Cave Diving

Peacock Springs- Olsen Loop

James Garrett

Dive Time– 70 Minutes.
In Water– 3:49pm
Out Water– 4:59pm
Breathing Gas– 32% Travel / 100% Deco
Max Depth– 69ft
Visibility– 30-50ft
Water Temp– 70(F.)

Notes:
This dive was our graduation dive for apprentice…..nice and relaxing with no drills.  I lead the dive, and since we didn’t have a primary (it was on the peanut side), I used a spool to tie into the gold line.  We swam up pothole, stopping at pothole to show Ryan and Brian the bones and sink since they hadn’t been in this cave before.  We then proceeded up stream, where we found our spool about 100ft from Olsen.  Ryan was last, and pulled the spool (since he placed it on the previous dive), and we proceeded down the crossover tunnel, where the viz was still somewhat poor from the breather team earlier.  Once we reached our spool leading to the peanut line, Brian pulled it, and we went back down the peanut line, with a somewhat fast pace so we could get out of the water by 5pm.

Peacock Springs- Peanut to Crossover to Olsen

James Garrett

Dive Time– 118 Minutes.
In Water– 11:29am
Out Water– 1:40pm
Breathing Gas– 32% Travel / 100% Deco
Max Depth– 57ft
Visibility– 50ft+
Water Temp– 69(F.)

Notes:
This dive’s goal was to setup for the circuit on dive 2.  It’s a complex circuit, since it takes more than one dive to complete.  I lead the dive, Brian followed, and Ryan was after him.  I was told to run the primary past the sign before tying in, which is difficult with two gold lines, but I ran under them, and then was off to the sign.  After tying in, I lead the dive until we got past the 1000ft arrow, where we would find double arrows (marked jump) to the crossover tunnel on the left.  I started to install the jump, but Brian flashed me and reminded me that was his job this dive.  he placed the jump, and then Ryan started leading.  We made it down the crossover tunnel, and then to gold line (pothole line), where we took a left and headed to Olsen Sink and surfaced for 10 minutes.  We then exited, I was in the rear to reel in the spool that I had run to open water from the cave.  Ryan was in the lead, Brian followed, I was last.  We weren’t going to pull any reels on this dive.  At the end of the crossover tunnel, we ran into a rebreather team (class), where we had to exit on the line because one was on his knees tying in the jump, one was flutter kicking down from the ceiling, and one was just sitting on the silt.  It was my first no viz exit that wasn’t planned in training. Once we made it back on the peanut line, we each were randomly asked “where’s your buddy” and had to complete a lost buddy drill, where Daniel (who tagged along to assist in these drills) would be waiting….and out of air!  Also, at random times, we were each “airgunned” to simulate a right/left post failure.  After this, we did a lights out exit through the peanut tunnel, and at one point Jeff made Brain go OOA, having to feel to steal my reg (try that stuffing your long hose!).  He only made us do that for a few minutes, before it was back to just plain no lights.  Once in the cavern zone, we got our lights back, and could exit the cavern in peace.

Jackson Blue- Young Siphon Circuit

James Garrett

Dive Time– 90 Minutes.
In Water– 5:27pm
Out Water– 6:57pm
Breathing Gas– 32% Travel / 100% Deco
Max Depth– 95ft
Visibility– 150ft+
Water Temp– 68(F.)

Notes:
Started this dive with Ryan running the reel, I followed, and Brian was behind me.  Brian installed the first jump reel on the exit side, and then we kept moving on the gold line towards the entrance to our circuit.  Ryan installed the jump, and from there I would lead.  We went to the end of line there, and I installed the jump over to the Young Siphon (since I was the biggest, I lead the team because there was a restriction up ahead). I got to the end of the line, and turned the dive.  Ryan was now in the lead, and Brian was in the middle, I was at the back.  The two of them had gone through the restriction, and just when i was going through it, Jeff made me go OOA.  Fortunately Brian was very alert, and had air to me really fast; so we made it through the restriction.  Jeff tapped me on the head, which meant the drill is done.  I pulled the jump reel I had installed earlier.  We then proceeded to exit, when Jeff got ahead and kicked up a ton of clay, forcing us on the line in touch contact.  We did that until we reached the jump spool, where we all got back on the main line after Ryan pulled it.  After that, we had to go lights out for a good distance, until we reached the cavern zone.  Once in the cavern, we were given our lights back, and proceeded to do the deco we were then obligated to do.


Jackson Blue- Horseshoe Circuit

James Garrett

Dive Time– 68 Minutes.
In Water– 2:25pm
Out Water– 3:33pm
Breathing Gas– 32%
Max Depth– 90ft
Visibility– 150ft+
Water Temp– 68(F.)

