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2002-06-15 Incident
June 15, 2002 – Bat Colon Cave, Jackson County, FL
RescueOrRecoveryOrNearMiss = Rescue
TodaysDate = 06-20-02
TimeOfAccident = 1530
DateOfAccident = 06-15-02
County/State/Country = Jackson County, FL
a_NameOfAccidentSite = Bat Colon Cave aka Railroad Cave
DateRecoveryStarted = 06-15-02
TimeRecoveryStarted = 2115
AgeOfVictim = 26
SexOfVictim = Male
VictimsHighestCertLevel = Open Water
CertAgency = NAUI
DateOfTraining = 09-09-01
YrsExperienceDiving = 6 (diving before cert)
TotalNumberOfDives = 20 since cert
NumberOfDivesThisYear = 20
TrainedInCaveDiving = No
CaveDivingTrainingAgency =
DateOfCaveDivingTraining =
YearsExperienceCaveDiving =
TotalNumberOfCaveDives =
NumberOfCaveDivesInLastYear =
NumberOfDivesAtThisLocation = 1
DatesOfDivesAtThisLocation = 06-15-01
MaximumDepthAtLocation = 11′
a_DivePartnersExperience = assumed to be same, all cert together
a_OriginalDivePlan = Found body in small cave. Only two lines
(tunnels) in cave w/ approx 350′ passage
MaximumKnownDepth = 11′
WaterTemp = 68 F
DepthBodyFound = surface
DistanceToNearestExit = approx 100′
DescriptionOfSiltInArea = heavy
NormalVizDistance = 100+
VizDuringRecovery = 0
a_WeatherConditionsAtTimeOfAccident = clear
a_EntryConditionsAtSite = inside dry cave located at bottom of
steep hill
WetOrDrySuit = 2 piece 3mm wet
FullOrShorty = full
ConditionOfSuit = good
Hood = no
Gloves = no
Booties = yes
WeightBelt = yes, wearing
PoundsKilosOfWeight = unk
BuoyancyCompensator = Dacor
BCType = Jacket
DegreeOfBCInflation = nearly full
Mask = Akona
LocationOfMask = on face
ContentsOfMask = air so he could see
Fins = Mares Plana Avanti
TypeOfFins = pocket
TapedFins = no
Snorkel = no
Knife = yes, typical OW knife approx 6 “
LocationOfKnife = on L FA
NumberOfTanks = 1
SizeOfTanks = 80
TankMaterial = AL
TankPosition = single back mount
FillPressureAtStartOfDive = ~3000
PressureAtRecovery = 0
TankValveConfiguration = K
PositionOfIsolationValve = n/a
NumberOfRegulators = one
BrandOfRegulators = Dacor
Octopus = Yes
LongHose = no
RegsFunctionalAtScene = yes
GeneralConditionOfRegulators = good
StatusOfValveOpening = working
PressureGauge = standard
PSIReadingOnGauge =
NumberOfLights = 2
TypeOfLights = 1) multi D cell primary and 2)c cell b.u.
LightsOperational = 1) yes 2) yes
LocationOfLights = both carried
NumberOfReels = none
TypeOfReels = n/a
ReelsDeployed = n/a
LocationOfReels = n/a
DistanceFromGuideline = approx 8′
GuidelineCondition = good
DepthGaugeType = computer
VictimsDepthGaugeReading = surface mode
Slate = no
Tables = unk
NumberOfComputers = 1
TypeOfComputers = Aeris 500AI
a_ComputerData = unk
a_AddtionalDescriptionOfEquipment = Victim and buddy were diving with two
others and were not using lines while exploring the cave. Stirred up the
viz and attempted to find line. Buddy found line and went the wrong way
into cave, went to end of line and then turned to exit. Victim went back
to find the air pocket they had explored earlier and found the pocket w/
170 psi remaining in tank. Crawled onto ledge and waited 6 hrs to be
rescued. They placed light at entrance of cave and poked glow sticks
into silt while moving about. Diving for 6 yrs and have done no OW dives out
of class, all cave.
EquipmentLoaned = no
LoanedFromWho = n/o
OverallConditionOfEquipment = good
a_BodyState = Alive.
ReportPreparedBy = Scott Hunsucker
PreparersAddress = 840 Romar Drive
Pensacola, FL 32534
RecoveryTeamMembers = Daniel Nieves
850-456-0496
Bill Cowan
850-429-9731
brcowan1@juno.com
OfficerInCharge = Capt. Bill Brynat, Marianna PD
850-526-3125