USVI-On-Line

http://bvinews.com/bvi/update-govt-clos ... e-weekend/
The BVI announced the closure of the Bubbly Pool in JVD - one of our STT residents died there this past weekend.

Interesting comments following the article. I think more warnings, especialy on high surf days would be a good idea, but you can't close every place where there has been an accident or death.

Exit Zero, I almost always appreciate your "take" on things. "pools of death"... couldn't be more straight forward!

hoosierdaddy wrote:I think more warnings, especialy on high surf days would be a good idea, but you can't close every place where there has been an accident or death.

True. For instance, you wouldn't close Waterlemon Cay because somebody who really shouldn't have been out there in the first place couldn't swim against the current. But this was really a nightmare scenario that nobody could have predicted. This article has the details of what happened. http://stjohnsource.com/content/news/lo ... hospitaliz

The first person was swept off a high rock perch by a freakishly high wave. Two others with strong water skills went to the rescue, then were swept back into the cauldron of water by another "rogue wave" where they were pinned underwater and pounded against the rocks, killing the dive instructor and leaving the other seriously injured.

Not your typical swimming injury at all. It's hard to imagine a warning sign that would be sufficient for something like that, other than "Danger! Stay Away." Which is pretty much what they decided to do.

The common denominator with that pool and trouble seems to be March.

The common denominator is large North Swells which can happen at any time of year and are generated by weather systems North of the VI.
Today the BVI announced:

"The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Conservation and Fisheries Department wish to inform the general public that as of March 16, 2013, the “Bubbly Pool” at Jost Van Dyke will be reopened, due to reduced groundswells and surge.


Persons are advised not to walk on the rocks in the pool. The public is reminded that they assume any and all risk involved when choosing to bathe at all public beaches.


The public is also being reminded to avoid or exercise extreme caution at all Virgin Islands’ beaches during high surge or groundswells, “groundseas” and to take note of the flag warning system."

Thanks EZ. I surely am no expert on the VIs but living on a volatile coast myself I guess they (the powers that be) might consider closing the pool when surf advisories are high. However, with government budgets what they are that is probably unlikely. These guys were not tourists and were obviously seasoned. Sometimes tragedies happen. But for us tourists, common sense when the surf is rough is key.