Team Equipment

We have surface supplied equipment consisting of two (2) umbilicals (300 feet each of hoses for air or mixed gas delivery to the diver from topside, a pneumo hose to determine the diver’s depth at any time by topside personnel, and a strength member for diver safety) combined with a Dive Control System (DCS-2A) console, two Superlite 27's helmets, and an attachable video camera.

In addition, we have two hard hulled boats from which we deploy the surface supplied equipment, rubber zodiac, hard hulled ice boat, two vehicles (one large van (laundry style) and one ambulance type). The Sheriff’s Office, Marine Deputy Unit has a fleet of boats which we also have access to use, if desired.

Surface Supplied System Capabilities

The surface supplied system works using a supply of air from either an air compressor or via scuba cylinders with previously mixed gases loaded into scuba cylinders. Scuba cylinders are easier to handle on smaller boats. The gas supply is routed from the scuba cylinders through a manifold inside the Dive Control System console which has voice communications and is capable of supporting two divers underwater at the same time. The console is operated by trained and certified team members. The console operator controls the communication between topside and either or both of the two divers and controls the gas being delivered to the divers.

Another team member operates the video recording station. There is an attachable helmet mounted video camera with a video cable to the surface. The video cable is attached as an additional member of the hose bundle consisting of the diver’s breathing hose, pneumo hose, and safety line. The video is initiated and the entire mission is recorded. The resulting original video tape is provided to the Sheriff as evidence along with a written report of the mission. A copy of the video is discretely edited for future dive rescue training purposes.

The same team member operates the gas management and decompression dive computer program. A laptop computer and program allows the team member to make adjustments to the diver’s ascent configuration by adjusting the divers required length of ascent time, depth of decompression stops, the gases at each stop, and the travel gas between each of the required stops all based on the amount of time and actual depth of the diver at the deepest point in the dive (mission).

Recovery Capabilities

We have actual experience gained over time and culminating during the fall 2002 missions at Odell and Crescent Lakes. The greatest depth obtained was to 200 feet for the final recovery at Crescent Lake. The divers were on trimix (a mixture of breathable gas consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium) using our Surface Supplied equipment.

When we dive at altitude (defined as greater than 1,000 feet in elevation) we must compensate for the differences in atmospheric pressure. This requires us to make an altitude adjustment which makes us have to calculate the dive deeper than the actual depth. Therefore, a dive to 100 feet at sea level is equivalent to a dive to 120 feet at 5,000 feet. The US Navy no-decompression limit (NDL) for 100 feet is 25 minutes and the NDL for 120 feet is 15 minutes. This is a 40% reduction in bottom time allowed due to the altitude.

Our capabilities of using trimix especially in the deeper dives and using nitrox (higher levels of oxygen, which the body can metabolize, and lower levels of nitrogen) in the decompression gas when we make decompression stops on the way back to the surface make our manned recovery depth range significantly greater and more diver friendly than using only air. For example, nitrogen in the breathing mixture can lead to decompression sickness, i.e. the bends. So by adding an inert gas, He (helium), we can replace some of the narcotic effects of nitrogen and the potential for some decompression problems.

Team Members Surface Supplied Capabilities

We have the capability of providing up to 19 trained members out of the 21 volunteers presently on Dive Rescue to a scene. The abilities of the team members are varied from being a surface supplied tender, to a diving control system console operator, to the actual surface supplied diver. We have on staff a certified scuba diving instructor in surface supplied diving techniques. He recently completed teaching a course for seven (7) of the newer (within the last three years) members of the team and a refresher for another seven (7) members of the team.

Surface Supplied Mission Team Requirements

During the missions in 2002 at Odell Lake (1 recovery) and Crescent Lake (2 recoveries) we averaged 12 team members plus three boats to successfully complete each mission.

During the above mentioned missions, the surface supplied team member positions consisted of: one (1) primary diver and one (1) tender, one (1) back up diver and one (1) tender, one (1) console operator, one (1) video recorded/gas management operator, one (1) primary boat operator, one (1) secondary anchor boat operator, one (1) secondary anchor boat crew person, two (2) back up scuba divers which bring the victim up from 30 feet to the surface after placing the victim in a stokes basket, and one (1) incident commander for a total of 12 individuals. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office provided a Marine Deputy and his boat for working with the victim after the recovery.

Additional Information

For additional information on Dive Rescue’s availability, please contact, Klamath County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Coordinator Sqt. Rod Dailey at omnidive@omnidivers.com and we will forward him the message.

For additional information on Dive Rescue, please e-mail, Dive Team Captain, Conrad Caillouette at diverescuecapt@yahoo.com. For additional technical diving questions please e-mail Phil Graf, Dive Team Liaison at omnidive@omnidivers.com. More information can be found at http://www.omnidivers.com/klamathcountysheriffsdiverescueteam.html.

Date authored September 4, 2003 and revised on February 18, 2006