My New Haircut

[blaiz]

Well, this seemed like the most suitable place to post this, but I could be wrong so I apologize ahead of time. I wanted anyone who either drives a boat or dives where possible boat traffic will be and to me the most suitable ears would be thoughs of a Spearo!

Last year in the beginning of december a friend and I ventured out to one of our favorite dive spots. We jumped in the water off of a beach on west Maui and swam out to a drop off about 1/4 mile off of shore (~300+Meters) This drop off started in about 60ft of water and quickly drops off to around 120 feet or more. It produces many pelagics as well as some good bottom fish. This particular day was during a New Moon so we were targeting Uku (Green Jobfish). Up until this date this dive was one of my best. I shot 4 nice Uku all over 8lbs and one murph of about 12lbs.

It was getting a little late so we decided to head in. The sun was still high in the sky and we had at least another hour of daylight but as we had plenty of fish I didnt want to get too greedy.

We started the long swim back to the beach and as we got to about the half way point ( not too far outside the no swim zone buoy) I noticed a boat heading in our direction. I took note and kept swimming on my way (Keep in mind that both my buddy and I have the proper floats with diver down flags attached. My buddy has actually been run over by boats on 7 different occasions two of which he had his gun and float ripped out of his hand so he is extremely paranoid. His dive float is a boogie board with a 3ft tall pole with 2 flags mounted on top.)

After a few kicks I poked my head out of the water again to see the progress of this boat. This time I noticed that it was a lot closer and hauling A$$. I got my buddy's attention and we both stopped swimming and began waving our hands and guns in the air. The boat just kept bearing down on us showing no signs of slowing down or turning. As it got closer I noticed that there were about 5 people on board and a woman was driving (not that sex is an issue but she was looking the other way)

As the boat approached within 50 ft. it was heading straight for my buddy who was getting ready to dive. He was about 20 feet away from me at a right angle to the boats approach. As the boat got within 20 ft the lady finally turned around and saw him just as his fins are slipping below the water. So what does she do?...SHE TURNS THE BOAT STRAIGHT INTO ME!...To this day I dont know how or why I reacted so quickly. I imagine it must have looked like a scene from the Matrix Or a frog turned on his back but SOME HOW I was able to push myself back under water. As my face was still pointing up, I was able to see the keel of the boat pass over my mask no more than 2 inches away. I got sucked up in the wash and all...Wait a minute...Im still in one piece. I quickly checked myself for cuts, protruding bones, intestines hanging out, I was prepared for the worst but didnt have a scratch on me. What the?...the only reason that I am telling this story today is because that boat was a jet boat (impeller). There is no doubt in my mind that had that boat had a prob I would be dead, done, "make"(hawaiian for dead),!

My brief moment of euphoria from still being alive was soon replaced by a rage that I have never felt before. I was screaming and yelling... and probably said every curse word known to man.

The boat didnt even slow down until it was a good 100 meters away from us. It stopped for a moment (So I knew they knew what had happened) I could see the people talking and nervously glancing back at us as we started swimming towards the boat. what did they do next?... THEY SPED OFF!!! Didnt even come to see if we were OK.

Where do people like this come from? How is it that people with such a blatant disregard for safety and concern for others even survive in this world?

Anyway, the reason I posted this was in hopes to share some awareness. I know that anyone driving boats that read this forum are divers so I can only assume you all know the importance of safety while boating. And for those of you just doing shore dives.. be aware. Dont assume that boats see you (even if you have a 2ft tall flag!). And last, though I was unable to do this at the time (as I was unable to get the reg numbers and name of the boat, and when we went to the boat ramp they had either already left or didnt bother coming back), report these incidents to authorities. Even if you do escape the incident w/out harm, the next guy might not be so lucky.

Ok end of rant, Dive safe...Drive safe... Aloha!

[Marwan]

good that youre still with us blaiz...idiots like that need to be pursued by the law..id look in neaby marinas for that boat and call the police once i find it...

[Old Man Dave]

It has or will happen to most of us sooner or later. Don't get me started about jet ski's and as for windsurfers!!!!!.

Stay safe.

Dave

[asantirims]

People like that should be driving a 50cc boat, or not even be allowed on water (wouldent like to see her driving a car)
VERRY idiotic

[irtrogdor]

Not to mention the other people in the boat who didn't warn their "captain" that she was going to kill someone!

