Another San Diego Tragedy...

[Mario S Caner]

This one is in no way related to last weeks loss... The datails are still sketchy but I'll share what I've found out so far.

The diver in question was a very well known and experienced diver. Mia, was reported to have around 5000+ dives. She was a marine biologist working for the Scripps Institute of Oceanography Her husband is reported to be a writer for Skin Diver magazine.

Apparently she was diving in San Diego's wreck alley. The first dive was on the HMCS-Yukon (for some reason that site is down right now) then to the famous El-Rey wreck just a few hundred yards from the Yukon.

She was reported to have run out of air and hastily requested a fresh cylinder to go back down and do a deco stop. She descended beneath the waves. The fresh cylinder and b.c. were found floating on the surface without her just a few minutes later.

The only other info I have is that they were diving off of a small craft and that the radio may not have been working.

Mario

 

[Warhammer]

another forum yesterday, I think. It wasn't reported there that the tank had a BC attached. There was also a question raised that makes you wander. If she was handed a full tank, it shouldn't have floated. I think there are a few tanks that will when full, but what are the chances of that? But if it had a BC attached to it, that could explain it. I just hope someone didn't hand her an empty tank by mistake.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Warhammer, good point about the cylinder's buoyancy characteristics, but like you said if it was indeed attached to a B.C. that would explain it. But in my opinion, even if it were empty, surely a diver with thousands of dives in these water's would have the skills to do a controlled emergency ascent from safety stop depths...

Mario

 

[Mario S Caner]

Here is a link that has a picture of Mia on it, you won't find much more new info, but I'll let you all know if I find anything new.

http://www.msnbc.com/local/knsd/620660.asp?cp1=1
Mario

 

[Warhammer]

That's true, Mario. Maybe DCS had set in from her missed deco and the pain was just too great. Guess all we can do is speculate and never know what exactly happened. It's a shame.

 

[Mario S Caner]

Warhammer,
Check out the comments on this thread:
http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=503

Mario

 

[rcohn]

I found this on rec.scuba.

Eric Hanauer's letter in the San Diego Union-Tribune for Wednesday, January
10, 2001 (quoted in full) --

"Mia Tegner's family and I, her husband, appreciate the sensitive,
accurate way the Union-Tribune has handled the story of her career and her
fatal accident. I would like to offer just one correction:"

"Although the rest of us on that day were diving recreationally, Mia
was working. She was doing a survey of fish on the wrecks for a new project
on artificial-reef communities. Her slate is filled with notes. It is not
unusual for scientists to dive alone doing these types of surveys, because
visibility is very poor and another diver tends to spook more fish. In the
typically poor visibility off San Diego, research divers doing such surveys
often don't see their buddies during the course of a dive."

"Mia was diving the way she had done thousands of times before.
Although we may never know what really happened, I think she was so
engrossed in her work that she didn't check her air and ran out, having to
make a rapid ascent."

"Sometimes we get so comfortable underwater that we forget we are
riding a tiger."

 

[Mario S Caner]

rcohn,
Thank you for the link. Whatever happened, this is certainly not the average diver. She will truely be missed.

Mario

 

[Remora]

Through this tragic accident we are reminded yet again that you can never take this sport for granted and regardless of experience due vigilence is required for every dive.

John

 

[ScubaBaby]

Why on earth would her BC and tank come up seperately to her???? Why would she have taken it off unless to do an emergency controlled swimming ascent? In which case, why didn't she reach the surface alive?