Diver Drowns At White Star Quarry

[DwayneJ]

Just for the benefit of non rebreather divers and I will speak to my own unit and my own training/certification...

1. My rebreather is weighted so I do not need to wear ditchable weight (10lbs). Similar to diving tech doubles. I do not dive with additional weight in pockets or weight belt.
2. Flooded loop is what happens if you remove the valve (BOV/DSV) from your mouth without closing the valve.
3. It's unusual to find dil (normally air at rec limits) and O2 bottles empty as described. My dil bottle is used as an air source for my BC. No dil thus no BC inflation.
4. I dive with a 40CF bailout bottle and its equipped with a regulator and quick release hose for backup BC inflation. Also use a small argon bottle on my drysuit.

Irrespective of the embolism, my concerns based on the description of events were pre dive checks including weighting, gas quantity, loop pre breathe, and bailout gas/bailout bottle.

It was not clear if a descent line was used and this would have helped with descent safety checks/stops.

Dwayne

 

[keylargojimy]

this is a good post and one can learn alot here.

the only thing is the information not accurate and alot of things were mentioned
in which had regards to what really happened nor was it even important.

i will bite my tongue here and not say any thing negative.

my respects go out to the lossed diver and family friends.

jimy

 

[tddfleming]

Coroner: Air embolism killed diver at White Star Park
Initial inspection of man's equipment shows modifications to gear
Comments


Coroner: Air embolism killed diver at White Star Park | The News-Messenger | thenews-messenger.com



FREMONT -- The scuba diver who died after being pulled from the water
at White Star Park on June 12 was killed by an air embolism,
according to a death certificate signed Friday by Sandusky County
Coroner Dr. John Wukie.

Leo Karatjas Jr., 52, of Canton, was pronounced dead at Gibsonburg
High School, where a Life Flight helicopter was standing by, Sandusky
County Park District Director Steve Gruner said. Emergency crews had
responded to the former quarry at the park, a popular scuba diving
site, at 4:50 p.m. for a diver in distress call.

Gruner said an initial inspection of the scuba equipment showed that
Karatjas had modified a piece of his equipment, an Inspiration
Classic brand rebreather.

The equipment manufacturer, Silent Diving, is inspecting the diving
equipment the man was using that day. Gruner said he is awaiting a
final report from the company.

According to the death certificate, Karatjas' death was ruled accidental.

A final autopsy report will be completed by the Lucas County
Coroner's office after toxicology results are received, Gruner said.
That process can take several weeks.

Jeff Davis, owner of the Aqua Hut dive shop in Toledo, said he has
been diving for 34 years and has never seen a scuba diver experience
an air embolism.

"What that tells me is that at some point in time, he either ascended
too quickly or he held his breath while ascending," Davis said. "To
me it sounds like he panicked and swam up to the surface."

The veteran scuba diver, who has thousands of dives under his belt,
said a rapid ascent or a diver holding his or her breath causes air
bubbles to enter the bloodstream.

Davis said air embolisms can cause problems for divers ascending from
as little as five or six feet underwater.

"The number one rule I tell people to remember is never hold your
breath when you are diving," he said. "It goes back to three things,
proper training, staying active -- doing 15 to 30 dives a year -- and
knowing your equipment. Proper training is the most important thing."

The diver's death remains under investigation.