Another diver died this weekend...

[DiverDurf]

There isn't much on the reason why yet, but another diver died this past weekend in Saint Augustine, FL while diving with buddies. I have heard updates that he was OOA, but the cause/factors are still unknown. A very brief sniplet about it here:

Scuba diver dies in St. Augustine | Jacksonville.com

Here's somewhat of an update with more info:

http://staugustine.com/stories/122208/news_122208_036.shtml

 

[ScubaSteve]

Tragic but as is often the case, we may never know fully what actually happened. It is too bad about the comments at the bottom of the second article as well. First of all, they must not be scanned before posting because the theird poster dropped the A-hole bomb and it got posted. But, what the third poster does not realize is that this may very well have been avoidable (and I say may) had this guys buddy been close by.....if he ran out of air, then a buddy's reg may have gotten him to the surface. I am not accusing either side, but had they been diving as a team it might have ended differently.

 

[DanBMW]

Most of my experiences spearfishing become solo if both buddies are shooting. It is always nice to know where your buddy is, but following a fish or taking pictures, if one person is not the "designated" buddy, you'd better plan to do it solo. Sometimes when spear fishing the buddy carries the stringer or when shooting pictures, it is predetermined that one person follows in eye sight, but they have the responsibility to stay close. At that depth, if there was any separation, and the problem occurs on the EXHALE, not much time to be looking for a buddy. You had better have some redundancy..... Too deep to blow and go!

In hindsight, several things might have prevented this accident, but until more facts come up, it will be a mystery.

 

[DiverDurf]

My wife and I were discussing this incident during a long drive yesterday (since it happened in our back yard so to speak). She was voicing her concerns, etc., about me running out of air sometime. I'm new and all, but I can't help myself looking at my psi gauge every 5 or so minutes even while spring diving less than 60 ft. I hope that feeling never wears off even after I've logged 100+ dives......always, always, always checking that gauge so I'm no surprised on the exhale at depth. It takes only 1 or 2 seconds each time, and I owe it to my family to vigilant with this.

 

[IceBergSlim]

My wife and I were discussing this incident during a long drive yesterday (since it happened in our back yard so to speak). She was voicing her concerns, etc., about me running out of air sometime. I'm new and all, but I can't help myself looking at my psi gauge every 5 or so minutes even while spring diving less than 60 ft. I hope that feeling never wears off even after I've logged 100+ dives......always, always, always checking that gauge so I'm no surprised on the exhale at depth. It takes only 1 or 2 seconds each time, and I owe it to my family to vigilant with this.

5 minutes is a very long time underwater.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

My wife and I were discussing this incident during a long drive yesterday (since it happened in our back yard so to speak). She was voicing her concerns, etc., about me running out of air sometime. I'm new and all, but I can't help myself looking at my psi gauge every 5 or so minutes even while spring diving less than 60 ft. I hope that feeling never wears off even after I've logged 100+ dives......always, always, always checking that gauge so I'm no surprised on the exhale at depth. It takes only 1 or 2 seconds each time, and I owe it to my family to vigilant with this.

The guy was found with a cobia. They can grow large and are extremely challenging and nearly impoosible to kill. They can kick your butt, wrap you up in line, kock your mask off and reg out, and even entangle themselves, you and anything else into a wreck in the blink of an eye.

 

[rigdiver]

Very, very true. It's like they can just spontaneously shift into overdrive. I've been turned on and rammed in the chest in the blink of an eye. 2nd stage knocked out. Once after fighting one for quite some time it just jerked the gun right out of my hands. Kosher or not most SF is solo.

 

[DiverDurf]

5 minutes is a very long time underwater.

Agreed, and I can't say for sure that it's "really" 5 minutes.....or 2 for that matter. Just making a point and should have been more accurate in the visual I was painting.

 

[jridg]

After reading the comments it seems fairly obvious to me what happened. The guy was spearfishing - was getting lots of large fish - and totally lost track of his air supply. This is part of the reason I don't spearfish anymore - I did a dive where I burned through 2500psi in 10 minutes at 80ft - this guys was at 100ft and had several large fish already and another on the spear.

Not going to assume that's what happened, but seems the likely cause to me.

Just my opinion.

 

[sathyan]

i feel very sorry for this tragedy and i dont know why this is all happening a lot in diving.the safety has to be ensured before diving.
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sathyan

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