One diver had gear problems and remained on the boat. The other two went down. The victim was definitely on his pony reg, it is clear in his own GoPro video. The face of the pony reg looked different, but the hose was black, just like the main. The Octo was bright yellow.
The diver looked at his computer several times, but maybe he was only checking the depth and didn't realize that the tank pressure was not changing. There is no clear explanation for why he didn't try to find his main reg, but it was moving around behind him - not hooked off, as he thought he was using it. He had an Octo on his right side, but he didn't go to that either - likely he thought his main tank was empty, and was searching for his pony reg where he expected it to be, only to be surprised. He signaled his buddy and they did an air share in textbook manner. They took a few seconds to let him catch his breath, and they started an ascent. No weights were ditched at this time.
As they ascended, they of course needed to dump air from the BC's. When the victim extended his BC inflator to vent, his BC air hose popped off the nipple. Somehow they dumped too much air and plummeted back to the bottom. The victim apparently lost the donated reg on the way down. His buddy was kicking furiously, trying slow the descent. At the bottom he tried to replace the reg in the victim's mouth, but it was too late.
He removed the victim's weights, and dropped his own belt. They were found next to each other. The survivor started floating up, but the victim probably had a waterlogged BC and stayed put on the bottom. The survivor made a rapid ascent and called for help.
The rescue diver was told the victim was in front of a cargo hatch so he splashed over the stack and swam rapidly forward to the collision crack. Finding nothing he headed back to the stern, quickly looking inside each hold and the coal bunker. Finding nothing he moved aft of the stack and found the victim on the bottom, below the sanitary water tanks (remember this wreck is tilted over past 90°). The rescue diver tried the dry suit inflater. It was working, but they take a long time to add enough air to provide much lift. In the interest of saving time, he grabbed the BC inflater, found the hose off, and quickly connected it. That provided the lift required to get the victim heading upward. He then did a controlled ascent, trying to control the airway of the victim to allow air to escape from the lungs as it expanded. Of course, the victim had been submerged for about 25 minutes by that time, so there was no hope. The main tank (HP steel) had 2900 psi. The small aluminum pony was empty.
It was later found that the BC inflater hose would attach and provide air without being fully/securely latched onto the connector. It needed to be pushed on, and then additional force was required to make it snap securely. I suggest everyone give their hose a tug after connecting, just to make sure it is latched.
This information comes from the rescue diver, as well as a close review of the victim's own video. His camera was on a wrist lanyard, so it was pointing in various directions as he let go of it at different points during the dive and the incident.
The buddy did all he could to help. The victim just had multiple mistakes or problems pile up on each other. It is unclear whether he had a medical issue on the rapid descent, that is another possibility that we're waiting to find out from the autopsy. He was lost by the time they returned to the bottom, so we can't rule that out.
Several lessons to be learned here. Be sure that you are breathing from the correct reg. Be sure your hoses are all connected properly and securely. Do your air adds and vents in little burps, don't overdo it at any one time. Don't just check your tank pressure, note that it is changing at the expected rate. If not, check to see what reg you are using!
This report is intended to help others learn how errors can compound, and as a reminder to look closely at your own gear as well as your buddy.
The diver looked at his computer several times, but maybe he was only checking the depth and didn't realize that the tank pressure was not changing. There is no clear explanation for why he didn't try to find his main reg, but it was moving around behind him - not hooked off, as he thought he was using it. He had an Octo on his right side, but he didn't go to that either - likely he thought his main tank was empty, and was searching for his pony reg where he expected it to be, only to be surprised. He signaled his buddy and they did an air share in textbook manner. They took a few seconds to let him catch his breath, and they started an ascent. No weights were ditched at this time.
As they ascended, they of course needed to dump air from the BC's. When the victim extended his BC inflator to vent, his BC air hose popped off the nipple. Somehow they dumped too much air and plummeted back to the bottom. The victim apparently lost the donated reg on the way down. His buddy was kicking furiously, trying slow the descent. At the bottom he tried to replace the reg in the victim's mouth, but it was too late.
He removed the victim's weights, and dropped his own belt. They were found next to each other. The survivor started floating up, but the victim probably had a waterlogged BC and stayed put on the bottom. The survivor made a rapid ascent and called for help.
The rescue diver was told the victim was in front of a cargo hatch so he splashed over the stack and swam rapidly forward to the collision crack. Finding nothing he headed back to the stern, quickly looking inside each hold and the coal bunker. Finding nothing he moved aft of the stack and found the victim on the bottom, below the sanitary water tanks (remember this wreck is tilted over past 90°). The rescue diver tried the dry suit inflater. It was working, but they take a long time to add enough air to provide much lift. In the interest of saving time, he grabbed the BC inflater, found the hose off, and quickly connected it. That provided the lift required to get the victim heading upward. He then did a controlled ascent, trying to control the airway of the victim to allow air to escape from the lungs as it expanded. Of course, the victim had been submerged for about 25 minutes by that time, so there was no hope. The main tank (HP steel) had 2900 psi. The small aluminum pony was empty.
It was later found that the BC inflater hose would attach and provide air without being fully/securely latched onto the connector. It needed to be pushed on, and then additional force was required to make it snap securely. I suggest everyone give their hose a tug after connecting, just to make sure it is latched.
This information comes from the rescue diver, as well as a close review of the victim's own video. His camera was on a wrist lanyard, so it was pointing in various directions as he let go of it at different points during the dive and the incident.
The buddy did all he could to help. The victim just had multiple mistakes or problems pile up on each other. It is unclear whether he had a medical issue on the rapid descent, that is another possibility that we're waiting to find out from the autopsy. He was lost by the time they returned to the bottom, so we can't rule that out.
Several lessons to be learned here. Be sure that you are breathing from the correct reg. Be sure your hoses are all connected properly and securely. Do your air adds and vents in little burps, don't overdo it at any one time. Don't just check your tank pressure, note that it is changing at the expected rate. If not, check to see what reg you are using!
This report is intended to help others learn how errors can compound, and as a reminder to look closely at your own gear as well as your buddy.
