Well, thank you Bob. I wish you would take your own advice and not speculate. You know Lynne so well you even know what she was (or wasn't) thinking on this dive although you weren't there. You also confuse the reception of stressors which can't be controlled with as you say "practiced" skills. Having the skills to deal effectively with stressors doesn't prevent them from occuring but reduces their impact and leads to their elimination (assuming the correct action is taken).
The difference, of course, is that I'm relating things I've observed over 10 years of diving with her ... diving is, after all, very much a behavioral activity in which we tend to follow routines in response to circumstances. This was particularly true with Lynne, due to the nature of her personality. And I knew her routines and personality quite well.
You, on the other hand, have never met her, and are relying on rumors you read on the internet about how she dived that have no basis in reality.
I'd ask you ... as Peter and others have ... to please not do that ... it adds no value to the conversation.
Yes, we shouldn't ascribe to her traits she may have or not have as you have done above on that fateful dive..... that is speculation. The fact she was observed with those traits only supports the fact (which I wholeheartly agree) that she was an experienced highly skilled diver ON THOSE DIVES YOU OBSERVED HER.
One does not, suddenly, lose their experience or skills on a particular dive ... those are earned and ingrained, and relied upon in times of stress. Lynne was obsessive about practicing her skills to the point where they became as instinctive as walking ... once sufficiently learned it's not something you have to put conscious effort into.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
---------- Post added September 2nd, 2015 at 07:26 AM ----------
I have never used a dry suit. If a diver is vertical and venting a dry suit, I assume through a raised arm, and a severe medical event (like a heart attack) occurs, does the venting action stop or continue?
The air bubble will rise to the highest point of the suit. If that point allows it a path to the dump valve, it will continue venting until the air pressure inside the suit equals the ambient water pressure outside ... at which point the latter will push the diaphragm in the dump valve closed and venting will cease.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
---------- Post added September 2nd, 2015 at 07:31 AM ----------
Some events are more likely than others but all are just speculation until more evidence develops. I hope we really don't need to speculate as to whether Lynne was prepared for the dive or had the skills or training but at the same time, have to remember that not everyone had the same understanding of her and Peters abilities. Most of all, I can imagine her responding in a an intelligent and civil way and making her points based upon there merits.
... bears repeating ... thank you Dale ... very well said ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
---------- Post added September 2nd, 2015 at 07:34 AM ----------
Is it possible that there was some unknown injury from the equestrian accident 3 days (I believe that was the time frame I read) before that last dive that was aggravated during the rapid descent, ascent and likely physical exertion that occurred during the dive?
That thought also crossed my mind. Lynne was many great things ... but she was still 61 years old. None of us can stop the cumulative effects of wear and tear on our bodies as we age ... and many of us (self included) have a real hard time understanding that we simply cannot get away, physically, with things we did when we were younger.
But in this case there was a known injury. I have to think that Lynne would have considered that injury based on her medical background and decided that it was not sufficient reason to scrub the dive. Lynne, more than anyone else I ever met, lived by the maxim "there's always another day to dive". I've seen her call dives before that I knew she really wanted to do because conditions or circumstances didn't meet what she considered acceptable criteria.
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
