A letter to the open water diving community from the NACD

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

A Letter for the Open Water Diving Community


Since the 2007 dive season in Florida is underway we at the NACD would like to take the opportunity to discuss with you an important topic related to diving in Florida.



This year has had its share of cave-related diver fatalities. Currently, the death toll in Florida caves includes two experienced cave-trained divers and two non-cave trained open water certified divers. This adds to the fact that over the years the NACD has seen an unacceptable rate of non cave trained divers perishing in the cave environment. Most of this is likely due to the divers not being fully informed of the hazards and specialized training that diving into the caves requires.



Our guidelines of accident analysis have shown that the following are the primary causes for untrained divers dying in caves:



Lack of training for the overhead environment.
Lack of using a permanent guideline when in the environment.
Not using safe and proven gas management rules.
Diving too deep, beyond their level of training.
Not using the proper equipment for the environment.


Over the years we have found that divers have perished for all the above reasons. Open water-trained divers, attracted to the crystal clear waters and inviting cavern entrances, can unknowingly enter a cave. Their flutter kicks stir up the silty bottom, which slowly closes the door of visibility behind them. Eventually they turn and have lost visual reference to the surface and with no line of reference may inadvertently follow the clearer water deeper into the cave or spend precious moments blindly searching for the exit, which eludes them.



The NACD hopes you will review these guidelines before considering which dive sites you will visit. Our Public Relations and Safety committees have volunteers that are always available to speak to you, your local dive shop or dive club. To arrange for one of our Public Relations members to speak to you please contact Walter Pickel at 813-843-1588 or send email to pr@safecavediving.com.



Go to www.safecavediving.com/safetybrochure and download a copy of our safety brochure for you to help educate yourself and other divers of the hazards involved with cavern and cave diving.



In closing, if you have any comments or questions about cave related safety in your area please contact the NACD Safety Officer Richard Dreher at 612-508-4469 or send email to safety@safecavediving.com.







Jeff Bauer, Rick Murcar, Larry Green, Jim Wyatt, Bert Wilcher, Richard Dreher and Tracy Grubbs





Board of Directors, National Association for Cave Diving

 

[Jason B]

Bump....


Can this be made into a sticky?

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Thank you Jim! It was a pleasure meeting many of you at Ginnie a few weeks ago. When I dove Ginnie on the following Sunday, I was shocked to see a new OW class down in the lower cavern, 10 of them just let go to do whatever they wanted. Knowing what I know now, I basically stayed in the area watching for any problems that could have occurred. One student was taken out due to panic, that left 2 instructors with 9 new students. That could have been a terrible situation and was unnecessary to begin with. It has been very much put in my head that unless trained, overhead environments be they cavern, cave, or wreck are all very hazardous areas to dive. Its not just finding your way out, but also dealing with multisystem failures when you do not have a window to the surface.

Again, thank you for the reminder! Happy Diving!
Always respect the Reaper!

Carolyn :sharks:

 

[GDI]

I was just asked about this today and my willingness to present this concern to a scuba club:

I have had the opportunity this past week to speak to divers in Ottawa Canada about the dangers and the required training of diving overhead environments. These rules we call accident analysis can be equally applied to shipwrecks, culverts, mine shafts;and any overhead environment.
I have been asked to repeat my lectures at a few other LDS and Scuba Clubs and to PSD in the Ottawa Valley area. I feel that not only as a OWS Instructor but as a technical diving instructor, a Cave diving Instructor and a BOD member of the NACD it is a responsibility for me to provide and conduct such seminars on educating the diving community of these dangers. Jim's letter illustrates the seriousness to which the NACD views this matter. If you or your LDS/Scuba Club would like information regarding the diving of these environments please feel free to contact us: www.safecavediving.com

Please Dive Safe ADSD = A Dive Safe Diver

 

[Jeff Toorish]

Jim and NACD Board,

Excellent post! Thanks for bringing this up at this time.

Jeff

 

[ffestpirate]

Nice post. Excellent message. Thank you and welcome

 

[Mell]

Thanks for the link and guidance. hopefully everyone will pay attention to this.

 

[trtldvr]

Capt. Jim,
What you are seeing in Florida's caves, we are seeing in the open water here in the Keys. Divers seem to be overestimating their skills and underestimating safety requirments.

keep preaching the gospel
trtldvr

www.divealive.org

 

[Bob Vincent]

Great post ...

Instructors need to beat in the heads of students 3 things. 1. No diving in overhead environments 2. No diving in overhead environments 3. No diving in overhead environments
Unless properly trained. I love scuba I love training and have a good time with students and make class really fun.

But you have to instill in them so they'll hear your words, "you dive overhead ... you'll die," period.

 

[Bob Vincent]

This is one of my pet peeves I feel so strongly about. Going in a wreck are a cave is so tempting to a diver unless he understands things like silt outs, knowing the direction to get out better how to get out. Lines what lines? How to kick, what do you mean? Educate new students make them become old students.