Observing an unsafe act

An incident a couple weeks ago is still bothering me. I have debated on saying anything in a public forum, but have decided that discussion may be the best thing.

The incident:

Observing a group of "Cave Divers" enter into a cave with what appears to be all the proper gear, etc. I put "" around Cave Divers as it was a cave and the incident involved diving. There were numerous divers enterting the system / cavern and most likely not all on the same team. I believe the incident actually was centered around a two person team.

I was in sidemount configuration and acting as dive buddy for one person who was doing a rebreather test dive.

It was hard not to notice the person I am talking about as this person entered the cavern area with its light dangling by the cord hanging down (not in hand) swimming at first in a very head up / feet down position. The person was in a drysuit and in doubles. What I observed next I thought was this person "playing" around as this person lost all buoyancy, flipped onto its back and landed on the floor of the cavern in a "dead bug" position (tanks on floor on back.)

I watched this person for a short time thinking they were going to wait for others to pass and then flip over and continue the dive. After all others had passed (took only seconds) the person remained on the cavern floor on its back. The person was breathing, could see exhaust bubbles. I then swam over to this person, hovering above this person I gave them an "OKAY", the response returned was "NO" by means of head gesture (standard NO head movement.)

I gave the person a signal gesturing that I was going to assist them and roll them over. This was returned with a head gesture of "YES." I dropped down further, grabbed the persons inflator and tanks adding a small amount of air to the wing and turning the person over. I kept hold of the persons harness and maneuvered them into a head up / feet down position looking them right in the eyes. I gave the person an "OKAY" signal and did not initially receive an "OKAY" back. I gave a second signal and did receive a very weak "okay" back. However, it was a slow almost automatic signal and by the look in the persons eyes they were not okay.

At this time the individual I was diving with was also at this persons side.

I gave a "Thumbs Up" to the individual who was having difficulty. I received a "NO" signal by means of this persons turning head. I again gave the "Thumbs Up" signal in a more firm manner. Myself along with the individual I was diving with then swam the individual who was having difficulty to the surface.

The individual was obviously shaken up and kept repeating that they were new to the drysuit or new to a drysuit. I am not sure if this was a new suit or new to drysuit diving.

Shortly after returning to the surface another individual came swimming over who the troubled individual obviously knew. We (dive buddy and myself) made sure verbally that the individual was okay and that the other person was going to assist them further. I do believe the person who arrived was this persons dive buddy.

My dive buddy and I then swam away and tended to our business.

A short time later we (dive buddy doing rebreather test dive and I) were back in the water as the person wanted more time on the rebreather.

My dive buddy signaled to me and pointed into the cavern / cave. I observed the individual who we had just rescued back inside the cave. What this individual was doing reminded me of a hard hat diver walking on the bottom. It appeared this individual had a buddy they were following. I watched as this individual walked / swam using arms off into the cave following what I assumed was this persons dive buddy.

I debated going into the cave after this individual but was not equipped to enter that environment. Yes, it was that alarming watching this individual.

The individual did make it out of the cave after this dive. This individual was actually talking to people in the area I was in (I was still standing in shallow water with gear on.) The individual did say something about someone helping them earlier. I simply replied that it was myself and my dive buddy. I spoke no more to this individual after this last exchange.

I talked with another diver who witnessed the incident who advised that the person diving with this individual was actually a cave instructor. I have not confirmed if this is true or not, but have no reason to doubt the statement.

I have a few questions for the dive buddy of this individual:

1) Where were you when your dive buddy was laying stuck on the floor of the cavern?
2) What took so long for you to realize that your dive buddy was missing?
3) Did you consider that maybe this individual was not ready or qualified to do this dive?
4) When you went back into the cave were you not concerned about this individuals ability to maintain buoyancy and trim?

If the person diving with this individual was an instructor I only have one question:

1) What agency do you teach for? (Because I want to know what agency to avoid)

This to me is just plain scary. There was a complete lack of situational awareness, and a complete lack of safety by both the diver and the diver's buddy. If this person is actually a cave diver, who certified them?

I intentionally avoided describing the persons involved. I do not even know the names of the individuals. If others know who the individuals are then it is your decision if you post the identity.

Sounds like by [the individual] that it was a female. Probably should have practiced with the drysuit in open water eh? The cave instructor part is hard to believe though. Glad the test run turned out somewhat ok.

