Rod,

Re: Rumors

Over the years, I've found the best way to deal with a rumor and maintain my
credibility and objectivity is, if and when I repeat it, say "this is only a
rumor" giving it no credence until it is checked out.

I just checked the film from the dive and here are the facts as I know them:

Doug Summerhill told me what gases he was using; 100% O2 was not included in the
list except for the surface supplied O2 hanging at 20fsw.
The double 120s on his back contained 7/67 O2/Helium.
The yellow side mounted bottle on his left contained Nitrox50 and was marked
with a Nitrox sticker clearly visable in the film taken during the descent.
The black side mounted bottle on his right contained air.
The white bottle mounted between his back-mounted 120s contained air. It was a
plain white bottle with no stickers, tape or tags and is clearly visable in the
film taken during the descent.
A small bottle of Argon was for drysuit inflation.

Based on descriptions of Summerhill I've received from other mixed gas divers, I
don't believe he would put 100% O2 in an unmarked bottle. You're an experienced
gas diver, would you?

As Summerhill began his descent, he was breathing from a regulator having a hose
coming from his left. I can't tell from the film where the hose went, but using
a process of elimination, it is NOT likely it was his bottom mix, NOT likely
that it went to the right sidemount with air (left side/right side proximity)
and NOT likely it went to the left sidemount with Nitrox50. That leaves the
white bottle on his back between the double 120s.

Clayton's plan was to descent to 200fsw on air and switch to his trimix; how
likely do you think it would be for Summerhill to do his initial descent on 100%
O2? Everything points to the center back bottle being air, don't you think?

As for the "death count" question, I don't know the answer. Like the dives Bill
Stone and others are/have been doing in overhead environments, Clayton and
Summerhill's missions were deep and dangerous dives. There are going to be some
deaths.

I'm telling you about this dive because the story that started on
techdiver@terra.net was frought with inaccuracies. I'm the only one who had a
relatively complete sets of facts and maybe someone might learn something (I'm
not teaching; I'm just sharing facts might keep someone else from dying).

Importantly, while I have a good relationship with Clayton, what I'm telling you
is factual and objective. If I didn't have a good relationship with Clayton, I
would still try to be factual and objective.

Chris

Chris Crumley
Virginia Beach, VA
72570.717@co*.co*
www.earthwater.com
*************************************************************

On 10 Jul 1996, Rod Farb wrote:

>>Also check out the rumor (it is more than a rumor) that he was wearing 
100%O2 between his twin tanks.  Be honest and tell us how many deaths 
does this make in the past two years on Clayton dives.<<

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