Old dives

Adrift at Pt. Lobos

Alacosta divers brought their boat, The Latex Queen, to Pt. Lobos on Saturday, July 19. On the way to the dive site, Bill McDowell noticed that the anchor bag was a bit light; the anchor was missing. Five divers were dropped off at the dive site, while John Beland, Susan Carter, and John Purnell returned to shallower waters, near the boat ramp, where John Purnell and Susan decided to dive. John Beland waited above, sans mask.

In the meantime the Blurb and Joanne McDowell, on shore, noticed a fire truck pull down the roadway to the Whalers Cove parking lot. A diver was missing. Rescue boats and a helipcopter were sent out to locate the missing diver. Due to privacy concerns, the rescuers were not allowed to tell many details about the missing diver, though it seemed likely that the diver went in at Monastery, rather than at Pt. Lobos.

The Alacostans on land, knew that 5 out of 8 divers were no longer in The Latex Queen. However, John Beland seemed quite unconcerned, and eventually flashed the land crew an OK signal.

All 8 of the Alacosta divers swam to the launch ramp. After lunch, John Beland and Jeff Lewis dove again.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard helicopter found the body of Steven Ewart, 40. He was diving from Monastery beach when his buddy, Jay Irish, lost sight of him. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, July 21.

The Monterey Herald and the Contra Costa Times carried articles about the Ewart's death.