Thanks for the additional info SK! I see that you did complete you profile with 25 - 49 dives in 10 or more years so I guess you understand a lot of this more than a non-diver would, but maybe not as much as a more active & more experienced diver might? Very helpful info tho.
Also, MAYBE (speculation here) any nitrogen bubbles HE DID have, would not have been as focused on his spine area, since bubbles tend to go to the highest point. Matthew was face down, and the highest point for him would have naturally been the back area. Andrew did have some slight bend issues in his knees, but no major hits like Matthew.
I don't know that body position would affected how micro bubbles accumulate flowing in the blood? Never thot of it before. Interesting thot...
They said they believed Andrew surfaced about a minute after Matthew did. Matthew allowed Andrew to go on the boat first (so typical of him-puts his brother first), Then, while he waited next to the boat,he said to his Dad, "Dad,my chest hurts." His Dad said,"Get on the boat fast",and both guys helped get him up fast.
That delay in boarding was actually somewhat helpful. Negligible maybe, but I always take a minute or two floating on top intentionally.
The talk of 20 minutes was by the news media, not from us. Yes, Matthew's guage read 135 feet. Andrew's guage read a little deeper, but we don't know why, (150 feet) because it is not supposed to be that deep? We think there must have been something wrong with his guage. Although, Andrew did dive "under" the front of the ship at some point. At one point in time, Andrew was "caught" in some fishing line above the ship, and his Dad had to help him out of that. While Matthew was waiting for that to occur, he said he pretty much waited on the bottom on the sand, which would have shortened his air supply. They were not on nitrox, just regular tank fill. None of these guys ever drink alcohol, so that was not a factor.
I think you said that none of them were diving computers, so you're talking about their depth gauges then. You can set those to record the max depth of a dive, or forget to do so and leave the previous max on there, I think; I haven't had one in years since I switched to computers, but I think so. Perhaps Andrew had an old reading of 150 he left on his?
Matthew stopped for decompression, at around 30 feet, but not for long enough, only for about one minute. He said he was going up at an angle, then suddenly the BC vest, which he was TRYING to control, shot him to the surface straight up and fast, from about 25 feet to the surface. It happened so fast. I know I have had that happen to me while diving, but certainly not from this deep of a dive. Sadly, it happened.
I have a hunch he may have pressed the inflate button by mistake right next to the deflate button on some BCs. Seen that a few times. Maybe not; maybe he just lost control of expanding air in his BC.
When they were deep, Matthew saw his tank air was at 200-300psi, and knew he had to GO !! ( Yes- I agree- big mistake-here- I'm guessing he should have GONE UP at 700-1000psi) His twin was spear fishing, too, and going the opposite direction, so Matthew had to tell Andrew FIRST that he was going up, so he SWAM to him to tell him (thus using up more air). Andrews guage said he had 400 psi at this point. Then they began ascending together. Neither ran out of air during the whole ascent, and still had air left at the surface. At the 30 feet stop, Matthew said he felt how he had to "pull" a little harder to get the air out of his regulator.
Wow!?
They were not on a charter boat, they have their own boat. They make the trip to Florida 3-4 times a year for scuba trips together, so have logged in tons of dives together. Matthew and Andrew both had NEW tanks- sizes 119cf. Bob(Dad) had the old tank of 80cf.
Ok, wondered how the boys could have larger tanks than dad? They had their own boat, many scuba trips, and bought larger tanks but not computers. No one left on boat for safety. Not much in the way of dive planning, gas management, etc. If the other two ever dive again, I bet we could offer a long list of suggestions about their approaches.
Hope in some way this information will be helpful to train other divers,and avoid future deaths, accidents. I hope to answer any other questions you have for this end result. Most of you are dive instructors, so please teach others from all of our details and mistakes. And yes, they SHOULD have stayed together !! Please do take the time to pray for his recovery to wholeness by a miracle from God. Thank you from my heart !!
Yes very much, thank you!
While the three of them were diving, no one was on the boat. (I am not familiar if that is even legal protocol or not). I don't know what DAN is, but they did call the coast guard.
I doubt that there was much need in this severe of a case to call DAN. They knew they were in big trouble, and that hospital is well experienced in hits, as well as accustomed to calling for consultations when desired. DAN is an excellent resource for info when needed or even in doubt or even curious, as well as where most of us get our dive insurance. Hope he is well covered, there or elsewhere.
DAN Divers Alert Network I suggest never, ever diving without their coverage, but some do.
When I dove the SG with one dive op in Key Largo I was surprised that the gave me an Aluminum 80cuft not pumped up to the max pressure I did a quick calculation and realised I had about 74 cuft. In my opinion to give some one anything less than a min 100 cuft to dive a wreck at this depth is dangerous and incompetent. This is one of many low air incidents they have had on the SG, next time I go it will go with a dive op that have a much better selection in including pony bottles and doubles.
Not saying this is the cause but I think sometimes divers on this wreck get taken by surprise how quick their air is used up at 4 atmospheres plus the additional time to ascend, take into account if something should go wrong like getting caught in fishing line SAC rate increases un-expected deco obligation and you have a gas problem. Oh I know there are people that would say this should not happen but the fact is it does, so again IMHO charters that supply only 80 cuft bottles for dives on this wreck need to wake up and realize they are endangering peoples lives and consider more than just making money.
Well, it's all too common for Keys and around the greater Caribbean to carry only 80s, which is actually rounded up from around 78 cf.
Scuba Cylinder Specification Chart from Huron Scuba, Ann Arbor Michigan Many boats are fitted only to accommodate 80s. Good luck on finding an Op with a selection, much less ponies, but then diving with a pony is another discussion. If you want to dive a pony, you generally own your own bottle & second reg, break it down to fly, practice with it, etc.
