Dave Shaw's Last Dive - UK Memorial Presentation by Don Shirley

[Mr T.]

Hi All,

This is a message to ALL YD'ers (and others), whether you're a rebreather diver, a tecky/Trimix/DIR or non-DIR diver, an aspiring tecky or rebreather diver, a cave diver or a diver aspiring/training to become any of the above! It is also open to non-divers who might be interested in the presentation's subject matter.

I have just come off the phone to Peter ('BigB' on YD), based in South Africa, and had a very thorough and open chat about what could turn into a number of divers' "must attend event" for this or any other year.

As you will have read here, BigB was part of the diver-support team on the dive where, sadly, Dave Shaw lost his life.

After we'd discussed my/our genuine thanks for BigB coming onto to YD to post and correct/confirm some of the understandable speculation surrounding Dave Shaw's untimely death, and aspects of the dive, in he and his team's attempt to recover the body of fellow diver, Deon Dreyer, we got on to discussing some of the activities which the whole of Dave's support team (above and below the water) has been up to since his tragic death.

It transpires that they have been very active in South Africa, on the Web and elsewhere, doing educational presentations on every aspect of Deon's recovery - they've already done presentations in Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban to large numbers of divers and associated interests in the following kind of aspects of the expedition:

* Bushman's Cave ('Boesmangat'), Northern Cape - the cave/dive-environment itself, its diving history and that of earlier attempts by others to 'bottom' its depths, right up to the present day aspects of access and diving it.

* The Dive/Expedition/Recovery itself - the reason and purposes for the dive and why this international diving and support team assembled and how they planned and executed the dives; divers' run-times and profiles for the dives, how these were planned and agreed in great detail. Some kit had to be specially manufactured for the recovery.

* The Diving Equipment used in the Expedition & Recovery - the rebreathers and OC rigs used, the dive computers and tables used (and how they both performed during the dives), the portable chamber and its life-saving deployment. Aspects of using Trimix and technical diving at these extreme depths.

* An Expedition's '"Who's Who?" - of the diver and support teams (topside and below the surface) who made up the recovery attempt; their roles, responsibilities and what was asked of them before, during and after the recovery. The involved and detailed safety planning (and who was involved) in what aspects of the recovery.

* Dave Shaw - a personal review of the man and the diver by his primary support diver on the Dive, Don Shirely. Don also talks about his own thoughts and perspectives of the dive, during the operation and the events which lead him to join Dave and the team.


Now this is preliminary and I'm still waiting for BigB and Don to confirm dates when they are expected to be in the UK. It will be in April, as Don has some personal buiness to attend to and he's going to be in the UK for a two-week 'window'. Once I have confirmed dates from Don I'll post them here and edit the title of this thread to reflect the date(s) of the presentation(s).

BigB and I discussed audience numbers of about 100 to 150, and if we exceed these numbers, then Don will consider doing a potential second date.

The presentations will take between three and three-and-a-half hours (based on the South African presentations) and will take place "within easy travelling distance" of London. Don's residence is in Surrey (Egham) and he's still suffering the effects of the dive and subsequent treatments, so I'm going to need offers of help with transport - i.e. possibly picking Don up and bringing him to/from the venue. Please don't be shy!

I'm also (me being in Manchester) going need offers of help with getting a suitable venue organised - again, please don't be shy! We'll also need to ascertain if there will be a charge/entrance fee charged by the venue itself.

Don/the team do not want paying for their time although, just so levels of expectation are common and up-front, you can expect to see a 'hat' passed round so that you can donate towards one of memorial (to Dave Shaw) aspects and the whole purpose behind these presentations - the team are trying to raise funds for another portable recompression chambre, like the one which proved so vital (to Don) on-site at the Cave immediately after the dive. I'm sure we can all see and support the sense behind such a venture.

I will be contacting some of the UK-based manufactures of the equipment used on the dive (the rebreathers, the dive computers, the regs etc.) to see if they would like to join the audience and share in the presentation and perhaps, dependent on whether Don deems it appropriate, talk about how their various kit performed on the day and under such extremes. More on that when I have it.

So what do we need to get this off the ground?

Your names/attendance and offers of local knowledge/help in organising the venue.

We won't get the team's input for the presentation unless we can get roughly the numbers explained above, the venue organised and offers of help, as the presentation and his input has not got to cost Don or any team members any money - they give of their time freely.

I'm sure you agree that whilst the events surrounding Dave's death are tragic, he, Don and the team would want those circumstances put to the maximum educational use for all future divers - what ever theie type, style, experience or knowledge of diving. That is the purpose of this presentation and to respect the memory of an inspirational diver, Dave Shaw and the work done by him and his team.

Please add your name to the list below so BigB and Don can gauge interest for the event.

Attendees list:

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 ?

[Mark Powell]

Depending on dates then I'm happy to help with arrangements, travel, etc. I'm based in Guildford which is not far from Egham.

Attendees list:

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 ?

[keith_henson]

i am up for the meetings. If they are after the 22nd april then i can attend as before I have exams to sort out


cheers

keith

[Paul B]

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa

[Mr T.]

Event Attendees' List:

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa
* 06 Spike Jackson
* 07 Claire DJ
* 08 Mark Chase
* 09 Andy Phillips
* 10 ?

[NotDeadYet]

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa
* 06 Spike Jackson
* 07 Claire DJ
* 08 Mark Chase
* 09 Andy Phillips
* 10 Stuart M (NotDeadYet)

[DaveB]

Event Attendees' List:

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa
* 06 Spike Jackson
* 07 Claire DJ
* 08 Mark Chase
* 09 Andy Phillips
* 10 Stuart M (NotDeadYet)
* 11 DaveB
* 12?

[Rick Huggins]

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa
* 06 Spike Jackson
* 07 Claire DJ
* 08 Mark Chase
* 09 Andy Phillips
* 10 Stuart M (NotDeadYet)
* 11 DaveB
* 12 Rick Huggins
* 13 ?

[J.D.]

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa
* 06 Spike Jackson
* 07 Claire DJ
* 08 Mark Chase
* 09 Andy Phillips
* 10 Stuart M (NotDeadYet)
* 11 DaveB
* 12 Rick Huggins
* 13 James Davies
* 14 ?

[wreckweasel]

* 01 Bren Tierney
* 02 Mark Powell
* 03 Kieth Henson
* 04 Paul B
* 05 Lisa
* 06 Spike Jackson
* 07 Claire DJ
* 08 Mark Chase
* 09 Andy Phillips
* 10 Stuart M (NotDeadYet)
* 11 DaveB
* 12 Rick Huggins
* 13 James Davies
* 14 Zak (wreckweasel)