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A c c e l e r a t e d D e c i s i o n s
© Development Dimensions International, Inc., MMIII. Revised MMX.
1
“An Ocean Dilemma”
The Situation
While on a long flight to an exotic destination, your plane is struck by lightning over
the Pacific Ocean, knocking out all communications and causing the navigation
system to malfunction. The plane drifts south of the intended flight path for about 90
minutes before electrical damage causes all engines to malfunction. The plane
crashes near a cove-like beach on a deserted island. The semicircular beach is about
150 meters (492 feet) wide and 80 meters (262 feet) deep. Only the members of your
group, strangers to each other, survive the crash. Everyone appears to be healthy.
Before the wreckage exploded, burned, and sank in the deep, blue water just 50
meters (164 feet) out, 10 items (listed on the next page) were taken from the plane or
floated to shore.
Vertical volcanic cliffs—impossible to
climb—surround the beach. There is
no evidence of any fresh water coming
from the heights. At either end of the
beach, the sheer cliffs rise out of the
dark blue waters. By venturing out
into the surf, you can see that the cliffs
seem to continue at the water’s edge as
far as the eye can see. There is no
evidence of any other beaches along
the shoreline.
There are no signs of sharks or fish in the water, and you notice that there are no
breakers or other signs of shallow water or reefs on the horizon. The beach appears
to descend into the water quite abruptly.
Scanning the beach, you notice that it is littered with driftwood. There are five tall,
straight, healthy palm trees, but no other foliage. Numerous seabirds roost high on
the cliffs, but they seem to be very skittish of humans. They don’t venture near the
beach, staying very high on the cliffs. Soon after you swam to the beach early this
morning, the birds flew far out to sea, disappearing from sight. You’re not sure if
this means that there is land nearby or that they just flew off to waters with more fish.
There is no access to fresh water, and although it is still early, the temperature is
rising quickly. It probably will reach 38° C (100° F) before the cliffs offer afternoon
shade. Because all crew members perished in the crash, you are unsure of your
location. You do know that you left the mainland six hours before the crash. Also,
about 20 minutes before the engines flamed out, someone was overheard asking if
Hawaii was very far north.
A c c e l e r a t e d D e c i s i o n s
Your Group’s Resources
Listed below are the items salvaged from the crash. Assume that there are no other
objects available on the island or in your group’s possession.
Item No.
Description
1
1 large bottle of 120 proof vodka
2
1 makeup mirror
3
1 camping saw
4
1 small map of the Pacific Ocean
5
1 brightly colored, plastic drop cloth (about 3 x 4 meters)
6
1 large three-cell flashlight with heavy metal case and batteries
7
1 magnetic compass
8
1 spool of about 100 meters of monofilament, light fishing line
9
1 film camera with telephoto lens
10
4 two-liter plastic bottles of drinking water
Your Group’s Task
