Diver Death at Windy Point in Austin. Jun 16 2005. (1 Viewer)

[justin-branam]

This is why, if you ever want to dive, GET CERTIFIED, and know what you are doing. NEVER DIVE SOLO unless you have all neccesary training and equipment and are willing to accept the risks.


WHAT HAPPENED?

Solo diver was found floating on surface of Lake Travis off Windy Point Park (didn't say wether it was the public or private park). Seen from shore by sunbathers, pulled from water by divers. Sherrif's dept and Starflight called to scene CPR performed. Pt pronounced Dead on Scene around 1:15pm, Medical Examiner's report pending. I'll post more as I get it. This was condensed from several news reports.

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A little more info from the grapevine: (Extremely preliminary) The diver was diving solo and not certified for that. He had an AL 80 and his computer, which is locked out for 48 hours, show a max depth of 167 feet. The information that they were able to get off the computer so far is that his ascent rate from 167 feet to the surface was 33 seconds. His tank was empty and his bc was full due to normal expansion.

 

[Wildfire]

Dear lord!!! Doesn't anybody pay attention in class? Let's see :

1 foot per second
167 foot max depth
167 second ascension (nomimal)
3 minute safety stop at `5 feet (add 300 seconds)

With the (sketchy) information above, I'd bet that he decided to see how deep he could go (after never having been below 60 feet before) blew through his air (most student's I've taught have about 5 - 8 minutes of air at that depth) and forgot that an ESA is the proper ascent.......

Please do let me know more about this. I would like to cross post the actual news listing (if you can find it) on my dive site in the educational forum....

 

[Guest]

Wildfire,

As an instructor, have you ever had the opportunity to dive Jacob's Well?

 

[justin-branam]

Wildfire,

As an instructor, have you ever had the opportunity to dive Jacob's Well?

my father dove there before it was closed. he said that was probably a smart move on their part. he said it was very technical stuff and if you dont know what you are doing you are likely to panic.

 

[Wildfire]

I nevee had the chance, but I've heard that it was really amazing, but is no longer allowed as a dive site. The Property Owners got tired of having to drap bodies from the well when people who weren't cave certified would try to dive the maze.

If people would only try to kill themselves in ways which they were qualified......

 

[Guest]

I was there on a trip with A&M Scuba class getting my Advanced/Rescue Diver. He was found on the bottom not floating on the top. He had been down way too deep and for too long. Two divers brought him up that were swimming by. I was one of the ones bringing him out of the water and helping with rescue breaths and CPR. It was really sad lifeflite showed up and paramedics, and local police but there was nothing we could do to save him.

-Glenn

 

[Wildfire]

Glenn,

Good luck with your classes. I also got my RD/DM through A&M while I was there (had a minor in SCUBA by the time I finally got my degree). They still do most of their training at Travis? Have you gotten to do the Comal "Crawdad" pluck yet? Do they still dive the waterfall in New Braunfels? Ah... the memories.....

Matt
Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 1995

 

[Guest]

we were done pretty much when home dude died. We do go to the garbage fest which is in New Braunels and see who picks up the most trash. I do not know what the
"Crawdad" puck is but I have Scientific next semester. Anyways I get my ring next semester.

Glenn
Class of 2006