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HI

I have the unfortunate task of informing this list of another scuba
diving fatality. On saterday morning (17 Sept.) a group of eight
experienced (the least qualified person being a NAUI divemaster)
divers dived onto the wreck of the General Botha in False Bay (Cape
Town, South Africa). Six of the eight had dived this wreck before,
there three or more times this year. This wreck lies in a depth of
54m of water and is aproximately 8NM from shore.

The divers apparently dived in two groups of four. The first group
having an enjoyable and successful dive. The next group were not to
be so lucky. One of the divers Demand valve started free flowing, and
he started an emergency ascent for the surface. His buddy tried to
assist and followed him to the surface. Both divers missed deco stops
at 9m, 6m and 3m, and suffered from a DCS incident. The diver who 's
demand valve malfunctioned initially also suffered a pulmonary
barotrauma.

These two divers were lucky however, and as far as I know both are
O.K. after recompression at the naval base in Simonstown. The other
buddy pair however are missing.

After waiting for approximately 90 minutes after recalling the other
buddy pair due to the above emergency, the boat was forced to leave in
order to transport it,s two casualties to shore. The Navy found a
torch belonging to one of the divers when they dived at the site of
the accident of sunday. No other evidence was found apparently.

I hope that this report is reasonabbly accurate as hearsay, is all I
have to go on for now. I will report in more detail as soon as I know
more about this incident.

Finally I would like to offer my sincere condolinces to all
the families and loved ones of the two missing men.








**********************************************************************
 Have a Wonderful life
 Cameron Ewart-Smith
 C/O Zoology Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, S.A.
 E-mail: Csmith@bo*.UC*.ac*.za*
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