No Safe Harbor: The Tragedy of the Dive Ship Wave Dancer

by Joe Burnworth

On October 8, 2001, the 120-foot luxury live-aboard dive yachts Wave Dancer and Aggressor III, both carrying members of the Richmond Dive Club, were secured to a concrete dock in southern Belize when... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 157860219X
• ISBN13: 9781578602193
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Clerisy Press, Emmis Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A really good read

This is one of the best books I've ever read. This book is a compelling eyewitness account of the many events that led to the most horrific accident in live-aboard dive history. According to the dictionary, an accident is an unexpected and undesirable event one resulting in damage or harm. It's hard to call this an "accident" given the circumstances. Well researched, this book is a honorable tribute to the people whose lives where abruptly shattered by an egotistic, inexperienced Captain. Much like Krakauer's non-fiction adventure books, No Safe Harbor is an easy read. It can read in less than a day. It was very hard to put down. Joe Burnworth's writing draws the reader into every emotion. You eat, sleep and dive with the characters. This book teaches the reader about recreational diving, atmospheric pressure, absolute pressure, hurricanes, and so much more. The author takes you into the lives of the passengers. If you have ever taken a trip on a live-aboard dive yacht, you are seemingly a passenger. Some of the stories truly made me laugh out loud! There are funny stories about innocent pranks and the passengers were clearly a fun-loving group. I was astounded that such a tragic incident could occur when we know so much about hurricanes. An egotistical, novice boat captain is seemingly responsible for the deaths of 17 people, all of whom were friends and members of the Richmond Dive Club. This tragedy took place onboard Peter Hughes live-aboard dive yacht, the M/V Wave Dancer, less than a month after 9/11. I enjoyed reading this book because it focused more on the lives of the characters than the tragedy itself. I learned a lot from reading this book and I am going to read it again. In 20 years of diving I have always felt invited and safe onboard these yachts. I realize more than ever the value of carrying a weather band radio and an EPIRB with me on every dive trip.

Sad but Good Story Well Told

This book is a reminder that if you decide to go out to sea or up in the air, the opportunity for Mother Nature to make you a statistic increases significantly over staying on dry land. The story of the Wave Dancer only serves to remind us that any mistakes, any assumption will once in a while turn out to be deadly. In retrospect, you can find the mistakes they made, you can establish a policy that says no one stays on board when a hurricane is forecast, but as the people in the path of the tsunami learned, sometime it just isn't enough. This is the detailed story of the Wave Dancer, told by an eye witness and through interviews with many of the survivors. Beyond that, Mr. Burnworth turned out to be a pretty good writer as well. This incident didn't kill nearly as many as some others, but that is little consolation to the survivors or relatives. It's a good story, told warmly, and it's true.

A very good read

Living in Florida one gets to know the ways of a hurricane--Esp. living on the beach and having it come right at you. Joe does a great job keeping you involved in the development of both the storm and the people that will face the storm in a boat of all places. A hurricane is a unique experience and the people that faced this one needed better information than was given to them to protect themselves. A must read for anyone going on an "adventure" vacation--not just a diving experience--because everyone should have the ability to go against bad judgements to keep themselves safe.

Questions answered

My husband, Ray Mars, was one of the victims of the Wave Dancer tragedy, so this book is of particular interest to me. However, I was still able to read it without letting my personal feelings into my opinions and thoughts about the book. I was absolutely amazed by the ability of Joe Burnworth to give the reader the feeling of actually being there, on board the Wave Dancer, with the divers themselves. For over 3 1/2 years, although I knew in my head what had happened, what capsizing meant, I have continued to have a kind of abstract feeling, something that made the entire event unreal, something that no matter how much I read, I just could not really "see" the event in my own mind. This has been troublesome, and I was previously unable to get many specific questions answered. The unknowing, the wondering, was very difficult, as the mind continues to imagine all kinds of things. But, from the very beginning of No Safe Harbor, I felt as though I was right there on the Wave Dancer with Ray, and all the others, most of whom I also knew. I had a visual thing to hold onto, and it gave me a much better understanding of the actual events leading up to the tragedy, what was really going on between the captain and crew, and what information the divers themselves had been given. So many of these questions have been troubling and very disturbing to me over these years. I finally have the answers, thanks to Joe Burnworth, and I can see in my thoughts just what was going on, what information was being given to the divers, who had access to no other information than what the captain told them, and I am finally able to settle my mind around what Ray and all the others really believed. With these facts, I am able to give this event a "face", a real picture in my mind, and I feel as though I was right there, and can see exactly what went on. I can picture the actual capsizing, and the subsequent events. Of course, this does not change what happened, but it does relieve the extreme unrest I have had for so long, when I was unable to get these answers from anyone else. Every traveler, on a ship of any kind, diving or not, needs to read this book. This book gives every reader the feeling of actually being there, you will feel as though you can see every aspect of the boat itself, giving a clear picture of the events. It also gives a very personal accounting of the victims themselves, making them real people, as they were, not some vague thought of people you do not know. They will become important to you, and they will mean something to you. It is an important read for all, divers or not, and will really open your eyes, and put you right in the middle of the entire event.

Five Stars for No Safe Harbor

No Safe Harbor is a true adventure book you simply won't be able to put down. Assembled in Belize for a carefree scuba diving vacation, a group of friends whom you grow to like and admire suddenly find themselves trapped in the path of Hurricane Iris, and as their companions in another boat watch in horror, are swept away by the force of the mighty storm. The book is well written, exciting and suspenseful. The author obviously knows his subject and is able to convey both his love for the sport of diving and his devotion to his diving buddies well. Take No Safe Harbor to the beach with you this summer. But keep your radio tuned to the weather forcasts! Marilyn Olsen, Bellingham, WA.