NOAA Diver dies off Dry Tortugas

[deepstops]

I'm not 100% sure he was on SCUBA or Surface Supplied gas.

Diver doing sea bottom survey dies off Keys - 03/18/2008 - MiamiHerald.com

Diver doing sea bottom survey dies off Keys
Posted on Tue, Mar. 18, 2008
l
BY CURTIS MORGAN
cmorgan@MiamiHerald.com
A diver working on a coral restoration project in the Dry Tortugas off Key West has died following a diving accident, federal authorities said Tuesday.

The diver, an employee of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, was working on a survey of the sea bottom Monday, according to a release from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

His name and details of the accident were not immediately provided.

The sanctuary release said the accident was called in Monday afternoon from the Peter Gladding, a 57-foot vessel owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the sanctuary. The vessel called in the accident and steamed to Fort Jefferson, where a rescue helicopter flew the diver to Key West.

The diver, who was assigned to the sanctuary, was pronounced dead by doctors at the Lower Keys Medical Center, the release said. The accident was under investigation.

 

[james croft]

Very sad. I guess details are sketchy now. I have a friend who is a NOAA diver.

 

[mike_s]

more news coverage.

from Man On NOAA Vessel Dies While Diving Near Key West - Local News Story - WTVJ | Miami

similar news story here Florida - Man on NOAA Vessel Dies While Diving Near Key West

Man On NOAA Vessel Dies While Diving Near Key West
POSTED: 8:47 pm EDT March 17, 2008

KEY WEST, Fla. -- Authorities are investigating the death of a man who was diving near Key West aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration vessel.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office says the 54-year-old from Ramrod Key and a buddy were surveying the sea floor on Monday for an upcoming coral restoration project. They were heading back to the surface -- from 80 to 100 feet under -- and reached a decompression stop when the buddy noticed the man floating downward.

Authorities say other divers went into the water and retrieved the man. They performed CPR and called the Coast Guard. A helicopter took the man to Lower Keys Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The man's name has not been released pending notification of his family. An autopsy has been scheduled.​

 

[deeper thoughts]

This has been a sad week for diving. We also had a freediver die in 77 feet of water off of Bahia Honda

 

[deepstops]

This has been a sad week for diving. We also had a freediver die in 77 feet of water off of Bahia Honda

A week ago Sunday we lost a CCR diver in Ginnie Springs and last Saturday we lost a CCR diver off Pompano Beach. That's four in ten days (three on SCUBA). And normally June is the worst month.

 

[reefman]

the NOAA diver, rusty mason, was a mooring buoy maintenance specialist based @ the lower region offfice(FKNMS) in key west,,,,,,,,,,

reefman
key largo

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Sorry to hear such sad news. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family!

Carolyn:sharks:

 

[joey46987]

Our boat, CGC MOHAWK (Key West) were the ones that were tasked with picking up all of his gear from the boat he was using... unfortunately while trying to pick it up out of the water, the valve stem snapped off the tank and his raft sank. all of the gear was lost.... definately a very sad day

 

[RonFrank]

Wow, four deaths in a week, very sad indeed.

Thoughts to the family and friends of the deceased.

 

[Rick Christ]

Here is the accident statement from the NOAA crew, March 17, 2008