Diver missing - Pelham, Alabama

[DandyDon]

A lift bag is deployed at depth using a reel when a diver is on a deco stop in OW to hold their position at the proper depth.

Never seen that before. We often shoot a sausage up on a reel so the boat will know where we are doing our stop, but I never had any problem holding depth for a stop just watching my computer.

 

[gianaameri]

Never seen that before. We often shoot a sausage up on a reel so the boat will know where we are doing our stop, but I never had any problem holding depth for a stop just watching my computer.

On rebreather buoyancy is rather different from OC, and add a dry-suit, low vis., current... depth, required long-deco stops... a buoyed ascent line is a great tool and safety aid.

Having said that, if you go unconscious on rebreather you'd neither be able to deploy an ascent line (sausage or bag + reel) or get to your bail-out.

You pass out and drown.

Here we have yet another experienced and trained diver dying while using a rebreather unable of self-help/rescue (in what seems to me from the description a neither difficult nor demanding dive for his level of experience).

 

[brockbr]

Some points for clarification
1) Daren was an excellent diver who paid a great deal of attention to detail.

2) He always planned his bailout strategy for one - himself.

3) He typically used a lift-bag during deco at the quarry just to practice deployment. Deploying while on a rebreather is a little different than on oc. He liked to always practice these skills.

4) Solo rebreather cert? What's next, solo rebreather sidemount cave surveyor c card?

5) The quarry is a lot more than just a "hole in the ground".

Source: I'm a friend of his who dove with him a lot, including this quarry (I know it like the back of my hand) as well as cave diving with him.

 

[denisegg]

So sorry for your loss Brock. My son his wife and I were diving there 3 weeks ago. We enjoyed the new facility.

 

[dreamdive]

On rebreather buoyancy is rather different from OC, and add a dry-suit, low vis., current... depth, required long-deco stops... a buoyed ascent line is a great tool and safety aid.

Having said that, if you go unconscious on rebreather you'd neither be able to deploy an ascent line (sausage or bag + reel) or get to your bail-out.

You pass out and drown.

Here we have yet another experienced and trained diver dying while using a rebreather unable of self-help/rescue (in what seems to me from the description a neither difficult nor demanding dive for his level of experience).

I think you are jumping to conclusions! You DON'T know why he died or how. Your suggestions that only rebreather divers die while diving and are unable to self-rescue is more than offensive!

Regarding him perhaps shooting a lift bag: One thing nobody mentioned so far is that we shot them for practice. A competent technical diver practices all skills including shooting a lift bag which maybe all that Daren may have done.

 

[gianaameri]

Your suggestions that only rebreather divers die while diving and are unable to self-rescue is more than offensive!

That is the way we rebreather divers die.

Not always, but the root cause is the complexity of the equipment and the failure modes which in the case of hypoxia, hyperoxia, and hypercapnia make self-rescue very very difficult, nearly impossible.

In the specifics of this case, unless the autopsy shows it was M.I. or some other specific medical condition, we are left with the far too common experienced rebreather diver dying in not so demanding/ordinary diving conditions.

There is nothing offensive. It is a recognised inherent risk of rebreather diving and it is in every training manual, manufacturer instructions, and some rebreathers actually have stickers on it warning the user of the risk (unconsciousness, then drowning).

 

[CamG]

My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family.
The details of the accident will remain aloof and speculative.
It is a fact of the age in which we live that the facts even when given lead to more speculation and rarely is any accident clear in cause.
Drowning is most of what you see or heart issue.

CCR is not for everyone and a elevated risk comes with the territory.
What has been revealed is that Daren was aware and planned for these added risks.
When we all get into the water there is a chance we will not get out, simple fact.
Even simple, easy dives, OW, Tech, no level of expertise or experience will save us from Diver ERROR.
It happens, I am thinking of several incredible divers TOP of their game who are not with us.
It is what it is!
Rather than speculate, I will learn what I can and grieve with the family and friends.

Train hard, be conservative, carry what you need to get yourself out, and know it might not be enough.
Face the facts, diver error whether aware or unaware is lurking for us all!
DO NOT BE COMPLACENT!
Whatever is trivial pay close attention and never let even seemingly small insignificant dives lure you into false security!
Be on alert, pay attention.
We all can do is our best then accept when sometimes there is a breakdown.
Hopefully we can work the problem out and survive.

When a tragedy occurs throwing stones helps nothing and is counter productive.

CamG

 

[dreamdive]

Thank you CamG!

Yours is a healthy perspective.

Claudia

 

[gianaameri]

We do not know it was diver error, or do we?

 

[Peter69_56]

I think what we know is, that we don't know anything other than he is no longer with us.

"We don't know what we don't know"

The one person who knows everything is no longer with us.

The coroners report will be a best guess, and that's about as good as it will ever get! A sad statement of fact.