Underwater Speleology JL., Sept/Oct 1995 Vol 22 No 5 C7

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iH/VlNG ^ Editor Shannon Sikes Contents — 3139 Preston Hills Circle Cocklebiddy, Australia Prosper TX 75078 Photo courtesy of Greg Bulling (214) 346­2327 The Safety Line: Conservation Fax (214) 347­3305 by Wendy Short, Safety Coordinator 5 7411 [email protected] In Memory Corey Berggren and Robert McGuire . Board of Directors 5 Chairman Bad Heviz, Hungary Joe Odom by Steve Porter 6 452 Airport Road SW Hartselle AL 35640 To Conserve and Protect Work (205) 773­7315 by Tom Morris, Conservation Coordinator. [email protected] 12 About Arch Sink Vice Chairman by Frank Lavallee J5 Watson Boxley 3700 Crestwood Parkway Cocklebiddy Cave: "Toad Hall Expedition" Suite 150 by Greg Bulling Duluth GA 30136 16 Work (404) 513­1886 Incident Report: DCS [email protected] by Mary Bricker 1% Treasurer Cannonball Distress Rick Wolfe by Bob Foster 3550 Pleasant Hill Road #1019 20 Duluth GA 30136 Accident Analysis Revisited Work (404) 476­4476 [email protected] by Lamar Hires 24 Accident Report Secretary Gene Broome submitted by Kay Pozda Walton 25 PO Box 822 Copyright 1995 by the Cave Diving Section of Branford FL 32008 the National Speleological Society, Inc. All rights Submissions Home (904) 935­0146 reserved. No portion of this document may be UWS welcomes your submission. We Work (904) 935­1141 reproduced without the express written consent of assume that anyone submitting photos and/ [email protected] the NSS­CDS. Opinions expressed within are not or graphics has obtained proper permission necessarily those of the NSS­CDS. from the cartographer/photographer for Training Chairman Advertising­Please contact the editor to receive a reproduction of such material in UWS. All Lamar Hires rate sheet and other information for advertising in submissions are subject to standard Route 14 Box 162 Underwater Speleology Lake City FL 32055 NSS Membership­The National Speleological magazine editorial practices. Unfortunately, Home (904) 755­5913 Society welcomes the interest of anyone who has we cannot publish everything we receive. If Work (904) 752­1087 a sincere concern about the safety, study, you have an idea for an article but are [email protected] exploration and conservation of caves, wet or dry. unsure if it is suitable, please feel free to You may join the NSS by writing to 2813 Cave contact the editor. Leadership Coordinator Avenue, Huntsville AL, 35810 or by contacting Wayne Marshall the Cave Diving Section with a S25 membership fee. The membership includes discounts on 2623 Tulip Tree Circle Submission Deadlines publications and conventions, as well as the NSS Seffner FL 33584 Sept/Oct August 20 News and Members Manual. You arc also eligible Home (813) 681­3629 Nov/Dec October 20 Fax (813) 689­5012 to vote in all NSS elections. Jan/Feb, 1996 December 20 [email protected] CDS Membership­As a sub­organization or "section" of the NSS, the Cave Diving Section is Mar/Apr. February 20 Director at Large subject to the bylaws and ethics of the NSS. May/June April 20 Membership in the Cave Diving Section is open to July/Aug June 20 Woody Jasper anyone in good standing with the NSS. Annual "23534 NW 196 Terrace membership is S10 and includes a bimonthly Sept/Oct August 20 High Springs FL 32643 subscription to this publication, Underwater Home (904) 454­3440 Nov/Dec October 20 Speleology, as well as voting privileges, publica­ 7261 0.1 352@compuserve .com tions and seminar discounts. Please send membership requests to Bruce Ryan at the NSS­ Administrative Manager CDS Main Office. Make checks payable to the Bruce M. Ryan NSS­CDS. NSS­CDS Main Office Subscription­If you do not wish to join the NSS PO Box 950 and CDS but would like to receive Underwater Branford FL 32008 Speleology, you may subscribe to just this Bruce's Home Address publication for S20 per year. Send funds to Bruce PO Box 1368 Ryan at the NSS­CDS Main Office; make checks St. Petersburg FL 33731 payable to Underwater Speleology. Home (813) 528­4202 Classifieds Policy­Free Classifieds for personal [email protected] dive gear are available to members in good standing with the NSS­CDS. UWS is printed on recycled paper.

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Volume 22 Number 5 3 Events 1996 Board of Directors: UWS Moves! Volunteers (Always) Wanted Look For Ballots Soon! Well, actually the editor of UWS has Wayne Marshall, member of the Board The nominations process will be com­ moved. Please note the new address and of Directors and Volunteer Coordinator, plete by October 15 and members will phone number for UWS on page two of is continuing his call for volunteers. soon be receiving a ballot and the this issue, and please accept my apology Wayne will serve as the "contact" person platform statements of the candidates for for the delay in this issue. in all volunteer matters, unless otherwise the 1996 NSS­CDS Board of Directors. stated. Wayne can be reached at the As many current Board members have address on page two of this issue. stressed, this is your organization; please One project currently available is an take the time to cast your vote! National Geographic Publishes indexing of the Board of Directors Huautla/San Agustin Article Meeting Minutes. This would be a quick Visit DAN on the Internet: Bill Stone's article on last year's expedition reference guide for current Board http://www.dan.ycg.org to the Huauda Cave system has been members, and could also serve as a sort DAN now has a presence on the World published in the September, 1995 issue of of handbook for being a Board member. Wide Web, thanks to a donation of National Geographic (Vol. 188, No. 3). Mainly it is envisioned as a way of technical support and expertise by "Cave Quest: Trial and Tragedy a Mile confirming previous action taken by the Yakstis Communications Group (YCG) Beneath Mexico" is a fourteen­page article Board on any subject. of Fenton, MO. containing many impressive photos by Wes Enter http://www.dan.ycg.org to find Skiles and Bill Stone, a 3­D map of the Volunteers Are Needed For: DAN's Web site on the Internet. cave, and a representation of the closed Presently, the home page links to areas circuit rebreather used in the expedition. 1) Board of Directors Minutes Book describing DAN's benefits and services; Sidebars include "Radical Breadting Gear," See paragraph three of this article for a mission statement; contact information; "To Plumb the Deepest Puzzle," and a day­ brief description, or contact Wayne and DAN's Medical Line, with answers by­day account of the push from Camp 5 Marshall. to frequently asked diving safety and by Bill Stone and Barbara am Ende. 2) 1996 Workshop medical questions published in Alert Underwater Speleology readers will Why wait! Get your ideas in now and Diver magazine. remember that Barbara wrote a story on volunteer your time for next year's If you have questions or comments this expedition for UWS that appeared Workshop. Send ideas to the NSS­CDS about the DAN Web site, contact Barry in the January/February 1995 issue (Vol. Main Office, PO Box 950, Branford FL Shuster at shustOOl @mc.duke.edu. 22, No. 1). 32008, Attention: 1996 Workshop. Calendar November May

NTT ^0rk5.hop ^9^^— The 1996 CDS Spring e he d M e W rksh W W & 2 r ] ! * ^0 T m ° °p ^ now in the Holiday Inn West in ^ planning stages. To volun­ Gainesville, Florida. teer_ please wrfte tQ ^ Nss, * CDS' PO Box 95°. Branford at (904) 33243738. FL 32008, Attention: Work­ January, 1996 ^1996.

Tek.96 in New Orleans, August ts-pt Louisiana, sponsored by ^0^ AquaCorps. To register, NSS Convention, Salida, ao!in7­,o«5;2655;i305) ' Colorado. Contact: 1996 NSS c^/V e'ma Convention Committee, c/o [email protected]. Skip Withrow, 5404 South Walden St., Aurora, CO 80015, (303) 693­0997.

