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Joel,
I remember having breakfast with Brad Gagne in Miami six years ago.
Not knowing that I knew Chris and Chris Jr, he made a rather
matter-of-fact comment. "I guess there's no more Black Cloud Scuba". I
asked, "Why is that?" He said, "They all got killed." The first thing
that I thought was that they must have died in a car accident on the way
back from one of their Florida cave trips. At that time, I still didn't
really believe that you could die scuba diving. Brad told me that it was a
deep diving accident, I don't remember if he said where.
I confirmed the report later that day at Tom Mount's house, after
calling and talking to John Yurga from the Seeker. I considered forgoing my
instructor course at that time. I didn't feel like I wanted any part of
this. 1992 was a very bad year. Ed, Roy, Mike, Chris and Chris Jr, and a
number of others whose names I didn't know had all died in deep diving
accidents that year. I especially liked the Rouses and this was the last
straw.
I met Chris and Chris Jr on a Doria trip in 1991. Chris was a friendly
clean cut guy, with an equally friendly not-so-clean cut son. We joked that
Chris Jr looked like Charles Manson. A funny incident on the trip occurred
when I couldn't find my dive bag (my wife says my inability to find things
is a male trait). I discovered that it had been moved to the other side of
the dive boat and commented to Chris that "some fucking asshole" had moved
my bag to where I couldn't find it. He said, "Uh, Randy, I think it I did
that". So for months after that, he would ask me, "What was it that you
called me on that trip?".
We got blown off the Doria after one day, and ended up at the U-853. I
got tired of waiting for my dive partners and started my dive without them.
I went through the control room, through the engine room, and into the
electric engine room. I had no idea I was only a few feet from a blast hole
at the battery room. I thought that this was far enough into a new wreck
with no buddies so I turned back. Of course, that was just when I bopped the
ceiling and completely sheared a hose. Poseidon's can really dump air fast,
I thought, as I could see the pressure gauge dropping. Slow and steady I
though, I'll probably run into someone. For reference, I didn't try to shut
down the valve because I didn't know which one it was, they weren't
especially easy to reach, and I knew I could make it out before the gas was
gone. When I exited the wreck, who did I see? The Rouses! I signalled them
with my light, swam to them at high speed, and Chris Jr shut down the faulty
regulator. Problem solved! Chris Jr may have saved me a chamber ride, I'm
not sure.
That winter, I had a booth at one of the cave diving workshops. Having
flown in from Boston, and never displayed before, I was totally unprepared.
I thought that a 4x6 table was provided; there were none. But the Rouses
were there to the rescue! Chris Jr worked as hard helping me set up my booth
as he did his own.
After completing my instructor course in 1992, I flew home then drove
down to Pennsylvania for the memorial service. It was standing room only.
Packed with divers, neighbors, family, and friends. All I could think of was
that I wish that I could have been outside that Type IX U-boat when they
exited, just like they were there for me at that other Type IX U-boat 16
months earlier.
1997 and 1998 have been bad years, too. I dived with Rob Palmer and
Rob Parker when I lived in England in 1985
And now, I see a post from Bob Raimo asking about the details
surrounding the death of Brad Gagne. I've learned that hoping that there is
some mistake is a waste; I'm sure that he is gone too.
We all get involved in what seems to be petty crap. Often it's because
we're assholes, but more often it's because we want the same things --
ensure the safety of our friends, students, collegues. We just don't agree
on how to accomplish these things. I'm not sure that we ever will agree.
After reviewing recent and not so recent events, I'm not sure that we will
ever accomplish our goal of making this sport as safe as we would like.
Excuse my rambling, I'm in a bit of "a state". Just go back from the
hospital this morning. There are always newcomers to look forward to
welcoming. Last night at 6:50 PM my wife gave birth to our second son, a
still unamed healthy baby boy of 10 pounds, 21-3/4 inches long.
Good Day to You All!
