Body found in Lake Tahoe possibly diver missing 17 years
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Kinda wonder who found the body. Only know of a handful of people diving that deep in Tahoe.
Hi Mike,
As far as I know it wasn't anyone in our group. I did a 330' on Rubicon a while back right off the point and didn't see the gentleman. May he rest in peace.
Finally reached 25 dives and it only took 2 years...
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Originally Posted by melanie.
Wow.. Glad that there will be finally be closure.
But I don't understand why it would take 17 years? (assuming of course it is him but still). Why would they stop searching? I don't know the lake but I don't understand why it couldn't all be thoroughly searched given time
I'm late to this, but "thoroughly searched given time" assumes people are willing to donate their time or their money to such efforts and that's simply not realistic. Most searches (ground or sea) are called off after just a few days (if that long) and the highly publicized ones that go on for weeks are rare and special cases to say the least.
Tahoe is quite a large lake and is mostly deep areas that simply aren't feasible for most divers to hit and committing things like ROVs to long term searches is just not a good use of people's time or money, especially when there's no foul play suspected.
Never judge a day by the weather. The best things in life aren't things. He who dies with the most toys still dies. There are 2 ways to be rich - make more or desire less. No rain, no rainbows. Take it easy.
-Hawaiian rules to live by
Unless there is a suspicion or evidence of foul play, as far as I know there is no responsibility for anyone to search indefinitely for a missing person. That would fall upon the family and friends of the missing. At 6200 ft+, and covering almost 200 sq. miles of surface area, an average depth of 989 ft., max depth of 1650ft, a mean temp of about 42F at 200 ft, and 125" of snow every winter, "searching it all thoroughly" is not really an option.
You are intelligent not because you think you know everything without questioning, but rather because you question everything you think you know
"Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong"....Leo Buscaglia
"Where there is shouting there is no true knowledge......Leonardo da Vinci
I honestly am wondering how the divers who found the body were down at 265 ft. The deco time required for a dive like that would be ridiculous, and some would argue that if they left the lake and tried to go over the 8,000 ft pass via I-80 they werent being the most responsible divers.
I think I am a responsible diver. I dived on Rubicon wall several time (around 240ft) The dizzy Rubicon Wall, Lake Tahoe CA (USA) - YouTube
I prefer not imagine my reaction if I saw a dead diver few feet below me...
Anyway, as TC wrote, I am glad they were able to get him back for the family.
Mickael
...3. One thing I didnt see anyone mentioning is the sheer altitude of the diving up there. At 6,000 ft water level, a dive to 70ft is closer to 90 ft by most calculations. I honestly am wondering how the divers who found the body were down at 265 ft. The deco time required for a dive like that would be ridiculous, and some would argue that if they left the lake and tried to go over the 8,000 ft pass via I-80 they werent being the most responsible divers...
I missed this in my previous read of the thread.
I've done a number of dives in Tahoe in this depth range. The deco does add up but it's a calm environment. The oxygen stops are particularly nice - relatively warm water near the surface, calm, no real current, usually a nice sandy shelf to relax on.
We also have a pretty little wreck at 360' on the other side of the lake.
Sergeant Byers said that, in 2001, a group of divers came across Mr Widecker's body and tied a buoy line to it, but the line snapped and authorities were unable to find the spot.
The body still had the broken buoy line attached to it when it was recovered, Sergeant Byers said.
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Originally Posted by mikemill
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