Rest in Peace Wes

[Jonathan Bird]

I am very troubled to relay the news that my friend Wes Skiles has passed away. Many of you know his name as he has more film and movie credits than most people in the industry. Wes was a genuinely nice guy and also one of the most talented underwater cinematographers of all time. He was one of the only people that ever moved between the worlds of professional underwater cinematography and still photography. Just this month, he has the cover story in National Geographic Magazine, while earlier this month he was shooting a film for National Geographic Television.

Wes was a member of the Wetsuits rock band and a friend to pretty much anyone he met. We do not have specifics, but he passed away while diving off West Palm Beach earlier this week.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2010/07/22/128704761/skiles

Rest in peace Wes. Will will miss you.

Jonathan

[tkelly]

Very sad news. Any word on what actually happened?

There is a longer write up below, but no mention of a cause.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20100723/ARTICLES/100729895/-1/news?p=1&tc=pg

It doesn't seem like a caving accident.

[scubagirl]

Unfortunate news, indeed. Such a tragic loss.

I read on another forum that he was diving a borrowed RB with no bailout, and was not with the group at the time of the incident.

[tarczy]

So very sorry to hear the news.

So very tragic to die at such a young age . . . 52.

He will be missed.

Rest in peace, Wes.

[Jonathan Bird]

He is the second friend I have lost to a CC rebreather in a year. No more CC rebreathers for me ever. Semi-closed maybe occasionally. The CC rebreathers are too dangerous.

[Andrew]

This is very sad news and my thoughts go out to his family and friends.

I was very interested in learning to use a CC rebreather but the more I read the more accidents I hear about and am now wondering if it is really worth the risk. I thought that you always had to take a bail-out tank(s) in case of a problem?

Andrew

[Jonathan Bird]

I'm happy to discuss rebreathers, but lets start another thread. We do not even know for sure if the rebreather was the issue for Wes at this point.