C. Randy Bohrer, President
Underwater Applications Corp
15 Brewster Rd
Framingham, MA 01702-6217
tel: (508) 628-9520
fax: (508) 820-3337
email: underwaterapplications@cs*.co*
http://www.geocities.com/~uwapplications
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<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> =
</FONT></SPAN>Joel,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>I remember having =
breakfast=20
with Brad Gagne in Miami six years ago. Not knowing that I knew Chris =
and Chris=20
Jr, he <SPAN class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>made a rather matter-of-fact =
comment.=20
"I guess there's no more Black Cloud Scuba". I asked, =
"Why is=20
that?" He said, <SPAN class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT =
color=3D#000000=20
face=3DArial size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>"They all got =
killed."=20
The first thing that I thought was that they must have died in a car =
accident on=20
the way back from one of their Florida cave trips. At that time, I still =
didn't=20
really believe that you could die scuba diving. Brad told me that it was =
a deep=20
diving accident, I don't remember if he said where.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>I confirmed the =
report later=20
that day at Tom Mount's house, after calling and talking to John Yurga =
from the=20
Seeker. I considered forgoing my instructor course at that time. I =
didn't feel=20
like I wanted any part of this. 1992 was a very bad year. Ed, Roy, Mike, =
Chris=20
and Chris Jr, and a number of others whose names I didn't know had all =
died in=20
deep diving accidents that year. I especially liked the Rouses and this =
was the=20
last straw.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>I met Chris and =
Chris Jr on=20
a Doria trip in 1991. Chris was a friendly clean cut guy, with an =
equally=20
friendly not-so-clean cut son. We joked that Chris Jr looked like =
Charles=20
Manson. A funny incident on the trip occurred when I couldn't find my =
dive bag=20
(my wife says my inability to find things is a male trait). I discovered =
that it=20
had been moved to the other side of the dive boat and commented to Chris =
that=20
"some fucking asshole" had moved my bag to where I couldn't =
find it.=20
He said, "Uh, Randy, I think it I did that". So for months =
after that,=20
he would ask me, "What was it that you called me on that=20
trip?".</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>We got blown off =
the Doria=20
after one day, and ended up at the U-853. I got tired of waiting for my =
dive=20
partners and started my dive without them. I went through the control =
room,=20
through the engine room, and into the electric engine room. I had no =
idea I was=20
only a few feet from a blast hole at the battery room. I thought that =
this was=20
far enough into a new wreck with no buddies so I turned back. Of course, =
that=20
was just when I bopped the ceiling and completely sheared a hose. =
Poseidon's can=20
really dump air fast, I thought, as I could see the pressure gauge =
dropping.=20
Slow and steady I though, I'll probably run into someone. For reference, =
I=20
didn't try to shut down the valve because I didn't know which one it =
was, they=20
weren't especially easy to reach, and I knew I could make it out before =
the gas=20
was gone. When I exited the wreck, who did I see? The Rouses! I =
signalled them=20
with my light, swam to them at high speed, and Chris Jr shut down the =
faulty=20
regulator. Problem solved! Chris Jr may have saved me a chamber ride, =
I'm not=20
sure.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>That winter, I had =
a booth=20
at one of the cave diving workshops. Having flown in from Boston, and =
never=20
displayed before, I was totally unprepared. I thought that a 4x6 table =
was=20
provided; there were none. But the Rouses were there to the rescue! =
Chris Jr=20
worked as hard helping me set up my booth as he did his =
own.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>After completing =
my=20
instructor course in 1992, I flew home then drove down to Pennsylvania =
for the=20
memorial service. It was standing room only. Packed with divers, =
neighbors,=20
family, and friends. All I could think of was that I wish that I could =
have been=20
outside that Type IX U-boat when they exited, just like they were there =
for me=20
at that other Type IX U-boat 16 months earlier.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>1997 and 1998 have =
been bad=20
years, too. I dived with Rob Palmer and Rob Parker when I lived in =
England in=20
1985</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>And now, I see a =
post from=20
Bob Raimo asking about the details surrounding the death of Brad Gagne. =
I've=20
learned that hoping that there is some mistake is a waste; I'm sure that =
he is=20
gone too.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>We all get =
involved in what=20
seems to be petty crap. Often it's because we're assholes, but more =
often it's=20
because we want the same things -- ensure the safety of our friends, =
students,=20
collegues. We just don't agree on how to accomplish these things. I'm =
not sure=20
that we ever will agree. After reviewing recent and not so recent =
events, I'm=20
not sure that we will ever accomplish our goal of making this sport as =
safe as=20
we would like.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>Excuse my =
rambling, I'm in a=20
bit of "a state". Just go back from the hospital this morning. =
There=20
are always newcomers to look forward to welcoming. Last night at 6:50 PM =
my wife=20
gave birth to our second son, a still unamed healthy baby boy of 10 =
pounds,=20
21-3/4 inches long.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D180152216-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000 face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></SPAN>Good Day to You=20
All!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D860481314-14101998><FONT color=3D#000000
face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT></SPAN><FONT size=3D2><BR>C. Randy Bohrer, =
President<BR>Underwater=20
Applications Corp<BR>15 Brewster Rd<BR>Framingham, MA =
01702-6217<BR>tel: =20
(508) 628-9520<BR>fax: (508) 820-3337<BR>email:=20
underwaterapplications@cs*.co*<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.geocities.com/~uwapplications"=20
target=3D_blank>http://www.geocities.com/~uwapplications</A></FONT> =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
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