Diver missing - Grand Cayman

[suzbo]

Not much to add, but this article says they've recovered "an article of his clothing." Not referring to the BCD, as that's also mentioned. All at the dive site. Search for missing diver to continue for 3rd day - Cayman 27

 

[DiveCaribbean]

Hi all,
Just wanted to add something in here. I am an instructor here in Cayman and was a volunteer on the dive this afternoon in which an "article of clothing" was found at about 130 ft.. Would like to say that I would be hesitant to believe that it was for sure his. I will say that it had no been down there long, no growth on it, laying on top of the reef. Very clean. Looked like gym shorts (the kind with a white band surround by black fabric). Of course I am not the authority on this.. for all I know his wife may have ID'd the article as his.. not sure as a lot can happen from this afternoon till now.. All I can say is it is a sad day here in Cayman, and for the diving community as a whole. Safe diving, everyone.

 

[ianr33]

Thanks DiveCaribbean.

Any idea how close to the wall he was when he disappeared? If he is at the bottom of that ,then obviously he will never be found.

 

[Solomander]

I was on one of the other boats that day. They were swimming back to the boat. We were one buoy away from them, at Cable Wall, near the Doc Poulsen. We were moored right over the top of the wall. I assume that the other boat was, too. He went missing after surfacing 100 yards from the boat. I spoke with the couple who was diving with him and they didn't have any more detail than that.

 

[Scuba Diver Gal]

This is such a sad, and scary, story. But I can't help but wonder if something didn't happen under the water to force them to surface 100 metres from the boat, that's a long surface swim...and what would have happened that he would have ditched his gear...It's a reminder to all of us about diving safety and respecting the sport and the risks that come with it....I hope they find him and that this can serve as a lesson to all divers. Tomorrow I am heading to the dive shop for my safety sausage...and nagging my husband/buddy about staying closer during our dives. So sorry to the family, the dive operator, and all those involved in this.

 

[DiveCaribbean]

Thanks DiveCaribbean.

Any idea how close to the wall he was when he disappeared? If he is at the bottom of that ,then obviously he will never be found.

Relatively close to the wall. However, the wall at the sight in question is a very sloping wall, not a huge drop off.. And in response to a question from someone earlier- my understanding is that he was wearing integrated weights..making the situation even stranger..Why was the gear all buckled up when it was found..very bizarre. I hope they will find him today, I wish I could have joined in on the search again, but of course, work calls..

 

[DandyDon]

Relatively close to the wall. However, the wall at the sight in question is a very sloping wall, not a huge drop off.. And in response to a question from someone earlier- my understanding is that he was wearing integrated weights..making the situation even stranger..Why was the gear all buckled up when it was found..very bizarre. I hope they will find him today, I wish I could have joined in on the search again, but of course, work calls..

All I can do is speculate from here. Perhaps you have or can obtain more info...?

Was his kit found floating or on the floor? If he had problems inflating the BC and ditching weights both, he might have ditched it to become buoyant. I am curious about your remark that "the gear all buckled up"....?

 

[Scott]

Relatively close to the wall. However, the wall at the sight in question is a very sloping wall, not a huge drop off.. And in response to a question from someone earlier- my understanding is that he was wearing integrated weights..making the situation even stranger..Why was the gear all buckled up when it was found..very bizarre. I hope they will find him today, I wish I could have joined in on the search again, but of course, work calls..

Was the gear buckled when they first located it or was it buckled by a recovery diver to aid in bringing it to the surface?

[speculation]IF the BC was discovered buckled and the article of clothing found is the divers. How reasonable would it be that the diver removed the gear on the surface to float on top of and kick back to the boat, keeping sight of the boat, instead of lying on their back or lying face down and kicking back in? [/speculation]

 

[Drew Sailbum]

The BCD and tank were found at about 110ft of depth per earlier articles. The article of clothing was a bit deeper.

The RCIPS Marine Unit has asked for technical divers to conduct search and recovery dives at a deeper depth.

 

[DiveCaribbean]

All I can do is speculate from here. Perhaps you have or can obtain more info...?

Was his kit found floating or on the floor? If he had problems inflating the BC and ditching weights both, he might have ditched it to become buoyant. I am curious about your remark that "the gear all buckled up"....?

That is my understanding..That his BCD was buckled and cumberbunded when it was found. Again don't take that as fact, but I was there as they were removing it from the water and talking about it.. I suppose he could have taken his gear off at the surface but I wonder how he would sink so quickly out of sight when his weights were in his BC and not on him..