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2001-03-02 Incident
Rescue Or Recovery Or Near Miss: Recovery
Date of Report: March 2, 2001
Time Of Accident: 00:24
Date Of Accident: September 9, 1979
County / State / Country: Hays County, Texas
Name Of Accident Site————————
Jacob’s Well, Trinity Aquifer, Hays County, Texas on Cypress creek.
Date Recovery Started: October 11, 2000
Time Recovery Started:
Age Of Victim: 21
Sex Of Victim: Male
Victims Highest Cert Level: Open water
Cert Agency: PADI
Date Of Training: 1978 – 1979
Yrs Experience Diving: 1-2
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:
Dates Of Dives At This Location:
Maximum Depth At Location: 130+
Dive Partners Address————————
Pasadena, Texas
Original Dive Plan————————
130 feet for 30 min.
Maximum Known Depth: 130+
Water Temp: 68C
Depth Body Found: 120 feet
Distance To Nearest Exit: 287 feet
Description Of Silt In Area: silty bottom, clay and fine silt
Normal Viz Distance: 50+ feet
Viz During Recovery: 50+ feet
Weather Conditions At Time Of Accident————————
Unkknown
Entry Conditions At Site————————
Both divers trespassed on private property to enter the cave after midnight.
Wet Or Dry Suit: wet suit shorty
Full Or Shorty: shorty
Condition Of Suit: clasp type
Hood: no
Gloves: no
Booties: yes, no zipper
Weight Belt: yes, lead weights, belt
Pounds Kilos Of Weight: 15 lbs
Buoyancy Compensator: none, plastic back pack only
B C Type: none
Degree Of B C Inflation: none
Mask: single glass, unknown brand
Location Of Mask: found on skull
Contents Of Mask: NA
Fins: none
Type Of Fins: not worn
Taped Fins: no
Snorkel: no
Knife: yes, large US divers chrome knife
Location Of Knife: with gear and skeletal remains
Number Of Tanks: 1
Size Of Tanks: Aluminum 80
Tank Material: aluminum
Tank Position: back mount
Fill Pressure At Start Of Dive: unknown
Pressure At Recovery: 0
Tank Valve Configuration: open water, single reg
Position Of Isolation Valve:
Number Of Regulators: 1
Brand Of Regulators:
Octopus: no
Long Hose: no
Regs Functional At Scene: no
General Condition Of Regulators: heavy corrosion
Status Of Valve Opening: open
Pressure Gauge: us divers
P S I Reading On Gauge: 0
Number Of Lights: 1
Type Of Lights: ocean pro
Lights Operational: not at time of recovery
Location Of Lights:
Number Of Reels: 0
Type Of Reels:
Reels Deployed:
Location Of Reels:
Distance From Guideline:
Guideline Condition:
Depth Gauge Type: US divers
Victims Depth Gauge Reading:
Slate: no
Tables: no
Number Of Computers: 0
Type Of Computers:
Computer Data————————
Addtional Description Of Equipment————————
Victim #1 was recovered 21 years after he was reported missing in Jacob’s Well. The gear was in extremely poor corroded condition. He was wearing open water gear, no redundant systems, a single light, no fins, and with a single tank. His partner, Victim #2, also died during the same dive. Victim #2’s skeletal remains were recovered in 1981.
Equipment Loaned: no
Loaned From Who:
Overall Condition Of Equipment: poor
Body State————————
Skeletal remains found and were excavated from fine silt. Victim was still wearing mask, wet suit shorty, back pack with straps (no BC) with open water equipment. No continuous guideline or reels found. Bones found inside shorty wet suit and in boots. Knife found near gear. Mask was still attached to skull but all rubber on mask was dissolved.
Report Prepared By: Daniel Misiaszek
Preparers Address————————
San Marcos Area Recovery Team
1700 RR 12 #307
San Marcos, Texas 78666
www.corridor.net/smartdivers
Recovery Team Members————————
Cave Diving Team:
Daniel Misiaszek
Kathy Misiaszek
James Price
Support team:
Numberous members of SMART Divers
Officer In Charge————————
Hays County Sheriff’s Department
1307 Uhland Road
San Marcos, Texas 78666
512-396-6616