Sad situation,
Go on vacation to have a good time, and a family member of friend winds up not going back home, alive. Tragic . It hurts all of our hearts to see this happen.
Lived lots of years on Kauai Island, and there were a good amount of mostly visitor, drownings, they all had one thing in common, plus other ignored safety rules..
Every one of the many drownings, every one of them, the person was not aware of an important rule of swimming in the ocean.
DO NOT SWIM ALONE
Most were elderly, most were males, all were alone..
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
They did not check the conditions, especially the currents. They wind up far off the beach, or out to sea, down Current. Then they try to swim back into a rip, or strong current, They fight and fiight, become exhausted,
just could not stay afloat . Some had heart attacks. The families on shore did not have any idea that their loved one was in trouble.
Sailing the BVI, or anywhere, when going snorkeling, or diving or swimming, , Erica and I, or with a group, The dink painter is totally paid out off the stern, and one of us gets into the water with fins, treads water, and checks
the current . At times it can be very strong ,, or at least too strong to swim against. If the person is swept away, they can grab on to the dink painter or the dink. The other person is standing watch on the swim step,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALWAYS WEAR FINS. ( This is really important to all of us )
Fins give us an enormous amount of extra power to move thru the water.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are other safety rules that should be thought of. Boat or Beach. .Of course , it is all up to the individual.
NEVER SWIM AT NIGHT........( sharks and other sea creatures that you cannot see, as well as corals, urchins, submerged rocks, and reef. )
NEVER SWIM IN MURKY WATER.....( sharks )....that is Day or Night. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other safety procedures that can be used to check the strength of directions of the current. ( some times you can use current positively for drift snorkeling or diving ) . Best to be experienced a bit.
But for general safety : .
* before going in, look at the other snorkelers or swimmers in the water, and see if they are laboring to move thru the water, fins splashing, arms flailing , moving slow, or not moving, or actually moving backwards ( Strong Currents)
.
* look for signs of long shore, or rip currents, or any current. long shore currents are parallel to the beach and look like rapids . Also, ocean water running back out thru a pass in the reef. ( very dangerous )
* Also, once in the water , stop finning, float and look down thru your mask, and check out the bottom ( clear and good vis ), and if the bottom is moving, it is actually us who are being whisked along by current,
* Another good tip when swimming or snorkeling is to look at land marks on shore, , or the position of a snorkel boat, and keep in in sight and know you can return. just look up and check your position every few minutes.
Main Thing is , if it is not safe...GET OUT OF THE WATER , or DO NOT EVEN GO INTO THE WATER.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Kauai, or as skipper of a vessel world wide, , we endeavored to keep our visitors to the island , or our friends and family on board the boat safe in all circumstances.
* Also, another good practice , from on board, the skipper or crew member or family, or friend, will keep an easy watch on those who are swimming or snorkeling. Plus those in the water, should " Buddy Swim"..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust me, we fully understand that people are in the BVI to have a grand and wonderful good time. We cannot do anything to help out the person who is missing , and he just went for a swim.
But , perhaps, others will add in some of the ocean safety ideas to their sailing vacation, and not have an unfortunate incident like this happen to them or their family .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have good fun in the BVI, , take good care, and once back on board, drink quality dark rum, sing sea shantys and embrace your friendships.
.