I heard about a similar incident occurring at JB the weekend of the CDS workshop. The diver was in the same position when someone else helped her get upright. So it appears this happened more than once that weekend if you were also at JB. If your incident wasn't there then either she gets around or there's more than one!

I don't know who it was or who the instructor was. However, don't blame the agency. All agencies have a bad instructor or two, or 10 or 20. I know of poor instructors in the CDS and NACD. They may have been great instructors at one time, but there aren't any systems in place to monitor quality after the initial IE. So, in other words, avoid the instructor, not the agency.

Seems like Darwin was just trying to cull the herd...

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Originally Posted by RN

I heard about a similar incident occurring at JB the weekend of the CDS workshop. The diver was in the same position when someone else helped her get upright. So it appears this happened more than once that weekend if you were also at JB. If your incident wasn't there then either she gets around or there's more than one!

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We witnessed the event as well. The diver discussed her cavern class the week before on the surface, at one point asked if she could take intro in sidemount, and a few sentences later they were discussing their dive plan and letting her know where they would be placing the jump reels.

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Originally Posted by RN

I don't know who it was or who the instructor was. However, don't blame the agency. All agencies have a bad instructor or two, or 10 or 20. I know of poor instructors in the CDS and NACD. They may have been great instructors at one time, but there aren't any systems in place to monitor quality after the initial IE. So, in other words, avoid the instructor, not the agency.

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I'd blame the agency for that.

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Originally Posted by jj1987

We witnessed the event as well. The diver discussed her cavern class the week before on the surface, at one point asked if she could take intro in sidemount, and a few sentences later they were discussing their dive plan and letting her know where they would be placing the jump reels.

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Wow!

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I'd blame the agency for that.

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You'd have to blame almost all the agencies, then. There's only one I know that has expirations, but I don't know if they require an evaluation at the time.

We as a community are getting way too PC. If I had been in this situation I would have called my dive and had a direct and frank discussion with the divers as well as find out their actual cert. levels. I was at EN when I encountered two Intro divers preparing to do an air dive to a planned depth of 200 feet. I could tell by their gear and discussion between the two of them that they were not qualified or experienced for the dive they had planned. I scrubbed my dive and convinced them to allow me to buy them lunch at Hooters. I will never know for sure but I believe that at the end of the day they were convinced to seek more training and stay within their personal limits. At the least I know that they did not perform the dive that day or the next as I returned the next day to do my dive.

I have also escorted OW divers out of the Devils system and flooded two divers lights once after finding them in the cave repeatedly. They or anyone else can call me an **** if they want. I have put the time and effort into getting training and experience. I don't want to see others loose their lives because they don't know that they need it and I don't want to loose access either.

It is all a judgment call and I often see things that I don't say a thing about. When it gets blatantly out of the limits then I will speak up.

Bobby

"I know of poor instructors in the CDS and NACD." My -intro- to cave some years ago was taught by a renowned NACD instructor & TD whom nearly drowned me in the ballroom at Ginne. Using a set of rented OCbm's I could only rely on sheer experience of common sense to realize this person had no business teaching yet alone being a TD of a national cave diving agency ! His comment was: "maybe I should find a different instructor" It cost me, but I did & glad of it ! My follow up TI was the best & genuinely looked after my skills & technique to the point of being safe in all cave situations. I maintain a freindship with both, but the one has moved on to other things ! He no longer teaches cave . My point being, if you have a bad training experiance with an instructor, find a better one ! Not that difficult & it may save your tush !

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Originally Posted by RN

There's only one I know that has expirations, but I don't know if they require an evaluation at the time.

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Yes, they do.

Our instructor was the first one in the water and I dont think he would have let us go past the main line tie off if we didnt have our trim and bouyancy in some kind of functioning order. He definantly would not have let us penetrate the cave in a head up position. A good Instructor is worth his weight in Gold IMO..

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Originally Posted by shagyluke

Our instructor was the first one in the water and I dont think he would have let us go past the main line tie off if we didnt have our trim and bouyancy in some kind of functioning order. He definantly would not have let us penetrate the cave in a head up position. A good Instructor is worth his weight in Gold IMO..

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So instructors who could stand to lose a few pounds are really just maximizing their net worth? :)


Everyone has stories about terrible divers and terrible instructors. I love when I get to suggest to someone which instructors they should consider, and hate to see poor instructors getting away with it.

Forrest..... someone else put ... in the heading and now we cant see the second page.

