Two Divers Die In Same Incident

[verona]

Just heard about this - 2 divers on a dive in Scapa Flow in Orkney surfaced in difficulty and subsequently died.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3760960.stm

Condolences to all involved. This is a terrible tragedy.

It has been a bad year in the UK for diving fatalities. I don't know what is going on. There have been a few posts about possible reasons but it is difficult to be conclusive.

This seems a very unusual incident with 2 deaths at the same time.

 

[Ontario Diver]

For those who don't know, the SMS Karlsruhe is a WW1 German Crusier scuttled after the first world war. She sits in 26m (85 ft) of sea water.

Scapa Flow is very cold, rough, and deep. Not a trivial dive at any time.

I hope they and thier families find peace.

This is the ship in her glory days.

 

[Mako Mark]

this does sound bad,

Verona, have you got any numbers about how many deaths there have been this year or thoughts as to why you think it is higher than normal?'

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

That is really very sad. Condolences to their families.

Does anyone know how they died? The article is very vague. I am wondering what would cause both to die when they both apparently managed to surface.

Very sad.

Gregg

 

[octotat]

Rapid Ascent with no deco? Sounds like it could be a very difficult dive. Very sad. It's one thing to say you want to go out doing what you love, but in reality, we all want to go out in a warm bed with a head full of awesome dive memories after a long full life. My condolences to their families.

 

[verona]

Mark - don't have any definitive numbers but it seems like every other week there is something or other. I will try and get numbers and compare with previous years. I couldn't comment with any authority about causes - they appear to be varied. It would interesting to review the situation over the year and see if there are any common themes. One of my pet theories is about lack of diver physical fitness for the conditions. I see a lot of divers who don't seem in good condition. Maybe this plus an unforgiving environment if something does go wrong. Just my hunches with no evidence to back them up.

 

[Diver0001]

Mark - don't have any definitive numbers but it seems like every other week there is something or other. I will try and get numbers and compare with previous years. I couldn't comment with any authority about causes - they appear to be varied. It would interesting to review the situation over the year and see if there are any common themes. One of my pet theories is about lack of diver physical fitness for the conditions. I see a lot of divers who don't seem in good condition. Maybe this plus an unforgiving environment if something does go wrong. Just my hunches with no evidence to back them up.

Off the top of my head I think it's about 17 deaths this year. The BSAC usually has about 10 per year on a typical year IIRC. It's disastrous by any standards. This could be one of the worst years for UK diving ever.

R..

 

[Jim Ernst]

Unless I Missed It In The Post , I Didnt See A Cause Of Death, Anyone Know!

 

[String]

No cause known, all above is just supposition, the only news reports are saying 2 on the surface in distress and sank, no sign of rapid ascent or anything proven so best not to speculate.

FWIW the wreck was apparently only in 24m of water.

Add this to a women critical in intensive care after stoney cove on the weekend and its been another bad week.

From memory i think the UK fatality count for this year is now over 20.

These 2 may not make the BSAC incident figures for the year as i believe it goes october > october.

 

[db8us]

The "Karin" usually has technical trips with breathers etc., so i wonder if it is another
"shallow-breather" death ?