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>>  on 6/25 - Wayne says
>>  As I see it, scuba dives in the extreme ranges (350+) are basically solo
>>dives regardless of the communications, surface based support, or presence
>> of other divers......Suppose I'm at 900 fsw in some remote area of the
>> world and run into trouble.

>Ok, I can't resist any longer.  If you're sick of this topic please don't=
>read any further.  *This is not a flame, just a rant and rave.

>What in gods name are you doing at 900fsw?  At that depth you are not a
>sport diver, you are an astronaut.  Your dependence on equipment is total.
>There is NO escape.  You either have total redundancy as well as a
> pre-planned response to all possible equipment failures, or a good living
> will.  But if you insist on solo diving in this environment, I won't stop
> you....hell, I might even say a few kind words about you at the 
appropriate
> time...;/

Mark L.

The 6/25 statement above is mine, and you don't have me running to put on 
the Nomex. I agree with you.  It was in reply to a sender that questioned 
the planning on the fatal 1000 fsw attempt in Mexico.  He had asked why no 
surface communications, safety line to the surface, etc.  The message was my 
opinion why his suggested safety measures would have not have helped.

Dives of this sort are well beyond the normal operational limits of open (or 
closed) circuit scuba and there will always be great risk for those that 
attempt extreme depth.

On the other hand, the diver that drowned on that attempt was the world 
record holder for open circuit scuba.  He was highly experienced in deep 
mixed gas diving and his attention to detail in planning these kind of dives 
was second to none,  He was one of the most respected explorers in the 
world.  He would not have made the attempt if he had not felt confident he 
could have completed it successfully.

He was also a fine man, and I'll miss him.

     - Wayne

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