EXPLORERS
UNLIMITED
IDREO
Torre Miami 1007
Cancun, Quintana Roo 77500
Mexico
ph: +52 1 984 1207905
HQ
AAP, Accident Analysis Project
Accident Analysis History
This is the way we should keep learning to cave dive !
In this section we provide a general overview of the history of cave diving Accident Analysis up to date !
The following information is based in 660+ fatalities worldwide from 1970's to 2014.
At all times the average cave diving yearly accident fatalities rate sums 60 divers, with 2.5 being certified divers, with a peak to 21 in 2012 and sadly currently in mid 2013 with 9 deaths in 8 cases.
Untill 1985 more than 90% of fatalities been non certified cave divers, presumably as the risk was not properly advised or regulations endorsed. In fact in the last 10 yrs NON trained diver accidents in cave have reduce dramatically, however the certified cave divers involved in cave diving fatalities has increase to more than 50% of the total.
In the last 5 yrs certified cave diver fatalities has increase to 80% of total.
The average age of cave diving accidents is 27yr old, with peak starting form 17 to 37 yrs old and with the higher risk been at 30's in the last 5 yrs.
Solo diving vs team is a very tight 50% / 50% and as sport gets more global the accidents are going from exclusively USA to worldwide with a peak in Europe and Australia.
1977- Sheck Exley published the 3 main causes of cave diving fatalities:
Guideline- Lack of having a continuous guideline to the surface, which include
s no primary line, un proper T markings and failure to properly
jump lines.
Gas Management - Failure to reserve at least 2/3 of gas supply for exit.
Depth - Deep air diving O2 toxicity and Narcosis
1984 - Wes Skiles published two contributing factors :
Training- Lack of cave training as at this time 90% of fatalities were NO overhead trained divers
Lights- Failure to secure lighting during whole duration of dive, including Primary light failure
2008- Jeffrey Bozanic published Accident analysis for the New
Millennium
Gas Mixtures- Wrong gas switching, poor mislabeled cylinders, poor analyzed mixes
New Technology - Un proper DPV and Rebreather experience and/or
training
Medical problems - Poor fitness
Equipment Maintenance - None periodically servicing
Solo diving- 50% accidents happen solo
Skill maintenance - Holiday cave diving
2010 - IDREO publish a yearly report.
2010- The alarming trend that has completely turn over the early accident analysis on involved trained cave divers.
2011- 12 fatalities.
In total 12 documented cave diving fatality accidents, worldwide in
Australia, France, Ireland, Mexico, Turkey and USA.
In most cases Wrong Gas Mixtureis the main cause while employing New Technology. With 5 rebreathers involved, units been pSCR & CCR, one case of Guideline navigation and two with poor Gas Management. 6 were "Exploration dives" mode.
Dives start as "team"
in all cases except one Solo Divingand in two cases there was diving separation, one agreed previously.
One case of Medical Problems do poor fitness happen in surface after dive.
Proper procedures for gas switching, full understanding of New technology (RB technology), thorough knowledge on rules for gas management and guideline navigation were featured in this year Safety meeting, as a result of this year analysis.
2012 - 21 fatalities.
AAP brought us new challenges with Accident fatalities rates going to the higest level ever, even 10 times more than historical average, with 21 fatalities
s in total of which 13 certified cave divers.
To notice that 8 of this "accidents" were "customers" under direct guidance of a paid "Cave/rn guide", in most cases guide fail to survive, for a total of 7 in two dives.
This year accidents were involved fewer trained cave divers and 85% happen on the cavern zone, in cave all RB units involved were CCR mostly electronic driven injection.
As well 12 were Solo Diving, 7 been guided/Instructed and 2 teams of two one separation and one double fatality while surveying.
2013 - 9 fatalities in 7accidents.
The trend from 2012 continue and most accidents where under direct supervision of Instructors or Guides.
Bringing to the point is how easy is to become a Cave Instructor vs to really understand the risk, candidate preparation and mentorship need to safely introduce divers into overhead diving.
To be fair a 20% where non trained divers, however student during training where 60% of total, which brings into question the current programs
and Instructors training capabilities, besides of individual Instructor ability and teaching experience.
Rising the minimum requirement bar seems a predictable solution.
Solo diving % as usual was way less than team diving, even presumable less practiced in comparison. Poor gas analysis and switching techniques claim again complacency.
2014 - 9 fatalities in 6 accidents.
Can be characterized by one issue and that is diving BEYOND diver's level, including experience but also training, therefore limited knowledge regarding adequate planning and pushing the limits into exploration level dives without proper mentorship. Even if diving in teams.
2015 - 7 fatalities in 6 accidents.
Accident analysis while diving caves reflect an overall paradigm related to diver's experience, in one hand partially trained and extensively equipped resulting in overconfidence on the other lacking adequate training. Both which results in breaching of the basic known rules that minimize risk while cave diving; such as continuous guideline, gas management and deep cave diving, however common denominator in 2015 accidents was age (50-72yr old) and poor fitness, major contributor to heart attack due body abuse.
Analysis in progress
IDREO publish this Accident Analyisis Project (AAP), continuing to bring awareness of the current safety situation of Cave Diving and promoting an International yearly Accident Analysis in a community meeting.
Cave Divers Safety Meeting is been promoted to analyze each year accidents data base.
Next meeting :
@cavexpo
Nov 2016, Riviera Maya, Mexico
IDREO
Torre Miami 1007
Cancun, Quintana Roo 77500
Mexico
ph: +52 1 984 1207905
HQ