[rickylc]

Nope, that can't be it, even working in shallow water you need a wieght belt to go under if you are wearing a neoprene (closed cell foam, very buoyant) wet suit. If the diver were in an emergency situation needing to surface quickly, he would scuttle the wieght belt and shoot to the surface. If you weren't planning on using the gear again, it too could be easily shed underwater to facilitate rapid ascent. In a river I can't imagine water deep enough to cause any serious problems with rapid decompression.

All scuba tanks have ID numbers that can be traced, very close watch is kept on tanks to ensure proper servicing. No one wants an airtank to explode on their back. Gear would have to have been taken away by someone if it wasn't scuttled by the diver.

[rickylc]

Re: ID numbers on SCUBA air tanks.

I don't think it would be possible to grind the numbers off without affecting the integrity of the tank.

[jerseygirl]

Interesting! You clearly know alot about diving!

Now I'm wondering if the divers, as you suggested, quickly removed the gear to surface quickly... and if we could send our own divers to search for the equipment.

I also really wonder about the cause of death. I just can't shake the feeling that whatever they were transporting killed them in the process.