetic approach: ''everyone is an idiot and needs taking care of'' !

Clive Brockdorff

Feb 21st 2009, 17:49

I disagree utterly with these claims that this tragedy could have been avoided had there been enough signs,
Mr. Swain was not some child who needed hand-holding. He was a grownup who was responsible for his actions. Any experienced diver (or even as an inexperienced one) would have been fully conscious of the risks inherent in wreck penetration diving.
Whilst I'm very sorry for Mr. Swain and his loved ones, I cannot understand the constant attempts we see (not just in this instance) of people trying to shift responsibility onto others when things go awry.
Over the years, I have carried out thousands of dives, some of them extremely challenging, and I never came across warning signs, even overseas. The important point is that people should dive within their limitations and should make use of the proper training and equipment for specific contexts.
Divers should have no need for safety signs - they should have common sense and be conscious of their limitations.

Joe Xuereb

Feb 21st 2009, 17:22

It is unfortunate when a life is lost in pursuit of excitement. It is a guy thing. Macho. And all that is brought to bear on the male of the species. So he must climb mountains, go pot-holing, sea-water diving deep inside crevices, natural or shipwrecked. It is a guy thing. Life iis one long risky business. But if you are going to take a risk make sure the outcome is at least beneficial. Climbing a mountain is not of this category. The outcome only boosts the macho self-image, a pat on the back (or envy, or pity from those who are too wise to be foolhardy but dare not admit it), maybe a medal, recognition from the Queen, and the selling of merchandise like T-shirts with 'I did it' emblazoned on the front. And so the macho myth iis perpetuated and young boys (and girls) cannot wait to be old enough to have a go.
I remember my mother saying to us 'mal-baħar ma tilgħabx' and coteries of housewives, or għand tal-laħam, jew madwar il-karettun tal-ħaxix, discussing between them the pros of 'Omm il-ġifa qatt ma tagħli'. My retort was, 'you want me to be a ġifa'. Yes.

Brian Ferrante

Feb 21st 2009, 17:13

The death could only have been avoided by the diver himself and his buddies, and nobody else. The authirities cannot go around marking every wreck and cave as being dangerous. In the recreational activity that is diving, danger is relative. A 30 metre dive is dangerous to a diver with an Open Water Diver qualification with four dives experience at a maximum of 18 metres. On the other hand, it would be considered as an easy dive for a technical diver used to diving 60 metres plus (with appropriate training, equipment and techniques). Penetration outside the "light zone" (where you cannot see sunlight) into a wreck or cave requires separate training, equipment and techniques which were used by the Civil Protection Department Divers to extract the victim. Given his experience, the victim could not but have known this. However:
1. Did he have appropriate gas (type and quantity) for the dive?
2. Did he and his buddy have adequate lighting for the dive?
3. Did he use appropriate equipment including reels?
4. Did he use techniques, including use of lines and markers to help him find his way out?

M. Catania

Feb 21st 2009, 16:28

Every diver before exploring a wreck should have a list of challenges and difficulties of that particular wreck. The ruling that the death may have been avoided is very questionable.

Daniel Jones

Feb 21st 2009, 16:12

Why is everyone saying that the Xlendi is unfit to dive? Probably because they aren't divers. Every dive is potentially fatal, in fact more people die on the surface than at any other depth. It is just how the risks are minimised. The Xlendi is no more dangerous than other wrecks IF PLANNED PROPERLY and treated with respect.
For example, the Thistlegorm in Egypt and the Xenobia in Cyprus have claimed many more lives than the Xlendi and neither of these have any sort of signage on them. It is not the fault of the Maltese authorities or anyone other than the individual diver - in fact here in Malta we have very strict legislation concerning diving operations, much stricter than most other places in the world and as a result we have relatively few diving incidents.
One loss of life should not be taken out of context of the thousands of dives that take place in the Maltese islands every year. More people die crossing the roads in a week than diving thanks to the strict legislation.

Cas Madasar

Feb 21st 2009, 15:09

When it says that the incident could have been avoided, they are not wrong, but they were incorrect in who was at fault.
It was said that Mr. Swain was an experienced diver. If that were true, then he and his diving friends should have known that the MV Xlendi was not fit to dive. They should have also gotten a thorough briefing from the dive school that they were getting their tanks from and never penetrated the wreck without the proper equipment on hand. Inside the wreck is full of silt that can easily be stirred up, for this reason lines and reels are an absolute must to navigate it. Further more the state of the wreck makes it a danger to penetrate regardlessly - this is primarily the reason why there are signs on that wreck. There are signs - all of which quite large and clear - that warn against going inside. Also, had they gotten that dive briefing any Instructor on this island would have said against going inside.

