Key Largo, FL: Aquarius Habitat rebreather fatality May 2009

barney · 20th November 2009, 13:39

Does anyone have any accurate information on this incident? Its been a while and this incident has been kept fairly quiet. There has been a lot of information floating around behind the scenes, but based on all the conflicting stories some of it has to be inaccurate or just false. The latest information I have heard was he was doing some sort of drilling and that there was some sort of "interference" with his unit, which led to the fatality. Keep in mind this is coming from non-rebreather divers, so the description may be misleading. Not sure if they were alluding to the battery-bounce issue on older Inspirations though?
In any case, I could really use some *accurate* information on this incident because it has caused some push-back from various entities and complicating (possibly eliminating) rebreather use on some pending projects, which would really screw up logistics. The lack of official/confirmed information has made responding to any concerns with rebreather use that much more difficult. Feel free to send me a PM if you wish.
Cheers,
Mike

**Walt Stearns** · 20th November 2009, 14:06

Having been in the water when NURC crew while they were driving in new bottom anchors, the vibration from that piece of equipment (basically a jack hammer) underwater is pretty severe. Even at a distance of four feet, the fillings in my teeth felt like they were coming lose. When I returned back the boat, I discovered the seal where the dome port is potted into the frame had developed leak. Related can’s say, but from that experience, if that CCR diver was using that same piece of equipment, I could see were a potential problem could have been created in the CCR.

PCDiver · 20th November 2009, 17:31

Could be related to this: Ambient Pressure Diving Ltd.

**Walt Stearns** · 20th November 2009, 18:11

Well, that may answer that.

***Monkey*** · 20th November 2009, 19:52

The infomation I got a few weeks after it happend is 100% hersay.... but I was told he had completed work, was done and had motioned to the other divers he was returning to the habitat.

He left the work site and never made it back to the habitat and was found motionless just out side the entrance.

**Subfiend** · 23rd February 2010, 19:14

A formal report on this incident was prepared and issued in August 2009. Copies have been circulating among the scientific diving community for some time now, but I do not know if the report has been formally published or made public.

In my own personal opinion, the report should be made public. It provides some important lessons and conclusions that would improve diver safety in general.

**OceanOpportunity** · 23rd February 2010, 20:03

this incident was presented in detail at the 2010 Northeast Rebreather & Advanced Diving Technology Workshop by Jeff Godfrey, President of the AAUS.
His full presentation can be found here:

YouTube - 2010 Workshop \| Jeff Godfrey

He gets into the incident a bit past half way through his presentiation.

20th November 2009, 13:39	#1 (permalink)
barney New Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 469	Key Largo, FL: Aquarius Habitat rebreather fatality May 2009 Does anyone have any accurate information on this incident? Its been a while and this incident has been kept fairly quiet. There has been a lot of information floating around behind the scenes, but based on all the conflicting stories some of it has to be inaccurate or just false. The latest information I have heard was he was doing some sort of drilling and that there was some sort of "interference" with his unit, which led to the fatality. Keep in mind this is coming from non-rebreather divers, so the description may be misleading. Not sure if they were alluding to the battery-bounce issue on older Inspirations though? In any case, I could really use some accurate information on this incident because it has caused some push-back from various entities and complicating (possibly eliminating) rebreather use on some pending projects, which would really screw up logistics. The lack of official/confirmed information has made responding to any concerns with rebreather use that much more difficult. Feel free to send me a PM if you wish. Cheers, Mike __________________ Michael C. Barnette ASSOCIATION OF UNDERWATER EXPLORERS
(Offline)

20th November 2009, 17:31	#3 (permalink)
PCDiver Submerge Productions Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Malta (Rabat) Posts: 1,164	Re: Key Largo, FL: Aquarius Habitat rebreather fatality May 2009 Could be related to this: Ambient Pressure Diving Ltd.
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20th November 2009, 18:11	#4 (permalink)
Walt Stearns Underwater Journal KISS Explorer #447 KISS Sport, GEM, Dolphin Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 597	Re: Key Largo, FL: Aquarius Habitat rebreather fatality May 2009 Well, that may answer that. __________________ Walt Stearns Editor-in-Chief www.UnderwaterJournal.com
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20th November 2009, 19:52	#5 (permalink)
*Monkey* Head Dishwasher Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lauderdale By The Sea Florida Posts: 1,277	Re: Key Largo, FL: Aquarius Habitat rebreather fatality May 2009 The infomation I got a few weeks after it happend is 100% hersay.... but I was told he had completed work, was done and had motioned to the other divers he was returning to the habitat. He left the work site and never made it back to the habitat and was found motionless just out side the entrance. __________________ Monkey Diver Inc. Monkey Diver Travel Inc. http://www.monkeydiver.com
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23rd February 2010, 19:14	#6 (permalink)
Subfiend Supporting Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East Coast, U.S.A. Posts: 42	Re: Key Largo, FL: Aquarius Habitat rebreather fatality May 2009 A formal report on this incident was prepared and issued in August 2009. Copies have been circulating among the scientific diving community for some time now, but I do not know if the report has been formally published or made public. In my own personal opinion, the report should be made public. It provides some important lessons and conclusions that would improve diver safety in general. __________________ David Concannon www.davidconcannon.com
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