This seems to me, to be an almost inexcusable incident. Just goes to show how incompetent, irresponsible people can get themselves into trouble. I'd like to think that this would never happen to me, but I am not quite that naive. Experience tells me what can happen, will happen, and may happen to me. I lost my bullet proof mentality about 25 years ago. My partner and I may overkill the other way. We always talk about preparing for Murphy's law, and it seems like we always use the belt and suspenders approach too often, but geez.............these people forgot the pants! I am glad they didn't get hurt, but there is no excuse for this. They were unprepared, lacked basic knowledge, and totally incompetent. The newspaper makes it out like they were heroes, and adventurers, but they just didn't have a clue. Stay on the beach or go with someone that knows what they are doing -- or at least wear a $5 life jacket!

Don
ARC22 #2226