My trip report from 2002, ALL Very true:
Marcie - June, 2002
My flight down (for my fourth trip) was uneventful and perfect! It was the first time I've seen Air Jamaica depart on time. I arrived at Mo Bay almost a half hour ahead of schedule at 9:40 am, so I opted for the bus, as it was dubious my room would be ready. The bus ride
only took a hour and a half, which is far better than the two and a half hour ride I first took in' 97. I had a few hours of sunshine that day, then got the customary afternoon sprinkles and overcast the rest of the day. Hung around the hot tub and relaxed and made it
a somewhat early night.
Saturday, I went diving, We dove O'Neil's reef but with all the recent rains, visibility was cut in half from what it normally is. I hope I got some good pics! I took Maria McKenzie(a former bartender at Hedo and her significant other) out to dinner for her birthday. It was great seeing her again and she now has her own bar in Lucea.
Sunday was mostly rainy and windy..lotsa folks in the main dining room playing cards. I did have an hour or two of sunshine though. The hot tub was popular and the company outstanding as usual.
Monday, the day started out with rain and never stopped! I gladly would have traded in the free day I got for a day of sunshine!
Tuesday..The rain stopped and had some early sunshine but VERY windy! I wanted to dive but questioned the safety of it, as I could see big white caps from the beach. I questioned the dive master (O'Neil) about potential problems getting back onto the boat after the dive,
and got the customary "No Problem Mon"! So I went.. (I was STUPID!)
It was pretty cool and we got to play w/a small sting ray and a medium size sea turtle! (They're quite graceful underwater)
MY NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE: (NOT MADE UP OR EXAGGERATED)
After 30 min into the dive, I noticed I only had 550 lbs. of air left. I signaled to my buddy and the dive master, I was low on air and needed to start an ascent. My "buddy" still had plenty of air left so the dive master motioned for me to ascend alone from 60'. (THIS IS AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT PADI AND YMCA TEACHES) I started my ascent alone..stayed at 15' for 4 min as by now I was well into the RED ZONE, then continued to the surface. I was met with heavy seas, high winds, and dark skies. I inflated my BC and saw the dive boat in the far distance from atop a 6' swell. I thought to myself: "I only have to hold on for a couple of minutes in this mess and he'll be here". After 5 min., I timed the interval between swells, and blew my whistle hard twice.....nothing, the winds were so high and I was being blown out to sea..he couldn't hear me. I told myself to remain calm.. panic kills..remember my training..(I was also in the Navy for 8 years). 5 min turned into 15,
and I discovered my BC was leaking air through the mouthpiece! The sea state at that time prevented manual inflation without swallowing massive amounts of sea water. I was getting chilled and starting to shiver. I decided to conserve what little air I had left in my tank
and go to snorkel. Then I heard engines starting (as I was downwind), and thought: "Oh, thank-you Lord", but, as I came up upon another swell, I saw the dive boat disappearing...until it was out of sight.....I inflated my BC again, and raised my eyes to the sky, and began to make my peace with God...and prayed...The shoreline was rapidly disappearing, and so was I!
In the meantime, the rest of the group had surfaced, and the dive boat couldn't find them either! So the dive master has a "horn" of some sorts that attaches to his BC that he set off to get the boat's attention. That's when I saw the boat disappear. (this part is third party) When he got to them, the dive master asked: "Where's Marcie?"! "Isn't she with you?"!
The dive master told everyone to stay in the water, and told the boat captain: "she surfaced 10 min ahead of us! Go get her!"
Back to me: If any of you have seen "Perfect Storm"...I was relating to Bobby in that last scene. I was resigning myself to my fate.
My adrenalin was used up..my body was exhausted and was starting to shut down! I started shivering, all I could think was: "God I don't want to die like this!!!!!"
Then I heard engines again! On top of another swell, I saw a boat in the far distance heading my way! (2 miles at LEAST) I prayed: "Please God, give me the strength to last, just a bit longer!"
My heart started racing, my BC was only half full, I was struggling to keep my head on the surface..and I felt myself start to go into hyper-ventilation! I knew if that happened, I'd become unconscious and drown before he got to me!
The next thing I knew was the boat was about 30 feet abeam...The Pilot asked if I could swim to the ladder. I waved my hand "no" (I had NOTHING left!) I went under and raised my hand...and somehow, he grabbed my wrist, ripped my mask off, removed my BC and tank, and
pulled me aboard!
When I got finished coughing out the salt water..I gave thanks..I certainly was given a second chance! My Guardian Angel was there!
I'm not ashamed to say, when I got back to my room, I broke out in tears, knowing how close I came to dying alone in a vast empty space!
My experience SEVERELY traumatized me!! I was left in the ocean with heavy seas and high winds for 35-50 min .I'm a very strong swimmer and an Advanced PADI Diver and was in the Navy for 8 years, but nothing prepared me for this! I spoke to Donna Grant later, on the
condition no one would get in trouble. I told her that if she doesn't insist on standard PADI safety rules, I would write to PADI myself about what happened! She assured me policy would change, as she's a diver herself and unaware this was happening.
Wednesday..Spent a lot of quiet time....relaxing in the hot tub...a few strong drinks too!
Went to the Japanese Restaurant with a group of close friends. Food and atmosphere was
great! (Just don't speak Japanese to the cooks or waiters..Ya Mon!
)
Went to Veronica's after dinner, but Dave decided to take an unscheduled holiday!!! After soooo many choruses of "99 Bottles of Beer", my buddy Mike got up and sat in for Dave..My
jaw dropped wide open!!!! He could be a concert pianist! And he did it ALL by ear too!!! He turned a disaster into a VERY pleasant evening! (I took lotsa pics too!)
I told Hedo he should get a free night!
Friday, my last day, a good friend from our group sees me staring at the sea knowing the lust and fear I have for it now. He said: "If you don't go out today, you NEVER will again". He was so right, as were my other friends. The sea was calm that day, so I made myself go. My diving
friends whom I've known for some time went with me which I'll never forget, thank-you both!
And I buddied up with the dive master (Ritchie) himself. I had a GREAT dive this day!!!!!!
And yes, I'll be going again, but ONLY safely!!!!!!!!!
Saturday..Leaving at 2:00 PM...Sooooo Sad! All the good-byes...
-( Several of my friends
gave our bus a GOOD Hedo send-off at the gate!!!!!!!!
I miss you all!!!! Until next time!!!!!!!!
Marcie
