I'm a divemaster, and live in Victoria, BC, which is on Vancouver Island.
Naturally, I do alot of diving locally and Vancouver Island offers some
truly fantastic diving. Many people have posted questions and replies as to
why there seems to be a disproportionate number of accidents here. I think
equipment failure is the LEAST likely explanation of all. As is so often
the case, problems usually begin before ill-fated divers hit the water. Are
the divers skilled enough or experienced enough for the level of the dive?
Do they understand the particulars of the dive site to be prepared mentally
and physically for the dive? In the case of the most recent fatal accident
near Sidney, BC, the dive was an advanced dive: a boat dive, in cold water,
with a current, on reef/wall. From what I know of the case, the deceased
diver was Open Water certified in warm water, and had little or no
experience in cold water. For those who dive in both environments, it's
easy clear how much more difficult bouyancy is to control with the
considerable increase in the amount and thickness of Neoprene worn in these
waters compared to warm water dives. A thick hood, thick wet suit (or dry
suit), bulky gloves and booties combined with considerably more weight to
offset the bouyancy in shallow water, create a significantly foreign
environment for a diver used to a thin shorty suit in warm water. Now throw
in the cold water on your face, a current, decreased visibility with no
bottom reference, and entering off a boat. Apparently the diver during
initial descent began plummeting to great depth. Likely, she was
unaccostumed to the rapid loss of bouyancy resulting as the thick neoprene
becomes compressed coupled with the increased weight that must be worn to
offset the extra bouyancy near the surface. She likely lost sense of her
rapidly changing depth and failed to adjust her BCD. Remember that the
RELATIVE pressure change on the diver is less at depth, so it's likely she
was unaware she was plummeting once she was past 60 feet or so. It's the
same reason we feel the changes on our bodies (eg. ears) more going from the
surface to 15 feet, than say from 80 to 95 feet. In both cases there has
been a depth change of 15 feet, but the relative pressure change is much
less at depth. I can't emphasize enough that there is a big difference
between cold and warm water diving, especially when considering the
difference in gear. Enjoy your dives safely by understanding the dive and
being prepared. That also means knowing when a dive is too advanced for
your skill level or training. For those who may choose to visit Vancouver
Island from a warm water destination, there are many fabulous shore dives
which under good conditions are considered good "easy-beginner" level dives.
This would be a good place to start.


Wishing safe and enjoyable diving to all,
Dan