Hello Frank,
I am sorry to hear about the loss of this diver. I have done some quick searching and facts are few at this point aside from some of what you have summarized and that appear below.
It seems he wasn't totally new to the unit but was not reportedly extensively experienced with it either with 50 dives on the system. I am not that familiar with technical diving at depth and OSA. I did my trimix diving back in the day and got out of it due to chronic low grade DCS hits from all that damn weight in 1992! Your perspective would be a lot more valid than mine I suspect. Anyway, some references regarding OSA and diving, particularly deeper technical diving at:
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/arc.../t-287350.html
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me...5DCIReport.pdf
As far as rebreathers being out there, not really anymore. I would have killed for one as a teen, when they were still $50,000 and limited to the military and specialty commercial diving outfits. Even designed one in college. After getting out of trimix, I feel no compulsion to get into rebreathers today. Although, they usually lack the issue that caused my problems in trimix, the weight of five tanks. They are expanding in use substantially though. Time before last on the Speigel Grove off Key Largo must have seen eight or more guys on the wreck in an hour using rebreathers. It is a growing segment in recreational diving worldwide.
Not sure about normal recreational diving but OSA may well preclude free diving. Normal functioning of CO2 physiology is critical in what we do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cave Diver
[mod]Known facts: I will be adding them to this post as they come to light for easy reference.[/mod]
- Middle aged male diving the Vandenberg using a Sentinel Rebreather with 50+ logged hours of experience on unit
- Victims was Richard McCoy Jr., 51, from Cypress, TX
- Victim was a recreational trimix diluent student, part of a 3 man team
- Dives were conducted from the M/V Spree
- Visibility was reported at 40' with a mild current.
- Buddies were a technical diver instructor candidate (IC) diving an Evolution and his instructor trainer (IT) diving a Sentinel
- Dive was non-penetration with a max depth of 97' and a runtime of 34 minutes
- Victim experienced (unknown at this time) problems at depth and made a rapid ascent.
- Buddies omitted 6 minutes of deco to surface and assist victim.
- Victim arrived on surface unconscious and CPR was performed for 40 minutes.
- Victim was reported DOA at medical facilities on Stock Island.
- Buddies were reported to be showing mild symptoms of DCS.
- The IC was evaluated at the Lower Keys Med Center and released.
- The IT went to the chamber at Mercy.
- Monroe County SO has the CCR, bailout and computers.
|
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/acc...andenberg.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by conchxpress
Rick, any word on the death of the Vandenburg diver? What are your thoughts. I had read that he was an experienced diver, but was using rebreathing gear for the first time. The article also said that his medical history included Obstructive Sleep Apnea and used a CPAP machine at home. Do you think that divers with this history are at risk for diving related mishaps? From my knowledge, patients with OSA have an altered sensitivity to the CO2 and O2 triggers involving respiration. Normally, the principle respiratory drive is to elevated CO2 first and low O2 second, but in these patients, the CO2 drive is blunted because of the body's adaptation to periods of apnea during sleep, caused by obstructive upper airway problems. It's my elementary understanding(please correct me if I'm wrond) that with the rebreather, the diver has to make adjustments to gas mixture himself, depending on depth and activity. Why does a John Q Citizen diver ever need to use a re-breather? This is Navy Seal covert type stuff. And pretty costly - around 5 grand? Thought maybe you could shed some light on this subject.
|