One Forgotten Step — My Rebreather Accident on the USS Algol

The dive was supposed to be routine. The wreck was familiar. The plan was solid. Nothing should have gone wrong. Something did. 140 feet underwater on the USS Algol — New Jersey's most unforgiving wreck dive. A rebreather failure nobody saw coming. A chain of events that unfolded in seconds. A single forgotten step that changed everything. I made it back to the surface. What came next was a fight of a different kind. This is the full story. The dive, the accident, the recovery, and the moment I got back in the water. Some lessons you only get one chance to learn. ⚠️ WARNING: This video contains real footage of a diving accident and its aftermath. About Type II Decompression Sickness Decompression sickness (DCS) occurs when dissolved nitrogen (or other inert gases) forms bubbles in the body as a diver ascends too quickly or fails to properly off-gas. Type II DCS is the more serious classification — it affects the central nervous system, spinal cord, brain, cardiopulmonary system, or inner ear, as opposed to Type I, which is generally limited to joint pain and skin symptoms. Symptoms of Type II can include numbness, tingling, paralysis, difficulty breathing, confusion, vertigo, and loss of bladder or bowel control. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate oxygen and evaluation for hyperbaric (recompression) chamber treatment. Left untreated, Type II DCS can cause permanent neurological damage or death. 🔗 For more information on the USS Algol wreck, visit njscuba.net: https://njscuba.net/artificial-reefs/... ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Scene 1 — The Aftermath 1:52 Scene 2 — Making Our Way Out 2:21 Scene 3 — Pre Jump Checks 3:22 Scene 4 — The Algol Wreck 3:48 Scene 5 — The Plan 4:19 Scene 6 — The Dive — Superstructure 5:00 Scene 7 — Pulling Line 6:04 Scene 8 — Ascending to the Main Deck 7:08 Scene 9 — The Deviation 7:40 Scene 10 — The Failure 7:59 Scene 11 — The Accident 9:24 Scene 12 — The Rescue 9:51 Scene 13 — On the boat 11:53 Scene 14 — The Bends 14:14 Scene 15 — The Numbness 15:33 Scene 16 — Help on the way 16:02 Scene 17 — The Montage 18:07 Scene 18 — The Recovery 🤿 EQUIPMENT USED Life Support Systems (CCR): rEvo Rebreather / JJ-CCR Regulators / Open Circuit: Atomic Aquatics / Aqua Lung / Apeks Buoyancy & Harness: OMS (Ocean Management Systems) Exposure Suit / Drysuit: DUI (Subaquatic Systems) / BARE Sports Reels / Navigation: DGX (Dive Gear Express) Reel Camera Setup: Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Secondary Camera: Insta360 X5 🎬 SOFTWARE USED Video Editing: Final Cut Pro CGI & Animation: Blender 🙏 SPECIAL THANKS This video would not exist without the people who were there when it mattered most. Divers Two, Stephen Nizamoff, Francis Bevacqua and Craig Karnowski — for your support. The Independence II captain and crew — Dan Bartone, Dan Quinlan, Garrick, Joe, and Pat. The United States Coast Guard — for the response when every minute counted. The UPenn Hyperbaric Team — for the care that made the recovery possible. DAN (Divers Alert Network) — for their constant support and follow-up throughout the recovery process. My wife Sonia — for never leaving my side during recovery. 📲 CONNECT & SUPPORT 📸 Instagram: @robertmazur82 👥 Subscribe for more technical diving content: @babynarc #rebreather #TechnicalDiving #USSAlgol #ScubaDiving #DivingAccident #DecompressionSickness #CCR #WreckDiving #rEvoCCR #JJCCR #Insta360 #DUIdrysuit #AtomicAquatics #OMSdiving #DiveSafety #FinalCutPro #Blender #CGI