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Scuba deaths at Boesmansgat, South Africa

by Cosimo Leipold (RSS feed) on Jan 28th 2005 at 1:45PM

If you are dead set on setting a world record deep dive, the place to do it is Boesmansgat, South Africa. As you might imagine, not everyone comes back. Ten years ago, Deon Dreyer died there during a routine dive. Despite the attempts of numerous individuals (and a robot at great expense to the family) to locate his body, he was never found. At least, not until October 28th, 2004. Unfortunately, the body recovery did not go as planned. Read on for more information.

Deon Dreyer was a support diver at Boesmansgat in 1995 who disappeared during a relatively shallow dive to 70m. The reasons for his demise are unknown though the most likely culprit was probably deep water blackout. Numerous divers have searched for him and a copper plaque sits at the cave�s entrance in his memory. In 1996, Nuno Gomes set the world record at Boesmansgat by diving to 282m after a solo 12 hour dive. You can read his harrowing description here. Even after reaching the bottom, he was unable to locate Deon despite an extensive search.

And so it came to be that Deon�s body was discovered in late 2004 near the bottom of Boesmansgat by Dave Shaw. Dave returned in January in an attempt to recover his body. He died during his attempt. The diver who went after Dave Shaw also nearly lost his life.

Filed under: Scuba Diving

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

bill reals Dec 18th 2005 5:12PM

Dave's head mounted video camera records his final moments, he basically passes out, most likely from overworking at depth which builds up CO2.

Here is the dive plan:
"Well, first you're gonna go down below 800',
you'll follow a reel to a guy buried tanks down in the silt,
you gotta dig out the silt from around his tanks and manifold until you can
break him free from the bottom, lift him up and out, and float his rig,
then drag him back to the upline,
then pull him up with you...
all from below 800'
by yourself."

Sad and extremely crazy dive plan.

cosimo Dec 18th 2005 5:12PM

You ask me, anyone who dives to that kind of depths is a little nuts to begin with.

jason Dec 18th 2005 5:12PM

Wow... this is sad and crazy. I love diving by this is just insane. Why would you do something so risky?! Why not dive half the depth and enjoy the rest of your life? Reminds me the Timothy Treadwell:

http://sundance.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000023028975/