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2000-06-01 Incident
Rescue Or Recovery Or Near Miss: Recovery
Date of Report: 6-1-00
Time Of Accident: after 5 p.m.
Date Of Accident: 5-29-00
County / State / Country: Suwannee Co./Fl/USA
Name Of Accident Site————————
Little River Springs,
Branford, FL
Date Recovery Started: 5-30-00
Time Recovery Started: 12:42 p.m.
Age Of Victim: 42
Sex Of Victim: Male
Victims Highest Cert Level: open/water
Cert Agency: SSI
Date Of Training: 1997
Yrs Experience Diving: 3
Total Number Of Dives: unknown
Number Of Dives This Year: unknown
Trained In Cave Diving: No
Cave Diving Training Agency:
Date Of Cave Diving Training:
Years Experience Cave Diving:
Total Number Of Cave Dives:
Number Of Cave Dives In Last Year:
Number Of Dives At This Location: unknown
Dates Of Dives At This Location:
Maximum Depth At Location: 105′
Dive Partners Name: none
Dive Partners Address————————
Dive Partners Experience————————
Original Dive Plan————————
unknown, solo diving
Maximum Known Depth: 105′
Water Temp: 71F
Depth Body Found: 102′
Distance To Nearest Exit: 900′
Description Of Silt In Area: none present
Normal Viz Distance: 100’+
Viz During Recovery: 100’+
Weather Conditions At Time Of Accident————————
sunny day
Entry Conditions At Site————————
excellent, no silt present
Wet Or Dry Suit: wet suit
Full Or Shorty: shorty
Condition Of Suit: good
Hood: no
Gloves: no
Booties: no
Weight Belt: no
Pounds Kilos Of Weight: none
Buoyancy Compensator: Uwatec
B C Type: weight integrated
Degree Of B C Inflation: slightly inflated
Mask: yes
Location Of Mask: in place on victim
Contents Of Mask: air
Fins: full foot
Type Of Fins: Sherwood
Taped Fins: n/a
Snorkel: no
Knife: no
Location Of Knife:
Number Of Tanks: 1
Size Of Tanks: 95 cu.ft.
Tank Material: Scubapro steel
Tank Position: back
Fill Pressure At Start Of Dive: unknown
Pressure At Recovery: 300 psi
Tank Valve Configuration: yolk
Position Of Isolation Valve: n/a
Number Of Regulators: 1
Brand Of Regulators: Sherwood
Octopus: yes, Dacor XL Pacer
Long Hose: no
Regs Functional At Scene: yes
General Condition Of Regulators: good
Status Of Valve Opening: open
Pressure Gauge: Sherwood
P S I Reading On Gauge: 150 psi on surface
Number Of Lights: 2
Type Of Lights: 1-UK – 6 cell/ 2-UK – 4 cell
Lights Operational: both burned out at time of recovery
Location Of Lights: 1- lanyard hanging on right wrist – 2- on floor 3′ from victim
Number Of Reels: none
Type Of Reels:
Reels Deployed:
Location Of Reels:
Distance From Guideline: 10′
Guideline Condition: good
Depth Gauge Type: Sherwood
Victims Depth Gauge Reading: 102′
Slate: no
Tables: no
Number Of Computers: 1
Type Of Computers: Genesis
Computer Data————————
102′ max. depth
71F
Addtional Description Of Equipment————————
none
Equipment Loaned: no
Loaned From Who:
Overall Condition Of Equipment: good
Body State————————
Body was 10′ off the line facing into the cave. Victim laying on right side, slightly negative, regulator out of mouth. His regulator and pressure guage were lying on the floor. Mask in place. Octopus underneath his waist strap on left side. No marking on hands or other part of body.
Report Prepared By: Larry Green
Preparers Address————————
PO Box 330
High Springs, FL 32655-0330
904-497-3494 – home
352-239-3616 – cell
Recovery Team Members————————
Falk Hoffmann – 49-0-4193-77406 – info@specialdiver.de
Lars Hattendorf
Marco Buhe
Larry Green
Officer In Charge————————
Sgt. Ben Sears – in charge
Deputy Robbie Sammons
Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office