Joel, 

-----Original Message-----
From:	Joel Silverstein [SMTP:JoelSilverstein@wo*.at*.ne*]
Sent:	20 November 1997 16:28
To:	Dennis JR Harding
Cc:	techdiver@aquanaut.com
Subject:	Re:TDI Training Death, 16 April Questions

Mr. Harding,  First -- my condolences for the loss of your friend. 

I do have some questions.  Why was instructor training being conducted in
80 msw?  It would make sense that if the people who were "candidates" had
significant experience in tri-mix at 80 msw that most of thier "instrucotr
training" would be done at a significantly shallower depth. Since much of
the work needs to be object and task oriented.  My next question involves
the statement of  <<We, the candidates decided that the last dive we
wanted
to get closer to 100 meters (325'), and further off shore were whe should
have better visibility.  >>>

Was this a repet dive?  Was this just a dive where "we the candidates" 
[Harding, Dennis JR]  Yes indeed this was.  It was infact the last dive
which was actually more aimed at enjoying the ocean.  Untill recently
very few dives of this nature and depth have been executed in the sea.  
Most of the Mixed gas diving in Southern Africa has taken place in 
cave environments.  This was realy the first oppertunity  for all to do
a mixed gas dive in the open ocean.

wanted to go deeper?  Had you all not been to this depth before ?  If the
visibility was not good enough at 80 msw why even head out another 12 miles
 for another 20 msw in the hopes of better vis?   Itmakes sens that if the
dive was not going to be "perfect" at 80 msw it was surely not going to be
"perfect" at 100 msw. 
[Harding, Dennis JR]  All the candidates had been at prescribed depth before.
On the coast line of SA, we have the Benguela current running south.  This
has always proven to be clear - especially closer to the shelf.   I have
experienced 
the same higher up the SA east coast, where I found dramatic vivisbility
increases 
by moving further to see as little as 1 nautical mile (1.8 km).
Due to the fact that we had intended to go further out to see, we studied the
maritime charts and found there would be an increase in deoth, thus we planned
for it.

Next comes the chamber treatment -- You indicate he had paralysis while in
the chamber yet they opted to take him back to the surface and then while
unconcious they gave him another treatment the next day and he expired in
the chamber.  
[Harding, Dennis JR]  This is correct.
Was this a plastic tube chamber only capable of 3 atm or a
full blown multiplace chamber that can go to 10 atm capable of mixed gas
saturation treatment for deep mixed gas blowups and AGE? 

[Harding, Dennis JR]  This is a sore point over which there is much debate.
It was inststed by my self and the Course director that the diver should be
taken on a 50m treatment, but the chamber attendants refuse to see this
and reconed that to get the PPO2 up was a better option.  
There attitude was very much - What do you know about chamber
treatment - were in charge, we call the shots.  I understand there has been
a considerable amount of back peedling since the enquiries that I
mentioned earlier.

I must add, there are no chmaber's in this country rigged for Trimix. 
I know the navy does 90m in there chamber on air - I believe as
part of there working dive built ups.

This was also the first case of this nature within the country.

I appreciate your comments and look forward to your reply.

Joel Silverstein, NY 





--
Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'.
Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]