^I Sept/Oct The Safety Line Cave Conservation tracks mar the floors in every popular found in many systems, and don't By Wendy Short, system, and rocks have been chipped touch it. Challenge yourself to become Safety Coordinator out of the ceilings above where valves the most skilled diver you can be, and One of the greatest rewards of cave have scraped from impacts. The caves then take pride in your accomplish­ diving is enjoying the pristine beauty have taken millions of years to form, ments. Ideally you should be able to of the caves. Dramatic geologic lime­ and will take just as long to eradicate come and go out of a cave with no sign stone features have been carved into the unnatural marks we leave here. If of your passage (this includes silting). If graceful folds and grottos over aeons of each diver just broke off one rock, or you're an instructor, be selective where time. Gin­clear azure blue water left one handprint in one system, it you conduct your training. stimulates our visual senses equaled would not be long before that would We are constantly being called to only by a few other spectacular places be all there is to see. There is a preserve and conserve everything on earth. We enjoy traveling through a definite correlation between the around us, and the caves are no place that not many enter, and we amount of traffic in a cave as it be­ exception. The decisions we make expect it to look untouched. comes more popular and the wear and regarding conservation today will affect All too often, though, this haunting tear on the cave. the cave diving of the future. We beauty looks anything but untouched. The caves are not renewable re­ desire more access to more places. But Heavy traffic, scooters and carelessness sources. Each diver needs to be aware as usage has become heavier, access have caused destructive changes over a of his/her skill level. Avoid places that has become more limited to protect very short period of time. Often pieces may cause you to damage the cave these fragile resources. of prominent features are broken off because of your inexperience. Practice Why destroy the environment that the walls and litter the floor. Hand your technique in larger passages that we came to enjoy? We can only blame prints, fin tracks and other marks have are more forgiving until you have ourselves, for we are the users. And we permanently marred some ancient mastered the technique. Avoid wrap­ are the ones who can stop the damage. serrated clay mounds. Rocks on the ping tie­offs on fragile structures. Be We do not want what's happening to floor are scratched and decorated with careful what you grab when you pull the coral reefs of the Florida Keys to different colored paint from numerous and glide. Many rocks that look stable happen to our caves. Let's "cave softly" stage bottles being dragged along. will crumble or break off with the and preserve these systems for us and Rocks have lateral scars where guide­ slightest pressure. Be aware of sensitive for the generations who will follow.* lines have cut into their faces. Scooter geothite, the black formations that are

In Memory ­ ­ ­ Robert D. McGuire Robert D. McGuire of Orlando died Saturday, July 15, while cave diving in Madison County. He was 32. capable divers are on the increase, is Grieving Corey Berggren Born in St. John, New Brunswick, When you dive with a buddy, the there anything we can do about human Canada, Mr. McGuire moved to Orlando strengths within the team are there for error? Are we, the experienced ones, not from Camp Lejeune, NC, in 1994. each other. As we grieve the death of utilizing an opportunity for backup as we He enlisted in the Marine Corps in Corey Berggren, we are buddies unto prepare our equipment, the dive plan, 1980 and served as a drill instructor at each other, offering support and sharing our minds, and finally enter the water? Parris Island. Later, he was promoted to memories. Is there any of us who would Sure, vwe are capable, each of us, until staff sargeant and was assigned as an wish to do this solo? I thank each of you an "accident" happens. instructor at the Noncommission who extended comforting words and Would not any of us he willing to be Officer's Academy. your presence to me. the eyes and ears, to give the moment it He graduated from the University of Many non­recreational dives or takes to reaffirm another's calculations Florida in 1990 and became a captain in technical dives today are done solo by or dive readiness? Of course. the Marine Corps. He was a project virtue of the dive site's conditions. And In a sport that has inherent risks, officer for Marine Corps ground pro­ often the reality of a dive is that even there will be accidents—'whatever the grams in Orlando. He received the given a buddy, he or she can ultimately cause. There will be sorrow shared, and Major General Wheeler Award for do very little when disaster strikes. memories recalled in tribute to Corey. infantry excellence. As the accidents of those who are He touched many lives, sharing what he Mr. McGuire was an avid cave diver incredibly experienced, technically­ loved best—scuba. We will miss him.* and videographer. -Patti Oshorn Services were held in Gainesville, FL, on Wednesday, July 19, 1995.*

Volume 22 Number 5 A Trip to Hungary:

by In October, I was fortunate to mud in a variety of treatments, earlier dive team to finish some dive in the largest natural hot including degenerative joint and work in the spring, I was given Steve water spring in Europe. Located Porter disc diseases, osteoporosis, a summary of the diving activi­ in western Hungary, it is arthritis, and muscular atrophia. ties and unusual discoveries by NSS# known as Bad Heviz (pro­ Never having been there the Amphora divers. 25149 nounced Baud Hay Veez) or before, I was unsure if I turned Undoubtedly, there are no Lake Heviz. It is situated near onto the right road after leaving records of the earliest dives. the northwest shore of Lake Lake Balaton. It was 9 AM, and However, before the end of the Balaton, the largest freshwater I was to meet members of the last century, shallow excursions lake in Europe, and can be Amphora Dive Club at their were being conducted beneath reached by driving approxi­ headquarters across the road the surface of Heviz. Over the mately three hours west from from the main entrance to the next sixty years, attempts to Budapest. The lake covers an Spa. Suddenly, I was engulfed reach the source of the water area of 4.5 hectares (approxi­ in fog that rose at least 20 feet would be hampered by the mately 11 acres). The average above the road and had a unavailability of technology and depth is three meters (10 feet), sulfurous smell. After a few equipment. By 1960, divers however the thermal vent more curves in the road, I thought they had found the supplying the lake reaches a pulled into a parking area to source at a depth of 38 meters depth of 49.5 meters, with a inquire as to the whereabouts of (125 feet), but it was not until water temperature of 40°C the dive club, and the attendant 1975 that they pinpointed the (163', 104 °F). pointed to a building about 50 area where the water is coming The water composition at feet away. Entering the building from. What they found was a Heviz includes several thou­ we were greeted by the club's sediment­choked opening at the sand­year­old sulfurous, thermal president, Gyorgy Kovacs, and base of a sandstone headwall water which is suitable for the several other divers who had measuring 3 1/2 meters wide treatment of rheumatic­locomo­ come down for a weekend of by 3040 centimeters (12­15 tive diseases. The lake's bottom training and/or data collecting. inches) high. Efforts to excavate is covered by a mud layer The most notable and obvious the opening proved futile, as the several meters thick, which fixture in the building was a side slopes filled in their work. contains the therapeutic sub­ large multi­unit recompression The following year two stance concentrated in the chamber. Currently decommis­ concrete block walls were water. In 1913 Heviz became sioned, it serves as a "hotel" for installed near the center of the the location for a state estab­ the weekend divers who drive cross section approximately 2 lished Rheumatological and from Budapest. Fortunately, a 1/2 feet apart. The walls not Physiotherapeutical Hospital diver by the name of Laszlo only prevented slippage of the and Spa which utilizes the Abel was able to interpret for side slopes back into the curative waters and medicinal me. While we waited for an excavation, but alleviated the

Sept/Oct Bad Heviz

need to excavate the entire cross composition in five or six Different areas contain hot section. Furthermore, a channel locations in the room com­ water, cold water, mixed, cloudy was created which harnessed menced. These measurements or clear. Two types of water the spring's powerful discharge were repeated at approximately from entirely different sources and facilitated flushing of the the same time of day, usually on mix in the chamber. 41 °C system. The opening through the weekends, for more than a (105.8 "F) thermal water issues the sediment plug increased to year. A typical dive to take up from vents located near the 80 centimeters wide by 60 measurements lasted 25 to 35 floor, while 17 °C (62.6°F) karst centimeters high (31.5" X 24"). minutes in 40°C water; total water (percolating in from the In 1977, two fatalities sus­ dive duration with decompres­ surface and surrounding rock as pended diving activities. If was sion was 1 1/2 hours. (Eventu­ opposed to originating deep June of 1982 before permission ally instruments were perma­ within the earth) is introduced to proceed with the project nently installed so a team from vents higher up the walls. would be granted by the Minis­ would merely go down and read Besides the excavation of the try of Environment and the them, thereby cutting the dive main chamber, 1982 saw other spa's owners. A massive excava­ time to 10 or 15 minutes.) clean up efforts take place as tion, using vacuum dredges, Using thermometers that well. A series of 28 dives finally paid off, and the first read from 0°to 55°C in 0.2° (totalling 112 hours) were divers entered the room. A increments, it was determined logged in efforts to clean up survey of the room was started that five unique regions exist debris and litter introduced by and systematic measurements of within the chamber, each with the lake's visitors. Other diving water temperature, clarity and various water characteristics. activities included a thorough

Warsawa

Roma Location of Bad Heviz

Volume 22 Number 5 7 Bad

search of the lake bottom. diving activities. Of special the club been involved in the Burrowing through one to eight interest is the relationship the exploration and excavation of meters of muck, divers retrieved dive club enjoys with the Spa. the spring, but they also de­ ancient pottery and Roman Lake Heviz is stricdy off limits signed and installed a ten­inch coins dating to the first and to diving for everyone but the diameter pipeline which delivers second centuries A.D. Amphora Club. The club's water from deep within the Plan & After the historical briefing, I special privilege is due to the spring direcdy into the central Profile View was given an update of recent synergetic relationship between bath house before it has a of Chamber developments and current the two interests. Not only has chance to circulate and cool

