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| Diver entering Weeki Wachee |
Marson Ashly Kay, 29, of Gainesville became disoriented during a dive and got wedged in an underwater cavern, authorities said.
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office gave the following account of what happened:
Kay was conducting a research dive with Karst Underwater Research, in Weeki Wachee's main spring area.
He along with five other divers entered the water shortly after 4:30 p.m. and descended into the springs to an open cavern area about 175 feet down. The open cavern contains several tight rock formations at a depth of about 100 feet.
During an ascent back the surface, it appears that Kay became disoriented and took a different path to the surface. He then became wedged in a cavern where the opening of the rock formation was too small for him to swim through, said Hernando sheriff's Lt. Cinda Moore.
The flow of the spring may have also been a contributing factor to Kay's inability to free himself from the cavern. Kay's fellow divers found him and tried to free him but were unsuccessful.
The other divers ascended to the surface and notified Kurst Research Director Brett Hemphill of the emergency. A rescue team immediately went into the water and reached Kay in two to three minutes.
When they arrived, Kay was lifeless, with his mask on his forehead and his regulator out of his mouth. The rescue divers were able to free Kay from the cave and surfaced just after 4:45 p.m.
No foul play is suspected in the death, investigators said.
Although Weeki Wachee State Park is most famous for the mermaid-costumed divers who perform in its main spring, Saturday's accident was not related to a performance at the park, authorities said.
Source: Tampa Bay Times
Additionam Resources: Weeki Wachee Survey
Update 03/04/2012 From Karst Underwater research:
Update 03/04/2012 From Karst Underwater research:
On 3/31/2012 at Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida, KARST Underwater Research (KUR) team members were performing a series of dives which included entering and exiting the cave system. Marson Kay, a two-year veteran of KUR's all volunteer team, drowned while exiting the cave system. The following information, based on eye witness and forensic evidence, provides some insight into this tragic accident.
Following a successful dive into the cave at 180 feet, Marson Kay signaled he was exiting. From that point, a 1/2" braided white rope leads upwards to 142 feet, where the crevasse area of the cavern begins. Although the cave narrows at this point, the rope, now colored orange with a diameter of 7/16", is placed in the largest easement leading to a depth of 68 feet, where daylight clearly can be seen at all times. Instead of following the ropes as he had done multiple times in the past, Marson rapidly moved into a highly restrictive area of the crevasse. It is believed that this behavior was not a calculated decision but a reaction caused by the affects of an embolism he incurred while rapidly ascending from depth. According to the coroner's evaluation, Marson developed a cerebral arterial gas embolism prior to his death. Typically, this condition causes profound changes in mental functioning including disorientation, blindness, paralysis, seizures and loss of consciousness within minutes or even seconds of onset. If it occurs after surfacing, it is often fatal or profoundly disabling even with prompt recompression therapy; when it occurs underwater, the incapacity or unconsciousness it causes almost always results in drowning.
Although safety divers were in visual contact and additional safety gas cylinders were in place, he rapidly pushed himself upward into an area where even side-mount divers could not easily access. Several attempts were made to communicate, by means of light signals as well as touch contact. Although Marson was still moving at this time, he did not directly respond to these communication attempts. After approximately 5 minutes, divers reported Marson was no longer utilizing his regulator. A subsequent review of his equipment indicated that Marson had approximately half of his gas supply remaining in both of his tanks and his regulators appeared to be working properly.
Cave diving is an inherently dangerous activity, just as rock-climbing, mountain biking and even horseback riding. All cave divers understand the risks of diving in underwater caves and accept them as an inescapable part of the activity they are so passionate about. Marson's accidental death is great personal loss to all that knew and loved him as well as to our team. We will do the best we can to honor his memory.