Deaths at Eagles Nest - Homosassa FL

[ScubaToneDog]

I wonder if the father was a regular here on ScubaBoard or DecoStop? If he was only OW certified where did he learn how to rig doubles and dive caves? It wasn't through his Basic OW class.

I hope anyone Reading this does not find your cave, jump in and use your dive plan WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.

What I'm saying Jim is that some new diver with craigslist gear and 4 checkout dives under their belt may look at this and say 'yeah I can do that".

No they can't.

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[Jim Lapenta]

I wonder if the father was a regular here on ScubaBoard or DecoStop? If he was only OW certified where did he learn how to rig doubles and dive caves? It wasn't through his Basic OW class.

I hope anyone Reading this does not find your cave, jump in and use your dive plan WITHOUT PROPER TRAINING.

What I'm saying Jim is that some new diver with craigslist gear and 4 checkout dives under their belt may look at this and say 'yeah I can do that".

No they can't.

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I'd guess a quick source would be here, the deco stop, you tube, dive rite's web site, etc.. Not a problem to learn to rig doubles and dive caves.

Maybe not properly but it could be done. The "New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving" is how more than a few people learned to dive at all.

 

[ScubaToneDog]

I'd guess a quick source would be here, the deco stop, you tube, dive rite's web site, etc.. Not a problem to learn to rig doubles and dive caves.

Maybe not properly but it could be done. The "New Science of Skin and Scuba Diving" is how more than a few people learned to dive at all.

And we see the results of those who bypass formal instruction.

We need to be good examples regardless of education, experience or agency.

And I looked, nowhere does GUE or any agency or group advocate diving without a timer a depth gauge. Its actually part of the basic gear configuration. So....yeah....

I said in my post before, while I don't condone it, its impressive he did it.

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[The Chairman]

I was on Scuba Radio today talking about this incident. I think it was in the beginning of the second hour, but I am not sure.

 

[Avonthediver]

And here is a little more of the fall out from this sad event I have read off underwater times.

A Florida man wants the state to close an underwater cave system after his son and grandson died there in a diving accident on Christmas Day.
Chester Spivey Jr. says the 300-foot deep Eagle Nest Sink cave in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area is too dangerous for diving. Thirty-five-year-old Darrin Spivey and his 15-year-old son, Dillon Sanchez, were found dead Wednesday.
The Tampa Tribune reports that at least six other divers have died in the vast underwater cave system since 1981.
"I wish they would close it," Chester Spivey Jr. told the newspaper. "I wouldn't want to see anyone else die. It's just too dangerous."
State wildlife officials, however, said they have no plans to close the underwater cave, which diving enthusiasts have described as the "Grand Canyon" or "Mount Everest" of cave diving.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District had banned diving at Eagle Nest Sink in 1999 when it bought the land, located about an hour and a half north of downtown Tampa. But cave divers lobbied to reopen the area, and the state lifted the ban in July 2003 when a management plan for the site was developed.
Located deep in the woods, it looks like a small, unassuming pond from Earth's surface, but underneath is a network of huge chambers.
One diving website, aquaviews.net, named Eagle Nest Sink "one of the top three extreme dives in the world."
A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sign near the pond entrance to the cave reads: "Cave diving in this area is extremely dangerous — even life threatening!! Do not dive unless you are a certified cave diver!!"
According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, Spivey was a certified diver; however, he was not a certified cave diver. Sanchez was not a certified diver.
Holly King, Darrin Spivey's fiancee, told authorities that Sanchez had received new diving equipment for Christmas, and the boy wanted to try it out with his father.
King called deputies after the two did not return home.
A recovery diver found Sanchez first, inside a cave at 67 feet. Two more recovery divers went to the cave and found Spivey at 127 feet.
Officials said that the divers' equipment will be checked and deputies will continue to investigate.

Diver's Father Wants Tampa-Area Eagle Nest Sink Cave Closed After Deaths | NBC 6 South Florida

 

[Dive-aholic]

I clarified the Trimix comment in a previous post. What I was trying to say is that they were attempting a dive that would normally be a staged deco Trimix cave dive base on accepted practices. I didn't mean to imply that they were actually using Trimix and yes, there is a huge difference.

