Even as hope endures in the search for Angelo, harsh marine conditions including heavy sargassum are making the search increasingly difficult.
Veteran diver and marine safety advocate Alvin Douglas, Director of Tobago Marine Safety and Security Services, described the unforgiving waters and the strain they are placing on the ongoing search.
“In my years of doing this, I think I can safely say that this is one of the worst conditions that we’ve ever met because it’s a combination of the turbidity of the water, it’s a combination of the fact that we don’t have the depth, so it’s not really a dive, per se because it’s at the shoreline and then you have rocks. So once it is that you have rough seas, surge, rocks, stuff in the water it becomes dangerous.”
Mr. Daniel noted that it is never too early to introduce a child to the sea, emphasizing that its dangers can be avoided when they are taught from an early age. He added that this understanding is best instilled through a practical, hands-on approach.
“As soon as possible, I mean I would take toddlers in the water and throw them in the water and they are having fun. This way they are accustom, their airways are also accustom, they will have, they’ll be able to exercise, what we call in the dive community, a controlled airway. You’re controlling you’re airway, you’re controlling if you’re breathing through your nose, if you’re breathing through your mouth and that is a skill you could only get it if you’re going into the water.”
Mr. Douglas advised people to equip themselves with emergency first response training so that they can actually help their loved ones in a time of crisis.