Sandpirates2 Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 :shocked2: Dont know how many of the DDR peeps are divers, but to those of us who are here's the story about the diver that was killed Sunday afternoon here at Lake Mead in the Boulder Basin. He was a Vegas local, so someone here may know him. He was diving on the wreckage of a crashed Catalina Flying Boat. My condolences to his family and dive buddies http://www.cdnn.info/news/safety/s080210.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandBox_Kid Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 That sucks. Sounds like he wasn't properly equipped. Assistant park superintendent Gary Warshefski said the divers were working about 150 feet beneath Lake Mead's surface at the time of the accident."Divers need special gases when it is so deep," Warshefski said, noting that regular scuba gear is used to a depth of 100 feet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandpirates2 Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 One of the guys at the National Park Service that I dive with, said that no technical information had been posted yet. But he had heard that the group of divers had what appeared to be the correct gear. That's the problem with these reports, there done by non-divers, they typically dont fully understand the depth issues around diving. Advanced Open Water Rec Diving is good to 120ft with limited bottom time on standard air and gear. I've seen people who jump off to depths of over 160 plus on regular gear, but your playing with a loaded gun. Too many things to go bad if your not prepared. That depth of diving requires another level of training i.e. "Tech Diver". Not sure but one would think they were using Tri-Gases, but once I hear back, from this friend, I'll post it. It's a real shame.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 The deepest I went on air was 42m (125ft) and that took a long time to decomp, if he was at 50m for anything more than 10 mins on air he killed himself. IMO anything over 35m is nitrox terretory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdavego Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 do you know who this was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sincity_blondie Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 The story shows its 40 yr old Michael Lawrence Anderson. Link on the first post with the full story. Very sad to hear. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duniemonkie Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Diver error or not this is terribly sad but hopefully he went doing what he loved; I'd rather die diving than in my sleep. That being said.. I still want to dive that plane! I'm Nitrox certified but have only been to 131ft, 190 is scary :shocked2: Any of you other duner-divers want to give it shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Im BSAC sports diver certified but I aint been on a regulator in over 8 years now and all my gear is back home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EY3BA11 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 and i still want to get certified.. grrrr.. maybe while the wife is in england ill go get checked out wait dune trips get in the way.. maybe over the summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Heres one of the worst vids for any diver to watch...... Do not watch if you dont want to see what happens when you go too deep with not enough experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Heres where I did my 40m + dive, its 110m at the bottom (330ft) and there are a few divers still down there. It claims at least 2 a year :shocked2: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/mar/12/wales Most of the people who die are PADI certified and are just not used to the cold and depth of the place, plastic regulators are a big nono as freeflow freezups are a common thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandpirates2 Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 (edited) Been 130ft on air, and like mentioned, your not there very long otherwise it's deco time, and that's not fun. In this case I dont think they would have been on Nitrox as even with a 31 or 32 mixture, your still looking at 125-135 ft max before your into oxygen toxicity. At anything over 130 your doing tech work, and running tri-gas which is a whole different story, which is what Im sure they were doing, and it's so crazed, if you mess up, there no ooops down at that depth. I think I've actually seen Navy tables that have shown diving standard air down to 165-180 was safer if you could afford the deco off-gas time of about 5 hours on standard air, for just 10 minutes if that of bottom time vs using tri-mix, but the hard-cores may differ. In another year or two, the B29 will be within RDP limits anyway, but I'm sure you'll still need the Park escort. The Catalina Boat that these guys were diving is open to Tech Divers no escorts required, but 150 is deep for most of us..... ISSB - Check out Sports Chalet in Henderson - For the money, training and equipment it's very well priced and they'll have you diving in 4-5 weeks, plus 1 more week to get certified to 130 as an advanved open water. Just dont buy gear until you've got 50 plus dives with you. People get forced by some of these places to buy everything upfront....not. Get the basics, then try out different rentals, see what rig you like best to you. Great Sport.... Edited February 14, 2008 by Sandpirates2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandpirates2 Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 (edited) britincali that's a hell of a video, and from watching this anyone dropping 90ft a min, down to 300 plus feet is history from the start. The guy never had a chance beyond 180 even for 2 minutes if nothing else happen unless he had top support with lots of deco air waiting for him, and to drop to 300ft in less than 3 minutes, the guy was not coming up unless he had tri-mix and support. From the video, it did not appear that he was on tri-mix, as there are tank switches at depth that would have been done. As he was an instructor, that's just one more reason for pushing the limit, getting behind the curve and getting caught. As for PADI, NAUI, SSI, or IDEA it's the instructor, student and how the program is taught. I've got both NAUI and PADI, Certs and they've both got excellent records. The issue is all about new or even seasoned divers jumping off into an unknown, like your area, which has its specialized requirements. One of the first rules is know your dive area, if not get someboddy to dive with who does...... Edited February 14, 2008 by Sandpirates2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EY3BA11 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 ISSB - Check out Sports Chalet in Henderson - For the money, training and equipment it's very well priced and they'll have you diving in 4-5 weeks, plus 1 more week to get certified to 130 as an advanved open water. Just dont buy gear until you've got 50 plus dives with you. People get forced by some of these places to buy everything upfront....not. Get the basics, then try out different rentals, see what rig you like best to you. Great Sport.... I have been told by someone i trust that the sports chalet guys arent the right way to go about it.. and that a naui cert is much better so i trust their judgement in wanting to keep me alive under the water... Thats the avenue ill be pursuing when its time.. I want to