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2003-01-02 Incident
The following narrative was supplied on January 11, 2003
Blue Hole (aka King Kong’s Cavern), Andros Island, Bahamas
Search Results for Missing Divers
2nd and 3rd January 2003
Report filed 1/11/03
By Brian Kakuk
IUCRR Caribbean Regional Coordinator
Phone: (561) 741-0192 Ext. 232
E-Mail: bahamacave@aol.com
2 January, 2003
Brian Kakuk was contacted by Mrs. Margo Blackwell of the Bahamas Environmental Research Centre, College of The Bahamas concerning two missing scuba divers who were thought to be lost in a blue hole off shore of Central Andros Island, Bahamas. The divers were both employees of a local field research station at Stafford Creek, North Andros. One male Diving Instructor (Bahamian) and one female Dive Master (American) had reportedly not returned from a dive at the offshore blue hole.
Information was relayed to Brian Kakuk that the divers boat (belonging to the field station) was found by divers from Small Hope Bay Lodge Dive Resort anchored at the site the previous afternoon (1 January 2003), but with no sign of the divers. Dive personnel from International Field Station, Kamalamee Cay Resort and Small Hope Bay Lodge conducted two searches of the blue hole to depths of up to 210 feet, but no divers were located.
Brian Kakuk was flown to Andros at 11 am on the morning of the 2nd and arrived on Andros by noon. Upon arrival he was met by Mrs. Blackwell, and Corporal Riley of the Fresh Creek Police Department. He was briefed on all known information concerning the missing divers.
Brian Kakuk was informed by various sources close to the missing divers that they had both been conducting deep diving activities in local blue holes over the last few months. They had apparently just purchased new diving computers and were using these to conduct their deep diving activities. After conversations with co-workers and friends, it was noted that both of the missing divers were using basic open water equipment, with no redundant back-ups (other than lights), and neither had received training for technical or cave diving activities.
Once at the site, a search team consisting of Brian Kakuk and Mr. Michael Hornby of Small Hope Bay Lodge was assembled, and dives were planned. The area searched was chosen due to information obtained during interviews with co-workers and friends of the missing divers. Based on the fact that both of the missing divers were looking for deep areas to dive, the deepest section of the cave was chosen for the search.
The on-site search and support team consisted of:
Corporal Riley, Fresh Creek Police Department � On site Officer in Charge
Brian Kakuk, IUCRR Caribbean Regional Coordinator � Search Diver
Michael Horneby, Small Hope Bay Lodge � Search Diver
Ingelise Giles, International Field Studies � Support Diver
Lisa Gentit, International Field Studies � Surface support
Ian Bystrom, International Field Studies � Support Diver
The first dive was conducted at 2pm on 2 January, to a depth of 330 feet by Brian Kakuk, while Michael Hornby concentrated on a line that transited a breakdown area between the depths of 140 to 220 feet in depth. The cave/cavern sections of this blue hole are very large, and horizontal sweeps were made along the near vertical talis slope on which an older deep line was laid. Sweeps were made at 30-foot increments during the ascent from depth and during required decompression stops. No evidence was found of any missing divers.
3 January 2003
A deeper dive was planned for this day. It was assumed that due to the steeply sloping talis mound of the blue hole, that any incapacitated divers would have continued to bounce deeper into the cave on the slope. Explorations over the last 10 years had found that the cave was going to be at least 450 to 500 feet deep in the area where the search was being conducted.
It was decided that a dive to 450 to 470 feet would be conducted. A new line was tied to the older line at 330 feet, and a direct decent was made to 390 feet to the top of a breakdown area between the talis slope and the ceiling. Searches were conducted both north and south of this point, and Brian Kakuk continued down the northern (most obvious) side of the talis mound while searching. At a depth of 460 feet, the bottom could be seen approximately 30 feet below, but there was no sign of any missing divers. The guideline reel was tied off and left at a depth of 470 feet for reference on possible future searches or exploration.
Search patterns were continued both north and south of the line during ascent along the talis slope and during required decompression stops. No evidence of the missing divers was found.
It was decided by Brian Kakuk that due to the depth, logistics of deep diving activities and changing weather, that no further deep searches would be conducted. This was verbally relayed to the IUCRR Director, and it was agreed that nothing else could be done without the possibility of higher than usual risk to the search team.
Michael Hornby agreed to conduct additional shallower searches as time and weather permitted, and any findings would be relayed to Brian Kakuk and the Fresh Creek Police Department.
Once back on land, a verbal report was given to Officer Riley with the understanding that a written report of the searches would be submitted as soon as time permitted.
I would like to acknowledge the volunteer efforts of:
Mrs. Margo Blackwell, BERC, College of The Bahamas, Andros � Search Coordination
Mr. Jeff Birch, Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros � Diving logistics (Support vessel, gas, equipment and personnel).
Mr. Alex Blackwell, Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros – Flight Transportation
Officer Riley, Fresh Creek, Andros Police Department � On-Site Law Enforcement
Mr. Michael Hornby, Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros � Search Diver
Ingelise Giles, International Field Studies, Blanket Sound, Andros � Support Divers and Vessel
Report submitted by Brian Kakuk
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