^ North

A-A Section Profile

Mud

Si

Rubble

Hot Springs Karst B'B Plan View

Mud Layer Hot " Mouth of Spring 30.8°C ''ore Springs

Sept/Oct Heviz

down in the much larger keep the opening from filling in has. Between 1980 and 1994, surrounding lake. This is again, two aluminum bulkheads the mean temperature in the critical to the hospital's opera­ were placed two meters apart big lake dropped from 38.8°C tion, as the water must remain and perpendicular to the to 35°C or approximately 7°F. within a narrow temperature concrete retaining walls at the Two species of previously band to be effective in their entrance to the cavern where unknown algae, one white, one treatments. Several years ago the water passes through a blue, have been discovered. The this became apparent when narrow crevice before rising up entire lake bottom is made up bauxite mines in the region the vent and connecting to the of a jelly­like substance that has pumped a significant amount of lake. Each bulkhead has a the beneficial property of groundwater, gready reducing "window" approximately 75 encapsulating the mud, thereby the spring's discharge. As a centimeters square (2 1/2) feet slowing down its slippage into result, the water temperature x 2 1/2 feet) and about three the crater. They have deter­ dropped in the surrounding meters off the bottom to allow mined the mud slippage rate lake and was not optimum for the water to flow out while, at down the slope to be 1.5 meters use in the Spa's bathhouses. the same time, creating an per year with an accumulation Although Heviz is a site recog­ impenetrable barrier to the volume of 10 ­15 cubic meters nized by the World Heritage debris that would otherwise per year. One theory links the Foundation (a United Nations choke the entrance. Addition­ jelly­like substance to the organization whose aim is to ally, cables between the surface composition of the medicinal protect natural resources around and monitoring instruments mud used in the Spa. Another the world), they apparendy located at 12 individual vents discovery was near the thermal didn't have as much influence within the cavern were installed, vents: small­pored sponge­like as the bauxite mine. which monitor die temperature animals. They thrive near the The installation of the and velocity and can be direcdy strongest flow. When first pipeline required further read from the surface. discovered, the divers thought it excavation of the large cavern at Other findings and studies to be mineral—some type of the bottom of the fissure vent have been carried out by the rock. However, breaking or connecting the spring and lake. club with the assistance of cutting a piece off for examina­ Because the cavern has a steeply several scientific entities and tion revealed the outside to be sloping floor leading up sponsors from around brown or dark red while the through the vent, excavated Budapest. They have noted a inside was a lighter shade of red. debris was constandy sliding continually changing water During the explanations and back into the chamber. To velocity (average is 350 ­ 400 stories, they also showed me remedy this situation, alumi­ liters per second; approximately plan and profile maps as well as num retaining walls (water at 100 gallons or 16 cubic feet per many photos. Next we dis­ Heviz rapidly corrodes steel) second) with occasional pulses cussed the tables we'd be using, were constructed and installed that significandy increase the which were developed specific along the slope of the crater. flow. Their observations lead to to this spring because of the Although this proved to be predictions in the early 1980's elevated water temperature. effective, debris continued to that the temperature in the lake After the briefing, it was find its way to the bottom. To would decrease, and in fact it determined that we would have

Volume 22 Number 5 9 ­40 m

0 about a two hour delay while ­ 10 jacket), a jacket style BC, metric the first team finished up and ­20 depth and pressure gauges and tanks were recharged. My ­30 an adequate though solitary

­40 m companion, Eszter Varga, and I light. Some divers wore hel­ were invited to enjoy the Spa mets, and everyone had redun­ while we waited. The entrance dant gas supplies. fee was waived because we were 0 Our dive plan was simple. I guests of the dive club. Along -10 would follow Gyorgy down the with the many ailment rem­ ­20 funnel until we reached the edies, the Spa offers a variety of ­30 metal bulkheads. At that point, therapeutic massages. For $8.00 ­40 m he would look to me to make I got a 30 minute pre­dive sure I was ok and if so lead me circulatory system refresher. through the two portals in the After that I took a dip in one of bulkheads connected by a 22 the many baths to test the meter span of wooden planks waters: very pleasant at 37 °C that the divers pull themselves (98.6° F). across. The planks serve a dual Finally, it was time to get purpose: 1) as a safety net, suited up. Everything was because once the first diver goes provided (I didn't realize I'd be through, the visibility drops to diving in Hungary and hadn't zero but the physical contact brought any gear). I was given with the planks serves as an twin ten­liter tanks with mani­ orientation point as well as fold and J­valve, Scuba Pro keeping disoriented divers from regulators, a farmer john (no slipping to the bottom between the two bulkheads, and 2) the planks provide the necessary hand grips needed to pull into the system against a force of out­flowing water equivalent to Florida's Devil's Ear Spring. Sandstone Upon passing the twin bulk­ heads, we would have approxi­ Dolomite mately 15 minutes to tour the Rubble Ginnie Spring­size cavern. We entered the water, which Peat & Mud was immediately warm and comfortable due to the cool air Water temperature. Surprisingly, the visibility was only about ten feet. As I followed Gyorgy down the fissure, I went through layer Theory of the Evolution of the Crater Heviz

after layer of temperature other divers entered the cavern tangible. Of particular concern changes. It didn't progressively carrying robust, homemade, was if they would be able to get get warmer as I expected, but photographic equipment access and/or what kind of alternated between warm and (strobes, brackets, arms). Swim­ certification documentation comfortable, chilly, and a little ming the perimeter of the might gain them access (I don't too warm. That may have had chamber, Gyorgy pointed out think Hungary, or many coun­ more to do with where I was in the various vents and inspected tries for that matter, have relation to the main channel of cable anchors for corrosion. We organized cave diving sections). flowing water than depth or dropped down to the bottom, I told them their best strategy is water composition. We stopped where he showed me the most to contact Florida cave divers briefly at the outside of die first promising going lead. After a and that I would be glad to bulkhead where he signaled to short distance under a ledge, it help in that area. me to close ranks. I gave him appeared to be heading to­ I anticipate Heviz becoming the ok signal and he proceeded wards no­mount country. the dive mecca of senior citizen through the portal. In the next Later, on the surface, Gyorgy cave divers who will be lured by moment, I saw brown water told me of a rock collapse the challenging entries, warm billowing out at me as though I several years ago that had water, beautiful caverns, short were suspended above some trapped him in there for the bottom/hang times, Palinka huge smokestack. I started in longest five minutes of his life. Palinka and all the physiological and felt a very gentle pull on During the post dive debrief­ benefits Heviz is renowned for. my right elbow as Gyorgy, who ing, we relaxed with a bottle of Thanks to Lamar Hires and I could not see, briefly directed Palinka, considered a national DiveRite for donating some me until I found the planks. I treasure in Hungary. It's an cave diving literature which I pulled myself across, and within intoxicant comparable to requested and subsequently 15 seconds, I joined him in the Mexican Aguardiente, and forwarded to Hungary. I'm sure gin­clear water while coming on usually produces similar results. it will be beneficial both in to a slight narcosis buzz. Everyone was eager to hear me terms of scrutinizing their Wow! I was euphoric. The describe my sensations of going own methodology and in foreign depth and pressure through the bulkheads, and planning that dream dive trip. gauges may have played a small they jokingly referred to it as A very special thanks to role, but there was more to it. the "psychological window." I Eszter, who made the dive and After the swim down through gave them my overall impres­ this article possible. turbid water and the swim sions of the dive, and In closing, the hospitality was through a "smokestack," I complimented them on their exemplary, and I look forward wasn't expecting much. Then excellent job of accommodating to returning the favor. Maybe suddenly I felt like I was in a a foreigner. Next they began to I'll be able to be an "ambassa­ beautiful Florida cave. Gyorgy ask questions about cave diving dor" to them someday. My only handed me his mega light, a in Florida and Mexico. They regret was the language barrier, homemade light of durable pointed out that not only are which prevented us from construction containing twin 50 they free to travel these days but sharing more information.* watt lamps. With it I was able that airfares are making their to light up nearly the entire dreams of diving here more cavern. One by one several References: 1980, 1982 Annual Reports of the Amphora Dive Club.

Volume 22 Number 5 TO CONSERVE

CAVE FEATURES AND

[Editor's Note: We had hoped to be able to CEOTHITE by present photos of many of the features fo­ Geothite, one of our most spectacular cave Tom Morris, cused on here. Yet we do not have good features, is a mineral deposit, composed Conservation photos of all of these features, and we encour­ mainly of iron and manganese oxides, that Coordinator age photographers to help us make a photo probably form with the aid of bacteria. archive, perhaps one day for instructional Significant geothite formations form extremely NSS# 24256 purposes. We do have a few good photo­ slowly, probably over centuries. graphs of these features, and we will run Geothite comes in many forms. The black them as soon as I locate the moving box that coating on the walls of Devil's Eye is geothite. contains them. We look forward to your The rust­colored deposits in Peacock Slough submissions, and to any comments or feed­ that look like hollow tree stumps or jugs are back on this conservation series.] geothite. Geothite forms amorphous masses that look like dark cumulus clouds as well as Our caves are often referred to as conduits, and crystalline­looking complexes of parallel indeed they are. But they are much more than spires. Geothite forms a black crust on clay pipes that move water. They are beautiful and sand substrates, such as the large plates landforms well worth protecting for their beyond the split in Devil's Eye, and there are aesthetic appeal alone. In the last issue of even places with geothite sand. One condi­ Underwater Speleology, I brought up the problem tion for geothite formation is the presence of of how we divers are unnecessarily trashing our a stable substrate. It forms so slowly that it caves and what we might do about it. This cannot get a good start on ephemeral article is a continuation of that discussion. substrates, such as the actively eroding rock Every cave diver should strive to become walls of sinking point caves with their familiar with the cave environment, for the aggressive water. sake of the cave as well as one's own safety. Geothite is easily damaged. It is often just a This includes the ability to recognize the fragile crust over clay, sand, fossils or rock. various cave features and assess their suscepti­ Massive deposits are often hollow. Damaged bility to damage. There are two components geothite formations never heal. Because of involved in susceptibility to damage: 1). this, it heads the list of susceptibility to fragility (how easily a cave feature is damaged) damage. Learn to recognize this stuff. and 2.) ability to heal (how long a damaged feature takes to heal, if it can heal). DELICATE ROCK FEATURES It is possible to rank cave features based on Florida underwater caves don't have their susceptibility to damage. The following speleothems (stalactites, etc.), but there are ranking focuses on features found in Florida's many rock formations that are just as beauti­ underwater caves, starting with those most ful and fragile. Delicate erosional remnants, susceptible to damage. such as thin rock shelves, curtains, scallops and pendants, are common in our caves. Less

