I just read an excellent book (“THE LAST DIVE” by Bernie Chowdhury). It relates the story of deep sea free diving, with his own experiences diving to the ANDREA DORIA, and other wrecks, at extreme depths (>200 feet). The book is extremely well written, and I recommend it. It also tells the story of a tragedy-the loss of a father and son (the Rouse family), who died due to the bends, while diving to the wreck of a german U-boat (off the NJ coast). This wreck is at 230 feet, and at this depth, most divers consider the risks to be almost suicidal. In addition to the nitrogen narcosis, returning to the surface is extremely dangerous-if not done properly, you can die or be crippled for life. Apparently, these “extreme” divers really enjoy bringing up plates, cups, and other such worthless junk from these wrecks. However, my main question: when one of these divers gets the “bends”, they are usually rushed to a hospital by a US Coastguard rescue helicopter. Aside from the risk to the coastguard people-the cost to do this must be enormous! Why should the US taxpayer spend huge sums to rescue people who indulge in such a risky behavior?
The Coast Guard almost always rescues people engaged in some sort of heightened risk. They would not have jobs if it were not for “stupid people.” Firefighters, et. al. would probably find themselves a little less wanted in this case too, but that is why they are there.
On the bends, the risk does not seem all of that bad to me. IIRC, bends is a result from increased pressure forcing excess nitrogen into your soft tissues and causing the body to absorb nitrogen. But because these people are only using one breath (I am interpreting free diving correctly, right?) to get down and back up, and can therefore withstand depths even greater than those with air-tanks. Even if they absorb all the nitrogen from that one breath, it is still not enough to put them in too much risk of the bends.
Done properly, I would imagine that, just like any other sport, free diving can be relativly safely, but if done improperly, result in serious injury or death.
I could be wrong but I think they charge the diver for chamber time. Kind of like when a abulance picks you up they charge ya.
Threemae, the folks involved in these stories use diving tanks and such, they are not free diving. You are probably right about free diving, but when divers are going down over 200 feet, they wouldn’t have time to go down and come back in one breath.
I saw something on the father/son pair who died off the NJ coast diving on that U boat. They were definately using tanks, but IIRC they had some problem, couldn’t find their reserve tanks they took down with them, and came straight up with decompressing because their tanks were empty.
Such a waste.
I have heard of efforts to recoup rescue expenses from people the Coast Guard or other rescue agencies have to save, but generally the idea doesn’t seem to go over very well.
Continuing the slight hijack about what is/is not “free diving”:
This site gives brief summaries of the five officially recognized varieties of free diving.
For what probably comes to mind first - swimming on your own as deep as possible, and then coming back up, all on one breath - the world record is 75 meters, or 246 feet.
The “No Limits” category allows one to use a weighted sled to help sink and a balloon to ascend, and has a mind-bending world record of 133 meters - 436 feet.
All these rather frightening numbers really indicate is that it is possible to dive 200 feet down on one breath, but since that’s approaching the world record I doubt very seriously that rummaging for dinner plates in a wreck can possibly be on the agenda. 
Larger diving boats (for private enterprises, mayhap for the filming of documentaries or such) carry at least one pressure tank. A pressure tank simulates being 200 feet (or whatever) underwater. This minimizes the risk of extensive permanent damage from the Bends.
However, those people are professionals. Y’know, the “Don’t Try This At Home” people? Ametuer divers, who just strapped on a tank and fins, should really watch their ass. Don’t go too deep, keep your eye on your time, etc.
Personally, I think the Coast Guard should have one week where it tells everyone “You’re on your own”. Population control and all that 
Brad_d Thanks for sharing that info about the “no limits” category. That dude or girl must be crAZy. Is that on film somewhere?
I’m afraid I don’t really know, Bill. I stumbled across that link I posted while doing a quick web search last night - I’m not particularly knowledgeable about free diving. There must be some video footage available somewhere, though…
A completely uninformative, but hauntingly beautiful movie centered around free diving is The Big Blue. Patricia Arquette is in it. It’s strangely enchanting. I watch it every time it’s on.
Not like it’s filled with scientific information, not by any means, but a good one to enjoy with a glass of wine on a quiet evening.
I know some of the posters to this thread have been to this one, too, but I figured I’d include it.
IIRC, the charges for time in a decompression chamber can blow through $10,000 quick fast and in a hurry. Just sorta by the way. That’s what DAN is for.
Yes, the diver is charged for the air ambulance and the chamber treatment, and it can be incredibly expensive. The OP had mentioned the idea of taxpayer cost- nope, because chambers may be privately owned and bill at the time of service, just like your doctor. Also, it’s not always the Coast Guard that comes to get you- might be LifeFlight or another service depending on where you live.
To expand on thinksnow’s post- DAN is the Divers Alert Network, which among other things offers dive insurance, which covers helicopter evac and hyperbaric chamber treatment. Most responsible recreational divers never feel the need for this coverage, however depending on the cost, it could save your house if you ever get bent and need extensive hyperbaric treatment. Of course, I say “responsible recreational divers” but let’s face it- why do you think they call it a diving “accident?” No-one makes out their dive plan to include “take a neuro hit and be crippled if I can’t get to a chamber fast enough.”
DAN is also a big proponent of safe, informed diving practices, and they keep lots of statistics on safety and other issues. Don’t know if they have a web site, but any diver who hasn’t checked them out should do so.
Just a tid bit- you can actually get bent in less than 20’ of water. Extremely rare, but it has happened.
Oh, The Big Blue! It’s Rosanna, not Patricia, but a great movie to sit back and experience! Be sure and check out the scene where the two leads try to out-wait each other while holding their breath at the bottom of a swimming pool. No edits, it’s a damn long scene! Luc Besson (Fifth Element, The Professional, La Femme Nikita) directed, and a director’s cut was recently released. I missed it, doh!
Extreeeeeeeeeme diving! SUUUUUUURGE!!!