You keep insisting that people in the cave diving community were aware that the father was taking the kid on these kind of dives, but you won't take the time to provide a single link to any source. I have looked for actual evidence of this and I can't find any reports with anything more than vague comments like "I told him to get training" that make no mention of the kid at all. I would think that since you are a member of the cave diving community (as am I) you would at least take the time to share a link to one of these reports while you are taking the time to throw your fellow cave divers under the bus and portray the community in a bad light. Anyway, until I see a source or something more than wild speculation I'll just keep calling BS.

There was a report of a cave diver who was aware Spivey was diving caves early on after this incident. I can't locate it now so I'm unable to supply a link. It was there, however. You can believe what you want.

 

[MMM]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

I have moved another 40+ off topic messages about a dive completely unrelated to the original topic and it may be found here:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/technical-diving-specialties/473543-innovation-diving.html

I am issuing more infractions and will be adding to the list, and banning from this forum, those who seem unable to remain on topic discussing THIS particular dive incident.

PS just moved another off topic discussion to here. http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/473573-basic-scuba-diving-rules.html

Marg, Senior Moderator.

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[Phil_C]

Not sure if folks have seen this -

An American Tragedy Written By: Joe Citelli NSS-CDS Chairman
​

An American Tragedy | National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section

Joe Citelli seems to take the view that others should intervene and do all they can to dissuade apparently unqualified or ill prepared divers from diving caves like this. -

Phil

 

[tstormdiver]

Not sure if folks have seen this -

An American Tragedy Written By: Joe Citelli NSS-CDS Chairman
​

An American Tragedy | National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section

Joe Citelli seems to take the view that others should intervene and do all they can to dissuade apparently unqualified or ill prepared divers from diving caves like this. -

Phil

The question is,... how? Especially when there seems to be those that believe the rules do not apply to them & decide to ignore warning signs & warnings from others, whether on site, on forums like this or even in training. Physically removing them can get you arrested for assault, & trying to lecture them until you are blue in the face doesn't seem to deter many that are determined to do it.

I got my start in cave diving by entering Vortex without training. It nearly cost me dearly. After a much deserved butt chewing & serious talk from my current instructor (also a cave instructor), the lesson was well imbedded. Difference was, I was exceptionally lucky I made it out alive. A few more minutes & that would not have been the case. My reason for entering untrained? No, it wasn't for any thrill. I really did not understand the true nature of the dives I did. Did I believe I was above the rules? No, not really,... never really thought about it. Did I know it was beyond my current training? Yes I did, I did not realize just how far out of it, it was. My biggest reason was out of simple curiosity (we are all well aware of how badly that tends to end for cats). I was curious at what attracted people to it... Well,... I saw it & even as simple as Vortex was, I must admit, I was impressed. During the talk with my instructor, I was made painfully aware, though I was aware before that, just not to that degree. After the talk, my instructor asked me if I wanted to explore the caves,... properly trained. I agreed. It was some of the toughest dive training I had eve done, both mentally & physically. My instructor was VERY tough on me,... in order to drive home the point of the seriousness of the endeavor. It took me 2 yrs & 5 attempts to pass from Intro to full cave. I stuck with it & eventually made it. I, thankfully, have the perspective of nearly becoming a statistic, coming out of it (only by the grace of God or shear luck) & being able to tell my story.

Had someone stopped me & discussed with me the dangers beforehand, I would have likely turned around & not made the dive, but it was not that I believed I was beyond the rules,.... it was curiosity & some ignorance, only. I certainly do not condone what I did & certainly would not recommend it for anyone else. I learned a very valuable lesson & was lucky to have survived it.

Education can go a long ways with many, but not all. If someone has already closed their minds to the needs & reasons of proper training, I do not think there is not much, if anything that can be done.

 

[ScubaToneDog]

Got some details 2nd hand from one of the recovery team.

They had staged deco bottles.

Computers read max depth 233 feet.

Diving air.

Father had deployed octo.

Initial thoughts by team were that son had OOA and shared fathers air. Father's supply ran out and son made a break for the chimney. Deco bottles were still in place(did not get details on where they were staged) and unused. Considering depth and gas had narcosis.

These are the only details I know of what was found on scene.

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