Lake George, NY

[NJFFSA16]

Diver missing in Lake George

(Hague-AP) -- A search will resume this morning for a diver who
apparently drowned yesterday during a deep-water dive in northern
Lake George.
The diver was diving in water 140 feet deep near the state
campground at Rogers Rock in the town of Hague, 75 miles north of
Albany.
State police say the man had some kind of problem ascending. His
diving partner made it safely out of the water and was assisting in
the search later in the day.
Divers spent five hours searching for the man's body but had not
found him by sunset. A command post was set up at the Rogers Rock
campground for rescuers and divers from several area fire
departments.
The two men were described by police as experienced deep-water
divers. They had been in deep water about 200 feet from shore in an
area known as Anthony's Nose.
Rogers Rock is a popular diving spot. The New York State Divers
Association has a four-day diving and camping event scheduled there
next weekend.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press

[NJFFSA16]

UPDATES throughout with information from state police
HAGUE, N.Y. (AP) - A scuba diver deep in Lake George panicked
from nitrogen narcosis, squirmed away from his partner's rescue
efforts and probably drowned Sunday afternoon, state police said.
The victim, Timothy Larvia, was practicing deep water dives with
his partner, Robert Crowley, authorities said. The experienced
divers reached depths of about 150 feet, troopers said.
"At this depth, Larvia experiences nitrogen narcosis and
becomes distressed, exhibiting signs of extreme panic," according
to information from Lt. David Dennin, who was supervising the
search 75 miles north of Albany.
Crowley tried to lead Larvia to shore, but Larvia fought him,
police said. He tried to swim deeper and mistakenly deflated his
buoyancy vest, according to Dennin. He continued to resist
Crowley's help and used up tremendous amounts of air, troopers
said. Crowley, starting to feel nitrogen narcosis himself, dropped
his weights, grabbed Larvia's vest and inflated his own buoyancy
vest, police said.
The two shot up quickly, troopers said, but Crowley lost his
grip on Larvia before reaching the surface.
Larvia, of Watervliet, was presumed drowned, troopers said.
Dive teams' search of the Rogers Rock area - popular with
campers, divers and rockclimbers - was called off Sunday night but
set to resume at 7 a.m. Monday, troopers said.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press