Navy investigates deaths of two divers in training pond

A test pond at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Md. where two Navy divers with the Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2013. / AP/U.S. Army

The Navy is investigating the deaths of two divers during an operation at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, the second deadly incident at a deep pond there in the past month.

CBS Baltimore reports that the two divers that perished on Tuesday were 28-year-old James Reyher of Caldwell, Ohio and 23-year-old Ryan Harris of Gladstone, Mo. Both were members of a mobile diving unit based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach.

The Navy says its Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two is conducting an investigation into the deaths, which they called "perplexing."

CBS Baltimore reports the two men were on a training dive when they were killed. Both had been communicating with the surface by tugging on a line. When these communications stopped, other divers went down and found them unresponsive.

According to the Baltimore Sun, both divers had been working in the pond using air hoses rather than self-contained breathing units. Both divers were in cardiac arrest when they surfaced.

Late last month, an engineering technician also died while performing maintenance at an underwater test pond at the Army site. The pond is used for a variety of tests, including shock testing of boat hulls.

[VH2011]

Another article states "a loud booming sound was heard and felt throughout the area at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the time the "incident" reportedly occurred. The incident leading to the Jan. 30 death also apparently took place at 2:30 p.m." This is a national news site. Why are these facts not included in this article?

[VH2011]

Another article states "a loud booming sound was heard and felt throughout the area" at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the time the "incident" reportedly occurred. The incident leading to the Jan. 30 death also took place at 2:30 p.m." ... ***!

[nr70]

How disrespectful can you people be? These were people, fathers, husbands, brothers, sons... respect their deaths.

[bobnjersey]

[Both had been communicating with the surface by tugging on a line. When these communications stopped, other divers went down and found them unresponsive.]
------------------------------------------------------
i'm surprised the navy hasn't yet employed the much more advanced communication technology of two tin cans connected by a string.

[zbdman]

Incompetence in the military? Ask Petraeus....sorry Jill Kelley...sorry Paula Broadwell.

[nolalou2]

Gee, I guess the Navy doesn't need to conduct an investigation after all, since you've got it all figured out based on reading one brief article! Amazing, a regular Sherlock Holmes!

[typoking]

It's called AIR.. must have it to stay alive.. two at once..?
someone cut off their O2 and with the weight of the suites, there was not way to surface without help..