Tzoonie Narrows SCUBA Diving Accident

Sunday morning, a Canadian Coast Guard cutter went roaring through Egmont. No one slows down to minimize their wash until they’re beyond what we call ‘Bear Point’ – Pop’s breakwater protecting his floats and the boats – and that results in continual wear and tear and damage to the floats.

When it’s the Coast Guard that puts up a big wash we know they probably have a serious situation to take care of. We live just a few miles from the dangerous Skookumchuck Rapids and Sechelt Inlet. The Skookumchuck has claimed many lives over the years, friends, acquaintances, locals, boaters and tourists alike.

A volunteer Coast Guard inflatable (the one above I believe -CCGA Pacific Unit 12 Halfmoon Bay) went roaring by a couple of hours later, then the Coast Guard helicopter flew over. We knew something was going on – and of course we guessed that it was the Skookumchuck. We were wrong.

When the RCMP boat went in later in the day, I phoned a friend to ask what was happening. I knew she’d know as she has a water taxi business and listens to the VHF radio all day. Sure enough, she told me what she knew.

A SCUBA dive group was diving the Tzoonie Narrows (beyond the Skookumchuck) and a female diver in a black and red drysuit failed to surface. A search was launched immediately and locals of course rushed to help.

Apparently the Tzoonie Narrows is a very popular ‘drift dive’ – as you can imagine it’s most likely abundant with anenomes, scallops, fish and would be an amazing sight on the right tide. Timing is so important when mother nature and your life are involved.

We haven’t heard the outcome but hope for the best of course. The accident hasn’t been reported on the news and I can’t find anything online yet.

**** UPDATE****
The Coast 91.7 CKAY FM blog is reporting now the young woman was from Pender Harbour but her name hasn’t been released yet. She and her dive partner lost contact and she did not surface. Divers worked until dark on Sunday then resumed the search Monday morning. They recovered her body but haven’t released any details on the cause of death. I’m so very sad to hear this and I feel dreadfully sorry for her family who will be mourning.