Advanced Diving owner blames customers for Belize accident
Powered by CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
by LUTHER MONROE - CDNN Safety News Editor
Med student Abby Brinkman died on a scuba diving trip with Advanced Diving of Placencia Belize.
PLACENCIA, Belize (30 Oct 2005) -- A dive center owner in Belize has blamed customers for a dive trip accident in which an American tourist died and scuba divers were critically injured.
Advanced Diving owner Vance Cabral told reporters that the four divers who drifted at sea for three days ignored divemaster Henry "Bee Bee" Tucker who urged them to remain with the "Advanced One" dive boat after it lost power.
Cabral also says the boat was anchored despite reports that the vessel was drifting out to sea after its engine failed.
Despite small craft warnings, "Advanced One" left Placencia Silk Caye on Saturday, October 22 with a group of 10 divers and snorkelers.
The single engine vessel had no working radio, emergency signaling equipment nor drinking water for a trip to a destination located some 20 miles offshore.
Cabral, who has retained an attorney, declined to comment on reports that both he and divemaster Tucker did not have valid tour guide licenses.
In late December last year, CDNN reported that the same dive boat capsized in rough seas near South Water Caye with 10 divers onboard.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
