Wes Skiles death - July 21, 2010

[Cave Diver]

I personally believe one of the reasons why things have been so hushed on the investigation front is because everyone knows it's going to be highly speculated and discussed and they want to be sure they got it right before any information is released. I'm hoping it's not due to a cover up from a simple mistake or diver error that they're trying to keep quiet to preserve his name. It definitely gives one pause to think that if such an accomplished diver as Wes could die in the middle of a dive, it could happen to any of us on any dive. I've seen speculation posted elsewhere about faulty O2 sensors, but to my knowledge that's just speculation at this point.

 

[Cruisin Home]

Cave Diver,

Very good post, you are most likely right. Yes it can happen to all of us at any moment. People don't really accept how fragile life really is: Just like Dale Earnhardt can die at the Daytona 500, Wes Skiles can die in 70ft of water. It happens. In my business of stroke and Brain injury I see it everyday to every walk of life, nobody thinks it can happen to them until it does. Unfortunately the only cases that get publicity are the rich and famous. It is why we must push as a community for some answers, it is how human beings cope, rationalize, and move on.

 

[Rick Murchison]

... I've seen speculation posted elsewhere about faulty O2 sensors, but to my knowledge that's just speculation at this point.

It is the possibility of faulty O₂ sensors - together with my own CO₂ based biological "oxygen" sensors that keep me thinking "rebreathers ain't for me... yet."
Rick

 

[TSandM]

Although this is pure speculation, I strongly suspect that, if there were a simple answer that would remove all possible blot from Wes's reputation, it would have been publicized as soon as it was known. (Eg. if he was found to have had an MI on autopsy.) It is my conviction that the lack of information means the story is more complicated than that.

 

[b1gcountry]

It could just be that no one knows why it happened. Whatever happened, happened while he was alone, and bringing someone up from any depth destroys a lot of the clues.

There are some cases where a diver died within ten feet of their buddy, and they still don't know for sure what happened.

Tom

 

[Cruisin Home]

Big Country,

you are right, one sometimes never knows, but at least come out and report that they dont know, and what they have ruled out (eg did he have capacity left?, did he breathe of his bailout?, what did his computer say?)

If they dont come out with some facts then we are left to speculate and no good ever comes of that!

 

[kasdp]

Without wishing to come across as morbid, has any cause of death been announced? I gather a P.M. was scheduled and it would be informative to know whether it was a gear failure or health issue. I've been a huge Skiles fan ever since I saw his earliest work and had just written a note to National Geographic about his Bahama Blue Holes shot in the latest issue when I learned of his death. He'll be greatly missed.

 

[Thalassamania]

All I have been able to learn (and not confirm) is that Wes was diving a Dive Rite O2ptima CCR without a bailout, his camera ran out of memory, he began a solo ascent was was later found on the bottom.

 

[netmage]

Why do we still not know what happenned?

You do realize it can take months if not over a year for any formal report to be issued if at all...? One only needs to look at the Richard Mork/Packetsniffer NEDU analysis and its timeline...

Alot of camera divers get hurt or die from rebreathers, there is alot to both games. some rebreather divers die from not properly changing sorb.

Lets say that there is a lot more responsibility in your diving, yet it invites over the more choices you have with rebreather.

Could you possibly over-generalize any more?

I too am disappointed at the lack of info provided since his death. I recognize the need for privacy in these situations but Skiles was famous, pioneer, celebrity, etc. and his community (us) really want the information. Without info the community is left to speculate and all that does is breed all kinds of crazy rumors. People are already piling on Rebreathers before they really hear all facts, maybe it was just a medical.

Ask yourself one question... Do you have a right to this information....?

 

[rigdiver]

It is the possibility of faulty O₂ sensors - together with my own CO₂ based biological "oxygen" sensors that keep me thinking "rebreathers ain't for me... yet."
Rick

The O2 sensors are the most unreliable part of the whole system and they are what we rely on the most. That's why we use 3 of them and change them out/replace every year. And, TEST them every day before diving.