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Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 01:55:15 +0200
To: "Tech Diver" <techdiver@aquanaut.com>
From: Hans Petter Roverud <proverud@on*.no*>
Subject: Re: Lake Jocassee Incident
At 04:49 PM 5/8/99 -0400, Jim Cobb wrote:

>On reading this report it is amazing to me that:
>
>1. The diver decided to do his first extreme deep dive solo in a dark, 
>cold, murky lake.
>2. That his diving parters (one of which is known for his extreme deep 
>air diving ventures) did not counsel him to do otherwise or even watch 
>out for him.
>3. That his gear configuration was so fucked up when it is known that he 
>was not trained to dive set up the way he was.
>4. That his in-water and surface support was non-existent to the point of 
>not even having surface 02 on hand, or enough gas in the goddamn boat to 
>make it back to shore.

It's not hard to agree with you on this one Jim. Then comes the fancy
"but": However, the main thing here was lack of training, causing the diver
to become totally "unglued". As the report said, the diver failed to use
all his options. As a matter of fact, this was nothing but classic panic.
True, configuration counts and this was definitely no example to emulate.
Neither is it advisable to go solo. Still, the main thing I read from this
report is a diver who had all he needed to make a controlled ascent, yet he
rejected all options due to task loading.  Let's focus on training and
psychological strength as well as on optimal configuration. As any true DIR
advocate would agree it takes practice and attitude to get things right.
This guy was way outside his comfort zone. Let's expand the envelope rather
than pushing it!

regards,

Hans
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