Incident Reports [Click here] to return to Incident Reports list. * You will not copy the report, or any portion of the report, without expressed written consent of the IUCRR The IUCRR does not claim to report the final status of any accident. Information and facts are gathered on a best-effort basis. No conclusions as to cause of death are expressed or implied. The IUCRR is not responsible for any misuse of the information. It is the policy of the IUCRR to report all accidents for which it is informed. If there is an accident that you know about and have information on that is not included in the list, please contact us at IUCRR-Info@iucrr.org. IMPORTANT NOTES: At an accident site, there are actually very few real facts. The IUCRR reports state facts only, and specifically exclude any speculation. Information derived from bystanders is often included if corroborated. Fields shown below that are blank or “n/a” indicate factual information was not available, or not relevant. It is the policy of the IUCRR not to make any substantive changes to the reports as submitted by the IUCRR team member, so any mistakes are theirs.
Please remember, by accessing this information you have agreed to the following restrictions:
* You will not excerpt any part of a report for use in a publication, in any format, without expressed written consent of the IUCRR.
* You will not use any part of a report for any purpose except for personal education/information.
BUT TO THE IUCRR at IUCRR-Info@iucrr.org
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
2001-05-07 Incident
RescueOrRecoveryOrNearMiss = Recovery
TodaysDate = 5-10-01
TimeOfAccident = undetermined
DateOfAccident = 5-7-01
County/State/Country = Gilcrest/Florida/USA
NameOfAccidentSite———————————-
Ginnie Springs, 6.5 miles West of High Springs off C-340. 7300 N.E. Ginnie Springs Rd.
High Springs, FL 32643
DateRecoveryStarted = 5-7-01
TimeRecoveryStarted = 2255 EST
AgeOfVictim = 40
SexOfVictim = Male
VictimsHighestCertLevel = Cave Inst., Trimix Inst.
CertAgency = NACD, NSS-CDS, IANTD, TDI
DateOfTraining = PADI O/W trained May 22, 1983
YrsExperienceDiving = 18
TotalNumberOfDives = thousands
NumberOfDivesThisYear = hundred +
TrainedInCaveDiving = Yes
CaveDivingTrainingAgency = NSS-CDS (Wes Skiles)
DateOfCaveDivingTraining = 1984
YearsExperienceCaveDiving = 13
TotalNumberOfCaveDives = two-thousand +
NumberOfCaveDivesInLastYear = hundred +
NumberOfDivesAtThisLocation = 1,000 + speculation
DatesOfDivesAtThisLocation = been diving location for 13 years
MaximumDepthAtLocation = 112′
DivePartnersName = none
OriginalDivePlan————————————-
unknown, victim had oxygen bottle, and two stages with scooter, survey data collected on dive.
MaximumKnownDepth = 112′
WaterTemp = 72 F
DepthBodyFound = 100′
DistanceToNearestExit = 3525′
DescriptionOfSiltInArea = none
NormalVizDistance = 150′ +
VizDuringRecovery = 150′ +
WeatherConditionsAtTimeOfAccident==================
sunny day, light shower
EntryConditionsAtSite = Normal
WetOrDrySuit = Atlan Drysuit
FullOrShorty =
ConditionOfSuit = good
Hood = yes
Gloves = no
Booties = no
WeightBelt = no
PoundsKilosOfWeight = no
BuoyancyCompensator = Halycon Wings
BCType = Backplate and Harnass
DegreeOfBCInflation = slightly inflated, victim was slightly negative
Mask = yes
LocationOfMask = on victim
ContentsOfMask = water, slight amount of blood
Fins = ScubaPro
TypeOfFins = Jetfin
TapedFins = no
Snorkel = no
Knife = yes
LocationOfKnife = waist harnass
NumberOfTanks = 6, please see below for descriptions
SizeOfTanks = backmount, 95’s
TankMaterial = steel
TankPosition = backmount
FillPressureAtStartOfDive = 3600 psi labeled on tanks
PressureAtRecovery = 0
TankValveConfiguration = din manifold with isolator valve
PositionOfIsolationValve = open fully
NumberOfRegulators = 2 on double 95’s
BrandOfRegulators = Scubapro Mark 20 G250
Octopus = yes, scubapro G250
LongHose = yes, 7′ , routed around neck
RegsFunctionalAtScene = yes
GeneralConditionOfRegulators = excellent
StatusOfValveOpening = fully open
PressureGauge = uwatec
PSIReadingOnGauge = 0
NumberOfLights = 3
TypeOfLights = 1-Extreme Exposure 18 Watt HID, 2-Scout Back-up Light 3- Scout Back-up light
LightsOperational = 1-burned out, on position, 2-working , 3-working
LocationOfLights = 1-mounted on waist belt, 2-mounted on harnass, 3-mounted on harnass
NumberOfReels = 3
TypeOfReels = 1-safety spool, 2-explorer reel (no line) 3- explorer reel, apprx. 900+ of line on it.
ReelsDeployed = 1-no 2-no 3-no
LocationOfReels = 1-crotch strap D-ring, 2- located at 3400′ clipped on stage bottle, 3- located at 3400′ clipped to stage bottle.
DistanceFromGuideline = Victim OK on guideline
GuidelineCondition = good
DepthGaugeType = Uwatec
VictimsDepthGaugeReading = 112′ max
Slate = slates for survey
Tables = yes, on wetnotes in pocket
NumberOfComputers = none
TypeOfComputers =
ComputerData =
AddtionalDescriptionOfEquipment—————————-
Equipment in excellent condition, right valve stem was slightly bent, but completely functional. Survey slates found attached to victim with survey information and stick maps. Oxygen bottle located at 20′ – steel 72 sherwood first stage, 2nd stage G250, 1700 psi of oxygen in bottle. 1st stage bottle located at 2300′ clipped on line, Steel 72, 1500 psi of 35%, G200B 2nd stage. 2nd stage bottle, steel 72 located at 3400′ penetration, clipped to line, 33.5% at 1800 psi, G500 second stage. A stub-nosed Gavin scooter was found with 2nd stage bottle clipped to line at 3400′, in working order, and the trigger was pinned on scooter. Victim also had an argon bottle attached to him for inflation of drysuit, valve fully open.No visible markings on tanks or clay where victim found.
EquipmentLoaned = owned
LoanedFromWho =
OverallConditionOfEquipment = excellent
BodyState————————————————–
Victim found 3525′ in cave, facing exit. Upside down, Right hand o.k. on line, victim slightly negative. Light cord wrapped around line, when he turned over this happened, not tangled. Regulator out of mouth, back-up regulator in bungee. Eyes closed, small amount of blood coming from left nostril.No visible marks on body or hands, no apparent struggle.
ReportPreparedBy = Larry Green
PreparersAddress = PO Box 330
High Springs, FL 32655-0330
RecoveryTeamMembers = Tyler Moon
904-418-4664
PO Box 2682
High Springs, FL 32643
David Sweetin
904-418-4664
PO Box 2682
High Springs, Fl 32643
OfficerInCharge = Darrell W. Williams
Patrol Captain
P.O. Box 418
Trenton, FL
352-463-3181
1-800-701-3410