Sept/Oct ^ PROTECT THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DAMAGE

common are the really fantastic remnants high flow, because of the electro­attractive such as huge chunks of sculpted rock held to forces that bind clay particles. Cave forming ceilings or walls by a thin arm of rock. limestones in Florida are quite pure, so Unfortunately, these features are some of the most of the clay in our caves originates first things to go after a cave becomes popu­ outside the cave. lar. This is too bad, because these are some of Clay floors and banks are very easily the real treats to be found in pristine caves. scarred, and such scars last a long time, Just the slightest touch is enough to break off probably decades. I know of a scar in the clay many of them, so they belong in the easily floor in the Big Room of Devil's Eye that is damaged class. And they do not heal. over twenty years old, and it is nowhere near Get in the habit of swimming your dives. healed, even under moderate flow. So, don't Many Florida caves are formed in soft rock touch clay! That includes the setting down of that is not suitable for handholds. Pull on the scooters and tanks. cave only where it is absolutely necessary, which is only in the highest flow caves. Pull SAND FLOORS OVER CLAY and glide is not a valid technique—if you can It is common to find sand floors that are glide, you should not be pulling, you should underlain, usually less than an inch or two be swimming. deep, by clay. They are usually found in high The floors of our popular caves are now flow environments. The sand dunes, and littered with rock fragments that have been indeed all the sandy floors in Devil's Eye, are knocked off ceilings by poor divers. Tanks are good examples of this. These floors are easily effective battering rams, so stay away from the damaged and slow to heal. In fact, once the ceiling when moving through a passage. I surface is scarred, the equilibrium between prefer staying a little closer to the floor than floor and flow is upset, and the ciamage the ceiling. It is easy to see the floor and spreads by flow­induced erosion. So, don't avoid touching it, but the ceiling is hard to touch these floors. That includes the stashing keep an eye on. And please, avoid using the of tanks and scooters. horrible ceiling­walking (fly­walking) tech­ nique. It is hell on the ceiling, drops BACTERIAL COLONIES "crumbs" on the floor, and doesn't work well Though not common, bacterial colonies because of the irregularity of most ceilings. occur in many caves. These colonies consist of huge numbers of individual bacterial cells, CLAY FLOORS AND BANKS and they are held together very loosely. Clay floors and clay banks (usually beautifully Because of this, they can be blown apart by a stratified) are common. They are often found single careless fin kick. These features tend to in high flow areas and are usually at their heal, but may take months to reach their prettiest in such spots because they are swept former glory. Troglobites may depend on clean of silt. They persist, or even form in these colonies. In several caves, copepods, CONSERVE & PROTECT & CONSERVE

which are presently unidentified and may be sand bottom. If your first gentle touch indi­ troglobitic, can be reliably found in bacterial cates the sand floor is just a veneer, and that colonies, but not elsewhere. Be careful scar­able soft sediments are present, don't around these colonies. touch it again. Here is an example of the care I take to SILT FLOORS leave no sign of my passage. Many sinking Most of the silt in our caves originates out­ point caves have sand floors. They also tend side the cave. Much of it is organic in nature, to have lots of catfish, which leave their although small inorganic particles, such as telltale "bites" in the sand. If I shovel in these clay, are often part of soft silty floors. Con­ caves, I place just two fingers right in the trary to popular belief, silt is one of the catfish bites, thereby leaving no new marks in beautiful features in our caves. It is not the floor. something to be feared, despised or abused. Silt floors are easily damaged. Many of the COARSE ORGANIC DEPOSITS silt floors in our caves are a mess, such as the Deposits of leaves, stems and other debris once beautiful silt floors in the Crossover often accumulate near cave entrances. They Tunnel and Peanut Restriction areas of often become peaty with age. Old deposits Peacock Slough. Fortunately, silt floors do may be of scientific interest. A peat bank heal in caves that experience moderate to several hundred feet inside Devil's Eye was high water flow, although it may take several radiocarbon­dated to about 1800 years B.P. years. However, damage to silt floors in low (Bill Wilson, personal communication) and is or no flow caves may take decades or even probably the best evidence for dating a great centuries to heal. I know of one no flow cave flood in the Santa Fe River Valley. Peat where the silt bottom was scarred in the late deposits are not easily damaged, but if they 1950s, and the damage is still evident. are torn up, they are shot for good.

TRUE SAND FLOORS DEBRIS CONES True sand floors are rare. They are usually These are generally cone­shaped piles of rock, found in high flow caves downstream of a sand, clay and other material that has fallen sinkhole or crack, which provides a source of into a cave from above. They are often found sand from the surface. Coarse sand floors in under surface depressions or on the floor of high flow caves are relatively undamageable, collapse sinks. These are very striking features and marks usually disappear in a matter of and may be of paleontological interest. The minutes or hours. coarser deposits are not easily damaged. The shoveling technique may be used in Debris cones should be dug into for scientific high flow caves with sand floors. This entails purposes only. sticking your fingers in the bottom to help make progress against the flow. However, it is FOSSILS extremely important to realize that sand floors Fossils should be left where they are found. are never continuous, but occur as a mosaic There seems to be a strong tendency for with other more easily damaged sediments, divers to take these things out of caves. The such as clay. It is also easy to confuse a sand­ scientific value of fossils is often lost when over­clay floor that can be easily damaged casually removed, and many of the fossils, with a true sand floor. In fact it is so easy to particularly bones, crumble when they dry. confuse the two that I hesitated even men­ Also, by removing fossils, you have denied tioning the shoveling technique. So be very others the thrill of discovering these things careful when touching what appears to be a themselves in their natural setting. There used be a huge fossil sand dollar sticking out

Sept/Oct CONSERVE & PROTECT &CONSERVE

of the wall in Devil's Eye. Unfortunately, go for the nearby feature that is least suscep­ some clown went to the trouble of remov­ tible to damage, and keep your touch light. ing it with a saw, and now none of us get Better yet, work on your diving skills until to enjoy it. you are such an accomplished diver that the need to touch the cave is a rare occurrence. SUMMARY I hope that all our instructors are pointing You may have noticed that most of the out the wonderful features in our caves to their features listed above are easily damaged, and students, and their susceptibility to damage. many never heal. So get into the habit of not This is extremely important. Without a knowl­ touching the cave, particularly its geothite, clay edge of cave features, a diver is basically uncon­ and delicate rock features. Situations do arise scious of the cave environment and cannot where you may do less damage if you stabilize possibly dive in our caves without destroying the yourself by touching the cave. In such cases, very things we come to see. Pristine underwater caves are a non­restorable resource.* About Arch Sink Arch Sink is located in northwest Pasco County The second line runs northeast into a large by Frank near the Hernando County line. The sinkhole tunnel, which runs northeast for 110 feet and Laval lee, basin is located on the east side of an oblong, then turns almost due east. Some very unique NSS# 27829 curved, shallow pond. Exposed limestone around and fragile ceiling formations are present. its rim mark its location. A restriction near the end of this tunnel leads On the west wall of the rim at a depth of 15 into a picturesque room with a low ceiling. feet is an arch­shaped opening which allows Visibility remains relatively clear in this room access into the sinkhole basin. This formation is year­round, regardless of the conditions in the what gave Arch Sink its name. rest of the system. This tunnel is 265 feet long. A permanent line starts on the right wall Maximum depth is 62 feet. underneath this arch. It runs horizontally and The third line runs southwest into a short then drops down almost vertically to a tree on tunnel which runs southwest for a distance of top of the debris mound at a depth of 42 feet. only 75 feet. Maximum depth is 50 feet. Survey This tree serves as the junction point for three and rising air bubbles indicate that this tunnel permanent lines which run off into three differ­ runs underneath the sinkhole arch. ent cave openings. Visibility in this system varies. The sinkhole The first line leads.slightly northwest and basin suffers from near zero visibility during the down through a low breakdown area to the warm months because of heavy algae bloom. beginning of a long, wide room at a depth of 84 During the cool months, it tends to clear up feet. This room runs northwest for 220 feet. nicely. Visibility of 15 to 20 feet is considered Maximum depth is 96 feet. normal inside the cave system for most of the The floor in the first half of this room drops year. At times, it can drop to near zero, and at away to a depth of 130 feet, then slopes down other times, it can exceed 50 feet. and east under the upper wall for 95 feet to a If you have never dived this system before, or if restriction at a depth of 180 feet. Beyond this it has been a while since you dived it, it would restriction, the tunnel continues southeast around benefit you to check on the diving conditions a silt mound for 40 feet and terminates at a with a dive shop in the area, or with someone major restriction at a depth of 190 feet. who dived it recently. The ceiling in the second half of this room rises I recendy completed a survey of dais system and up to form a large dome. Cave divers refer to this have a Grade 2C bird's­eye view map of it. Anyone area as the "Dome Room." Some dark­colored desiring a copy of this map need only send me a manatee bones are embedded in the ceiling. legal­size self­addressed stamped envelope to PO Box At the northeast section of die room, a very low, 380, Plant City FL 33564­0380.* rust­colored silty tunnel runs northeast for 50 feet before terminating at a major restriction.

