General Vortex Incident Discussion

[Blue Sparkle]

Like ktomlinson said, I'm finding this a great learning opportunity. Not learning as in I'm going to go cave diving without training, but constructive learning that I feel could be useful for any diving.

It's given me a window into the cave diving world, and some of the considerations, planning, discipline, and methods that are used (again, as another side of diving; not as in I'm going to be a do-it-yourselfer; in fact, if I had ever had that urge this would have squelched it).

I've been looking forward to more/good dive training in my future, whatever type it might be. This thread has only made me want that training more.

 

[alohagal]

I wonder who originally posted the video to Youtube TODAY. Was it the cameraman? Did he think it helped bolster the notion of experience in a cave, just because the person, in question, had SM and helmet compared to the other two? There will be no exoneration here...quite the opposite I'm afraid.

 

[tomfcrist]

I think what struck me most about the video was I thought that the people involved, especially the man with no thermal protection, were showing off for the camera, displaying what they thought was their highly advanced levels of scuba skill.

If there is anything cave training will teach you, is a little humility at that level, an embarrassment at thinking that what you think is advanced skill is really, well, what it is.

No doubt about it. It's like watching American idol tryouts.... Painful and disturbing.

 

[alohagal]

One way or the other, this video is a most serendipitous find.

 

[Cave Diver]

No doubt about it. It's like watching American idol tryouts.... Painful and disturbing.

One of the most painful and disturbing things to me is the taking the fins off and walking on the ceiling. Part of my NACD cave diving course focused on conservation and land owner relations. We are taught to be stewards of the caves, not terrorists holding it hostage for our pleasure.

Take only pictures, leave only bubbles...

 

[alohagal]

One of the most painful and disturbing things to me is the taking the fins off and walking on the ceiling. Part of my NACD cave diving course focused on conservation and land owner relations. We are taught to be stewards of the caves, not terrorists holding it hostage for our pleasure.

Take only pictures, leave only bubbles...

It was astounding to say the least. At first I wondered what he was doing. I thought maybe he was going to go no mount with no fins and crawl in a hole. Sigh!

 

[Hetland]

One of the most painful and disturbing things to me is the taking the fins off and walking on the ceiling.

You beat me to that, but you were at least able to comment properly on it. I really can't even fathom why someone would take their fins off in the water.

I noticed that he was diving 2 AL80's. I wonder if he that was his set-up for his final dive?

Originally Posted by Facebook post
"Mondays 8 tank deep penetration solo dive. I will post something on it later. To sum it up... 4 stage, 2 bottom, and 2 deco bottles for a 232 minute 148 ft deep cave dive with a total penetration to the end of system at aprox. 810 ft!!!!"

Does anyone know how many/what type of bottles were found?

Did he have any bottles in his vehicle?

If he was staging bottles, wouldn't he have to do one dive to stage first?

I also noticed that he had significant trouble with his buoyancy, to the point that it was painful to watch. It's easy to assume he was new to side mount, but I guess it's anyone's guess (unless he purchased the system from vortex perhaps).

I'm also wondering who his buddies were. There was a post on his friend's board about other details coming out at a later time, and for some reason I'm now wondering if it was a solo dive, or if he had talked someone into going along with him.....

 

[alohagal]

Sorry Heltand I am not following you: are you asking if he was not solo on the dive where he went missing?

 

[denisegg]

I'm thinking the video reminds me of the Blair Witch Project...Scary as Hell.....It's like the writng on the wall...

 

[Cave Diver]

I noticed that he was diving 2 AL80's. I wonder if he that was his set-up for his final dive?

Not sure, but I noticed that around the 6:20 mark it appears that those tanks have yoke regs on them, which is a less secure connection than DIN and not recommended for overhead environment diving. It is possible to knock a yoke reg off if you hit it hard enough and just right.

DIN reg, pictured below threads into the valve on a cylinder:

Yoke reg, clamps over the valve: