Scuba Diving Accident Investigation

A good diving accident investigator always travels prepared with the right tools, whether he needs a fiberglass measuring tape for taking the dimensions of a dive site or vessel, or an oxygen analyzer for checking the contents of a scuba cylinder. Steve Barsky is known for his meticulous preparation and detailed reports.

Many scuba diving accidents take place at locations that are very remote, so when a diving accident investigator arrives on scene he had better have all of the tools and skills he will need to do the job, because there will usually be nobody to help him. To properly investigate a diving accident the person handling the case must have a diverse knowledge of different types of equipment and must be capable of gaining the cooperation and trust of the persons who were involved. In most cases, the investigation will take place days, weeks, or even months after the incident occurred. The equipment will usually not have been rinsed and often may have been stored in a manner that will lead to deterioration of the parts.

Diving accident investigators are not effective if they are not persistent. They must be dogged in their search for the facts and the documents that surround the case. They must be a combination of confidant, detective, photographer, and writer.

Of course, being an effective scuba diving accident investigator is meaningless if the investigator is unable to put together a report that explains the events in a manner that can be understood by people who are not experts in scuba diving. The investigator must be capable of writing clearly and combining the essential information into an easily read document that takes the reader through the case in a logical and clear manner. If you need a person who can get the facts for you and create an intelligent record of what took place, contact Steven M. Barsky.

Many scuba diving accidents take place at remote locations. Without a skilled diving accident investigator working on your case, the facts of the accident may be elusive.

Diving in overhead environments, such as inside a cave or shipwreck, is one type of activity that is associated with a number of diving accidents each year. In this situation, the diver is usually outside the zone of available light and unable to make a direct ascent to the surface. This type of diving is particularly hazardous and is classified in the realm of "technical diving." The video shown here takes you inside a shipwreck in Chuuk Lagoon. Take note of the amount of silt covering almost every item and the fact that there is no light in most sequences except that provided by the divers.