[settingsteel]

Theirs "road rage" and for us spearos " Spearo Rage" I had a similiar occurence in Miami with a few huge yachts and a few jet skiers (geez I hate them guys)...jet skiers though I can understand a bit more since most just rent them and don't know smack about the orange flag with the line going across it, but a 50' yachts captain should know better...onre precaution I have taken is to never (or seldom) dive on weekends, another is to tote a float with flag, and whistle...although it seldom works...you know (I always swear to take a shot at one of them Mofo's but for one reason or another I never do...guess its just a nice thought...glad to hear your ok man as though SWB is not enough to worry 'bout!

[blaiz]

Thanks Tone... Yeah, everyone always says "why didnt you put your shaft through the hull of that boat" ... yeah like ive got time to think about that while sticking my head between my legs and kissing my a$$ goodbye. It

would be very gratifying though..."Blam....OOPS...sorry, i swear.... thats never happened before!"

[blaiz]

By the way, how are you liking the new Ski?

Ive been wanting one for a while but they arent very practicle where I dive, actually very practicle, but from December - May they are off limits on west Maui due to the fact that this area is a nursing ground for humback whales.

[settingsteel]

Dude get yourself a ski...you won't regret it, best deal is to have a buddy get one too...diving off a 2 or 3 man ski with a buddy in his ski is the scope! and the $$$ are gonna skyrocket purdy soon, so I have heard...no prop on skis so the humpys are safe

[sanso]

It's good You're still around to tell the story, mate! And I sure hope You find the boat and the driver!

[ILDiver]

When Whopperhead and I dove in Ft Lauderdale we had Wave runners going around just south of us, but the kid that rented them out must have told them to stay away from us, they never got close. He wigged out when I lost my float and flaggd one of them down to have them retrieve it for me. So at least some of the operators in that area are aware and taking precautions.

The next day we went up to West Palm and dove with a Tony Babowicz (from on DB here). He was in his boat and Whopperhead and I were in the water. A big charter off shore fishing boat came up next to us and started trolling. We just looked at him. The guests were looking at us, but the crew and captain avoided eye contact. Unbelievable that they are allowed to run a buisness.

[spaghetti]

It takes a bit of whisdom with people like those: their mother was a prostitute and they had to grow up with a complex that's so hard to bear...
Happy you survived, mate.
The worst thing is that they didn't get back to check if you're ok after they finally noticed you.
But again, it must have been tough for them with such a mother...Let's try to be understanding...

[Gunnar]

Dude, reading your story shivers ran down my spine. I automatically tucked my head in when I got to the part where the hull was like 2 inches away from your face. I don't even want to imagine that boat not being jet propelled...

Anyone can have a moment of distraction but that is just negligent. And then not even returning to check... I don't want to get started.

I am glad you're ok!

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by blaiz

...My buddy has actually been run over by boats on 7 different occasions two of which he had his gun and float ripped out of his hand so he is extremely paranoid. His dive float is a boogie board with a 3ft tall pole with 2 flags mounted on top.)
...Dive safe...Drive safe... Aloha!

He didn't spear them by any chance did he? I guess driving on the roads would be tricky if a heads appeared out of the road from time to time. You'd think Scuba would be common enough (even if spearing isn't) for them to be aware of the danger & flags. I make an effort to keep the bright orange tip on my snorkel (it falls off from time to time as the snorkel is soft & shiney) as I noticed that nearby SCUBA divers were near invisible but the orange tips of their snorkels were easily seen. I also have a seacsub combat snorkel that has a black tip tape -- quite dangerous but I guess the idea is that it is camo. I'm willing to forego that bit of camo in the interests of not getting mown down.

I was surprised at the behaviour of one guy last year with 3 seater batman-type power boat (like a small, low, 3 seater motorbike arrangement). Hammering round close to the edge of a marked swim area and among anchored yachts. He powered into & up onto the beach among holiday makers, some playing in the water, & he had a child onboard & an older guy too. Kept coming in and going - seemed aimless. In the UK, I reckon he'd probably be done for manslaughter as a matter of routine if he'd hit some one or something.

[BatRay]

Hey blaiz, glad you made it through that encounter without injury. Did you happen to report the boat to the authorities? Sometimes that yields results, especially when a boat driver is exceptionally bad and keeps doing stuff like that.

A kid at a local lake came away the worse for wear from an incident like that. He was swimming within the buoys and a boat ran over him, which cut his head open, then sped off. They tracked the driver down and arrested him, and the trial is in progress now.

Stay safe.