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Originally Posted by JerseyJersey

Forrest..... someone else put ... in the heading and now we cant see the second page.

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I removed them. People, don't put ellipses in the thread title (you know, three periods). It messes with the software.

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Originally Posted by Bobby

We as a community are getting way too PC. If I had been in this situation I would have called my dive and had a direct and frank discussion with the divers as well as find out their actual cert. levels. I was at EN when I encountered two Intro divers preparing to do an air dive to a planned depth of 200 feet. I could tell by their gear and discussion between the two of them that they were not qualified or experienced for the dive they had planned. I scrubbed my dive and convinced them to allow me to buy them lunch at Hooters. I will never know for sure but I believe that at the end of the day they were convinced to seek more training and stay within their personal limits. At the least I know that they did not perform the dive that day or the next as I returned the next day to do my dive.

I have also escorted OW divers out of the Devils system and flooded two divers lights once after finding them in the cave repeatedly. They or anyone else can call me an **** if they want. I have put the time and effort into getting training and experience. I don't want to see others loose their lives because they don't know that they need it and I don't want to loose access either.

It is all a judgment call and I often see things that I don't say a thing about. When it gets blatantly out of the limits then I will speak up.

Bobby

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But you are the Nitrox Nazi!

Thanks for posting this MedCop, very disturbing situation indeed. Goodonya to you and your buddy for your situational awareness and rendering aid. I would hope an experience like this encouraged the individual to take whatever corrective action is necessary.

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Originally Posted by Caver95

But you are the Nitrox Nazi!

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No, actually he has a new nick name now. He is "the grand inquisitor of cave diving". If you dare act against the faith (cave diving rules) he will burn you with his flaming mouth on the forums (like they used to burn the witches, but more modern technology).

BTW when are you coming back from the Euro-trip to stop being a forum diver and actually do some real diving? ;)

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Originally Posted by jj1987

We witnessed the event as well. The diver discussed her cavern class the week before on the surface, at one point asked if she could take intro in sidemount, and a few sentences later they were discussing their dive plan and letting her know where they would be placing the jump reels.

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James is there any chance you may have overheard Tracy (PinkArrows) joking with me about making her first jump since she was now "cavern" certified?

Since it was a running joke amongst several people that weekend, I just want to be sure no one is putting the wrong face on the diver. For the record, Tracy had actually just completed her full cave the week before and was NOT the diver who apparently ended up turtled.

It was not pink arrow.

Sent from my Eris

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Originally Posted by Xenia

No, actually he has a new nick name now. He is "the grand inquisitor of cave diving". If you dare act against the faith (cave diving rules) he will burn you with his flaming mouth on the forums (like they used to burn the witches, but more modern technology).

BTW when are you coming back from the Euro-trip to stop being a forum diver and actually do some real diving? ;)

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I am hoping to do some real diving in the next couple of weeks in Croatia. We fly back to the states July 14th

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Originally Posted by mstueven

James is there any chance you may have overheard Tracy (PinkArrows) joking with me about making her first jump since she was now "cavern" certified?

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Originally Posted by adam0321

It was not pink arrow.

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Thanks guys, it couldn't possibly be me though, I am Advanced Full Cavern, and you simply can't confuse that with just regular cavern.

But seriously, if the person we're talking about is the girl who Mike and I are thinking of, the buddy is an OW instructor, which means he had even less business having her in there.

*Let's face it... It takes a TON of training to become a cave instructor. You can't just stay at a Holiday Inn one night and all of a sudden be prepared to train divers in the overhead... Unless of course you're Chuck Norris.*

Serious again, another point that should probably be discussed (although I have heard it many times in conversation, but haven't seen it on the forum (in my 4 months of being here)); Cave diving is not for everyone, and just because you love your wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/whoever, does not mean you should try to push them into such a dangerous sport just so you can do it together. A buddy once told me he loved that his wife was open water certified and they could share that, but she had no intentions of ever diving in a cave, and he had no intentions of ever coaxing her to do so. And I respect him immensely for that. I think that there may have been some of this type of "pushing" at play in this scenario. And maybe not, but its still a valid point.

