Commercial diver lost - Trinidad and Tobago

[DandyDon]

Relatives of missing scuba diver call for answers: Where is Chevon? - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Joanne Bartholomew, the mother of scuba diver and underwater specialist, Chevon Bartholomew says she is trying to remain optimistic after her son disappeared in the waters near Gasparee Island during a routine dive on Monday.

Bartholomew, 37 a diver attached to TrinDive Underwater Services Ltd along with his partner identified only as "Bee", reportedly underwent a contracted dive in the Gulf of Paria on Monday at around 10 am when both men reached a depth where there was limited light. The partner reportedly told investigators that he had difficulty seeing Bartholomew who disappeared behind him while he resurfaced.

However Bartholomew's mother says that there are a lot of unanswered questions in the circumstances surrounding her son's disappearance as they have not been able to speak to his partner and the company has not yet issued an official statement on his disappearance.

 

[Kaydees]

Relatives of missing scuba diver call for answers: Where is Chevon? - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

I know him....we are all still hopefull

 

[DandyDon]

Found with weights still on, but tank missing. Diver’s body found off Cedros

 

[Akimbo]

There is a strong consensus in the commercial diving community that Scuba should be banned (for contract diving). Fortunately, the vast majority of the limited work that Scuba divers can accomplish is being displaced by ROVs (Remote Operated Vehicles).

Admittedly, part of the problem is very few commercial divers have that much current experience in Scuba. Gas conservation and planning is a non-issue with surface supplied diving. We typically used 1.5 Ft³/diver/Atmosphere to size compressors and HP reserves. Most commercial divers wear Wellies instead of fins, can't montor depth or time, and dive solo. I'm not suggesting that any of this applies in this accident, only providing insights to the general discussion of Scuba and commercial diving.

 

[pepperbelly]

Found with weights still on, but tank missing. Diver’s body found off Cedros

I am not familiar with the equipment commercial scubs divers use, but I am puzzled how he could be found on the surface still wearing hos weights. If he ditched his tank wouldn’t he slso have ditched his BCD, or would his flotation be seperate from his tank and harness?

 

[SoFlaDiver954]

I am not familiar with the equipment commercial scubs divers use, but I am puzzled how he could be found on the surface still wearing hos weights. If he ditched his tank wouldn’t he slso have ditched his BCD, or would his flotation be seperate from his tank and harness?

The body was recovered a couple weeks after the diver went missing. The body probably became buoyant from gasses resulting from decomposition and floated to the surface.

 

[pepperbelly]

The body was recovered a couple weeks after the diver went missing. The body probably became buoyant from gasses resulting from decomposition and floated to the surface.

I missed how long he was missing. I thought it was much quicker then that.