Volume 22 Number 5 15 Cocklebiddy Cave:

The arid Nullarbor plain of south underwater, uninterrupted, for the up and down movement of Text and central Australia is the backdrop 2,500 meters (8200') before each chamber via two levers for the world's longest multiple­ reaching the second air chamber positioned at the rear. Photos sump cave dive. In 1983, a group known as "Toad Hall." To traverse The plan was for all eight divers By Greg of Australian cave divers reached a this rocky chamber requires a to swim to the first 1,000 meter Bulling distance of 6,000 meters (19,685') strenuous walk of some 400 (3,280') mark, using back­ from the entrance of Cocklebiddy meters (1,310') over huge boulders, mounted triples. Of these three Cave. At this point, the cave in warm and very humid condi­ cylinders, two would be used as a narrowed down and one of the tions. In the third sump, the line normal twin set (twin singles, as divers removed his equipment continues for a further 1,740 manifolds are nor used in Austra­ and pushed a single aluminum meters (5,740'), until it reaches its lian cave diving) and the other cylinder another 240 meters present end. simply "carried" along, to be used (790') to set the current mark of Due to the logistics involved in in the second sump. The sled 6,240 meters (21,060') from the diving in such an isolated place, would be loaded to capacity, with entrance. The combined under­ the number of large­scale expedi­ 18 cylinders, along with food, water distance of the three tions mounted to explore water, camera gear, spares and sumps now stands at over 5,000 Cocklebiddy have been limited to other associated gear. meters (16,400'). some degree. In 1992, I organized Once at the rockpile chamber, The cave begins as a large an expedition to Cocklebiddy, not three sets of fresh triples would be degraded doline, on a vast treeless to break new ground but to film carried over, along with all the plain. The initial part of the cave for the first time the further equipment from the sled. With all consists of a large talus slope that reaches of this impressive cave. In the gear set up on the far side, all leads to a muddy lake, approxi­ all, eight divers were involved, the divers would come out for a mately 200 meters (650') from the with three of us pushing to Toad rest day before the three push entrance. The cave is characterized Hall. We planned to remain divers headed off to Toad Hall. Divers by huge 30 meter x 30 meter there for three days, exploring, So after many months of Below! (lOO'xlOO') clear tunnels, with no filming and surveying this preparation, we finally headed off appreciable flow. isolated section of cave. from Adelaide, our home city, and At a The expedition began like most, traveled the 1,600 kilometers distance of with countless hours of prepara­ (1,000 miles) to Cocklebiddy. Due 1,000 meters tion and physical training. We had to the isolation of the Nullarbor, r 1 (3280 ), a decided against the use of'scoot­ the drive there can be an epic in large 20 ers, due mainly to the prohibitive itself. The temperature of the area meter x 50 cost of several large AquaZepps, varies significantly, with summer meter which were the only suitable highs of 120 F not uncommon (65x165') option at the time. This meant and winter lows below freezing. collapse is that the physical fitness of the Water and gas are also a problem, encountered, divers was of prime concern. with no really reliable sources of which With the large clear tunnels fresh drinking water and isolated requires all, afforded by the cave, we chose to gas stops, where you pay as much equipment use a type of equipment sled as $4 a gallon! Add ro this the to be hauled originally designed for the early large number of huge trucks (we up and over record attempts. It consisted of an call them roadtrains) and the a steep and aluminum frame which contained danger of hitting kangaroos, emus, slippery 25 liter (seven gallon) hard and wombats at night, and you rockpile. plastic containers at each end, find diving can be the safest part Once on the which are filled with air via a of the trip! other side, cylinder on the sled. Once on site, we erected a "tent the tunnel These buoyancy chambers also city" before setting up a flying fox continues incorporate dump valves so the cable from the surface to the lake's diver pushing the sled can control edge. This enabled easy movement

Sept/Oct "Toad Hall Expedition"

of equipment in and out of the cave by using vehicles to raise and lower the gear. Power and tele­ phone lines were also installed from the lake to the surface, to give us plenty of light and reliable communication. The set­up dive started poorly, with almost two hours spent loading the sled in the cold muddy water of the lake. The water in the lake consists of a 1­2 meter (3­6') layer of cold (56 °F) fresh water which washes into the cave during heavy rain. Under this lies the clear brackish groundwater that has approximately half the salinity of salt water, but with a Loaded Sled much more comfortable tempera­ ture of 70 °F. twins seemed so easy compared to After traversing the 150 meter­ the effort of the previous dive. For the next few days we spent (4901­) long lake, the trip to the Once there, we left our partially­ our time exploring Toad Hall. Of rockpile chamber was quite used twins and walked over to our special interest was the discovery eventful, with the heavily­loaded fully­charged triples and sled. We of an extinct bat skeleton (a cave sled taking quite an erratic path had chosen to use back­mounted diving species, perhaps!) located from floor to roof on numerous triples, as we had calculated that near our "bedroom" rock. The occasions. The problem was that we could return from the farthest high C02 and humidity made we had overloaded the sled in point with three full cylinders if conditions difficult, but at least we order to get all the equipment to the sled had to be ditched. ate well! With the use of a special the rockpile chamber in one trip. With a much leaner sled, the radio, designed and made by Tony This meant that it was just dive progressed without incident, Carlisle, one of the lead divers, we floating with full buoyancy although the speed was not were able to keep in touch with chambers, so when it started to shattering (approximately 750 our surface crew by transmitting sink down, inertia took over and it meters/hr or 40 feet/min). The through the 90 meters (295') of was difficult to bring it up to a addition of bulky camera housings rock. There is probably no level heading. and lights meant die sled was not as sound more distressing than that Once at the rockpile chamber, streamlined as we would have liked. of full beer cans being opened on the surface while you listen we unloaded the sled and man­ At the 1,000 meter (3,280') on the radio below­especially handled it all over. Conditions mark past the rockpile chamber, when it is your beer! here are not really conducive to we stopped and had a rest, taking The return journey from Toad strenuous exercise, with high a drink from modified intravenous Hall was long, but generally C02, temperatures in the 70's drip bags stored in our vests. At uneventful. The sled became more and almost 100% humidity. In around the 2,000 meter mark, the difficult to control towards the end the end, all was done and we cave reaches its deepest point at of the dive, as it had become were out again after an 18­hour approximately 18 meters (60'), and quite buoyant due to the large excursion underground. we had a little trouble equalizing amount of air breathed from it With a rest day behind us, it our ears. Finally, after 222 minutes during the dive. underwater, we reached Toad Hall was soon time for the dive to Finally, after three days under­ Toad Hall. The leisurely swim to and spent some time decompressing ground and a total swim in and on oxygen before surfacing. the rockpile chamber with only out of 7,000 meters (23,000'), we surfaced to the fresh outside air.v

Volume 22 Number 5 Incident Report:

