The Great Blue Hole is a famous diving spot off the coast of Belize City where many tourists and locals have made many dives to explore the stalactite formations and swim among large groupers, nurse sharks and a vast array of species of fish. But this week the atoll reef area was the scene of an unfortunate incident as a snorkel guide unfortunately passed away.
On Monday, August 2, the crew of Ramon’s Village which included boat captain and dive instructor Gilberto Nuñez along with snorkel guide Andy Carr and two other crew members, took 13 passengers on a trip to Blue Hole. According to representatives of Ramon’s Village Resort the group first made a dive at Blue Hole after which they moved to the second dive at Half Moon Caye Wall.
The guest snorkelers decided not to go in the water but Andy decided to go on his own. He was snorkeling and free diving with the boat just a few yards away from him. According to his brother Michael Carr, Andy decided to take a deep free dive to about forty feet where other scuba divers were located. Before returning to the surface, Andy took some air from one of the divers, but on is way up he failed to release the air out of his lungs and actually ruptured his lungs.
Andy then “popped out” of the water and that is when Gil Nuñez (Captain) realized he was having problems. Gil helped him into the boat and administered oxygen and CPR (along with another crew member, including the assistance of two doctors that were on board).
The attempt to revive him took about 30 minutes but to no avail. The incident occurred between 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. He was then taken to Long Caye where the coast guard rendered assistance and later on transported the body of Andy to the Belize City morgue where an autopsy was conducted.
Andy Carr was 27-years-old and worked as a tourist guide & captain at Ramon’s Village Resort for eight years. “It is an unfortunate accident and the management and Staff of Ramon’s Village are very saddened by the loss for such a nice person, employee and co-worker.,” commented Einer Gomez of Ramon’s Village. “We extend our most sincere condolences to the family.”
Andy had been living in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye for ten years since moving from Hopkins in Southern Belize. Friends remember Andy as being a loving and very happy person – full of life. He along with co-worker Luis Rivero were the first winners of the annual Lagoon-Reef Eco-Challenge held in April 2005 on Ambergris Caye. Andy will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 7, in his home town of Hopkins.
