PACIFICA — Mark Haley had spent his life outdoors — fishing, diving, hiking and even hunting for wild mushrooms — and, ultimately, that was where he drew his last breath, his sister said.
He was found dead Monday morning on the rocks at Linda Mar Beach still wearing the wet suit and scuba gear he had donned before making his last dive. Haley’s sister, Lisa Hertz, of Concord, mentioned her brother appears to have been spear fishing alone when a thing went wrong.
After an autopsy Tuesday, authorities did not release any data about Haley’s final moments. Investigators won’t likely rule on his cause of death until toxicology tests and an examination of Haley’s diving gear are complete, stated senior deputy coroner Kristine Gamble. She explained there were no signs of foul play.
Hertz said her brother, 54, was an experienced and certified scuba diver who was last seen by his roommate Wednesday morning as he prepared for the dive. Pacifica police explained they didn’t receive any reports that Haley might be missing. It was his initial trip into the water since having his gear repaired, she explained, adding that her brother was not married and didn’t have any children.
Whilst police said it can be never a excellent idea to go into the water alone, a local scuba instructor claimed it isn’t an uncommon practice among spear fishers. Wayne Mitchell, who runs Mitchell Scuba College out of his house in San Bruno, claimed quite a few divers who fish go alone to prevent being
hit by a partner’s spear.
“I do not recommend anybody I teach do it,” he stated. “Even in the event you know what you’re doing, some thing can happen like a heart attack or a cramp.”
