Such a stunning loss to the dive community in so many ways.
Here is the latest information but details are still very sketchy. Will continue to update as more become available.
News stories:
Wes Skiles Death
Nat Geo freelance photographer dies off West Palm Beach
Nat Geo Statement
General Info:
Location reported as diving off the Boynton Inlet
Diving from a private boat with 2 other divers
Wes surfaced to get more film.
He was found motionless at the bottom ~20 minutes later when the other divers started to ascend
Taken to a Palm Beach hospital where he was pronounced DOA.
Second hand info that is deemed reliable, but not yet confirmed:
Depth of the dive was ~75'
Wes was found at ~ 100 minutes
Was last seen alive at ~ 70 minutes
This was day 4 of diving
He was diving a Dive Rite Op2tima
The unit was not fitted with onboard bailout.
No off board bailout was carried
There have been conflicting reports on the CCR unit.
Some sources say this was a borrowed O2ptima and that Wes had no prior
formal training or experience with this unit.
Another source has told me that Wes was an O2ptima instructor and the unit was previously owned by him and he borrowed it back for this shoot.
I will update the information as I get confirmation and clarification on these points.
No word whether there was a problem with the unit or if lack of bailout played any part in the death, so lets please keep speculation on that to a minimum.