V1 OPERATOR WAS IDLING OVER A FLAT JUST OCEAN SIDE OF THE SOUTH END OF SISTER'S CREEK NEAR WEST SISTER ROCK AND OBSERVED SOMETHING ON THE BOTTOM. V1 OPERATOR SLOWED V1 TO A STOP AND TOOK IT OUT OF GEAR. HE THEN ENTERED THE WATER WITH SNORKEL GEAR TO GET A CLOSER LOOK. HOWEVER, HE LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING AND V1 WAS NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR AND IN REVERSE. THIS CAUSED THE PROPELLER OF THE SMALL VESSEL TO STRIKE THE OPERATOR IN THE HEAD. DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE OF THE VESSEL, THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO CLIMB BACK INTO THE VESSEL AND GET IT STOPPED.
MARATHON                      