Jackson Blue

Jackson Blue – 5/29/10

James Garrett

After our morning adventure, we went back to Cave Adventurers for tank fills and to check into Jackson Blue.  A group of Texas A&M cavern divers were there packing up, but due to the rain, the park was fairly empty, a pleasant surprise!  We each placed our stage bottle, deco bottle, and scooter in the water and then proceeded to gear up.  Our plan was to take mainline past Court’s Squeeze, Hall of the Mountain King, Mystery Shaft, and then the Sweet Passage.  We turned around p3200ft at the 3rd “T”.

Click here for a map overlay of our dive.

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).