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---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 24 Feb 1995 13:39:56 +0100 From: Frederic Badier <badier@cl*.do*.sl*.co*> To: chbrown@fr*.sc*.fs*.ed* Subject: detail on first accident. Chris, More detail about the first accident described. If you think it is really worthwhile for other divers, pass it to the list. The flow in the cave was normal, I have no figure to give you but it was not flood conditions, visibility was low as usual in such a cave where a lot settled clay is present. Guide lines used in France are 3mm diameter propylene line when the current is not very strong and could be a speleological rope or even a gained stainless steel cable. All cave divers (I hope all!) are equipped with a cuting pliers which allow to cut with one hand (not possible with a knife). The line is tied off along the cave every 50 meters if the cave is large and rectiligne. If the cave is narrow and winding, the line is tied off every 10 meters or every direction changes. Line is generally tied off with a strong rubber around a rock or tied off to the rock directly. In the portion where the diver got entangled 20 meters separated the two tied off points, it was a correct equipment for this cave. The cave is narrow which means that you cannot dive side by side on it is limit that you need to progress by pushing your cylinders. Difficult to say if the line was slck or not as it has been cutted, standard practice is for sure to minimize slack line. Line entanglement is something where we are used too and we have some technics for solo desentanglement which need some practice and experience. The diver, involved in this accident, was quite news and had only logged few cave dives as a background (around five). The cave level was not in accordance with her level, it is a fact. Assistance was not possible due to access, poor visibility and lack of experience of the other divers, the only really experienced diver was the last one to exit and arrived too late as the line was already cutted, also when this happened the visibility was zero (which means in France that the only way to read a pressure gauge is to put on your mask and put a light on the other glass. I am sure divers in UK knows well this kind of situation...) The diver went into a panic mode,the body was found with air in the cylinde= rs. Self control in cave diving is something which need to be developped with years of experience before attacking difficult cave. I hope this will answer to your questions. Safe dives in Florida, i hope the water is still clear and warm. Frederic >When I read the accident report, I wondered about several aspects that >might be worth examining in detail, to help us understand more about the >problems the divers encountered: What was the flow? What kind of >guideline is used in France and how is it tied off along the cave ? What >was the configuration of the cave where the line entanglement happened? > > Christopher A. Brown ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= --- Frederic BADIER Dowell Schlumberger Fluid Monitoring Equipment Section Manager Schlumberger Riboud Product Centre 26 rue de la cav=E9e (BP 202); 92142 Clamart Cedex, France Tel : (33) 1 45 37 20 00 Switchboard Tel : (33) 1 45 37 20 41 Direct Line Fax : (33) 1 45 37 25 13 Sinet : badier@cl*.do*.sl*.co* (or DSA::BADIER) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= - --
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