rcohn
Guest
More info from Marc (a member of Seadeucers):
Mia Tegner had completed a 30 min dive with a max
depth of 70' on the Yukon. I believe there was about
a 90 min surface interval and then the 3 person dive
team did a dive on the El Rey. Mia was doing something
related to her research on the dive and the dive
buddies were not in constant contact. The other 2
divers surfaced after 35 minutes. Mia surfaced 5
minutes later indicated she did not have enough air
to complete a safety stop. A tank with 800 psi and
BC and regulator attached was handed to her and she
descended holding the rig in her hands. After a
few minutes this tank floated to the surface. Her
husband descended with 800 psi to search for her. At
200 psi he surfaced, asked if she had surfaced and
descended again using the remaining air in the tank.
The radio on the boat was not functioning
so flares were shot and another boat responded and the
Lifeguards were contacted.
The Lifeguards responded pretty quickly but the
regular patrol boat only contains a minimal scuba
rig which limits the Lifeguards search to a maximum
depth of 40 feet. The Lifeguards did search to a max
depth of 40 feet and found nothing. A bit later (15-20
min ??) a second lifeguard boat arrived and a deeper
search was performed. The lifeguards descended the
anchor line of the boat to a depth of 15 feet and then
dropped straight down and found Mia close to that
spot.
Mia was wearing a drysuit and an Atpac style BCD.
The Atpac was a very popular BCD with back mounted
wings. The backplate is hollow with a trap door at
the bottom. Lead shot is normally stored loose inside
the backplate. Over a period of time it was pretty
common for the lead shot to form into a big clump
which made it difficult to fall out when the trap door
was opened.
With no air in her own tank positive buoyancy could
likely only be obtained by orally inflating the BC.
The autopsy ruled found the cause of death to be
drowning.
Mia Tegner had completed a 30 min dive with a max
depth of 70' on the Yukon. I believe there was about
a 90 min surface interval and then the 3 person dive
team did a dive on the El Rey. Mia was doing something
related to her research on the dive and the dive
buddies were not in constant contact. The other 2
divers surfaced after 35 minutes. Mia surfaced 5
minutes later indicated she did not have enough air
to complete a safety stop. A tank with 800 psi and
BC and regulator attached was handed to her and she
descended holding the rig in her hands. After a
few minutes this tank floated to the surface. Her
husband descended with 800 psi to search for her. At
200 psi he surfaced, asked if she had surfaced and
descended again using the remaining air in the tank.
The radio on the boat was not functioning
so flares were shot and another boat responded and the
Lifeguards were contacted.
The Lifeguards responded pretty quickly but the
regular patrol boat only contains a minimal scuba
rig which limits the Lifeguards search to a maximum
depth of 40 feet. The Lifeguards did search to a max
depth of 40 feet and found nothing. A bit later (15-20
min ??) a second lifeguard boat arrived and a deeper
search was performed. The lifeguards descended the
anchor line of the boat to a depth of 15 feet and then
dropped straight down and found Mia close to that
spot.
Mia was wearing a drysuit and an Atpac style BCD.
The Atpac was a very popular BCD with back mounted
wings. The backplate is hollow with a trap door at
the bottom. Lead shot is normally stored loose inside
the backplate. Over a period of time it was pretty
common for the lead shot to form into a big clump
which made it difficult to fall out when the trap door
was opened.
With no air in her own tank positive buoyancy could
likely only be obtained by orally inflating the BC.
The autopsy ruled found the cause of death to be
drowning.