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2001-03-09 Incident
Note: this was a double fatality; both the victim and his dive partner were recovered; refer to March 9, 2001 #2 report for details on the other diver.
Rescue Or Recovery Or Near Miss: Recovery
Date of Report: 3-09-01
Time Of Accident: 1700
Date Of Accident: 2-18-01
County / State / Country: Suwannee County, FL USA
Name Of Accident Site————————
Royal Springs, located in Hollingsworth Park, Suwannee County, Fl.
Date Recovery Started: 2-19-01
Time Recovery Started: 0800
Age Of Victim: 34
Sex Of Victim: Male
Victims Highest Cert Level: open water
Cert Agency: PADI
Date Of Training: 3-2000
Yrs Experience Diving: 1
Total Number Of Dives:
Number Of Dives This Year:
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: 0
Dates Of Dives At This Location:
Maximum Depth At Location: 60′
Dive Partners: 1
Dive Partners Address————————
Kingsland, GA 31548-3514
Dive Partners Experience————————
0
Original Dive Plan————————
Dive the basin (60’max depth) at Royal Springs, and locate concrete “pig” just inside the cavern zone, and bring to surface.
Maximum Known Depth: 60′
Water Temp: 72 F
Depth Body Found: 31′
Distance To Nearest Exit: 550′
Description Of Silt In Area: very silty, very small tunnel, sidemount only
Normal Viz Distance: 20′
Viz During Recovery: 0
Weather Conditions At Time Of Accident————————
sunny day
Entry Conditions At Site————————
easy entry, wooden steps to dive entry.
Wet Or Dry Suit: wetsuit, Henderson, 3 MM
Full Or Shorty: full
Condition Of Suit: good
Hood: no
Gloves: no
Booties: yes, black
Weight Belt: no, integrated weight system
Pounds Kilos Of Weight: 12 lb.
Buoyancy Compensator: Oceanic
B C Type:
Degree Of B C Inflation: partial
Mask: not found
Location Of Mask: not found
Contents Of Mask:
Fins: US Divers
Type Of Fins: ow
Taped Fins: no
Snorkel: one snorkel found, 150′ from this victim, but could be Dive Partners.
Knife: no
Location Of Knife:
Number Of Tanks: 1
Size Of Tanks: 80
Tank Material: Aluminum
Tank Position: back
Fill Pressure At Start Of Dive: 2700 psi
Pressure At Recovery: 0
Tank Valve Configuration: yolk
Position Of Isolation Valve:
Number Of Regulators: 1
Brand Of Regulators: Dacor
Octopus: yes, Dacor
Long Hose: no
Regs Functional At Scene: yes
General Condition Of Regulators: good
Status Of Valve Opening: open, with 1/4 turn off.
Pressure Gauge: Aqualung US Diver console with pressure and depth guage
P S I Reading On Gauge: 0
Number Of Lights: 1 (for team)
Type Of Lights: handheld, still in cave
Lights Operational: burned out
Location Of Lights: found 100′ before victim, and 50′ before Granger.
Number Of Reels: 0
Type Of Reels:
Reels Deployed:
Location Of Reels:
Distance From Guideline: 550′ from cave entrance, no line in cave
Guideline Condition:
Depth Gauge Type: Aqualung
Victims Depth Gauge Reading: 57′
Slate: no
Tables: no
Number Of Computers: no
Type Of Computers:
Computer Data————————
Addtional Description Of Equipment————————
Dive watch, but no data displayed.
Equipment Loaned: rented
Loaned From Who: ?
Overall Condition Of Equipment: good
Body State————————
body found apprx. 550′ inside cave, he was on left side, (like he was turning around at the end of tunnel), no mask on, and regulator out of mouth.
Report Prepared By: Larry Green
Preparers Address————————
PO Box 330
High Springs, FL 32655-0330
Recovery Team Members————————
Larry Green 904-497-3494
lgreen@atlantic.net
William Rennaker 904-776-2299
rennaker@sidemount.com
John Faircloth 912-732-2076
jfaircloth@alltel.net
Officer In Charge————————
Sgt. Sam St. John
Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office
Florida