NavList:

Actually, I think that rather more, not fewer, similar accidents are just begging to happen through such slavish dependence on technology. The problem here, I suspect, was not amenable to avoidance by best practice use of the items you mention.

Personal experience backs up the common sense approach to coral and reef studded waters: best approached slowly with the sun behind, a calm sea, and polarising sunglasses to see underwater obstacles before an even closer encounter. Bit of a problem at night, at the wrong time of day/weather, if the sea state does not cooperate, and especially if coral/reefs are not expected.