Lake Mead fatality

**MgicTwnger** · 02-12-2008, 12:13 AM

LAKE MEAD'S BOULDER BASIN

Las Vegas man dies in diving accident

A 40-year-old Las Vegas man died Sunday while participating in a dive in the area of a submerged flying boat that crashed into Lake Mead in 1949.

The man, whose identity was not released, died about 3 p.m. after rangers with the National Park Service could not save his life with cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said Roxanne Dey, spokeswoman for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The victim was doing a technical dive with three other Las Vegas men when he apparently had a problem with his air supply, Dey said.

Technical divers typically dive in water more than 130 feet deep. They use breathing gas mixtures other than air and have to ascend slowly with decompression stops, she said.

The park service is investigating the death, which was the first for the popular diving site in the Boulder Basin part of the lake, she said.

The Navy flying boat was converted for civilian use when it took off for a test flight from the Boulder City Airport on Oct. 24, 1949. Failing landing gear caused the boat to flip, burn and sink when it was making a test landing.

**glynneco** · 02-12-2008, 02:29 AM

How deep is that puppy?

**MgicTwnger** · 02-12-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glynneco

How deep is that puppy?

I don't know. Vegas might.

**Scuba Mama** · 02-12-2008, 07:23 PM

According to the website NPS.gov
National Park Service, the wreck in only for Technical Divers and it lays about 190 feet deep.

**glynneco** · 02-13-2008, 03:27 AM

The no 1 killer of divers is stupidity. What were these guys thing? Like penetration without the traing or equipment. It keeps happeneing and happening. I get angry. Thius guy should be home sipping a beer talking abot what a great dive he had to 130 feet but still couldn't see the wreck because of the vis.

Vegas · 02-18-2008, 08:23 PM

Hi guys,
I don't have all that much to say about all of this but a few things are important.

His name was Mike, and he was a great guy. We are really going to miss him. His memorial was nice, but painfull for all who knew him, and especially those of us who had been blessed with his wonderful company on many a dive trip.

The dive that took his life was a technical dive, with all appropriate equipment and training. He was certified for this dive, was appropriately outfitted, and was diving, I understand, in a party of 4, one of the four being his instructor, and a dear friend of mine. Safety was ALWAYS a top priority diving with these folks, - this, I know for a fact.

The rest of the details I have only heard second and third hand - but I understand that there was an equipment malfunction that made his air supply unaccessible somewhere below 160 feet. Appropriate measures were taken and the party began their ascent together. The dive was planned well and during the safety (decompression?) stops (I don't know technical diving), there was plenty of air for all to take all the recommended time and surface normally - but (here is pretty much general speculation) we're guessing that maybe shallow breathing (from fear?) caused him to load up a bunch of CO2 and increased his fear by the minute, even as a safe ascent was underway. It was said that somewhere around 30' he bolted for the surface.

I don't know anymore, except that I will truly miss him, and the trip to Micronesia won't be the same without him.

....oh, and that it should be said that at least he perished doing what he so deeply loved, living his dream, rather than sitting on the couch dreaming. (this didn't seem much comfort to me, until I realized that the friend of mine who reminded me of it has been battling aggressive skin cancer for almost 2 years now, and says that he can only pray to be so lucky.)

thanks.

**glynneco** · 02-18-2008, 10:01 PM

Thanks for the clarification Vegas. Panic is a horrible thing that none thinks could happen to them. That's why we dive so much. Every dive is a training dive. I think all of us would be very interested in what equipment malfunction happened. My condolences.

Vegas · 02-28-2008, 11:36 PM

...just an update....I heard a few more details -- again it should be noted that this is 3rd hand information, but I guess his bolt to the surface started much deeper than I had originally heard.
I dunno, doesn't make much difference at this point I guess. I just wanted to give more accurate info if as I had it. thanks.