One dead and one Missing at Buford Springs (FL, USA)

[stretchthepenn]

I don't know how someone can conclude that three teenagers did a good job when they apparently watched a guy lay face down on the surface for an extended period of time without noticing that the guy was not breathing or blowing bubbles.

This comment isn't intended to disparage the teenagers in any way, but they might have been high. Based on a few people I noted while at Buford the other week, it's a popular place to toke up and chill out.

Can you normally see light from 137 in that cave?

Yes. When the water isn't mucked up, the viz is unlimited. At the right angle (dunno at what depth it starts; say 110?), you can see blue sky.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Going to 130’ on a single tank of air is reasonable, then add its into darkness in a cavern/cave certainly adds risk, then add they surfaced and descended on the same tank of air with a goal of reaching the cave area sounds like disaster waiting to happen. As always it sad to hear of people passing away in this way.

 

[SlugLife]

Going to 130’ on a single tank of air is reasonable, then add its into darkness in a cavern/cave certainly adds risk, then add they surfaced and descended on the same tank of air with a goal of reaching the cave area sounds like disaster waiting to happen. As always it sad to hear of people passing away in this way.

I've been to 130ft on a single (full) tank in open water, although it was maybe 15-minutes before I had to start surfacing.

Where things get interesting, is based on the police report and teenager's comments, it sounded like the divers did one dive, and checked air remaining on their tanks. Logically speaking, this suggests they may have not swapped tanks, and instead started their second dive on partially-full tanks.

While one diver was found at 137ft, this appears to be a large cavern, meaning the diver could have drowned at something like 70ft, but then sunk to 137ft. Although my guess is they at least went to the big rock at around 110ft. Actually going beyond that on partially full tanks seems nuts, although we have to remember the divers are dead now, so nuts isn't outside the realm of possibility.

https://scubaboard.com/community/attachments/buford-map-jpg.729644/

 

[scubadada]

Lack of data does not prevent speculation. This appears to be a pretty simple dive to recreational limits or slightly deeper. Why these two divers were unable to execute it is a matter of conjecture.

 

[johndiver999]

I've been to 130ft on a single (full) tank in open water, although it was maybe 15-minutes before I had to start surfacing.

Where things get interesting, is based on the police report and teenager's comments, it sounded like the divers did one dive, and checked air remaining on their tanks. Logically speaking, this suggests they may have not swapped tanks, and instead started their second dive on partially-full tanks.

While one diver was found at 137ft, this appears to be a large cavern, meaning the diver could have drowned at something like 70ft, but then sunk to 137ft. Although my guess is they at least went to the big rock at around 110ft. Actually going beyond that on partially full tanks seems nuts, although we have to remember the divers are dead now, so nuts isn't outside the realm of possibility.

https://scubaboard.com/community/attachments/buford-map-jpg.729644/

I don't think you can get to 137 without actively swimming back into the cave.

 

[scubadada]

I don't think you can get to 137 without actively swimming back into the cave.

I don't disagree, nevertheless, a pretty simple dive, why could they not execute it? Were their cylinders empty, I would think? If that is true, then this is just lame. There's essentially no excuse for running out of gas.

 

[johndiver999]

How do we know they did "stupid sXXX? Is their death sufficient to call them stupid? Is going to 137 in an overhead with a single tank and a buddy stupid?

I'm not sure I understand enough to point a finger or to "learn something" from this incident.

 

[johndiver999]

I don't disagree, nevertheless, a pretty simple dive, why could they not execute it?

I don't know why. If the water was clear, they could apparently see ambient light from 137 feet, so unless they mucked up the water and it was not too dirty, they should have been able to ascend from there.

 

[SlugLife]

Lack of data does not prevent speculation. This appears to be a pretty simple dive to recreational limits or slightly deeper. Why these two divers were unable to execute it is a matter of conjecture.

Speculating is what we do in Accidents and Incidents (and fun).

In almost every fatal scuba accident, we lack significant data, since the person is no longer around to tell their tale. So, we try to reverse engineer what we can to determine likely causes. From there we can sometimes learn something about diving safer, or confirm and remind ourselves of lessons that are fairly well known in the community.

There are numerous red-flags that have popped up, such as the small leak, the diving with partial tanks, reputation for risk-taking, etc

I don't think you can get to 137 without actively swimming back into the cave.

I'm sure someone who has dove the cave could give a more accurate report. My armchair commentary was based on the 2D map.

 

[Manatee Diver]

I'm sure someone who has dove the cave could give a more accurate report. My armchair commentary was based on the 2D map.

The cave tunnel is only a couple hundred feet long. But that likely pretty close to the entrance of the tunnel. It might be possible to see the exit assuming good vis and bright sunlight. TBH we really should really have a sign at the big rock.