be able to head to cancun and go diving with the father in law when he goes that way.. should be a good time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 As for PADI, NAUI, SSI, or IDEA it's the instructor, student and how the program is taught. I've got both NAUI and PADI, Certs and they've both got excellent records. The issue is all about new or even seasoned divers jumping off into an unknown, like your area, which has its specialized requirements. One of the first rules is know your dive area, if not get someboddy to dive with who does...... The big problem arises when you have a PADI diver that did a course in a day while on vacation and has all the blingiest neon plastic gear. He goes diving once in dorethea with a seasoned diver then decides to take 3 of his 10 meter tropics friends into the quarry, its a guaranteed freeflow/panic/bends/death situation. IMO these vacation diving package should not give any kind of certification at the end. Like mentiond before I trained through BSAC and did countless days in the classroom then weeks in the swimming pool before I even went near open water, I hated it at the time and just wanted to see something other than white tiles and old bandaids. Looking back im really glad I trained the right way and even though I aint dove in 8 years still feel confident I would be a safe buddy to someone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAlaskan Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 that video is crazy and I agree with what the guy at the end said, "F**k" It's really too bad that that guy died while diving in lake mead. Like duniemonkie said, hopefully he went doing something he loved. I still want to learn to dive though, I think it would be a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinicolada Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I’m PADI certified and feel very confident when I go diving; it’s been a long time for me too because I won’t dive Lake Mead anymore, but my diving training was done here in Vegas in a class room and I thing it was very extensive for open water certification. Sad story god speed!!! :smoker: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duniemonkie Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Im BSAC sports diver certified but I aint been on a regulator in over 8 years now and all my gear is back home A)Rent B)Dive C) Come dive the plane!! Most of the people who die are PADI certified and are just not used to the cold and depth of the place, plastic regulators are a big nono as freeflow freezups are a common thing. I always dry suit my dives; I hope no one has had problems with the plastic release valve!? I have been told by someone i trust that the sports chalet guys arent the right way to go about it.. and that a naui cert is much better so i trust their judgement in wanting to keep me alive under the water... Thats the avenue ill be pursuing when its time.. I want to be able to head to cancun and go diving with the father in law when he goes that way.. should be a good time. Let me know when you're ready and I'll hook you up with some of my favorite instructors that have become close friends, these guys don't screw around! that video is crazy and I agree with what the guy at the end said, "F**k" It's really too bad that that guy died while diving in lake mead. Like duniemonkie said, hopefully he went doing something he loved. I still want to learn to dive though, I think it would be a blast. Refer to what I said to ISBB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duniemonkie Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I have my NAUI advanced, Nitrox, and dry suit... any time any of you want to go just let me know! I actually havn't been in almost a year Hey dinicolada- if your not comfy with the lake lets head down to Laughlin and shoot the river! That was one of my most enjoyable dives, just letting the current take ya... you have to be very careful though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eli Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Dont know how many of the DDR peeps are divers, but to those of us who are here's the story about the diver that was killed Sunday afternoon here at Lake Mead in the Boulder Basin. He was a Vegas local, so someone here may know him. He was diving on the wreckage of a crashed Catalina Flying Boat. My condolences to his family and dive buddies I used to like to bounce Lake Mead in the Narrows. Looking back....could and maybe should of ended badly. Where'd I get bent...Mexico, first dive, 45' of water, and way above my bottom time. They got me in the boat and laid me on the engine hatch. The dive boat captain knew I was in trouble when he started the engines. I was laying a couple of feet from the loudest air starters I've ever heard and couldn't even jump. I ain't saying if my wet suit got any wetter. 45 minutes later I was able to move. An hour later the captain stopped heading for US waters as fast that old tub could go and put the other divers down. He called it a bad case of the the skin bends, rare but he'd seen it before. I was glad that old salt head headed for help and that I recovered before he got there. I'd never heard of skin bends in all the classroom I took but not being able to move is pretty damned scary. Whatever you think you know, whatever the science, the dive tables, or the computer says...unexpected sh*t happens. It's human nature to second guess it. Don't....divers and anybody else that doesn't live in a rocking chair should morn his loss and send our condolences to his family. I know I do. Eli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duniemonkie Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Well said Eli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Well said Eli :smoker: +1 Every commercial and proffesional sports diver I know has their computer beeping at 'em during some point of the dive and they always want to push it more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britincali Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 (edited) I always dry suit my dives; I hope no one has had problems with the plastic release valve!? ! A dry suit aint gonna kill ya if it lets go, its the first and or second stages that freeze up, all of a sudden all you have is bubbles and massive noise untill a few seconds later when all your air is gone. The first thing we would do is swap in an environmental dry kit for the first stage and with a steel second you have a lot less change of freezing up. I would love to come diving with ya sometime, how much do you think it would cost to rent the gear and a semi dry suit? Edited February 14, 2008 by britincali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdavego Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I have been diving for 12 years now and I know a few guys that have died. It is poor judgement that will get you killed,but what happens under the water has to be underwater. OPEN WATER PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER PADI RESCUE DIVER PADI ENRICHED AIR DIVER PADI DIVE MASTER PADI ADVANCED EANx DIVER IANTD DECOMPRESSION DIVER TDI ADVANCED NITROX TDI I have over 500 dives with more than 150 dives of 200+ feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandpirates2 Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 (edited) Pulled by Sandpirates Edited February 14, 2008 by Sandpirates2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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