Ben's Vortex

[Kelly Jessop]

"Ben's Vortex- an Investigative Documentary" is being released,and besides this being a high quality production by Jill Heinerth and Robert McClellan,but it will give some context to previous discussions. This is not intended to reopen wounds from discussions that occurred here,but this provides an objective investigation of the facts and inferences. This documentary provides information I was never aware of,and they did an exhaustive amount of research. But,as an aside,you never see the other side of an accident. You will read reports and discussions when an accident occurs,with inability to seperate fact from conjecture,but this gives you a first had observation of the family,recovery divers,law enforcement,spring owner,and experts on psychology and dive medicine. This is a unique video and have to give kudos to the production team.

[bpcfire1]

Where can you find it if you dont mind me asking?

[jcook]

I still remember the good laugh we all had when we got the longer sneak peak at the CDS conference.

[bpcfire1]

Found it, thanks. Got one on order.

[stairman]

I got a copy coming too. Thanks Rob and Jill!

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I can't see how continueing to associate cave diving with the Ben McDaniels incident is good, at all, for our community.

[jcook]

I can't see how continueing to associate cave diving with the Ben McDaniels incident is good, at all, for our community.

It's not, just like saying that one out of every ten rebreather divers will die. Not good for the rebreather community either.

[stairman]

Correction, all rebreather divers will die. I cant see where a documentary about a very public accident is gonna do any harm to cavediving in general and obviously they have uncovered some facts so others can decide wether the guy is a stalagmite or laid up in some Mexican shanty. Up to now its been newspaper reports and internet gossip.

[Kelly Jessop]

I can't see how continueing to associate cave diving with the Ben McDaniels incident is good, at all, for our community.

You are right Matt,and as long as he is not found there will never be closure,plus as much as we would like to make this mutually exclusive to the cave diving community,it won't. But,this IMHO will provide a more complete information depiction that we will ever see. Also,from another prespective,many of us will never see the other side of an accident-the family,law enforcement etc.

[stairman]

I just finished watching the documentary and dont see where it will help or hurt the cave community either way. It was nicely presented IMO, and while I tired of the internet posts after a few days, it sparked my interest once again as to what happened. Personally, I think Ben perished in the cave, was found and disposed of, since an employee of the park broke rules by opening a gate and allowing an openwater diver to enter the cavezone. Fearing a lawsuit that might have been the first solution, bringing attention to the park as a diver forever lost vs. something done by park employees that resulted in the loss of life. Stage bottles without regs and yoke valves left in openwater makes no sence but is probably irrelevant.