When I got rescued certified, the 1st rule was don’t become a victim.  It is better to have 1 victim than 2.  That was the first thing I thought of when I hear the news about the couple who fell from off the balcony from the Princess Cruise ship near Galveston, TX.  They fell about 50-60 feet into pitch-black water about 1:30 am.  Both were found alive after hours of searching. 

NODC reports the water temp about 75 F.  Hyperthermoia sets in quickly without protection such as 3mm wetsuit.  These people were very lucky to be found alive.  Remember the book and movie Open Water?  They weren’t so lucky.