‘Protocol was not followed’: Dive company promises review of operations after losing divers

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Kailua-based dive company with hundreds of five-star reviews is vowing to do better after an incident last week prompted questions and community backlash.
It’s video of five scuba divers clinging to each other in waters off Hawaii Kai Wednesday that has Aaron’s Dive Shop reviewing its protocols.
The company told HNN the trouble began with a last minute change in the dive site made by the captain and dive leader.
“I was shocked, honestly,” said Aaron Nicolas, a former employee. “I can tell you at least when I was working for Aaron’s, professionalism was not our issue. We had a very good track record.”
Nicolas worked for the company for two years, leading dives in the same area. He believes Wednesday’s group switched to the more difficult route.
“It’s a shallow dive about 30 to 40 feet and you would just go to this Buddha statue and come back,” explained Nicolas.
“The other one is roughly 90 feet so if you’re not as proficient they generally don’t take you out there. It can get really currently out there.”
The group reported being adrift for two hours before a passing sailboat called the coast guard for help.
On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Aaron’s Dive Shop only reported the incident after the sailboat put the call out on the emergency channel.
Federal law requires that when someone goes missing an operator needs to notify the nearest authorities without delay.
But a boat captain at Kewalo Basin says it’s sometimes a difficult call when divers are involved.
“That captain may not have known how long those people were under the water,” said Zack Tidd. “I mean, you don’t want to call if it’s for nothing so you want to make sure a rescue is really needed.”
The Kailua based company in a full statement to Aaron’s Dive Shop said:
We are grateful that all divers returned safely and without injury following last week’s incident. We extend our thanks to the good Samaritans who assisted in locating the missing divers. Statements from both the captain and dive leader indicate a last minute decision was made to change the dive site; however, our documented protocol was not followed in executing this change. The dive leader took responsible steps to maintain safety, including having proper surface marker buoys and keeping the group together while separated from the boat. We are currently reviewing what occurred and our current protocols with our dive and boat staff to prevent similar incidents in the future. We have also submitted an incident report to our certifying agency in an effort to get outside critique and recommendations to improve our protocols and training. Aaron’s Dive Shop is proud of our excellent safety record, and we remain fully committed to upholding our high standards through consistent training and rigorous oversight.
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