I have personally dived the site in question (under proper supervision by a cave diving instructor, while working on a class towards becoming a cave diver).

The following rules were broken: 1. Lack of training 2. Failure to run a guideline 3. Failure to reserve 2/3 of the dive tank for the exit 4. Failure to have 3 light sources! 5. Dove Solo 6. Dove while intoxicated.

We have no proof that the diver was exceeding his depth limits (rule 7). The body was found around a corner from the opening, but less than 10 feet from the opening! At the time of recovery, his one light was found next to him, dead. Since he was only in the cavern zone, he could normally have used the sun to get out, but it was 2 am - oops!

According to witnesses, he started the dive with 1000 PSI in the tank (approximately 1/3 of a full tank - see rule 3). Please note that there is a tank filling station just up the hill and around the corner. Less than 1/2 mile, but it was closed for the night.

And, of course, he dove solo. And finally, entering the cavern is not simple. The outflow is a decent flow, and you have to really want to get in thru "the keyhole" (The name of the entrance).

http://www.wcjb.com/news.asp?id=10418

Diver Drowns in Area Cave 8/23/2004

By Heather Sorentrue/WCJB TV 20 News

A weekend diving accident claimed the life of a teacher. The Tallahassee man drowned on Saturday in an area cave while on a trip with three of his friends.

Gilchrist County Sheriff's investigators came out to the Devil's Ear cave right around 2 AM on Saturday morning. They say Brian Tindale of Tallahassee was with a few friends but was the only one of them cave diving in the dark early morning hours.

Investigators say Tindale was a certified open water diver, but they've found nothing to indicate he was certified for cave diving. A local diving instructor says a lack of training is the number one killer of people diving in caves.

"It's incredibly easy to die, unfortunately," says Diving Instructor Larry Greene, "What kills people going into these caves is just making mistakes, not being trained for what they're doing. So someone who is trained to go in there, they have more controls of the variables that effect their lives."

Sheriff David Turner says Tindale's friends started getting worried after he went diving and did not resurface quickly.

"He had went down 2 or 3 times and upon his last time resurfacing he had told them that he had just a few minutes of air left in his tanks and he would not be down that long," says Turner.

As the minutes passed, investigators say Tindale's friends called for help.

A Ginnie Springs dive instructor went down to the Devil's Ear cave entrance and recovered Tindale's body. A diving expert says darkness may have contributed to the victim's trouble and eventual death.

"It makes a lot of difference. When they go in an overhead environment and there's no light, it's very easy to become disoriented and lose what direction you came in from," says Green.

Sheriff's investigators also tell us several witnesses say they saw the men drinking.

The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office is waiting on a report from the Medical Examiner's Office to determine whether alcohol played a part in Tindale's death.

Submitted on 08/14/2006

Submitted by: James Eager
Reference: WCJB TV 20 News 8/23/2004

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
We've already had a diving story this past month, but this one is different enough for me to want to include! What gets me the most is that he was cave diving at night. WHY? That alone is pretty stupid. There's a LOT to see in total blackness when your one light goes dead, isn't there? Stupid enough for me, and a good write-up too! Thanks, James!

Fitzroy said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
This one was borderline for me because the decedent did not completely ignore all precautions. However, he certainly strayed so far from the realm of responsible diving practices that I believe it deserves further consideration. The excellent write-up helped to clarify that point for me.

Sheryl said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
I agree with the other Moderators on this one.

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award

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