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Klaymank · July 28th, 2010, 03:32 PM

Coast Guard Says Diver Never Resurfaced

POSTED: Wednesday, July 28, 2010
UPDATED: 12:35 pm EDT July 28, 2010
PALM COAST, Fla. -- A Coast Guard lifeboat and a Navy ship were en route to a vessel 40 miles off the shores of Palm Coast, where a diver was missing late Wednesday morning.The Coast Guard said four people were scuba diving for more than an hour when three of them heading to the surface noticed the fourth diver unresponsive on the sea floor.The Coast Guard said the divers were forced to leave him behind and keep swimming to the surface because they were running out of air.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/24422916/detail.html

WSUPWIDAT · July 28th, 2010, 05:02 PM

Sounds fishy.

Tricie · July 28th, 2010, 05:29 PM

As a previous diving professional,,,,,,I'm thinking that's not the whole story.

Itchette · July 28th, 2010, 06:43 PM

Where was his dive buddy? Number 1 rule.

palmerbound2005 · July 28th, 2010, 09:01 PM

There were 3 buddies who had to leave him to go fill their tanks??? That's what I read earlier today.

Artycraft · July 29th, 2010, 04:01 AM

Wow, nice friends. I don't see why three people could not drag another to the surface with them. How much more air does something like that take? I do not dive, so I do not know but I would not be able to leave my friend to die like that.

Tricie · July 29th, 2010, 05:25 AM

First of all, we teach certain techniques that are easy to do like take off the weight belt and inflate the BCD. That will lift almost anyone to the surface. But you also have to remember the degree of panic and grief the others felt when they found him/her. I'll bet that no one was thinking straight for a few minutes. I feel really bad for them and this person's family right now.

jimliz · July 29th, 2010, 06:12 AM

Your correct when you say that there has to be more to the story. While this is very tragic I cannot really blame the other 3 divers for their decision to surface and seek assistance. If they were in fact low on air and they did attempt a rescue, there is a high probability there could have been more casualties. As non divers I wouldn't expect you to understand, but when diving you only have a limited supply of air, exertion and panic can use it up at an alarming rate.

Artycraft · July 29th, 2010, 06:44 AM

Thanks for the explanation. I am glad they were able to go back down and bring him up after getting more air. This has to be so horrible for them.

bueltmanp · July 29th, 2010, 06:52 AM

You are completely correct with stating there are proper procedures when running low on air or out of air while at depth. And yes there is a certain level of panic involved. With diving, the moment you stop thinking, you are in trouble. Dropping your weights and inflating your BCD at depth will only aide in body recovery. Proper procedure would be to do a CESA (Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent). From depth you start to go up making the "ahhhhh" sound and you have a greater chance of survival. My thoughts and prayers go out to the fellow divers and family.

Tricie · July 29th, 2010, 06:55 AM

It was my recommendation for the already deceased, not the other 3 divers. It is what we taught the local LEO and EMT's when we taught them rescue.

mjmont1968 · July 29th, 2010, 10:10 AM

In the comments section of the article, a poster states it was Wes Skiles that died. A google search indicates Wes Skiles died on July 21 at a West Palm Beach hospital after a dive accident. Not sure how the two would be related since this was reported as happening yesterday afternoon.

Tricie · July 29th, 2010, 11:38 AM

Wes did die on the 21st. He was a professional underwater photographer/cave diver and he was on a shoot for National Geographic. Heck of a nice guy. It was a loss to all that knew him and of his work. Sad for sure. I don't know who was involved in the accident yesterday.

KMedley · July 29th, 2010, 12:33 PM

I'm glad many took the time to help those of us that do not dive understand what happened. I heard about this on the news and they made it sound as if the other divers were running out of air and had to leave him behind to return to the surface for more air and couldn't get back to him in time.

I feel for his friends. They will replay what happened for the rest of their lives.

Sympathies to the family.

Hermit · July 29th, 2010, 12:42 PM

Diving is dangerous. My brother in law Scott died during the lobster mini-season on July 30, 2009. He was diving with his brother, a St. Lucie police detective & experienced Coast Guard veteran who followed all the rules and still could do nothing to save his own brother. Sometimes these things just happen :*(