The accompanying article is a little over a year. Both divers are in the water on Saturday, as by detailed incident report from accustomed to diving under they were attending the NSS­ Mary my recent trip to Florida, where harsh conditions, including CDS workshop. Bricker my buddy suffered an unex­ cold water and ice diving. The The dive was easy and NSS# plained DCS hit at the end of a two were familiar dive buddies, unremarkable. While the dive. The striking thing about diving together for four years. videocamera in the current of 40550 this serious hit was that it could Both divers were very familiar the cave may have added some not be explained. For me, it with the Devil's system and had stress for Mark, it was not a was a good, but painful, re­ planned an easy and non­ significant stressor as he is quite minder about the risks of scuba stressful dive. accustomed to carrying it under diving, and the fact that no Both divers were well rested a variety of conditions and has matter how hard we might try and looking forward to the filmed in this cave a number of to limit the risk, in the end dive. Mark is a videographer times. The divers turned the we cannot control it. and planned to shoot video dive as they approached thirds, In spite of the "unearned" during the dive, which was and enjoyed riding the current nature of this hit, there is still planned to Hill 400 and the out of the cave. When the some stigma around "getting Bat tunnel. The weather was divers exited the system, they the bends," as if it describes overcast and humid, but not noted a bottom time of 75 some personal weakness. I particularly hot in the cool of minutes. At that point, the air applaud my friend Mark, who the morning. They arrived at computers called for 52 minutes is the safest diver I know, for the dive site around 8:30 AM, of decompression, 10 minutes his willingness to be open and spent about two hours in at the 20 foot stop and 42 about this incident in the prep time, getting cameras and minutes at the 10 foot stop. As interest of educating others to gear ready for the dive. Mary ascended to the 20 foot the fact that it can happen to Mark was diving with double stop, Mark lingered at 30 feet to anyone. There will be those 121 's and was carrying an 80 cu shoot video and slowly ascend. who read this and look for ft tank of EANx 32, which was Shortly after arriving at the blame. I see this as an effort to left hanging at the deco stop. 20 foot stop, Mark ascended distance oneself from the Mary was diving with double briefly to 13 ft to retrieve the possibility of death. I encourage 95's and carried an 80 cu ft EANx tanks. Both divers began the reader to use this as a stage tank of air, and an 80 cu breathing nitrox, and continued reminder that we cannot ft tank of EANx 32 to be left at breathing nitrox for the 57 experience the passion and joy the deco stop. Mark was wear­ minute duration of die decom­ of diving without realizing ing a semi­drysuit, and Mary pression, several minutes beyond that we must also face the wore a wetsuit. Mark also carried the directive of the computers. possibility of death. a videocamera. Both divers were Mark began to notice symp­ wearing Aladin Pro computers. toms shortly after reaching the Incident Report Mark had done one dive the 10­foot stop, which was actually On Memorial Day, Monday, previous day, Sunday, to a done at about 15 feet. First May 29, 1995, cave divers Mark depth of 70 ft in Peacock with symptoms were experienced as Thomas and Mary Bricker, no decompression, approxi­ stomach and lower abdominal both from the Columbus, Ohio mately 24 hours previous to this pain. Mark initially felt that area, set out for a dive at the dive. Mary had done two dives these were intestinal cramps Devil's Ear system at Ginnie the previous day, the first with due to breakfast or some other Springs. Mark, 35, is an experi­ Mark in Peacock, and the "bug." He loosened his gear enced diver with 20 years of second, a short decompression and put more air in his drysuit diving experience and 13 years dive at Little River, to a depth in an attempt to become more of cave diving experience. Mary, of 90 ft. Neither diver had been comfortable. He also began to 38, has been cave diving for a notice shoulder pain, but continued to try to distract Decompression Sickness

himself from the pain in the DAN physicians and other home to Ohio to complete his belief that it was simply an DAN personnel who happened recovery there. No changes upset stomach. to be at Ginnie came to attend were noted in the symptoms His buddy was unaware of to Mark. Decompression during the trip home, and his Mark's distress, though she was sickness was quickly diagnosed recovery since that time has within reaching distance. When and oxygen administered. The been good. Mary signaled to Mark that she EMT's arrived, an IV was Following an analysis of the was almost ready to surface, Mark started and the decision was dive profile and other facts, the signaled back that he wanted to made to transport him by DCS incident was described as move out of the cave entrance helicopter to Shands Hospital in an "unearned hit." There were and do five more minutes of Gainesville. At the emergency no predisposing medical condi­ decompression near the exit, an room at Shands, Mark was given tions which were felt to be area whidi is about 5­7 feet deep. a diagnosis of Type II DCS. related to the DCS hit. Al­ Mary was mystified by this Within three hours of Mark's though Mark was taking medi­ unusual request, but agreed to exit from the water, he was in cation for hypertension, neither follow him there. There were the hyperbaric chamber on a this condition nor the medica­ many other divers and swimmers Table 6 protocol. At depth (60 tion was thought by attending in this area and the visibility was ft), Mark experienced immedi­ physicians to play a role in the low; Mary could not see Mark ate relief of some of the most DCS. Mark is in good physical and surfaced to see him swim­ serious and painful symptoms. condition and is not over­ ming toward the steps to exit. After a six hour chamber dive weight. There was nothing When Mary surfaced beside with several extensions, Mark about the dive profile which Mark at die steps, he indicated was admitted overnight. The would suggest that a DCS hit that he had bad stomach cramps. following day, he was extremely was likely; strictly on the issue He placed his nitrox botde on fatigued, and had eliminated of dive profiles, Mary would die steps and put his camera on most symptoms except some have been a more likely candi­ the deck and proceeded toward dizziness, unsteady gait, and a date for DCS. While Mark had his truck. Mary removed her sense of motion with side to consumed some beer on the extra tanks, and was diree to four side and up and down head previous day, it was not an minutes behind him in exiting movements. A decision was excessive amount. Some dehy­ die water. made to do another Table 6 dration may have contributed to Mary arrived at the truck to chamber dive. the risk of DCS. On the other find Mark in severe distress Following the second cham­ hand, it is thought that the use with breathing difficulty. Other ber dive, Mark noticed immedi­ of nitrox on an air table during divers gearing up had helped ate improvement in the dizzi­ decompression may have lessened him out of his gear, and were ness and side to side head the severity of die hit. In short, helping remove his drysuit. motion tracking. He continued die best guess of die cause of this They had also signaled for to have severe fatigue and some DCS hit is "Bad Luck." Ginnie Springs officials to call slight dizziness with up and The hyperbaric chamber staff for a medic. Mark was gasping down head motions. His gait believe that the quick response for breath and coughing and was unsteady. He was dis­ of assisting divers, medical seemed to be in great pain. charged with the condition that personnel and EMT's was an Mark quickly progressed to the he would return to the hospital important factor in the positive following symptoms: severe in the morning for another prognosis for Mark. They were pain, motded skin, difficulty check­up. Following a good also assisted by the accurate breathing (aka "the chokes"), night's sleep, Mark felt much records that the divers had of distended stomach, loss of better. Slight symptoms re­ their dive profile.* feeling and reflex in his right mained, but Mark made the leg and foot, numbness and decision to make the road trip tingling in his left foot.

19 Volume 22 Number 5 Cannonball Distress:

The first time I was in Cannon­ brought to the higher "winter approximately 31.7 million gal/ By Bob ball was the weekend before pool" level. Knowing this, we day. In subsequent visits and Thanksgiving in '92, but it was a concluded that the rain, in phone requests for maps, water Foster, repeat experience of sorts. All I conjunction with the altered table data, and general informa­ NSS# could see was my finger loop hydrology, was rinsing the tion, we have been assisted by 36921 around Hermerding's line, and summer's accumulation from the Ranger Doug Nichols who also an occasional flash of a fin recently reactivated cracks and provided a daily water table history. cutting through the silt­shortened crevices of the aquifer. Our host And so the project began. beam of my Neutralite. I was at this facility, the Wappapello Earlier in the fall, before Mark assured I had left the muddy lake Lake Management Office, was Hermerding and I made our bottom and entered a spring by Park Ranger Dan Camden. He November '92 dive, he and the need to pull through high welcomed us as tourists, happy Ralph Walter had made the same flow and low overhead which to tell us about his work there dive with exactly opposite experi­ restricts the entry, but the and equally anxious to learn ences. An easy dive. Great visibility was only a little better about cave diving and specifically visibility. Manageable entry flow. than in the lake. Once in, we about our dive that morning. He This variation was the first hint clipped a reel to a "permanent" proceeded to tell us about the of the significance of rainfall and line, went about 500 ft and lake, its origin, and maintenance. water table management on the called the dive. His fins are We left Dan's office with an arm dive characteristics of the spring. boring! The line we found load of brochures and maps, Our fourth, Greg Schmoll, drooped in places, crossed over including current and pre­ joined Mark and Ralph for a jump lines, and sometimes laid construction topographies, which dive weekend also in the fall of loose on the floor. Not the kind have been quite useful. '92. In the summer of '93, after of mainline that gives you Like Wappapello is a public the visibility impact of spring confidence in the skills of prior flood control reservoir adminis­ rains and water table manage­ visitors. We left the spring, tered by the U. S. Army Corps ment had subsided, we again crawled up the muddy lake of Engineers. The lake is located traveled to Cannonball. In the bottom for a safety stop, exited on the St. Francis River in day of diving, the conversation the water, then made the climb southeast Missouri and is turned to next dives, plans, trips, we would soon learn to dread. surrounded by 44,000 acres and the like. We gravitated to the It was cold, wet, and gray that available for public use and fact that Cannonball was closer November weekend in south recreation. The dam construction to home, less expensive, and Missouri, and had been raining was completed in 1939, control­ easier to schedule than our for a few days. We packed our ling the drainage of 1,310 square Florida trips. It seemed we were gear and started the drive back to miles. Before the dam, a spring just looking for a reason to do it our motel in Poplar Bluff. It was named Davidson's Blue Hole more often. None of us had seen about noon. We were tired, wet, created a hillside pool and short a map of this place. The little muddy, and about nine hours^ creek to the river about 100 yards info we had about this dive had from home. The only dive in the to the west. The spring was come verbally from Dee Burke, a vicinity was terrible. A bar near located about midway between cave diver who owns The Boiling the motel beckoned. the dam site and the town of Springs Dive Shop in Licking, On our way from the dive site Greenville. More precisely, it is Missouri. The few others we we passed the dam and a U. S. in Blue Spring Hollow, about knew who had dived it hadn't Army Corps of Engineers office. halfway between Lost Creek and seen maps either. Before we We then made one of the better Possum Creek, two other tribu­ realized it, need, motive, and decisions of the weekend; we taries to the St. Francis River. opportunity all came together in went in and introduced our­ This location is presently about a plan to survey Cannonball. selves. We soon learned why the 35 ft. below "summer pool" On a very calm day, the "boil" spring was so silty. The lake, water level. The U. S. Army of turbulent spring water can be Lake Wappapello, was being Corps maps of estimated flow of seen on the surface of the lake,

