Missing Diver off South Bainbridge

[renoun]

Back in September I wrote

I suspect in the near future we'll also be hearing about some significant shortcomings in DNR's dive program too.

but I didn't really expect that things were this bad. I'm sure that some of the violations were not that big of a deal ( fire extinguisher tags out of date) but investigators found major issues like a lack of an effective buddy or backup diver, lack of reserve gas, and poorly maintained equipment (regs. with the IP 50 PSI too high that had other than OEM supplied HP seats). Read the attachment if you are interested but I'm comfortable saying that despite the diver's drug use there were issues in DNR's dive program that contributed to his death too. I'm sure that the dive supervisor job posting is an attempt to correct deficiencies in the agencies dive program.

[CaptnJack]

this affects my taxes

DNR is self funded through timber sales, tidal land lease and other such things. They receive very little "tax" revenue. I'm pretty sure the dive supervisor position will be funded through the fees geoduck harvesters pay. (I haven't looked into it that thoroughly tho). I hope that position keeps illegal and other contraindicated drugs out of DNRs diving program.

[girldiver]

So does DNR service their own regulators? I know most gov't agencies send them out. This report definitely clarifies the legal ramifications of a shop servicing regulators with "black market" parts kits. It's a standard practice in the industry, as the manufacturers require that the shop carry their brand in order to get parts for regulators. We've "toyed" with the idea of swapping...but have chosen to outsource our repairs to a service facility. After reading this...I think we'll continue on that path.

[Nwbrewer]

The use of an aftermarket seat doesn't bother me nearly as much as the fact that all the hoses were cracked, the power inflator was corroded to the point it didn't work, and they had retrofitted a CO2 life vest inflator to the BC. That and the fact that no one had looked in a tank used in commercial service for more than 2 years... It sounds like their gear was in a state of disrepair that a sport diver would not have put up with.