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I've now got some more information about the diving accident which occurred off Sydney last Friday. The info comes from Pat Bowring, who was on the charter, but diving with his own buddy. The diver who died was David Stace. In Pat's words: --------------- The dive was to 78 metres on what some had thought was HMAS Encounter, but what turns out to be an old paddle tug called the Koputai. (The Encounter is nearby but in slightly less depth.) The bloke who died was using a U.S. Diver reg at the time he blacked-out. His two buddies put the reg back in his mouth, but there was no sign of breathing. They then took him to the 15 metre mark and let the body go. His body showed signs of explosive DCS after it reached the surface, but he would have been dead (certainly unconscious) byt the time his buddies began their ascent. They said the victim showed no signs of having had convulsions, but they were not swimming in a tight formation and may not have been in a position to see such an attack if it had taken place. I understand the autopsy attributes death to DCS and oxygen toxicity. Just one thing,you might like to pass on the fact that the prelimininary police report says that the US divers reg (don't know the model) David Stace was using had a faulty "spring" (presumably the lever that releases and closes off the air supply. Why David was using this reg at depth and didn't switch is still not known. He did have plenty of air in both tanks. He did not signal to anyone that he was having second stage trouble. Hopefully, this may help push the introduction of mix. regards pat --------- I should add that although some individuals are doing mixed gas diving in Australia, the Workcover authorities in the various states do not permit mix instruction for the recreational market at the moment. Greg Ryan gregr@cs*.su*.oz*.au*
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