Today is a sad and tragic end to a very brief and talented life. Wanda Ahmad one of our members, died today after a tragic diving accident while diving on the EM Clarke, a deep wreck a week or so ago.
While curosity will prompt many to question why, we respectfully ask that you keep her family and friends foremost in your heart and mind and allow them to deal with the grief over this tragic loss.
Wanda will be missed terribly and her family and friends are in our prayers and our thoughts. This is a tragic loss that will be felt for a very long time and will impact our community on many levels.
A sad and tragic day for one of our members...
Started by
WreckWench
, Jul 12 2007 07:17 PM
22 replies to this topic
#1
WreckWench
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 07:17 PM
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formerly...
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#2
rahuck
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Getting started
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 07:55 PM
Tragic news....my thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
Andy H.
__________________________________________________
me and you and a dog named Boo....
__________________________________________________
me and you and a dog named Boo....
#3
pir8
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Dive Pros Forum Admin
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 08:15 PM
Never good to lose one of our own. Prayers and Condolences for the family.
Never say Never! Its almost as long a time as always!
#4
finGrabber
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I need to get a life
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 08:19 PM
Many prayers and condolences to the family
#5
TraceMalin
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Everyone knows me
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 09:02 PM
Wanda will be missed by those of us who knew her and dove with her. She had a great spirit for adventure and courage that few possess. Her zeal for technical diving, especially deep wreck and cave diving, seemed so strange when combined with some of her more "girly girl" qualities on the surface. She'd make dives in conditions that would emasculate a Navy SEAL, yet, at times, require the emotional and physical maintenance of a Barbie doll, but never feared to take on any challenge whether above or below the waves. She survived a hurricane and its aftermath in Mexico, made cave dives in Eagle's Nest, and enriched us all with her personality and humor. She was as strong as she was vulnerable, aloof as she was outgoing, mysterious as she was open, and she was humble despite her accomplishments. She was incredibly unique and brought a lot of fun to diving as a technical diver without the "tech 'tude." We'll miss her very much and I know there will never be another diver like her.
Trace Malinowski
Technical Training Director
PDIC International
Technical Training Director
PDIC International
#6
WreckWench
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Founder? I didn't know we lost her!
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 09:23 PM
Wanda will be missed by those of us who knew her and dove with her. She had a great spirit for adventure and courage that few possess. Her zeal for technical diving, especially deep wreck and cave diving, seemed so strange when combined with some of her more "girly girl" qualities on the surface. She'd make dives in conditions that would emasculate a Navy SEAL, yet, at times, require the emotional and physical maintenance of a Barbie doll, but never feared to take on any challenge whether above or below the waves. She survived a hurricane and its aftermath in Mexico, made cave dives in Eagle's Nest, and enriched us all with her personality and humor. She was as strong as she was vulnerable, aloof as she was outgoing, mysterious as she was open, and she was humble despite her accomplishments. She was incredibly unique and brought a lot of fun to diving as a technical diver without the "tech 'tude." We'll miss her very much and I know there will never be another diver like her.
Thank you Trace. That was soooooooooooooo WANDA!!!
I can hardly comprehend that she is gone.
Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !
Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!
Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906
#7
ScubaPunk
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Posted 12 July 2007 - 09:47 PM
Wanda will be missed by those of us who knew her and dove with her. She had a great spirit for adventure and courage that few possess. Her zeal for technical diving, especially deep wreck and cave diving, seemed so strange when combined with some of her more "girly girl" qualities on the surface. She'd make dives in conditions that would emasculate a Navy SEAL, yet, at times, require the emotional and physical maintenance of a Barbie doll, but never feared to take on any challenge whether above or below the waves. She survived a hurricane and its aftermath in Mexico, made cave dives in Eagle's Nest, and enriched us all with her personality and humor. She was as strong as she was vulnerable, aloof as she was outgoing, mysterious as she was open, and she was humble despite her accomplishments. She was incredibly unique and brought a lot of fun to diving as a technical diver without the "tech 'tude." We'll miss her very much and I know there will never be another diver like her.
I wish I could have known her, she sounds like a remarkable person. My deepest sympathy to all who knew her and her family.
#8
dustbowl diver
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"Charlie"
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 05:35 AM
Wow-Saddened to learn of this tragic news!! My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and to the diving community that knew her!!
"Yesterday's gone, tomorrow never knows, today will never be the same again!"-Jibe
#9
divzac
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Diving Guru
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 06:02 AM
....My thoughts and prayers focus here and go out to friends and family.....
I wanna be the person that my dog thinks I am
Check out the SPREE...come dive with us!
charlies@singledivers.com
Check out the SPREE...come dive with us!
charlies@singledivers.com
#10
Tolly
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 08:05 AM
Having spent some surface time with Wanda (I never had the opportunity to dive with her), I can only reinforce the dichotomy of Wanda that Trace describes...
She was a hardcore tech diver, with a very girlie surface personality all soft and sweet, concerned about coordinating her outfits...
Devilishly innocent, despite her genuine "shock" at how "bad" the boys were, there was no other place she would rather be then diving with them...Trace probably still has the bruises from when she found out he went caving without her...
She put herself through college and sadly, I can't remember now is she completed her masters or was working towards it...she renovated the little apartment she rented in Brooklyn and still found time to dive and dive and dive...something she always spoke so fondly of whenever the topic came up...