Notes:
Training dive for NACD Apprentice with Jeff Bauer.  Did the simple horseshoe circuit. Installed the jump reel on the close side first, and then went further on the gold line until the far side, when we tied in, and made the circuit back to the gold line.  Pulled the reel, and went back up the gold line, just far enough to pull the other jump reel.  Jeff commented that I had a fin slip and stir up the bottom.  He also killed my light, and had me switch from my primary to a backup.  I forgot to swap position from the back of the team to the middle.  Fortunatly Ryan and Brian were on top of it, and both noticed my light dissapear, so we had excellent team communication.  After turning the dive, we did a lost line drill in the breakdown room (I’ll post video of that later).

Cow – Mainline to p.1200

James Garrett

Dive Time– 61 Minutes.
Breathing Gas– 32%
Max Depth– 106ft
Visibility– 50ft
Water Temp– 70(F.)

Notes:
Stopped by Cathy’s and joined the nss-cds so I could dive Cow Springs with Brian.  Membership was $35, and includes a subscription to the NSS and NSS-CDS magazines, not to mention all of their caves.  This was my first time at Cow, so Brian went first, since he had been there before.  I was amazed at how pristine this dive was!  There are 3 tough restrictions to get through, by far each of them was the tightest I had been in.  On the way out, I had my right post roll half way off!  There is a tow rope upstream to help preserve the cave, as you can pull with that rather than pulling the rocks, which were nearly all black!  The clay banks are BEAUTIFUL, minus a few retards who have vandalized them.

Devils- To the Hill 400

James Garrett

Dive Time– 43min
Breathing Gas– 32%
Max Depth– 96ft
Visibility– 60-70ft
Water Temp– 71(F.)

Notes:
The line was already in the ear from a previous dive, so we entered there.  This was my first time carrying a stage in a cave.  I was following AJ, and we were to go slightly down the Hill 400 and drop the stage for AJ and Bryce’s dive the following day.  We used 700psi for penetration gas.

Ginnie- The Ballroom

James Garrett

Dive Time– 56 Minutes.
Breathing Gas– 32%
Max Depth– 102ft
Visibility– 60-70ft
Water Temp– 71(F.)

Notes:
Dove this one with the UCF Dive club.  AJ Brian and myself were in search of a rumored “Grate Bypass” that someone had posted about on line (click here), and we believe we found it.  I’ve included a map with the area pointed out below.  This dive was also interesting because there were no less than 25 open water dives in the ballroom.  It was the first time I’d dove with divers not cavern/cave trained in almost a year.

Devils- To the Bats

James Garrett

Dive Time– 84 Minutes.
In Water– 10:53pm
Out Water– 12:17am
Breathing Gas– 32%
Avg Depth– 63ft
Max Depth– 101ft
Visibility– 60-70ft
Water Temp– 71(F.)

Notes:
Brian Richardson and I dove late on a friday night the day before the UCF dive club event, and stayed with my parents.  We went to Amigo’s Dive center for fills, and then headed to Ginnie.  We arrived around 10pm, and then got ready to dive.

Our dive plan consisted of entering via the Eye, since there was a tarp out over the ear due to recent floods, and then follow the temporary guideline to the goldline, where we would penetrate around 700-800ft, and then take the jump to the roller coaster.  From there, we would go to the end of the rollercoaster, and take one last jump to the bats.  I have attached the dive profile at the bottom of this post.

Devils – Mainline

James Garrett

Dive Time– 61 Minutes.
In Water– 6:27pm
Out Water– 7:28pm
Breathing Gas– 32%
Avg Depth– 33ft
Max Depth– 89ft
Visibility– “Ginnie” (200ft+)
Water Temp– 72(F.)

Notes:
First time carrying an o2 bottle, trying to get ready for class.  Had some trouble getting that situated, and running the reel was somewhat more difficult with the increased drag, but not really a problem.  Went Mainline Devils (entered/exit via the ear) to around the Hill 400 jump.  Clipping and unclipping need some improvement.  Glad I attempted to carry one before taking apprentice.

Devils – Mainline

James Garrett

Dive Time– 45 Minutes.
In Water– 4:20pm
Out Water– 5:05pm
Breathing Gas– 32%
Avg Depth– 51ft
Max Depth– 95ft
Visibility– “Ginnie” (200ft+)
Water Temp– 72(F.)

Notes:
I ran the reel, Xenia followed me, Tony followed her, and Bobby was on a breather with his own bailout, so he sort of tagged along, but wasn’t really on the team. For some reason I had issues clearing my ears right before the gold line, but I backtracked a little to go up, and they cleared after a minute or so. Tied into goldline and started upstream. We used 700psi penetration gas and got to around the Hill 400 before someone hit turn pressure.