General Vortex Incident Discussion

[tracydr]

That was interesting video. Looks like an imitation of Steve Bogaerts video on side mount skills.
From what Ben did and the way his log was written I wonder if he had a manic episode? Who is "he" referenced in his log and what questions was the dive supposed to answer?

 

[ScubaNurse758]

Just curious, where have ya'll been able to read his log book at?

 

[Brewone0to]

Seems to me there are way too many who think the gear and a full cave card makes them the caliber of a Edd Sorenson, or Toland. That level of diving takes years to get too and hundreds of dives.

There is no such "Magical" Save your rear gear on the market.
When the crap hits the fan, it is skills and knowledge that bring one back safely.

I have an electronic compass which gives one Tangents/Times.
This can be handy for some OW dives, but is utterly worthless in a cave environment.
As well, the only people I've heard of diving with GPS do so in shallow OW, and seal them inside waterproof cases, Then they float them to the surface for location readings.
This would also serve no purpose on an overhead dive.

 

[Divedoggie]

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

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.....

Speaking of the AL80s, I would think that one of the tank boots could wedge into a crack like a rock climbing nut. If so, it would be immoveable.

But, after forcing myself through the video again, it is inconceivable that any of those guys had enough control to squeeze through any tight cracks.

If the flow increased as a diver gets further back into the cave, control, effeciency, and conservation would be critical. It doesn't seem that the finning skills and buoyancy control were solid enough to get very far back against the flow. It seems that the ineffeciency would cause a silt out early

Hadn't thought about the possibility of a second person being along for that fateful dive, but now it seems plausible.

 

[Jax]

Is the gate at Vortex set where it is because that cave behind it considered the most dangerous? Or is it simply advanced?

There seems to be a lot of cave on the outside of the gate where dumb divers can get into trouble, as well. Or is that part a cavern?

 

[alohagal]

It is essentially a long straight tunnel leading to the greater cave system. It has lights running through it. It is fairly straightforward up to the grate.

 

[Cave Diver]

There seems to be a lot of cave on the outside of the gate where dumb divers can get into trouble, as well. Or is that part a cavern?

The cavern is considered the part of the cave where you can still see natural daylight. By definition, a cavern becomes a cave at night, or in overcast conditions that block the sun. There is a significant amount of distance between the cavern area of Vortex and where the gate is.

 

[BabyDuck]

that video does not show cave divers. it shows yay-hoos diving in a cave - period.

quick, someone post a video clip of cave divers, and let's see the difference.

 

[iiScubaNewbii]

From the victim's facebook page, Aug. 3rd: (someone posted the second part of this in the original thread, but since the video has been re-hosted, I felt I should post the entire statement to clarify what we are seeing in the video and his plans for the week)

"Ben McDaniel: I think I had interrupted a video shoot in the Piano Room @ Vortex Springs Saturday night :/ It had been a fun cave dive, solo n side mount of coarse , so a good ending caught on tape was a plus. "__" from the Dive Locker was filming while the other "diver" walked on the ceiling and blew air rings.

During the di...ve I had been plotting for 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!!!!"

 

[DA Aquamaster]

that video does not show cave divers. it shows yay-hoos diving in a cave - period.

quick, someone post a video clip of cave divers, and let's see the difference.

Absolutely. As a cave diver, I don't want to be associated with THAT ****.