Why only cave divers belong in caves

[tremtech]

Another senseless cave death . This was an instructor, teaching class to students, nice example , note with no cave certs. I knew this guy professionally and I feel bad for his family and for those students that had to deal with the situation. Also Thanks to Birds Underwater and the Coast Guard for the recovery. Here is an abbreviated news article : http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2.../1/291806.html

Here is a copy of a sign that means something.

[sudnit5]

That is tragic, should not have happened.

[Splitlip]

AOW class NOT Cave. Instructor not cave certified
This is reposted from the local paper, the Citrus County Chronical:

By Cristy Loftis

When Richard "Rick" Anderson learned there was a search for his longtime friend Jim Cummins, he didn't assume the worst.

Cummins, 40, had disappeared during a scuba diving trip in the Gulf of Mexico near Homosassa on Sunday afternoon. Anderson knew his friend was a survivor.

"I figured he'd end up on someone's dock," Anderson said.

But Monday morning rescue divers found Cummins in a cave about 90 feet below the water?s surface, Citrus County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Eddie Lane said.

Cummins lived in Crystal River and was a well-known Inverness attorney. He was a dive instructor and ran Crystal River's Offshore Adventure Dive Center.

On Sunday, Cummins took Harold Arnold, 37, of Crystal River, and Donald Albritton, 26, a local Army recruiter, to a cave about 3.5 to 4 miles from Riverhaven Marina on the Homosassa River. Cummins was helping the men to get their advanced open water diver certification.

While none of the men were certified cave divers, they entered a crack in the Gulf's floor, which leads into caves, Lane said.

At one point, Cummins instructed the divers to stop. Next, Cummins turned around, stirring up silt and making the water cloudy.

That was the last time they saw Cummins, Lane said.

The men waited about 25 minutes for him to reappear, then returned to the surface and reported the incident to authorities.

Authorities from the sheriff's office, U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission searched for Cummins on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. It was a certified cave diver from Birds Under Water helping in the search who finally found Cummins.

Lane said they believe Cummins became disoriented and eventually ran out of air. He was found in a cave off of the main cavern.

Cummins was not attached to a safety line, which is normal protocol for cave divers, Lane said. "Obviously, it was a fatal mistake," Lane said.

Cummins' air tank was also caught in a rock in the cave. Lane said they couldn't tell if Cummins had gotten stuck before or after he died.

He was found at about 9:30 a.m. Monday and brought to a medical examiner official, who was waiting at the Riverhaven Marina where many of Cummins' friends had gathered.

Anderson, who worked for Cummins as an investigator in his law office, met with others who knew Cummins at the marina.

"That's all he ever talked about was diving, diving, diving," Anderson said.

While his friend of more than 20 years liked risks, Cummins was typically a careful person, Anderson said.

Cummins was the father of five children with ages ranging from elementary to college aged.

Friend Cara Cacioppo said she hopes everyone remembers all the good things about Cummins.

"He was the best father I've ever met," Cacioppo said.

This is the third person who has died in a cave in Citrus County in the past three years, Lane said. The last was in July 2006 when a swimmer ventured into an underwater cave in the Chassahowitzka River and died.
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Not John Barleycorn but rather Inspector Gadget

[Splitlip]

This guy was not cave certified. He was teacing an AOW class and put his students at risk. Got to wonder how many other students he exposed to that risk and how easily this could have been more tragic.
Lesson. You need to trust your instuctor, but also trust that little voice in your head.

[Dive-aholic]

Not to stir things up any more, but I also read on another board that this guy was involved in some questionable occurrences recently, involving one of his clients and arson. I don't recall the details.

[cgvmer]

Dive-aholic those accusations are in the OP's baynews9's link.

[mm_dm]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

AOW class NOT Cave. Instructor not cave certified
This is reposted from the local paper, the Citrus County Chronical:

At one point, Cummins instructed the divers to stop. Next, Cummins turned around, stirring up silt and making the water cloudy.

While his friend of more than 20 years liked risks, Cummins was typically a careful person, Anderson said.__________________
Not John Barleycorn but rather Inspector Gadget

Not a risk taker, but he turns and burns on his students. The area behind the students was less cloudy, so that's the way that they go (and live), never to see him again. Hmmmm...what was too hard to live with?

[DivingsInMyBlood]

well its sad that it happened and nobody deserves that. My best wishes to the family.

[mm_dm]

Originally Posted by DivingsInMyBlood

well its sad that it happened and nobody deserves that. My best wishes to the family.

Well said. I hope his family can find the strength to cope.

[Flatliner]

Originally Posted by Splitlip

You need to trust your instuctor, but also trust that little voice in your head.

This is the best quote I have seen on any board in quite a while. We all pay lip service to "anyone can call any dive at any time for any reason" it is a shame none of the three of them decided against going into the cave in the first place.