Why Do We Need a Dive Team on Cape Ann?

 Water related incidents on Cape Ann for the years of 1996 and 1997

This log of events was compiled to document the need for professional rescue divers to public officials while in the formative stages of  the Cape Ann Regional Dive Team

Note: Most incidents did not require rescue divers, incidents are mentioned only to show the constant need for professional water based rescue. Dates shown are the dates that the headline in quotations appeared in the Gloucester Daily Times unless otherwise noted. Please also be aware that numerous other incidents do not make the headlines every year.

1996

1.         1/25/96                                    “To The Rescue”
2.         2/23/96                                    “City Man Found In Harbor”
3.         3/21/96                                    “N.H. Lobster men Rescued Off Of Boat”
4.         4/18/96                                    “Routine Rescue Turns Perilous”
5.         5/8/96                                      “Trawler Crew Rescued After Fire”
6.         5/14/96                                    “Coast Guard Crew Ends Wind surfer Search”
7.         5/24/96                                    “Like Huck Finn Gone To Sea”
8.         5/28/96                                    “Man Dies Diving In Rockport”
9.         6/5/96                                      “Missing Woman’s Body Found In Merrimac River”
10.       7/15/96                                    “Teen Hurt In Harbor Accident”
11.       8/12/96                                    “Apartments Plunge Into Sea”
12.       8/12/96                                    “I Thought It Was An Earthquake”       
13.       8/14/96                                    “If It Was High Tide People Would Have Drowned”
14.       9/5/96                                      “Three Die As Boat Hits Barge”
15.       9/6/96                                      “We Felt Completely Helpless”
16.       9/11/96                                    “Officials Consider Rescue Dive Team”
17.       9/12/96                                    “Tragedy Highlights Service Gap”
18.       9/12/96                                    “Thanks For Just Doing Your Jobs”
19.       10/15/96                                  “Police Pluck Lobster man From Rough Seas”
20.       10/15/96                                  “Money Is Sought For Dive Team”
21.       10/25/96                                  “Boy Rescued From Surf”
22.       11/05/96                                  “Snapped Cable Sends Boat To Bottom”

  1997

1.         1/15/97                                    “Rescue Divers Still In Works For Cape Ann”
2.         3/20/97                                    “Plans For Dive Team Take Shape”
3.         4/21/97                                    “Surf Sweeps Two To Deaths” (Boston Globe)
4.         4/21/97                                    “Fatal Plunge”                           (Boston Herald)
5.         7/6/97                                      “Dive Teams Get Aid”               (Boston Globe)
6.         7/7/97                                      “Coast Guard Rejects Having Own Dive Team"
7.         7/7/97                                      “Diver Rescued Off Of Back Shore”
8.         7/7/97                                      “Beverly Diver Found Dead”      (Salem Evening News)
9.         7/10/97                                    “Sheriff Launches Dive Team” (now defunct)
10.       7/13/97                                    “Dive Team Questions”
11.       7/13/97                                    “Father, Son Die in Swim Accident” (Boston Globe)
12.       7/15/97                                    “Teen Hurt In 60 Foot Fall From Cliff Into Water”
13.       7/20/97                                    “Accident At Sea”
14.       8/11/97                                    “150 Escape Fire On Whale Watch Boat”
15.       8/12/97                                    “Town May Find Cape Ann Dive Team Too Expensive”
16.       8/15/97                                    “Body Found In Water”
17.       8/15/97                                    “Sailboat Flips, Kids Rescued”
18.       8/27/97                                    “Sheriff Nixes Plans For Rescue Divers”
19.       9/4/97                                      “Sailboat Capsizes in Harbor”
20.       9/13/97                                    “Copter Rescues Two From Bass Rocks”
21.       10/22/97                                  “Visitor Dies In Deadly Surf”
22.       11/03/97                                  “Herring Boat Goes Down In Rough Seas”

Since the end of 1997  the occurrence of water based emergencies have continued with pretty much the same frequency. The listing of incidents that the Cape Ann Dive Team has actually been  involved in can be found elsewhere on this web site.

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