(*This comment is dedicated to one of my favorite dive buddies, who shall remain nameless, as he didn't want to compromise the rightfully serious nature of this discussion.*)

No this person spent most of the weeknend walking around in a bikini. Which after observing her diving was probaly better for everyone. Although she was the laugh of a few people that day it was not the only case of poor diving that was observed. That samd dive buddy who helped her up also saw people 2000' in the cave with a scooter on their knees fixing problems, and almost running into people with scooters. I have the great pleasure of diving JB quite often and have never seen the viz that bad. If I learned nothing else that weekend it was that it does not matter how many dives you have or how many post's you have. Some people just suck in the cave and at diving in general regardless of their past or reputation. I think the weekend of theworkshop I saw almost every rule I was ever tought violated. people scoff at me for diving solo and I believe after seeing some of the stuff I saw that weekend I am better off(some times obviously there are some great divers out there). That indavisual had no business whats so ever in the cave, let alone going right back in after having to be pulled out. There were numerious pepole dragging the bottome of the cave. And no they were not all part of the iurcc class.

To reference what Pinkarrows said. I have a significant other who is facinated by diving and will often come to JB and sit and watch me gear up and wait for me to get out (even in thunder storms) she has also gone on boat trips with me. We have been together for over 2 years and I have yet to push her in any way shape or form into diving. I feel that may have been the case in this incident.

My wife still hasent mastered the snorkel. She swims off, I hear her breathing, the snorkel gets lower, i still hear her breathing. It goes under, I think shes diving for something and she comes up coughing and cussing me. ? Someone needs to invent a 4 ft snorkle.

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Originally Posted by adam0321

No this person spent most of the weeknend walking around in a bikini. Which after observing her diving was probaly better for everyone. Although she was the laugh of a few people that day it was not the only case of poor diving that was observed. That samd dive buddy who helped her up also saw people 2000' in the cave with a scooter on their knees fixing problems, and almost running into people with scooters. I have the great pleasure of diving JB quite often and have never seen the viz that bad. If I learned nothing else that weekend it was that it does not matter how many dives you have or how many post's you have. Some people just suck in the cave and at diving in general regardless of their past or reputation. I think the weekend of theworkshop I saw almost every rule I was ever tought violated. people scoff at me for diving solo and I believe after seeing some of the stuff I saw that weekend I am better off(some times obviously there are some great divers out there). That indavisual had no business whats so ever in the cave, let alone going right back in after having to be pulled out. There were numerious pepole dragging the bottome of the cave. And no they were not all part of the iurcc class.

To reference what Pinkarrows said. I have a significant other who is facinated by diving and will often come to JB and sit and watch me gear up and wait for me to get out (even in thunder storms) she has also gone on boat trips with me. We have been together for over 2 years and I have yet to push her in any way shape or form into diving. I feel that may have been the case in this incident.

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Interesting that you guys got the same vibe. One of the guys with us mentioned that it seemed like a bf pushing his gf to cave dive.

Either way, kudos to the guy for finding a girl who likes to spend so much time on her knees :)

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Originally Posted by stairman

My wife still hasent mastered the snorkel. She swims off, I hear her breathing, the snorkel gets lower, i still hear her breathing. It goes under, I think shes diving for something and she comes up coughing and cussing me. ? Someone needs to invent a 4 ft snorkle.

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A few years ago, a buddy and me saw a redneck in Madison Blue who had duct taped a 12 foot piece of PVC pipe to a snorkel and was trying to walk around on the bottom with it. We got a good laugh out of that...

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Originally Posted by jj1987

Interesting that you guys got the same vibe. One of the guys with us mentioned that it seemed like a bf pushing his gf to cave dive.

Either way, kudos to the guy for finding a girl who likes to spend so much time on her knees :)

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:) Yes, sometimes they can be Hard to Come by

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Originally Posted by Xenia

No, actually he has a new nick name now. He is "the grand inquisitor of cave diving".

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jeeesh what gives- - "Murphy" had such a nicer ring and way easier to say. :-)

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Originally Posted by adam0321

No this person spent most of the weeknend walking around in a bikini. Which after observing her diving was probaly better for everyone. Although she was the laugh of a few people that day it was not the only case of poor diving that was observed. That samd dive buddy who helped her up also saw people 2000' in the cave with a scooter on their knees fixing problems, and almost running into people with scooters. I have the great pleasure of diving JB quite often and have never seen the viz that bad. If I learned nothing else that weekend it was that it does not matter how many dives you have or how many post's you have. Some people just suck in the cave and at diving in general regardless of their past or reputation. I think the weekend of theworkshop I saw almost every rule I was ever tought violated. people scoff at me for diving solo and I believe after seeing some of the stuff I saw that weekend I am better off(some times obviously there are some great divers out there). That indavisual had no business whats so ever in the cave, let alone going right back in after having to be pulled out. There were numerious pepole dragging the bottome of the cave. And no they were not all part of the iurcc class.