20 Sept/Oct Four Guys Working Off Their Azimuth! Cannonball Distress:

but typically Cannonball is vortex­shaped room about 150 ft and jump line station identities? located by surface swimming to across at the top, descending These decisions weren't show­ the cooler water and dropping and, we are told, tapering to a stoppers, just things we hadn't within it to the spring entrance horizontal restriction at about 290 considered until we faced the some 35 ft. beneath the lake foot depth. In the latter stages of task. We all pledged to brush up surface. The entry is in an our survey, this room shape was on our survey skills, review our eroded pocket of a onetime observed, measured, and con­ training manuals, and come to hillside, now part of the lake firmed to 240'. the planning meetings pre­ bottom. Immediately above the It was apparent that if we were pared. We all made sincere entry is an eight to ten foot going to spend any significant efforts to do just that. vertical stone wall which reflects time in this cave, safety dictated a We were so prepared, we the erosion of the area around proper mainline. And, if we were overtasked ourselves from the the "above ground" spring, and going to reline it, we could do start! It sounded so reasonable subsequent fracture of the that with a knotted survey line. for a three­man team to pull a sedimentary stone above the So the first task of the project tape measure across the survey spring arch as support beneath was defined. With the first task line, at a right angle to it, from eroded. The entry remains a came the first decision. Even cave side to cave side recording a shallow arch, about 30" in the though we thought the present maximum width at the spool center, about 10 ft wide, with line poorly placed and not end, and have the center man loose stone covering the floor. maintained, it wasn't ours to record a reading at the line on Once through the entry, the alter, relocate, or remove. It had his slate, in the proper blank for larger, wider path is to the right another group's name on it, but the knot number/station num­ around a large boulder. Immedi­ no way to contact anyone. How ber. While waiting for the ately past this boulder is a very should we go about our tasks, outside guys to get in position, wide room with a low ceiling tasks to benefit all future visitors the centerline guy can catch the and two distinct floor levels, the to this spring, without offending ceiling and floor depth readings. higher to the right. Upon further those who had been there first? We had already scoped some of inspection, it is apparent that the To assure that none could the side measurements to be in floor section on the right was criticize, we repositioned their the 60 to 80 ft range. We had once the roof. The step to the original line, properly secured light signals to move the outside left side of the floor matches a and placed it, and then parallel­ guys into proper perpendicular step in the ceiling. Entry is placed our knotted survey line tape position. We had signals to possible to the left. From there, beside it. The main line is now move the tape to the next survey it is possible to rejoin the main attached to a rebar pin that we line knot. We had tape "tug line on the upper level to the drove in the floor outside the signals" to commence light right. The spring continues a roof of the spring, but within the signals. Can you believe this? southeasterly course for about springwater pocket. So much for The list of things that can go 800 ft at depths ranging from 40 visitors protocol. wrong in this scheme is material to 55 ft. There are parallel We then needed to agree on a for an HBO comedy special! passages, accessible by jumps, on numbering convention so we Simple question number one: the right inbound. At about 500 could identify stations, substa­ Where is the side of the cave? Is ft a stone bridge about 8 ft wide tions, landmarks, jumps, etc. But the side of the cave the farthest divides the cave horizontally. it isn't obvious how to assign penetration in which a diver can Passage is possible above or numbers. For example, should navigate? Is the side of the cave below the bridge, but some of the starting point be a "zero" the furthest niche or cranny you the stone appears to be fractured point or station "No. 1"? Should can stick the tape into? We found and resting precariously above we get into a multi­line number­ areas that were overhead re­ the lower passage. At about 800 ing convention right off the bat stricted for a diver with conven­ ft this basically horizontal so we could take the natural next tional doubles where we could passage ends in a large tornado step into jump line numbering see another twenty feet. Should

22 Sept/Oct Four Guys Working Off Their Azimuth!

we approximate and map it, or is a bit of a gray area in that daily dive plan. After the first make the judgment call that some unlogged entries were dive, we would drive an hour to since we couldn't get in there, shallow, brief "confirmation fill doubles at the Aquascapes pet nobody needed to know? Does peeks" at a reference point, short shop. It took their compressor it really matter? trips to replace a tag or reset a about 45 minutes to top off a set What occurred was at least marker, or to retrieve equipment of 104's. Sometimes we brought one "lesson learned" every dive. left briefly for redundant tasks. multiple sets of tanks to avoid We even found that two divers After placing our knotted line, some fill time and travel, but the attempting the same task, more we had what we considered to be luxury wasn't always available. often than not, get different a Grade 3 "stick map" from the The fill trip worked out to about results. Judgment, skills, and entry to the top of the deep a four hour turn­around for two technology all contribute varia­ room in our first few dives. The sets of twins. We couldn't wait tion. The most effective solution rest of the dives were committed for more than two sets of tanks for the judgment and skills to sidewall definition off the on the first fill trip and make the variation is to have two team main and three jump lines, and day plan work: Hustle back to members "buddy" on a task and the configuration of the deep the dive site, do the second dive both document the result. room. Our early attempts to map of the day, stash the dive gear Variation and difference can the vertical room were really and head to the pet shop again. usually be explained and resolved complicated by the main line We had to get late day fills for after the dive. Gauge and equip­ position down one side and our the next morning dive since the ment differences contribute the ability to make precisely horizon­ pet shop wasn't open Sundays. technology variation. Like the old tal measurements over great Inconvenient as it was, we Arabic expression, "A man with distances. To cope with this couldn't complain. The people at a clock knows the time; a man condition, we anchored a float in Aquascapes were friendly and with two clocks is never sure." the top center and suspended a accommodating. We handled our We agreed to record data from weight. This became a own tanks, operated their one specific set of gauges, one centerpoint reference from which compressor, and ran our own tape, one compass and level sidewall location at predeter­ fills. Some evenings, if we were survey slate, and get multiple mined depth and azimuths were running late, they would close sightings on common equipment recorded. More experienced the shop with us inside complet­ at critical locations. surveyors could, I'm sure, ing our fills, and lock up later. Water table variations altered complete this map more effi­ Nice people. Great hospitality! depth readings. An example of ciently, in fewer dives, with less With the publication our map, this has occurred in recent years redundance. Expedience, however, we close a chapter. It was a with as much as a 24 ft. change wasn't one of our requirements! challenge for us to stay focused. in consecutive months, and even The number of dives com­ Some trips were memorable, greater change in three month pleted takes on a whole different some just a blur. We had a lot of and multi­season periods. This perspective in the context of fun, and a lot of laughs. The condition is not key to our locale and logistics. The dive site discomfort of cold wet gear in survey integrity, but was an often is a few miles down a fire trail November, the "burn" in the bothersome variable. Conse­ from paved roads, and about legs from the climb out after the quently, depth gauge readings were forty­five miles from "town" and dive; the screw­ups and omis­ used for relative reference during a a compressor. Although we were sions and oversights: these are all dive, and were not included in the able to get in some three day mellow, now in the past. Memo­ published product. weekends, we typically drove ries of good times remain.* During the two­year informa­ from our Indiana homes late tion gathering period, we made Friday or early, early Saturday to Mark Hermerding NSS#27543 thirty­two logged dives as two arrive at the dive site Saturday Ralph Walter NSS#29737 and three man teams and a few morning. "Dive and drive time" Greg Schmoll NSS#36516 more, too. The number of dives for air fills was always key to the Bob Foster NSS#36921

