Accident & Incident Discussion - Northernone - aka Cameron Donaldson

[Akimbo]

Is it possible to see no exhaust bubbles whatsoever for the whole stretch of the wall ? Especially at the beginning just after Cameron went over the wall?

Sure, especially with a slight current and a slow and relaxed respiratory cycle like a very experienced diver can have in a familiar environment. We had several conversations about the advantage of slow and deep respiratory cycles to minimize lung CO2. The big downside is your buoyancy changes more than shallow breathing (on open circuit).

 

[ReefHound]

Just a thought, perhaps easily dispatched by those in the know, any chance at all that Cam may have inadvertently had nitrox in his air tanks? Does he fill his own tanks? Most divers don't analyze what they believe to be air tanks.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I’m really late to all this. I’m currently decompressing by a pool in Jakarta after a string of 48 repetitive dives in RA.

A couple of things spring to mind after reading all the posts on all the threads.

1. Scooter failure. Sitting behind a keyboard I’m 99% certain that if my scooter flooded I’d simply cut it away (with one of the many cutting devices on my rig) or deploy the lift bag (attached to the scooter). The thing is, I’ve never had to do this for real. In the heat of the moment would I really cut away an $8000 bit of kit, or try my best to wrestle with it in the hope I could recover it. I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that I’ve witnessed a number of people take a ride to the surface on a dsmb because they didn’t let go. The reason why they didn’t let go was the instinctive reaction of not wanting to lose some kit.

2. Regarding currents. I consider myself a connoisseur of currents and prefer to dive in very strong, almost extreme currents (@RayfromTX has experienced a “Mild” current in our area). I dive them all the time with SM and a scooter. Cameron’s dive doesn’t seem too onerous - he had redundancy (except buoyancy) and assuming his scooter was working a downcurrent should have been an issue. You either power out of it, or use the scooter to arrest the descent.

3. While I wouldn’t personally go solo in those conditions, one has to recognise that on a scooter in current you’ll give your buddy “more searoom” so their effectiveness may be limited to little more than witnessing the event.

From my experiences and from what I know from Cameron from our exchanges on threads and via PM, I would tend to err toward a medical issue. That said I’ll be reviewing my practices to ensure I haven’t got complacent and to make sure I haven’t over looked a reasonable risk mitigation

RIP Cameron.

 

[RayfromTX]

The question was asked earlier in this thread about what Cameron carried for cutting tools. I don't know the answer to that question on this dive but this response gives an idea on his thinking on the matter.

Strapped to my SM tank, another on my harness, occasionally on my wrist or crotch strap. Depending where I am, what I'm diving and what cutting tools I have available.

 

[Dan]

The question was asked earlier in this thread about what Cameron carried for cutting tools. I don't know the answer to that question on this dive but this response gives an idea on his thinking on the matter.

From his post #4 in What kind of cutting tool do you have and where do you mount it?

It sounds like he'd carry more than one.

 

[CuzzA]

This may have been asked and answered, but how deep is the bottom over the wall? A quick keyword search in this thread did not reveal the answer.

 

[RayfromTX]

I have heard 140' and I have heard 150'. It typically varies depending on where you are along the reef, right?

I am also aware that one of the CCR divers spotted damage to barrel sponges and coral in a small area at 165' that looked like an anchor drag or diver impact. It appears that it eventually drops off to 300 meters but I don't know how far out that occurs. It definitely isn't a sheer wall to that depth.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @RayfromTX

Do you know the location of the damage to the reef that was spotted by the search divers? Was it close to the location where Cam and his mother parted, or further north?

As previously asked by @Joneill, did Cam and his mother have a usual location where they reunited to finish this dive? I believe I read that his mother would return Cam's camera, so that he could take photos in the shallows while fulfilling his deco obligation and returning to shore.

 

[RayfromTX]

They always rejoined but I haven't asked her about this yet. There are a few other things to attend to first but I haven't forgotten.

 

[Rollin Bonz]

...
1. Scooter failure. Sitting behind a keyboard I’m 99% certain that if my scooter flooded I’d simply cut it away (with one of the many cutting devices on my rig) or deploy the lift bag (attached to the scooter). The thing is, I’ve never had to do this for real. In the heat of the moment would I really cut away an $8000 bit of kit, or try my best to wrestle with it in the hope I could recover it. I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that I’ve witnessed a number of people take a ride to the surface on a dsmb because they didn’t let go. The reason why they didn’t let go was the instinctive reaction of not wanting to lose some kit.



RIP Cameron.

I didn't know Cameron personally, but like many others here, I felt as if I knew him through his many insightful posts. I hadn't been on the board in a week or so and was shocked when got back on and learned about his disappearance. Condolences to his friends and family.

The first thing I thought of when the A&I discussion got started was his recent post about his lost scooter...
Lost dive scooter: flotsam

I'm a relatively new diver and have nowhere near the experience level of Cameron or many others here... but just speaking for myself, If I'd recently experienced an expensive gear loss and found myself facing a similar loss, I might try a little too hard and for a little too long to prevent it from happening again.

RIP northernone