Solo diver found at bottom of Alberta lake - Canada

[DandyDon]

Missing scuba diver found in mud at bottom of northern Alberta lake

ATTHABASCA, Alta. — The body of a missing scuba diver has been found partially embedded in the mud at the bottom of a northern Alberta lake.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeremie Landry says commercial divers were working Sunday to free the body of the 44-year-old man from the mud in Island Lake, about 150 metres from shore and at a depth of approximately five metres.

Police said later Sunday that the man's body has been recovered and that an autopsy has been ordered.

Landry says the man, who was from Athabasca County, went for a recreational dive alone on Saturday afternoon and was reported missing about two hours later.

Police are not releasing the man's name.

They say the circumstances of his death remain under investigation.

 

[Marie13]

That must be some mud!

 

[Saboteur]

That must be some mud!

Seems a bit insensitive...

 

[Patoux01]

Damn. In five meters of water... Sucks.

 

[nadwidny]

They interviewed his brother on CTV Edmonton news. I don't know if the link will work so I'll provide a synopsis-

The family had lost a small outboard in the lake a few weeks ago. Not having luck finding it with drop cameras, etc the victim, who was certified but hadn't dove in years, rented some gear from an LDS to go look for the motor. After the victim didn't surface when expected the RCMP were called in to find and recover the body.

 

[DandyDon]

The family had lost a small outboard in the lake a couple months ago.

How much value could be left in an outboard motor that's been submerged that long?

 

[Bubblesong]

So this wasn't just diving, but a salvage and recovery? Usually those need special trading, lift bags, God knows what else, but definitely two, trained people. I am so sorry for his family.

 

[DandyDon]

So this wasn't just diving, but a salvage and recovery? Usually those need special trading, lift bags, God knows what else, but definitely two, trained people. I am so sorry for his family.

I was asked to do a similar motor recovery once. I replied that we'd both have to be in the water together every dive (my home bud whose friend asked for this is also Rescue trained but not that dependable), the motor owner would have to be in the boat at all times, we'd need all our own gear plus 6 or 8 tanks, we may not find the motor anyway, but if we do it will need an overhaul. The idea failed.

 

[shurite7]

Lifting a small outboard engine isn't all that hard. What many people underestimate is the water, especially it is is cold, poor viz, or moving water, and quite often he will overestimate himself.

 

[84CJ7]

I recall reading a post by someone that had somehow gotten stuck in a certain type of mud after descending into the bottom and found them self in sticky quicksand with zero viz.
They managed to avoid panic and work themself free but it wasn't easy.
I forget the circumstances that cause that type of bottom.

As far as recovery the easy way is just to put a line around the lower unit with a small marker float and then drag it up from the surface boat.