I was at the dive shop last weekend (due to my unfortunate golf accident, I'm reduced to being a dive shop groupie for now) and picked up a copy of Joe Burnworth's No Safe Harbor. Its an account of the Wave Dancer tragedy that occurred in Belize during Hurricane Iris. I posted on it in March when IMMARBE (the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize) released its official report and conclusions on the accident.
It seems that the official report hasn't given the friends and family of the victims the answers they were seeking. I can't say I blame them, given the lack of scrutiny the scuba press has given Peter Hughes Diving regarding the incident. And now (to them) it seems like the official report glossed over the accident, as well. The fact that Peter Hughes was allowed by the Belize authorities to resume diving operations with the Sun Dancer II within 3 months of the accident probably didn't sit well either. Milly Armao has put together a website on the tragedy. Check it out. It poses some troubling questions.
I personally have no opinion regarding the Peter Hughes operation....I've never been on one of his boats. I love liveaboard diving and will likely wind up on a Peter Hughes charter eventually.
As to why the scuba press and industry (except for Undercurrent) has ignored the incident? That's an easy one folks....the dive industry is in deep financial trouble...dive shops are closing all over...manufacturers are losing wads of cash...and many resorts are often half full. Beyond the obvious conflict of interest that has always existed between the dive mags and advertisers (when was the last time you read an honest resort review in a dive magazine?), the LAST thing the industry wants to call attention to are possible safety issues at one of its most visible operators. They're desperately trying to get people INTO diving, not scare them away.
I'll post a review of the book when I'm done.
