I have been a lurker in here and watched this thread from its beginning.
We have had many comments on how long this thread has become. We have seen tangents taken down roads of quite possibly wild speculations. I'm not saying that this is bad, I think the fact that this tragedy has made divers think and re-think their own dive practices was the spirit in which these kinds of threads are intended to be useful
It seems to me that with the lack of information starting to frustrate people again we are about to take another dramatic turn into left field. By Comparing two Tragic deaths where the similarities beetween the actual Facts of the cases are loose strings destined to unravel over time.
Thank you D_B for pointing out the other thread, I think it may be very pertinant to the discussion reagrding Drysuits and Lift, but I think everyone has missed the point that there is no evidence of this actually being a problem in this case. It has been discussed to the point that a New Thread has been started about it and perhaps the comparison of the Theorys regarding the death of Quero and the Facts in the death in San Diego May be better discussed there.
As we see in the post from scubadada the facts have been clouded in the mire of speculation and theorising so I will summarize
Prior to the events of that Day Posts and coments were made by Quero regarding
1) Dificulties experianced arround the new Drysuit (However its worth noting She had dived sucessfully while wearing this suit prior to the dive in question.
2) How to tweak her set up because of point #1 (Yes the new tweaks "may" have had somthing to do with the incident but there is no evidence it did)
3) She complained of leg pains (Again it "may" be related to some medical cause but there is no evidence it did)
On the dive in question..... I am combinding the info from posts # 83, 104, 113, 114, 120, 123
The dive site was fairly benign – with good conditions and good viz.
There were four divers in the water on Monday. One chose to move away from the group at various times (Presumably Quero)
Near the end of the dive, the group surfaced, presumably to get a bearing on the exact exit point.
On the surface, the group was somewhat separated, but communicating. (Quero Said she had 50 Bar)
One of the divers told Quero to come close to the group while on the surface. The response was she was fine and will meet them on the sand
The group descended, presumably because the swim to the exit point was easier underwater.
eventually seperating herself from the group of two she was with and Quero swam past the third diver
At some point during the swim in, Quero got further separated from the group.
Shortly after becoming separated, the group of 2 surfaced #1 & 2 began looking for bubbles when they first exited the water-this is the norm for them. They could not locate bubbles. When diver #3 surfaced (rebreather diver) he was immediately asked if he saw/knew where Quero was.
Searching for Quero Immediatly started once the seperation was recognised (While still in the water).
Two members of the group immediately started a search, a third went to shore for help.
One of the group found her shortly after, motionless on the bottom. Time lapse between separation was approximately 10-15 minutes.
Quero was found near the dive exit. Im taking 2mtr to 5mtrs of water, depending on where you are. Ordinarily its a easy incline along a sandy bottom with sea grass towards a rocky shore. Depending on tide you can swim to the shore or flat rock hop to get to land.
She was brought to the surface, and In Water Rescue Breaths were given.
With the assistance of people from the boat, she was brought to shore.
CPR was being performed when Ambulance arrived and took over.
All gear appeared to have been functioning properly during the dive.
She did not show signs of distress or physical ailment during the dive, up until the point of separation.
There were no known medical issues.
It appears that she swam away from the group, for unknown reasons.
Upon realization, the group immediately started a search and found her relatively quickly.
All attempts at resuscitation failed.
All other information as I have been able to understand in this thread has been the matter of Speculation
The amount of weight was stated as fact but latter found to be an estimate (anyone who has lifted an unconcious or dead body knows they feel heavier than normal) Actual weight requires the Police to reliquish her equipment and Autopsy Report
The Tank was empty when Quero was found may be a fact but the theory she ran out of air is not we have no way of knowing if she died or had problems before or after the tank emptied (purged) or in fact how it came to be empty.
The Readings said 10 Bar, the asumption the readings are/were incorect would require the Police to release the Dive Gear.
ClownfishSydney has had the oportunity to look at two dive computers, but I for one don't think he has seen the ONLY computer which has any Factual bearing on what hapned to Quero (Hers) because the Police are still in control of it.
Pictures of her in her gear are all Prior to the incident in question. As no one saw what hapned no one took the only picture which would tell us what hapned. The closest thing we have is her dive computer which the Police yet retain.
Until the Police release an official report we will likely get no more pertinant Facts than those already given.
No ofence to anyone who wrote a theory, I found them enlightning "Posabilities" but not factual. I was amazed people would go so far as to atempt a theoretical calculation as to amout of air ect. However I feel it important (for the clarity of the thread) to point out that using somone elses dive computer and somone elses breathing rates to calcculate Queros exact situation is imposible. It is Theory only, and anyone trying to pass it off as factual is in actuality misrepresenting the facts. I thank those who theorised in this thread for clearly pointing out what was theory... it helped me a lot to seperate them from the actual events that day
Jax said it best
"Jax # 113
Who is to say that whatever happened in the moments of separation could have been prevented?
It's really important to not go down the "if only" ramp, because it leads to "should've, could've, ought to've" that no one could forsee."
I myself am now waiting to hear either directly from the dive buddies or from the police investigative report.... anyything else is speculation. I dont think I missed anything, but I didnt have time to re-read 76 Pages.