J.Tonna

Feb 21st 2009, 14:59

Franco, have you been near the wreck to be able to judge? Or is it, as usual, firing doubts?

ceri whitley

Feb 21st 2009, 14:56

Casual and incorrectly sited signage abound here in Malta - just drive around for a little while - and you think it will be any better underwater for some reason?

For a country that is dependant on tourism for a significant proportion of its GDP it might be wise to take heed of the criticism from those that are, argueably, more concerned about public welfare than the powers that be here..... but criticism from foreigners is met with short rebuke here in Malta, mhux vera?

Prosit Malta.

M. J. Brincat

Feb 21st 2009, 14:54

with all the respect, but isn't it obvious that when u enter a sunk ship whilst diving it is dangerous?

Kevin Zammit

Feb 21st 2009, 14:53

@Franco

You probably are not a diver based on your comment.

Recall the 3 (? I forget how many) maltese doctors that where drowned during a cave dive?

I am just an amateur but one thing I do know is that when one dives inside a cavity of any sort an exit strategy should be planned normally just having a safety guide rope to guide you back out agin quickly in case of an emergency.

No matter what signs are put up if that was the dive plan then divers tend to go on especially with little possibilities of discussing what the group is going to do.

ACassar

Feb 21st 2009, 14:47

Could have been avoided?! If he was as good as his friends and family claimed him to be, then ANY diver with a decent amount of common sense could have seen that the Xlendi Wreck was unfit for diving.
AND there are warning signs on that wreck, one of which is at the entrance. SECONDLY, every dive school on this island knows and will warn against penetrating the wreck.

Franco Farrugia

Feb 21st 2009, 14:31

Igalea: 'No one can expect to play with fire and then say that there were no or not enough warning signs if he is burned.'
Typical of the Maltese mentality where everything goes, and where nothing is done in a professional manner.

So much for our level of safety standards.

lgalea

Feb 21st 2009, 14:17

While feeling sorry for this tragic loss of life, the coroner is wrong in concluding that more warning signs should have been put up. And at least the other divers confirmed that there were warning signs.
Divers should know to be on the alert and not to take any unnecessary risks, especially when they are not diving in their usual environment.
Any wreck poses considerable risk, especially an upside down one with limited entry and exit points, so more care should have been exercised by all concerned.
No one can expect to play with fire and then say that there were no or not enough warning signs if he is burned.

Daniel Jones

Feb 21st 2009, 13:47

There are adequate signs on this wreck. Mr Swain was a very experienced diver it seems, and all experienced divers know there are hazards when penetrating even the most seemingly benign wrecks. This wreck is upside down and with limited entry points. So any diver with any knowledge of diving will be fully aware of the hazards of this wreck and any like it.
This is the only wreck I know of in the world where there are any signs at all. So for a coroner to say the signs were inadequate shows a lack of knowledge about diving.
For the divers to know there were signs, they must have seen them and ignored them. In which case it is their responsibility. Obviously his friends and family are looking for someone to blame for this incident. In truth and I am sure any experienced diver will agree, the responsibility lies with the individual.

C.Saliba

Feb 21st 2009, 13:27

While my heart goes out to this man's family and friends. I think divers should be a trillion times more careful when diving in unknown (to them) places. Just doing a quick research is not enough given the danger associated with wreck diving. Questions come to mind, did these divers go it alone ? Did they go with any local diving centre ? Did they at least get some advice from the locals before diving there ?
While I urge the Maltese authorities to make more signage at the area warning of danger, I believe that such experienced divers would have known the danger they were facing, through the countless years of diving experinece they possibly have. Was this bravado, or that little instinct we all carry to push the limits a little further ? With such experience, how did the divers get seperated, even when they probably understood well the dangers they were venturing into. Despite the research the other divers mentioned was carried out, this man died a death which is not nice to pass through. I wish I could say otherwise, but let this man's unfortunate tragedy be a lesson to other wreck/cave divers. God Bless Mr.Swain.