Diver Death, Rob Palmer - What really happened!

[Dennis JR Harding]

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Lewis [SMTP:lewis...@eanx.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 1997 3:39 PM
To: Dennis JR Harding
Cc: Carl Heinzl <c...@freeside.ai.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: FW: Diver Death

Dennis JR Harding wrote:
>
> Is this true? Found this on the web this mourning in the news group
rec.diving.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Harding, Dennis JR
> Sent: Thursday, May 08, 1997 10:02 AM
> To: Harding, Dennis JR
> Subject: Fw: Diver Death
>
> Carl Heinzl <c...@freeside.ai.mit.edu> wrote in article
<CGH.97Ma...@freeside.ai.mit.edu>...
> >
> > It appears that Rob Palmer had died, reportedly on a 108 meter dive in
> > the Red Sea.
> >
> > -Carl-
> >

I am sorry to tell you that this is true. Rob Palmer failed to return from
an open curcuit pleasure dive on a wall at Gifton Island in the Red Sea on
May 5th (monday). A six-hour search failed to recover Rob and he is
presumed dead. Rob was diving solo, with a fully equipped redundant system,
back-mounted independant doubles (as was his preference) and a 70 cubic
foot stage cylinder.
As you know, Rob was a member of the Explorer's Club, an instructor for the
British Cave Diving Group, founder of the Bahamas Blue Hole Foundation and
Director of TDI Europe. Not only was Rob considered one of the world's
leading cave divers and educators, but those of us who knew him regarded
Rob as a gentle and thoughtful friend. The worldwide diving community will
certainly mourn his death.
I do not know what arrangements may be made to honor Rob but I will try to
let you know if I hear... I would appreciate you posting this on Cavers and
techdiver and whatever other chat groups you may think appropriate.
Steve Lewis

--
Dennis JR Harding
(dj...@icon.co.za)