(5/01/05) Diver missing in Florida

[DiveGolfSki]

...a lot facters cause something like this..

Exactly and since no details have been disclosed as to whether this was a diver, diver operator or weather related (do I sound like the NTSB investigating an air crash), I would hesitate diving with them.

However, I'd give them a chance if they'd answer some questions .... like:

When the diver "held onto the mooring line at the surface, the current was ripping." (as reported by BaitedStorm), did the "The Captain of the six pack yelled at the diver over and over to let go of the buoy"?

GPatton just provided more info from another source that seems to indicate that the current was "slight to moderate". Perhaps, it isn't their fault.

Either way, its a tragic event and condolences to the family.

 

[pilot fish]

I've done the Grove several times, with both experienced and not-so-experienced divers. The "experienced" divers got into more trouble from what I saw than the non-experienced. The biggest was inattention... not watching depth or air gauges. The warm water and good viz compared with quarry diving can throw experienced divers off. The "not-so-experienced" had a healthy respect, payed attention, used the lines, watched their gauges and were conservative on planning and knowing when to call the dive.

Everytime I'm down there and going out to the Grove, the captain has said it was only a matter of time.

Diving is a dangerous sport, there is no reason to make it more dangerous by not paying attention and having a healthy respect for the fact that you can't breath underwater.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family as well as the others touched by this incident.

Just my observations.

Dave

I've dove it 3 times and have a healthy respect for it. I think the dive is more dangerous at the surface then uw.

 

[pilot fish]

To add a little more clarity.....

I talked to one of the divers on the recovery dive and an officer (MCSO) that was on the scene and part of the investigation. This is info they related;

1. The diver still had on his weights when found by the recovery team.

2. The diver was wearing a wet suit.

3. The diver was breathing Nitrox (30%).

4. The current was light to moderate.

5. The diver's tank was empty.

6. The wind was

YYYY MM DD hh mm DIR SPD
2005 04 30 18 00 149 8.8
2005 04 30 17 50 148 8.2
2005 04 30 17 40 149 8.8
2005 04 30 17 30 148 9.3
2005 04 30 17 20 148 8.8
2005 04 30 17 10 148 8.2
2005 04 30 17 00 149 9.3
2005 04 30 16 50 149 9.3
2005 04 30 16 40 156 8.8
2005 04 30 16 30 156 8.2
2005 04 30 16 20 156 8.8
2005 04 30 16 10 157 8.8
2005 04 30 16 00 155 9.3
2005 04 30 15 50 155 9.3
2005 04 30 15 40 155 9.3
2005 04 30 15 30 153 8.8
2005 04 30 15 20 157 8.8
2005 04 30 15 10 152 9.3
2005 04 30 15 00 150 8.8
2005 04 30 14 50 155 9.3
2005 04 30 14 40 151 9.3
2005 04 30 14 30 151 9.3
2005 04 30 14 20 152 8.8
2005 04 30 14 10 151 9.3
2005 04 30 14 00 153 9.3
​

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If anyone has more current info to correct this post please do so....

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This info creates more questions;

If a diver is breathing Nitrox at a high rate, will it impair a diver?

Why didn't this diver ditch his weights?

Glenn
for underwater videos & pics of the Spiegel go to
http://www.glennpatton.com/Spiegel/index.htm

Damn, he still had his weights on! I've read that 70% of divers still have their weights when they recover dive fatalities.

 

[pilot fish]

I can think of lots of problems. Hole in the bladder? Failed/leaking overpressure relief valve? Failed/leaking pull dump release? If any of these happened and he wasn't immediately aware of it, that might also explain the OOA.

Not to rule out stress, he may not have been thinking clearly, it may not have occurred to him to orally inflate the BC.

As I've said elsewhere, the saddest part is that he left the relative safety of the buoy for the perceived safety of the boat, and without telling anyone.

That puzzeled me too. He was using 30% EAN. Wonder if that had any bearing?

 

[dive]

That puzzeled me too. He was using 30% EAN. Wonder if that had any bearing?

30% only has a po2 of 1.48 at 130 ft so it should not have a bearing on it but you never know.

 

[triton94949]

Damn, he still had his weights on! I've read that 70% of divers still have their weights were they recover dive fatalities.

Ditching weights at the surface is a critical safety skill. As is staying with your dive buddy.

 

[triton94949]

I've done the Grove several times, with both experienced and not-so-experienced divers. The "experienced" divers got into more trouble from what I saw than the non-experienced. The biggest was inattention... not watching depth or air gauges. The warm water and good viz compared with quarry diving can throw experienced divers off. The "not-so-experienced" had a healthy respect, payed attention, used the lines, watched their gauges and were conservative on planning and knowing when to call the dive.

Everytime I'm down there and going out to the Grove, the captain has said it was only a matter of time.

Diving is a dangerous sport, there is no reason to make it more dangerous by not paying attention and having a healthy respect for the fact that you can't breath underwater.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family as well as the others touched by this incident.

Just my observations.

Dave

The more I hear about this dive site, the more anxious I am to pay it a visit. From the descriptions here, the current strength at depth is less than the current at the surface.

 

[BIGSAGE136]

The more I hear about this dive site, the more anxious I am to pay it a visit. From the descriptions here, the current strength at depth is less than the current at the surface.

Strategy is to get deep. Less current at the bottom.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I have only dived it once. That one time we hung onto the top (or is that side?) rail like flags in the breeze. Looking over the side at the depths would rip your face mask off.

 

[SecondCoussens]

I wonder if this was rental gear that he was wearing. If there was a problem with the BC he may not have even known it until it was too late. Regardless I think that often times people underestimate the power of currents. We do a lot of shore diving out here in Hawaii and my greatest fear is being swept off by a current when there is no one out there that can save us. Stories like this make me nervous and hesitant to go out to sites without an experienced DM.
I'm sorry for his family and friends, and only hope that people can learn from this.