The loss of any young life, whatever the circumstances, is a tragedy. All my sympathy goes to the family and friends of this young man.

But, please, don't mistake the event for evidence of a problem with recreational scuba diving. This is one of the most closely-regulated, well-disciplined and statistically safest sports in the World. Every diver must undertake rigorous training, including management of emergencies. But accidents do happen.

Consider how many fatalities occur in other sports - and in everyday accidents before rushing to judgement of a sport that gives excitement, exercise and access to new and wonderful adventures to millions.

Mike - well said on both accounts. The messages posted on a Facebook page dedicated to Kyle speak for themselves -- he was a very well-liked teen who will truly be missed. And you're also correct about the sport of scuba diving. Accidents happen no matter the sport you're partaking in, and scuba diving is no different. I'd also like to add that Dutch Springs should not get a bad rap either. Having been to Dutch Springs myself, I know the people who work there take safety very, very seriously, whether you're scuba diving, at the aqua park or taking on the sky challenge.

I will miss kyle very much, he was a close friend.. and i still cant beilieve this happend to him. I give his family the best of luck.
love, felicia

As an Instructor I agree that 1 fatality is too much, especially to the family of the victim and my deepest condolences go out to the family and friends. But a certified diver must accept that there are considerable risks in this sport and while we do everything we can to minimize and prepare for these risks, they are always present. That being said, as a correction to above, Scuba diving is in no way whatsoever a closely regulated sport, there are no local, state, or federal regulations on scuba diving at all(not to be confused with regulations on tanks by the DOT), all certifications are by independent agencies and their certified instructors who themselves set the standards which vary from organization to organization. In any dive accident it is typically easy to determine what and how mistakes were made and we use these incidents as warnings and training aids for future divers, but this does not mean that they won't be made again or that the risks will ever be eliminated. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family.

I agree with SadDiver; one death *IS* is always too much; but diving is a dangerous sport and carries risk.

I am a little concerned about the article as what it fails to point out that this may be the third death in 5 years, but as a percentage of the number of dives that have been conducted without incident, this is tiny. I am not able to confirm, but I believe Dutch Springs takes in over 100,000 divers a year. For there to be three deaths in half a million dives, it is sad, but a very small percentage. Not at all expressed in the article and I think it is VERY unfair to leave the uneducated reader believing that either diving is excessive dangerous, or that Dutch Springs is at all 'unsafe'. It is not; it has some of the best diving facilities in the North East, if not the country.

R S - Speaking as both the editor of Nazareth Patch and as a patron of Dutch Springs, I will again say, as I did in an earlier comment, that Dutch Springs should not get a bad rap. Having been to Dutch Springs myself, I know the people who work there take safety very, very seriously, whether you're scuba diving, at the aqua park or taking on the sky challenge. Calls to Dutch Springs for comment were not answered or returned, so for the time being, we cannot include any information other than the facts and what is available through the Dutch Springs website. Patch in no way is saying Dutch Springs or scuba diving in general is unsafe.

Both adults and minors who visit Dutch Springs are requied to sign a waiver releasing the facilities from any liability, even if just swimming there. Does that tell you something? Dutch Springs recommends a minimum of a 7mm wetsuit with a hood and gloves when diving. That is because the water is cold and cold water can contribute to thermal shock, confusion, and even cardiac arrest. Swimming where the water temperature is below 70 degrees is fraught with peril. Don't be fooled by the air temperature. Hundreds drown every year due cold water swimming and diving, particularly when sudden immersion is involved. Swimmer beware. In memory of Austin.

@Everwatchful: "...Dutch Springs are requied to sign a waiver releasing the facilities from any liability, even if just swimming there. Does that tell you something?"

Signing a waiver is simply a result of the litigious society that we live in. I am a Master Scuba Instructor and Cave Diver and I can unequivocally tell you that the most dangerous part of any dive is driving your to the dive site. The training, procedures and equipment of scuba is highly evolved. And if (and this is a big if) the scuba divers are serious and follow their training and use the proper equipment and exposure protection, scuba is one of the safest recreational activities there are. However, if divers are lackadaisical and don't take seriously the potential dangers, the underwater realm will hurt or kill you. Additionally accident analysis usually finds a multiple chain of events that lead to a fatality. If anyone of those events was handle properly the accident would not have happened.

The most important thing is to learn from a diving accident (and we I do not claim to know the facts on this accident) and if the cause leads to "diver error". The message needs to get out to divers, either take your dive training and procedures seriously or DO NOT DIVE.

All speculation until we know cause of death? At only 15' with no duration? Rules out a lot of things. Panic assent from 15' can cause lung expansion issues but fatal? Anybody that is not a diver has no clue and should get educated before commenting on the relative safety of scuba, seriously, you're clueless! To those who dive: take a rescue diver course, get your shop to run a rrescue refresher course. I've been diving 40 years and instruct. I really want to know the cause of this tragic death so I can educate current and future divers especially if the reason was preventable.

I am his mother's best friend. He died because he did not have enough air in his tank. Spoon whose fault is that. Great boy dead young ...hopefully in a better place. Love u Kyle and happy early birthday

Hca...any possibility this was on purpose? Many things going on here contact me. Susansherry0123@yahoo.com