Below is a copy of an accident report form. For many years, NACD maintained a complete file of the cave diving accidents both in Florida and across the country. During the past five years, this important component of dive accident analysis has suffered. If we are to maintain a high degree of dive safety through education, it is vital that such data be available for analysis.
Please keep a copy of this report in your files. Should you be unfortunate enough to be at or near the site of a dive fatality, please complete the form, add such information as you may feel is helpful, and forward it to the NACD. News paper clippings, police reports, medical records and dive logs all serve to facilitate dive accident analysis.
Thank you for your assistance.
Date_____________________ Time________________________
Day of Week____________________ No. of Victims______________
Information from___________________________________________
1st Victim's:
Name___________________________________________________
Home___________________________________________________
Age__________ Sex__________
Certifications:_____________________________________________
Date Cave Certified________________________________________
Hrs of Experience__________ Abe Davis/Wakulla award__________
Physical condition__________________________________________
Injury____________________________________________________
Medication________________________________________________
Careless_________________________________________________
Panic____________________________________________________
Lost_____________________________________________________
Solo_____________________________________________________
Team____________________________________________________
2nd Victim's
Name___________________________________________________
Home___________________________________________________
Age__________ Sex__________
Certifications:_____________________________________________
Date Cave Certified________________________________________
Hrs of Experience__________ Abe Davis/Wakulla award__________
Physical condition__________________________________________
Injury____________________________________________________
Medication________________________________________________
Careless_________________________________________________
Panic____________________________________________________
Lost_____________________________________________________
Solo_____________________________________________________
Team____________________________________________________
Accident Site: >River_____ Spring_____ Sink_____
Cave_____ Lake_____ Ocean_____
Other____________________________________________________
Name of Site: _______________________________ State________
County_________________ USA_____ Other___________________
Conditions:_______________________________________________
Currents:_________________________________________________
Silt ________________________ Restrictions __________________
Depth of accident __________ Distance from surface____________
Time of accident ______________ Time of recovery_____________
Reported by ______________________________________________
Recovery by ______________________________________________
Survivors_________________________________________________
Accident Analysis factors: 1. training ___, 2. guideline___,
3. 2/3s air rule___, 4 . depth___, 5. lights___
CAUSE__________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Equipment failure____________ Regulator _____________________
Buoyancy control __________________ Light failure _____________
Suit problems______________Scooter_________________________
Valve_________________________ Wgts______________________
Solo dive __________________Computer Error_________________
Entanglement _____________________________________________
Site collapse_________________ "O" ring failure_________________
Water conditions_________ Underwater conditions_______________
Diver physical condition_____________ Training deficit ___________
Buddy Separation___________ Narcosis/HPNS _________________
Gas Planning (out of air)_____________________________________
Gas error/confusion____________Seizure/anoxia________________
Carelessness_________________Companion error ______________
Other____________________________________________________
Equipment Status:
Owned: Borrowed: Rented:
New: Used:_________
Mask_____________________ Fins___________________________
BC____________________ Compass__________________________
Reel________Line________ Markers________Lights #____________
Lights Operational____PSI gauge___Computer____Watch _________
Wet suit_______ Dry suit_________Skins________Other__________
Cylinder Configuration_________________Size__________________
Rebreather__________________ Tank Valve: H/Y_______________
Dual Manifold_____________ Vol Remaining - doubles____________
Side Mount_______________________Vol per cylinder____________
Travel Gas____________________ Vol remaining________________
Deco Gas____________________ Bottom Gas__________________
Tables___________________Regulator(s)______________________
functional______________________ marked___________________
Recovery:________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Name:___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Phone #__________________________________________________
Autopsy done:_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
Comments:_______________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Please complete this form and send it to the below address for any dive accident you are involved which occurrs close enough for you to obtain the needed information. Include any local news articles If an Autopsey is performed, indicate where/who. If on-site, draw location on back.
National Assocation for Cave Diving
Accident Report
P.O. Box 14492
Gainesville, FL 32604
or fax it to: 1-888-565-NACD or 1-352-331-7666