Vortex 3-18-2012

[PfcAJ]

At 100ft? Extremely unlikely. You can get around thy depth, though. I've heard of 'deep water blackout' at around the 200' mark, iirc.

 

[Jax]

I would like to know this too.

Can narcosis really be so severe that an experienced diver falls asleep and/or becomes so unhinged that he drowns? And this happened at 100ft? From my limited knowledge this seems very unlikely, no?

We do not know at what depth was the diver when he died.

 

[JamesK]

You also have to factor in things like exertion. If he had struggled and worked hard getting through restrictions it could have multiplied the effect of the narcosis.

 

[irishsquid]

We do not know at what depth was the diver when he died.

I seem to recall a couple posts stating he was found 1200' in and at a depth of 150'. I can't state that those numbers are fact though.

 

[Jax]

I seem to recall a couple posts stating he was found 1200' in and at a depth of 150'. I can't state that those numbers are fact though.

Agree - about the posts . . . there have been so many numbers bandied about, though.

If Larry was working (using a shovel, etc.), he'd be narc'd for sure at such a depth.

 

[PfcAJ]

If he was on a non-helium gas, for sure. I've seen divers lose some upper level processing as shallow as 80. Dark, cold, scared, all serve to magnify the problem.

Nowadays, cave diving below 100ft without helium is a pretty bad idea. Knowin what's in the tanks will help us all determine if narcosis or hyperoxia could be factors.

 

[Ayisha]

Even if Larry was found sitting up, it doesn't say anything about what happened prior to that or give us any indication of whether he was narced or not or had been stuck prior. Imagine coming to the last psi and knowing you were nowhere near an exit. One who has come to terms with it could conceivably sit the last few moments and wait for the inevitable. Just a thought...

 

[irishsquid]

Even if Larry was found sitting up, it doesn't say anything about what happened prior to that or give us any indication of whether he was narced or not or had been stuck prior. Imagine coming to the last psi and knowing you were nowhere near an exit. One who has come to terms with it could conceivably sit the last few moments and wait for the inevitable. Just a thought...

I can actually imagine that.

 

[Dive Bug Bit Me]

If he was on a non-helium gas, for sure. I've seen divers lose some upper level processing as shallow as 80. Dark, cold, scared, all serve to magnify the problem.

Nowadays, cave diving below 100ft without helium is a pretty bad idea. Knowin what's in the tanks will help us all determine if narcosis or hyperoxia could be factors.

Yep, I thumbed a Nitrox dive at about 110 ft today with a free flow on my back up regulator on my necklace. Most of all, I am traumatized by how poor my reasoning and problem solving was. I can only ascribe that to narcosis from depth and a poor night's sleep. Only muscle memory got me to close down my left post.

Mentally I keep comparing this to my previous free flow which was at far greater depth, but with Helium. Somehow I was more on top of that.

Today there is no doubt in my mind that narcosis slows down problem solving and can make it impossible. If Larry had an END anywhere near 100ft (which we don't know) was working hard and was faced with an unexpected problem while alone, he would have needed either years of experience or some luck.

 

[MPetitfils]

I seem to recall a couple posts stating he was found 1200' in and at a depth of 150'. I can't state that those numbers are fact though.

Those are the depths we have been told as well.

Can narcosis really be so severe that an experienced diver falls asleep and/or becomes so unhinged that he drowns? And this happened at 100ft? From my limited knowledge this seems very unlikely, no?

The coroner seems to think so.