In Reply to: Dive Accident posted by Scott S. on March 13, 2009 at 17:15:13:

"Anyone have any news as to how the Diver is doing?"

I don't want this to come off sounding too mean, but don't guess. (But kudos to labelling the guesses as such.) The initial facts you stated are correct based on what I know. You guesses aren't.

They were actually diving Flat Rock. Diver reported symptoms right away (a good thing), was put on oxygen (a good thing) and resoponded quickly (i.e. symptoms started abating - generally a sign that you're bent). Boat headed for Redondo for transfer.

Diver was taken to the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber (can anyone say "Chamber Day"???) for possible treatment. I don't have any specific information on how the treatment went (or is going) but it's hoped that this is a "mild" hit that resolves itself with one treatment.

And before people start saying, "He shouldn't have been bent on that profile," factor in (1) age, (2) cold water, (3) might have been working hard taking game and carrying a big bag of scallops, (4) slightly rapid ascent due to a drysuit issue, (5) no safety stop.

So it goes back to things you've probably heard over and over but which bear repeating: It's rarely just ONE thing.

Hopefully the diver (who's a friend of mine) will be fine but it also does underscore (to get the commercial in) why we need our Chamber. And I hope you'll be supporting us during Chamber Day on May 6 if you haven't made plans to already.

- Ken
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Ken Kurtis
Owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA

• Re: Re: Dive Accident Shawn B 09:07:25 03/19/09 (0)
• Re: Re: Dive Accident On Channel 16 20:49:59 03/13/09 (0)