Mayday Mayday Mayday

Yesterday my Cousin Brady and I were heading back from Caldwell Is (the girls drove home with the kids) we had a relayed Distress call and Victoria Coast Guard radio was relaying a Mayday for a Dive boat "Cape Able". At this point we were just passing Telegraph harbour and I we were beginning to hear the boat converse with the CAN-CG. During the MAYDAY a few boats didn't seem to understand you are not to call to Hail your friend. The location of the dive boat was between Domville Island and Forest Island.
The issue was they had a missing diver, that hadn't surfaced when he was supposed to. We could hear not only another dive boat join a search, we began to hear many boats offering to assist. As we rounded the south end of Salt spring we heard a CAN-CG helicopter join in. We pulled into Canoe cove to get some fuel and planned to help since we were heading right past there. I called Victoria Coast Guard hailing "MAYDAY Victoria Coast Guard this is NEHALENNIA". He replied. "Nehalennia go ahead". I said, "We are leaving Canoe Cove currently and wish to assist in the search for the Missing Diver if requested", Victoria Coast Guard replied again, " Nehalennia, ROGER, the area is between Domville Island and Forest island down to the tip of Sidney Spit out to Haro Strait. I told them. "Roger, We'll be heading along the south end of Forest Island along the shore West to East". We reported everytime we made a direction change or completed searching an area as did all of the other boats searching. It was very heavy radio traffic attempting to find this guy. It was a surreal feeling and watching all the activity and helicopters was good to know everyone is out there for one another. We searched for about an hour then had to continue home.

Unfortunately the diver passed and they did find his body about an hour after we quit looking at 4PM.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Scuba+diver+found+dead+waters+Vancouver+Island/1876151/story.html

To his family and Dive mates, I'm sorry for your loss.

as a diver I thank you.and it is nice to know boaters are not alone on the water,,one call and we respond...my thoughts and prays for his family,God bless you.

Good Job...
I find that boaters are generally helpfull people...and see it proven time after time.:smt038

Thanks. I was hoping for a beter outcome for sure. All of you divers be careful.

Uhh Todd ... how sad. My boss is an avid diver and just came back from a week diving off the coast on wrecks.

Any idea what exactly happened to this guy?

Not yet. I read that he was 60 and his name and details haven't been released. It could have been anything. This is a popular area for diving, but currents got strong there right after the call. He could have had any issue I suppose diving 20 meters down, then the current took him. It's a shame for sure.

Echoing the above sentiments as a diver and boater... Thanks for your help.

Todd, God Bless ya for getting involved.

Ditto on every one's comments.

So nice to hear how boater's just jump in to help when needed cause you never know when it might be you that needs the help. We were at Brentwood Bay marina when we heard the news of the diver who lost his life. Turns out he is an orthopedic surgeon in Gig Harbor who I work with so very upsetting news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family!

Good job Todd, I am a certified diver too...... See you in Poulsbo this weekend !!!

Very sad, good for you helping out. It is nice to belong to the boating community and we all have to help each other.

Thanks for sharing that story. I'm not sure I would know how to respond to a Mayday call over the radio. Now I know.