Accident at Vortex Springs 8-20-10

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

We could only hope he got a sudden urge to go to Mexico. But the news reports indicate that his car and other personal effects were left on site and a deco bottle was reported in the cave itself. If he took off suddenly for parts unknown, he left quite a bit behind in his haste.

I queried whether the spring run has been checked in the event that the flow might have carried the diver out before teams began their search, but have no idea if that was done or not.

With the signs in the clay, there is no possible way he could have been pushed out from that point. Between the deep section and a high fissure crack there is a section about 250' long that is belly to back. There are also bends and such in the tunnel, not to mention the duck under immediately past the gate and grate.

 

[Sludge]

We could only hope he got a sudden urge to go to Mexico. But the news reports indicate that his car and other personal effects were left on site and a deco bottle was reported in the cave itself. If he took off suddenly for parts unknown, he left quite a bit behind in his haste.

I'm sure they were speculating about a diver faking his death.

 

[alohagal]

How should the cave community respectfully approach the issue of divers without training putting our hobby, and the lives of rescue divers at risk, in 2010?

On a very personal note, two good friends of mine went cave diving without certification and drowned around two years ago. One was found in a condition indicating he attempted to claw his way out in a final panic.

I missed chances to question them about their diving practice. Somewhere, a friend of the deceased made the same error. How many of us are turning a blind eye to friends diving without certifications? I pray that anyone in that situation will learn from this, and call your friend to let them know you will not support their diving in caves without certification.

I don't want to let my emotions push me to say anything cruel, but I really don't know how "politically correct" one can possibly be when a diver died breaking a known rule of accident analysis, the best known and most important one, and when that death puts the lives of others at risk, as well as access to caves for others.

May he rest in peace, may no more lives be lost in the pursuit of his remains, and may this stupid practice of letting OW divers into caves, end.

I think you ask the questions many are thinking. Well stated for a delicate ongoing situation.

 

[MikeKeating]

How should the cave community respectfully approach the issue of divers without training putting our hobby, and the lives of rescue divers at risk, in 2010?

On a very personal note, two good friends of mine went cave diving without certification and drowned around two years ago. One was found in a condition indicating he attempted to claw his way out in a final panic.

I missed chances to question them about their diving practice. Somewhere, a friend of the deceased made the same error. How many of us are turning a blind eye to friends diving without certifications? I pray that anyone in that situation will learn from this, and call your friend to let them know you will not support their diving in caves without certification.

I don't want to let my emotions push me to say anything cruel, but I really don't know how "politically correct" one can possibly be when a diver died breaking a known rule of accident analysis, the best known and most important one, and when that death puts the lives of others at risk, as well as access to caves for others.

May he rest in peace, may no more lives be lost in the pursuit of his remains, and may this stupid practice of letting OW divers into caves, end.

JahJah, You are so right by this. It is so important to dive within your training level. While I am Rescue Certified and starting my DM (and MSD) I will not enter a cave. Just my level of comfort, I was diving with someone a few months ago and they entered a wreck (actually a school bus) by themselves and they were just recently OW certified. I asked how they felt going through and they stated - scared. I told them I was scared for them, pretty much silted the thing out going through and used the windows to find out where they were. Pretty smart thinking on their part, but it did enough to let them know they needed more training.

 

[lucky1]

Not directly related to this investigation, but to lost divers in dangerous environments: Is it possible to use ROVs to search the more dangerous sections of a cave? It might seem a plausible strategy to limit risk for the recovery teams.

 

[wrybosome]

Is everyone on the recovery teams ok? I'm sending a lot of respect and well wishes their way.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

A few more thoughts after reading more:

I might have misread the vulture comment, and if it was aimed at the media then, in many ways I agree. Perhaps 1 post won't be enough to satisfy the poster and he/she will come in more to post and elaborate further. I'm all up for good discussion!

If I were wanted for something, or had the mob after me, faking a cave diving death would be a good way to put them off my trail. However, I cannot imagine an untrained diver planning something this well, to send so many signs of a panicked diver (marks in clay, broken guideline, at depths possibly exceeding a safe MOD or END for his gas mixture (anyone know anything about gas training of the diver? I am purely speculating here, please do not take this as knowledge of his gas mixtures)). I am fairly certain the diver in question is dead, in a difficult to reach place.

What will make this even more difficult is rigor mortis. Once they locate the body, it might take several dives to retrieve the remains. I know many of the recovery divers and they are all top notch divers. I would be proud to dive with any of them, and know that if anyone can make this recovery, it is them.

Regarding criminal actions...I would not go so far as to speculate on this at this point. I don't know if criminal charges can be filed against a dead person. I don't know if the deceased broke any laws--is it against the law to cave dive without a cave diving certification?

Perhaps signs at dive sites warning of doom are not enough. How much would it cost to print an additional small sign to go under current signs stating "Untrained divers, statistics are against you. __% of fatalities in a cave are open water divers. Cave training is not very expensive. Think of your family, and invest in training before attempting to dive this cave." ? Perhaps it would influence divers. I still think the biggest problem is the cave community turning a blind eye towards OW divers in caverns and caves. I think another big problem is inadequate open water classes. I am becoming more and more certain that a one weekend class is not enough to make for a safe diver. I think open water books do not cover this nearly well enough.

 

[redacted]

If I were wanted for something, or had the mob after me, faking a cave diving death would be a good way to put them off my trail. However, I cannot imagine an untrained diver planning something this well, to send so many signs of a panicked diver (marks in clay, broken guideline, at depths possibly exceeding a safe MOD or END for his gas mixture (anyone know anything about gas training of the diver? I am purely speculating here, please do not take this as knowledge of his gas mixtures)). I am fairly certain the diver in question is dead, in a difficult to reach place.

As long as we are dealing with the rational of such an idea, what possible advantage could there be in faking a diving death in a cave system rather than an open ocean?

A suicide, OTOH, might be a different story.

 

[Blow.Fish]

Out of curiosity, what would be a typical dive profile and gas plan for this dive ? Sounds like it would require mixed gasses & decompression techniques in addition to proper overhead protocols.

Sending out safe thoughts & prayers to all that have been impacted by this event.

 

[wjefferis]

I think all new divers should have to watch this video or watch a more updated version: Cave Diving on Vimeo