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And you thought I made all that crap up in cave class... ;)

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Originally Posted by BgDadddy

A few years ago, a buddy and me saw a redneck in Madison Blue who had duct taped a 12 foot piece of PVC pipe to a snorkel and was trying to walk around on the bottom with it. We got a good laugh out of that...

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If you're talking about who I think you are, he's a college professor at Valdosta and he's at Madison a lot with this rig, (although not 12 feet long but a shorter piece).
I don't know his name but I've talked with him some. He did some kind of work with Wes years back as well he said.

The agency that trained me may have a reputation in some circles as being a bunch of jerks (and I will admit that the training, at times, has been painful) but by God, they beat skills and safety procedures into me. The more I see of the cave diving world in general, the more grateful I am for that.

Reading the original story, I wonder about so many things . . . What kind of person does it take to have had an experience where you had to be rescued, and a short time later, swim back into a cave? How does this person have any confidence in her buddy, when she was rescued by a stranger? Why does she think this is a good idea? Why isn't her companion absolutely humiliated by the fact that his buddy had to be saved by someone ELSE? I have no success at all, trying to imagine the mindset that would do what was described. The accidental turtling, yes, from someone unfamiliar with a dry suit and doubles -- but it shouldn't have happened in a cave at all. And once it happened, if that had been me, I would have been out in the open water basin, practicing, for the rest of the day.

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Originally Posted by adam0321

I feel that may have been the case in this incident.

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The "instructor" is (or was that weekend at least) the girls boyfriend.

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Originally Posted by stairman

My wife still hasent mastered the snorkel.

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I'm horrible with a snorkel. The main reason I switched to cave diving was because I heard it was actually frowned upon to dive with one.

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Originally Posted by WEPIV

If you're talking about who I think you are, he's a college professor at Valdosta and he's at Madison a lot with this rig, (although not 12 feet long but a shorter piece).
I don't know his name but I've talked with him some. He did some kind of work with Wes years back as well he said.

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And he wears the most flattering/attractive speedo the world has ever seen.

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Originally Posted by LCF

Why isn't her companion absolutely humiliated by the fact that his buddy had to be saved by someone ELSE?

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Guarantee ya this guy is on CDF. Why don't you think he's responded? He's made such a big deal out of his "cave diving girlfriend" that its really not that difficult to figure out who he is.

I am beginning to think we made a REAL good decision to get a boat that day, and do Hole, and Twin :-)

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Originally Posted by FW

I am beginning to think we made a REAL good decision to get a boat that day, and do Hole, and Twin :-)

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Despite the bugs, Mark getting sick, having to deal with Russell in general, and the fact that everyone had a bad dive at Twin except for you, I would have to say you're right! : )

it is much cheaper if you keep the girlfriend snorkeling or in open water...once you have to buy two of everything it's just insanely expensive. Unfortunately my sig other fell in love with caves in our cavern class...if you can fall in love with aerolito the others just seal the deal.

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Originally Posted by mdax

it is much cheaper if you keep the girlfriend snorkeling or in open water...once you have to buy two of everything it's just insanely expensive. Unfortunately my sig other fell in love with caves in our cavern class...if you can fall in love with aerolito the others just seal the deal.

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Congratulations on your engagement by the way ; )

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Originally Posted by BgDadddy

A few years ago, a buddy and me saw a redneck in Madison Blue who had duct taped a 12 foot piece of PVC pipe to a snorkel and was trying to walk around on the bottom with it. We got a good laugh out of that...

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This among the numerous other reasons - I miss cave diving. LOLOLOL

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Originally Posted by stairman

Sounds like by [the individual] that it was a female.

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Before I get my ire up, could you explain how you know it was female and not male?

Tracy: apparently you should find a man NOT into cave diving so YOU don't have to buy two of everything!

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Originally Posted by d_berman

jeeesh what gives- - "Murphy" had such a nicer ring and way easier to say. :-)

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No that is his last name. Bobby Murphy. ;)

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Originally Posted by DeepIsBliss

Before I get my ire up, could you explain how you know it was female and not male?

