Bruce Ullman
Event Date: January 2, 2005
Bruise: Death
Bruise Location: Grand Caymen
Age: 69
Home Town: New Hampshire
Cruise Line: Holland America Line
Ship: Rotterdam
Details:
Bruce Ullman
Died On Cruise Ship Dive Excursion
Holland America Line Rotterdam - January 2, 2005
An inquest into the death Of Bruise Ullman decided that Ullman died of natural causes.
Dive instructor Adam Slobodian gave evidence in person. He said the boat captain, Gabriel Poirier, gave the standard briefing about safety and marine park rules. He and another crew member talked with guests about their diving history to find out how comfortable they were in the water.
He said they knew that cruise ship guests might dive only once a year or every two years. Or they might not be active for 11 months until they go on vacation.
The coroner asked if the cruise ship divers would be out of shape. Mr. Slobodian replied, "Out of practice."
Dive gear generally weighs about 45 pounds, so divers are asked to check their buoyancy when they get in the water but before they start their dive. Sometimes they needed to strap on lead weights. Mr. Ullman needed no weights.
The divers left from a platform at the back of the boat, swam to a mooring line at the front of the boat and started their dive there. They were in two groups, about ten each. Mr. Slobodian stayed on the boat to make sure everybody made it under water.
He noticed that Mr Ullman had come back up. He asked for more weight. Instead of making him swim to the back of the boat, Mr. Slobodian said he told him to hang onto the mooring line. He grabbed a lead weight and jumped into the water to give it to Mr. Ullman.
In the time it took him to grab the weight and swim to Mr. Ullman, the diver had got one of his air hoses tangled around the mooring line.
The witness said he tried to untangle it, but needed Mr. Ullman to take off his buoyancy compensation vest in order to do so. He asked him to keep one hand on the mooring line and one on the vest; this was to ensure buoyancy.
Mr. Ullman started breathing more rapidly. When Mr. Slobodian got the hose untangled he asked Mr. Ullman to put the vest back on. Mr. Ullman was having some difficulty and didn't seem to be listening when asked questions.
The witness said he took this as a sign to check if Mr. Ullman was okay. He asked if he wanted to continue the dive and the older man said no. Mr. Slobodian said they would make their way to the back of the boat, where Mr. Ullman would be helped from the water.
He yelled to Gabriel to keep his eye on Mr. Ullman and help him when he got to the ladder. By the time Mr. Slobodian got to the back of the boat, Gabriel yelled that Mr. Ullman had gone under the surface.
He was pulled lifeless to the surface.
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