Volume 22 Number 5 23 Accident Analysis Revisited From the NSS­CDS InstructorTraining Bulletin, 3. Air/Gas Management: Keep a Classifieds By Lamar Hires minimum of two thirds of your 2 Tekna DV­3X Scooters w/ chargers. The traditional wording of the five rules of starting gas supply to exit the cave. $750 each. Call (904) 462­3749. accident analysis must be reviewed with die Increase this minimum whenever recent fatalities. I feel accident analysis still conditions are less than perfect. All R1X oil­less compressor. 5 cm; 4900 max applies to die most recent deaths of two of cylinders should be clearly marked psi. Great for mixing. $3,000. Call (904) our peers, Bob McGuire and Corey with the contents and maximum 963­2904. Berggren. The traditional wording of the operational depth if using anything five rules does not apply today with die use other than air. Set of 120's w/ Sherwood DIN manifold w/ isolator bar, bands & boots, $750. Call of gas mixtures other than air. The analysis (407) 870­0305. did not include gas switches during die 4. Depth and Time: Remain within the operational limits of your training dive. The Section does not formally teach Tekna DV­3X scooter, batteries replaced Nitrox or Mixed Gas, and I feel that we level and the gas you are using. last year (17 amp hr), dual rate charger, should leave the teaching of these special­ Maintain as wide a safety margin as adjustable pitch prop and prop guards, ties to other agencies and continue our possible to help avoid CNS and $750. Call (904) 268­7925. focus on cave diving, applying all tools at Pulmonary Oxygen Toxicity, Inert Gas our disposal. Narcosis and Decompression Illness. Dacor Seasprint scooter, two batteries, and charger, $600; Body Glove 6.5 mil no The proposed wording, as suggested by 5. Lights: Carry a minimum of three zip men's medium wet suit, very good Harry Averill, is as follows: battery­powered lights. condition, not crushed, $150; Steel 72 oxygen­ clean with yoke valve, $75; two Sherwood regulators, oxygen clean, $75 1. Training: Not only be trained for Cave divers are technical divers. We may each. Call Jeff at (407) 295­5406. cave diving and cavern diving, but not have wanted to be included in this remain within the limits of both description, but we certainly are now training level and experience. with the open and widespread use of Nitrox and Mixed Gas. Some say we 2. Guideline: Maintain a continuous should not allow the use of gas mixtures NSS­CDS BBS System guideline to the cave entrance. Whether in cave classes. I disagree. If the instruc­ 24 hours a day to make your primary tie­off in open tor is trained to teach Nitrox, then he 813­648­9400 water or at the entrance or just inside can apply it for his own use during class Up to 14,400 Baud die entrance will depend on factors and teach it to his students during a cave PC Board 15.0 such as openwater and cave diver traffic, class. Our job is to make cave diving as 8 data bits; 1 stop bit; no parity entrance configuration and the likeli­ safe as possible and ensure our students hood of visibility loss at the entrance or are introduced to all the tools at our die adjacent open water basin. disposal to make cave diving safe.*

Sept/Oct Accident Report

Submitted by turn at the "T" of the B&E lines. before they did the visual? There Kay PozdaWalten Unless you look directly at the T, were two teams of divers that were [Below is an accident report on two you could, at a glance, miss it, even going to head out shortly after they deaths in the Maya Blue system in though the E­line and B­line had turned. They did not swim back or Yucatan, Mexico, that were origi­ the appropriate arrows at the junc­ look for the lights of the others, nally reported on in the May/June tion. also indicating that they had made 1995 issue of Underwater Speleology The passage they turned on to is a wrong turn. If they had turned (Vol. 22, No. 3). At that time, it substantially smaller with minor when they had reached the end of was assumed that one or more restrictions, unlike the main section the B­line at A, they probably navigational errors were the cause of the B tunnel they entered on. If would have met the other divers on of the fatalities. This appears to they had referenced the cave on their exit. have been the case, according to the entrance, they could have easily The error at the B­E junction was recovery report submitted with seen the difference. the catalyst in this accident. Unfor­ these observations­ed.] When they reached the end of tunately, they had several indicators the line, and A­line was a ten­foot of this error but did not make the The following is the accident report gap in front of them, they should correction and turn around. on cave divers Dwight Fuqua and have remembered they did not We have changed this intersection Dan Johnson. I would like to make encounter a gap when they entered into continuous guideline from B to the following remarks: the cave. They visualled the gap and E. And, we have extended the main After repeating their dive, I could followed arrows in a direction. line in the A tunnel to where a see how they could take a wrong Why didn't they turn around diver can see light at the end.* Abyss Advanced Dive Planning Software

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25 Volume 22 Number 5 Over 1 75 exhibits showcasing the latest diving tools L/IV6 info the and services. Over 75 forums, features, technical sessions and hands­ most informative on clinics conducted by some of the lead­ ing individuals u/w event on the in the field. Getting Started In Technical Diving ­ Rigging Your Gear ­ Understanding Nitrox Computers « Deep Diving planet and hear Forum ­ Rebreather Review » Setting Up an EAN Blending System ­ Diving The Edmund Fitzgerald » ' some really Wakulla it « Rebreather Physiology » Low Cost l?QYs « Sidescan Imaging . Human Poweierf Subs « Desktop Software ­ Tiny M good jazz. fjw 11SSHEHNgclt " DI'V Review Enical Diving Safety Eical Navigation *

i j\jct . Fteuss Mask hiysis ­ Submarine 5 « Deep Air Diving ­table Chambers « W?YjSport Diving Helmet » U/W Communications Systems ­ aquaCORPS' Rebreather Physiology « ADS primer t ' Thermal Strategies « Legal '1 xtf ' Workshop ­ Preparing For In­vSBHkz compression » The Limits pi' res sure Diving (Forum/ -/.'WoM.ncj Film­maker « ROVs In Di«4&g ­ Selecting A Suit ^^Rbstioo System « Arms Race » jHBtting Started In The Technical * The Diving Technologies ' Diving Business ­ Yucatan Underground » The Future of Conference and Multimedia « Calculating Rebreather Decompressions « Diving Exhibition Regulations « Hoiiox As A Treatment Gas * Submersible Futures ­ MPS Underwater Masks * AUVs ­ Semi closed vs New G*!eans Closed Circuit Systems * Improving Technical Diving Safety ­ The Worlds 12-16 J AN Oldest Shipwreck * Working Photographer « U/W Mapping ­ Desktop Video Editing » Over a Dozen Leading Exploration Projects * and much much more

CALL NOW Cochran Hrusha IMUMl TIIIIMIKK.V & Lesser 800­365­2655 Professional Law Corporation 305*294­3540 or PERRY TRITECH THE O.C. LUGO CO.. INC. Hard Suits Inc. fax 305*293*0729 e: [email protected]

26 Sept/Oct SpeleoThings CDS Giftshop

NSS Cave Diving Manual: An Overview by Joe Prosser and H.V. Grey

19 chapters on all aspects of cave diving, including: dive planning, equipment configuration, decompression, mixed gas use, emergency prevention, sump diving, hydrogeology, biology, photography, surveying, and history. NSS­CDS, 1992. 41 I pages, 5 1/2" x 8", softcover.

Item Number 40120 Nonmember $28.00 Member $25.00

For more information on ordering, or to receive the new, updated CDS Bookshop Order Form, please contact Bruce Ryan at the NSS-CDS Main Office, PO Box 950, Branford FL 32008 Program Coordinators Abe Davis Award Wendy Short Accident Files John Crea Activities Coordinator Eric Tasso Biology Dr. Jill Yager Calendar Coordinator Randy Christian Cartography Frank Fioward DECO MADNESS Cave File Coordinator Tom Gilleland Computer Applications Wayne Gamble Conservation Tom Morris Education Coordinator Paul Smith ICDSA Wendy Short International Mailings Mary Garvin International Group Information John Rankin Maps Frank Fioward Photography Bob Janowski Property Manager Lamar Hires Publications Chairman Lamar Hires Publications Coordinator. Gene Hell wig Rescue/Recovery Team Captain Henry Nicholson Safety Committee (Mexico) Jim Coke and Dan Lins Safety Committee (North) Randy Kwiatkowski Safety Committee (South) Wendy Short Science Committee Tom Morris Social Committee Bruce Ryan and Annette Korn Sump Diving Project John Schweycn Survey Mike Poucher and Tony Pate Techniques Woody Jasper Project Coordinators Bonaire J°hn BurSc Q. Roo Speleological Survey....Loric Beth Conlin, Jim Coke, and Dan Lins

27 Volume 22 Number 5 Just because Dive Rite equipment shows up with increasing member of the Dive Rite team - When you do, you'll frequency on wreck dives, deep dives, ice dives and even usually see us testing new and better ways to explore the recreational dives, it does not mean we've forgotten our subterranean world - So, in the months and years ahead, roots - Dive Rite started as a cave diver's company, and look for continuous improvements in lights, reels, buoyancy cave diving remains our foremost passion - It's almost control, instrumentation and accessories - Because this is impossible to go cave diving without running into some where our roots are.. .and that IS "Totally Cool" "Equipment for Serious Divers" DIVE RITE Manufacturing, Inc. For a free catalog and the name of the dealer nearest you, write, phone, fax or e-mail -117 West Washington Street - Lake City, FL 32055 - Phone: (904) 752-1087 - Fax: (904) 755-0613 - E-mail: [email protected]

Cave Diving Section of the NON-PROFIT National Speleological Society, Inc., ORGANIZATION PO Box 950 US POSTAGE PAID Branford FL 32008­0950 PERMIT #77 LAKE CITY FL Address Correction Requested 32055

16631 EXPIRES LIFE FORREST WILSON 2832 CONCORD DR. DECATUR , GA 30033