Farewell Wanda...
may you always find your doubles full and a new cave to explore...
She was a hardcore tech diver, with a very girlie surface personality all soft and sweet, concerned about coordinating her outfits...
Devilishly innocent, despite her genuine "shock" at how "bad" the boys were, there was no other place she would rather be then diving with them...Trace probably still has the bruises from when she found out he went caving without her...
She put herself through college and sadly, I can't remember now is she completed her masters or was working towards it...she renovated the little apartment she rented in Brooklyn and still found time to dive and dive and dive...something she always spoke so fondly of whenever the topic came up...
Farewell Wanda...
may you always find your doubles full and a new cave to explore...
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#11
drbill
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 08:16 AM
Never had the pleasure of meeting Wanda, but I, too, wish to extend my condolences to those who knew her and to her family.
#12
Capn Jack
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 09:04 AM
So sorry to hear about this. Also sorry I never had the privilege to meet and dive with her. My condolences to all her friends and family.
Edited by Capn Jack, 13 July 2007 - 09:05 AM.
No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea. And no dolphin who inhabits one of those aquariums or one of those marine lands can be considered normal.
Jacques Yves Cousteau
Jacques Yves Cousteau
#13
Mermaid Lady
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 09:20 AM
....My thoughts and prayers focus here and go out to friends and family.....
Mine too! I wish I could have known her. My prayers and condolences to her family as well.
Cheers,
Teresa,
The original Mermaid Lady
Bass player for the band formerly known as Opulent.
"'I'm only wearing black until they come out with something darker..."
Teresa,
The original Mermaid Lady
Bass player for the band formerly known as Opulent.
"'I'm only wearing black until they come out with something darker..."
#14
WreckWench
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- Owner
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Founder? I didn't know we lost her!
- Location:FL SC & Dallas, TX
- Gender:Female
- Cert Level:DM & Technical certs
- Logged Dives:5000+
Posted 13 July 2007 - 09:47 AM
For those lucky enough to be at our first ever Dutch Springs Tech Clinic hosted by none other than our very own TraceMalin...she graced our weekend with fun...brownies or some other decadent delicious goodie she had made for everyone...dancing...WOW Could she dance!!!...and the friendliest smile you've ever seen. She simultaneously kept the guys in line...while letting them keep her in line as well. What a combination. I recall thinking to myself it was good I did not live closer to her...we'd get into a lot of fun! 
And sad at the same time that I would not get the chance to get to know her better and perhaps dive more with her one day. She was on a steadfast path to more and more advanced and technical diving and she was good at it. She was as inspiration for women who are pursuing this arena of diving and yet as others have said...she was 100% female through and through.
She WAS the divegal that every guy could and did fall for...she loved to dive...she was beautiful and she was always a women DESPITE as Trace says...her ability "to emasculate a Navy SEAL"
Wanda you will be missed by your closest friends...how they are surviving right now I'll never know. And you'll be missed by those of us who only briefly knew you but wished we could have known you better.
Smile upon us as we each enter the underwater world with the freshness and fun that you did...and keep a watchful eye as we all personally expand our diving horizons. May we all meet one day in the most wonderous of watery heavens...save us a spot! Kamala
And sad at the same time that I would not get the chance to get to know her better and perhaps dive more with her one day. She was on a steadfast path to more and more advanced and technical diving and she was good at it. She was as inspiration for women who are pursuing this arena of diving and yet as others have said...she was 100% female through and through.
She WAS the divegal that every guy could and did fall for...she loved to dive...she was beautiful and she was always a women DESPITE as Trace says...her ability "to emasculate a Navy SEAL"
Wanda you will be missed by your closest friends...how they are surviving right now I'll never know. And you'll be missed by those of us who only briefly knew you but wished we could have known you better.
Smile upon us as we each enter the underwater world with the freshness and fun that you did...and keep a watchful eye as we all personally expand our diving horizons. May we all meet one day in the most wonderous of watery heavens...save us a spot! Kamala
Contact me directly at Kamala@SingleDivers.com for your private or group travel needs or 864-557-6079 AND don't miss SD's 2018-2021 Trips! ....here! Most are once in a lifetime opportunities...don't miss the chance to go!!
SD LEGACY/OLD/MANUAL Forms & Documents.... here !
Click here TO PAY for Merchandise, Membership, or Travel
"Imitation is the sincerest flattery." - Gandhi
"Imitation is proof that originality is rare." - ScubaHawk
SingleDivers.com...often imitated...never duplicated!
Kamala Shadduck c/o SingleDivers.com LLC
2234 North Federal Hwy, #1010 Boca Raton, FL 33431
formerly...
710 Dive Buddy Lane; Salem, SC 29676
864-557-6079 tel/celfone/office or tollfree fax 888-480-0906
#15
diverdeb
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I spend too much time on line
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Posted 13 July 2007 - 11:11 AM
She sounds like she was a remarkable person. The comments about her are a testament to the kind of person she must have been - and I am sure are comforting to her friends and family. I wish I could have known her - sounds like she's someone I would have wanted for a friend. My condolences to all who knew and loved her.
As for me, I'm feeling pretty scubalicious.
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