Deon Dreyer

Deon Dreyer was a South African scuba diver who tragically lost his life during a deep dive in the Bushman's Hole, one of the deepest freshwater caves in the world, located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. His body was recovered 10 years later by renowned British cave diver Dave Shaw in a dive that also claimed Shaw's life.

Early Life

Deon Dreyer was born in South Africa and developed a passion for scuba diving at a young age. He was known for his adventurous spirit and his love for exploring underwater caves.

Diving Career

Dreyer was a skilled diver who had undertaken numerous dives before his fatal expedition to the Bushman's Hole. He was particularly interested in cave diving, a form of penetration diving in underwater caves.

Death

On December 17, 1994, Dreyer and a group of divers embarked on a dive in the Bushman's Hole. During the dive, Dreyer became disoriented and lost consciousness due to Nitrogen narcosis, a condition that can occur during deep dives. His body sank to the bottom of the cave and was not recovered at the time.

Recovery of Body

In 2004, Dave Shaw discovered Dreyer's body during a world record attempt for the deepest cave dive. Shaw decided to recover Dreyer's body on a subsequent dive. However, during the recovery attempt, Shaw became entangled in his guide line and, due to a series of complications, also lost his life. Both bodies were later recovered by support divers.

Legacy

The deaths of Dreyer and Shaw have had a significant impact on the diving community. They have led to increased awareness about the risks of deep cave diving and have prompted calls for improved safety measures.

See Also

• Scuba diving
• Cave diving
• Dave Shaw
• Bushman's Hole