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My attempts to post this in the past were apparently unsuccessful as there
was no return or conformation request so I try again If it made it before
sorry. This shows the frame of mind Larry was in and, I understand he was
separated from his wife pending devorse. I say he knew what he was doing and
planed to die.
September 10, 1994
To: Divers Everywhere
From: Larry J. Bowdish II
Re: My accident
Everyone that truly knows me will tell you that I am a great diver. No,
they'll tell you I
was an exceptional diver. Actually, they will tell you that I was the best
damn diver they
ever knew. At least they had better or I will haunt each and every one of the
bastards!!!!!
Let's move forward from here, shall we? The people that knew me best will
also tell you
that I worked with extreme precision, knew full well the risks involved, and
strove to
minimize those risks. I was a professional all the way to the end, and
unfortunately this is
exactly why you are reading this memo. I have had an accident, terminal case
of
drowning, am taking an eternal dirtnap, or some other term which is
comfortable for you:
I am dead.
This memo was prepared in August, 1999. This was the time in which I really
began to
push and 'test' the limits I have lived within. My will and final letters
were prepared well in
advance of this letter. These are issues that ALL explorers, adventurers,
and just plain
crazy people should do. Whatever the term people use for folks like myself,
I was always
a professional. If people, like myself, do not prepare these letters, will,
etc. for
themselves, then they should do this for the others that surround them. The
intention of
this memo is to end all speculation, stories, or rumors surrounding my
accident.
I try to minimize risks, this is what a professional does. Even with
excellent care,
diligence and practice accidents happen. That is all that this was, it was
an accident.
There is no more, or less than that. I knew full well the sport/profession
that I loved had
inherent crisis associated with it. I accepted these and still went full
bore into the thing
that I loved the most, diving. Unfortunately, when an accident such as this
occurs, the
diving community comes under scrutiny. This should help alleviate that
scrutiny.
What I do is dangerous, extreme and maybe crazy, well that is ok, this is
what I love to
do. We see people on TV striving for a goal. We route for them, cheer them
on and aid
them in getting to their goals. My endeavor is no different This is a
personal goal, 330"
on air, one that has been trained for, prepared for, planned about and
ultimately attempted.
I had deeper goals, records that I wanted to shatter. I wanted the deepest
air dive record.
This is where I was headed.
The scene probably went like this:
100' no problems, said goodbye to the shallow team. 150' no problems,
equalizing okay,
mask is clear, lights are on. Check, I am a go. 200' things are okay,
narcosis check keeps
things straight. Said goodbyes to the deep team. From here on out, I am out
on my own.
Things are dark, cold, and quiet. I hear my own inhalations. My exhalations
seem louder,
almost focused. Things are going smooth, air checks out ok, time is good,
forward
motion is consistent. I am traveling at a decent rate of speed. All seems
to be okay. I
settle down to recognize that which surrounds me. I am okay, suffering from
nitrogen
narcosis, but am still okay. Read computer: 250fsw, a planned stop. I
wonder how things
are going with the surface, shallow and deep teams. These are all people
that support,
believe, and love me. I hope they are still okay. I hope they can live with
the size of my
ego filled head when I return!! It is time to move forward. Things feel
really good, this is
undoubtedly the narcosis and I must force myself to focus on the task at
hand. I look
around for signs to follow back, mental notes to keep myself sharp and
ultimately aware of
my surroundings. I press my computer to the lens of the camera for the
record. I settle at
300'. I have been here before, it is familiar. I make a focus attempt and
it seems to work.
Only 30 more feet to go. 330 fsw, this is the goal for the jump today.
SIDE NOTE: There are many turn around deciders. The first of course would be
adequate air supply. If there is inadequate air, I must turn the dive. The
next reason to
turn the dive is the inability to focus and identify the animals surrounding
me. I had a
degree in Marine Biology and this should allow me to identify the animals.
Should I not
be able to handle this task, then I shall turn the dive. The next turn
around decision is
depth, should I reach my goal and decide to continue forward, I will continue
no further
than I have planned my slate for. Make no mistake, I have no fears about
turning any
dive.
I look around decide I am okay and start to move forward. Read gauge, 325'
things are
going black, starry, hmm not good, I must turn around and begin to ascend.
Before I can
do this, I just want to take a break, I am tired, it has been a haul down
here. Maybe I can
take a little nappy time. I'll get up in a
minute...................................
Who knows, maybe it was more violent: tremors developing, narrowing of
vision, hmm
this is a sign of oxygen toxicity. I have to turn around RIGHT NOW!!!!!! As
I turn,
twitching, tremors all increase, now I know I am in the crapper on this one,
I'll hit the
inflator. Oh no, too late I am convulsing. I hope they find my body.
--
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