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Because women cannot cave dive. Men are naturals in the sport.

I had a class mate that was a "natural". Perfect trim, perfect buoyancy... he never passed the class...

My SO is a cave diver and the one that first showed me a cavern. But I was too hooked by the caves and worked on my skills and mindset hard after this to be able to dive them. I don't know the lady you are talking about and I don't know if she was a lady or not but do not get on my feminist nerve James and Jamie! If you had issues with her diving, whoever was there and witnessed this, why didn't you go discuss it with her? Maybe you are not man enough?

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Originally Posted by DeepIsBliss

Before I get my ire up, could you explain how you know it was female and not male?

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Because the OP went to so much trouble to avoid using a pronoun that would indicate it was a female. If the diver had been male, the OP would likely have inserted he or him instead of the person or the individual.

We did suggest she stay out of the water. We also suggested she work on her skills in ow. I don't think being "man enough " was a problem. And I have no problem with women in this sport and can think of several women off the top of my head that can dive circles around me. This individual however is not one.

Sent from my Eris

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Originally Posted by DeepIsBliss

Before I get my ire up, could you explain how you know it was female and not male?

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Nathan was being respectful by not putting it out there that she was a... "she". Without gender-specific pronouns its pretty easy to figure out it wasn't a guy (although I'll admit I had to read it twice). The focus of this discussion should not be on "girl cave divers", in fact, it shouldn't even be about the girl in question. It should be about her instructor boyfriend. As a certified cave diver, this guy knows the dangers, rules, expectations, and required skills necessary before entering a cave. It was selfish of him to allow her into an overhead environment before she wasn't ready (whether it be ready to dive in a drysuit, or ready to dive in a cave in general). What a decent boyfriend would have done is taken her to open water and have her practice the skills until they were not only good enough, but second nature. He should have been protecting her instead of encouraging her to do something she wasn't ready for. She was just trying to make her boyfriend happy... It was HIS job as a cave diver, and ESPECIALLY as an open water instructor, to make sure she was prepared before heading into a cave with her.

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Originally Posted by DeepIsBliss

Tracy: apparently you should find a man NOT into cave diving so YOU don't have to buy two of everything!

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(...10 million dollars is looking pretty good right now... not only could we buy another set of gear, but a resort in mexico... and.... a castle.)

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Originally Posted by Xenia

Because women cannot cave dive. Men are naturals in the sport.

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Agreed! (lol)

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Originally Posted by adam0321

We did suggest she stay out of the water. We also suggested she work on her skills in ow. I don't think being "man enough " was a problem. And I have no problem with women in this sport and can think of several women off the top of my head that can dive circles around me. This individual however is not one.

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Perhaps next time you could tell the diver, and their buddy, that they are "farm-animal stupid" and have no business in a cave. (my goal is to use that phrase once a day.)

I wrote it non-gender specific on purpose, because gender has NOTHING to do with this incident. It is about the fact that the two people involved should have known better than to allow this diver to dive in general. Poor judgment was used by both, her for trying to dive in an overhead environment when her skills / training were not adequate. His poor judgment for allowing or possibly encouraging her to dive in an overhead environment knowing her skills and training were not adequate.

I started this thread as this incident was really bothering me. I didn't want to see a thread or read a report of a fatality in a cave and find out it was she or he for that matter. I felt that keeping this to myself could in some way contribute to a diving accident and I just couldn't keep it quiet. Maybe having it out in the open will encourage something like this to not happen again, maybe not for this buddy pair, but maybe others. If people know we do care deeply about cave diving and care about the safety of those involved in the sport and if it puts an ounce of doubt in someone’s head then mission accomplished.

Yes, she was encouraged to stay out of the water by both of us and to work on her skills if she was going to continue to dive. When she was noticed in the cave the second time neither of us were in a position to stop her.

Diving is one of the biggest passions in my life, and I love to share my passion with anyone willing. My wife is not a diver, however she did start an OW class and on the second OW dive had a major ear problem causing her to abort the dive. Since then she has been apprehensive about going back into OW. I don’t push her, as she knows that she can at anytime continue her training.

That leads me to say the following.

Dive because you want to dive and enjoy it. Do not dive because someone wants you to dive.

I encourage the diver this incident is about to continue to practice, practice in OW if you choose to dive. Build up your diving skills, buoyancy, trim, drills…so on. If you are willing to give the time to your diving skills, diving will give you so much more in return.