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UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY

OFFICIAL NEWSLmER OF THE CAVE DIVING SECTION OF THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 8 NUMBER 1 Underwater Speleology, vol.8, N9.1

UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY ON THE COVER ...... Published Bimonthly Beginning in February Sheck Exley (NSS 13146) begins an extensive by exploration of one of the many clear first The Cave Diving Section of magnitude springs in Florida. These springs The National Speleological Society include nine of the ten longest caves in Florida. Photo by John Zumrick (NSS 187B8). c/o Stephen Maegeriein, P. O. Box 60 Williams, Indiana 47470 CALENDAR Deadline for publication is the second Friday of the preceeding month. Send exchange publications and editorial correspondence to the editor: July 12-18 5th International Cave Diving John Zumrick Camp. Contact Sheck Exley, 10259 120 Rusty Gans Dr. Panama City Beach, Florida 32407 Crystal Sprgs Rd., Jacksonvil Ie, Florida 32221

Section membership, including a subscription to un· derwater speleology is open to all members in good stan· July 18-24 8th International Congress of ding of the National Speleological Society at $3.00 per Speleology, Bowling Green, Ky. year. Subscription to non-members is $5.00 per year. Make checks payabie to the NSS Cave Diving Section in For information write Eighth care of the Treasurer. Opinions expresSed in Underwater International Congress of Speleology are not necessarily those of the section or the Speleology, Secretariat, Dept of NSS. Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky Unlv., Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ***************RENEWAL TIME?****************** CHAIRPERSON VICE-CHAI RPERSON Dennis Williams (N55 182&11 Karen E. Wark (N5520537) AI I CDS members, who received Volume 7 of Box 491 4756 Birdsong Uine Apt. 203 Underwater 5peleology, have been mai led this Opa Locka, FI. 33054 Virginia Beach, Va. 23455 first issue of Volume 8. The Editor wants to get the newsletter back on schedule. There SECRETARY TREASURER Mary Ellen Eckhoff (N55 197041 Stephen D. Maegerlen (N5583401 would have been more delay in starting Volume 8, Route 1, Box 502 P.O. Box 60 if we had waited unti I membership renewals had Live Oak, FI. 32670 Williams, In. 47470 arrived. TRAINING DIRECTOR EDITOR Forrest M. Wilson (N55 166311 john L. Zumrick, jr. (N55 16788) $0 look at your mai I ing label, if there is a 07-6 2832 Concord Dr. 120 Rusty Gans Dr. above your name, you wil I not receive any more of Decatur, Ga. 30033 Panama City Beach. FI. 32407 newsletters unless you renew! COMMITTEES PUBLICATIONS SAFETY Sheck Exley (N55 131461 Thomas H. Cook (N55 15548) 10259 Crystal Springs Rd. 376 Webster 5t. EDITORIAL Jacksonville, FI. 32221 Manchester, NH. 03104 by John zumrick (NSS 18788) SLIDE PROGRAM ACCIDENTS Grady W. Marshall !N55 20373) Mary Ellen Eckhoff (N55 19104) 2623 Tulip Tree. Circle Route 1, Box 502 1980 was a successful year for the Cave Seffner, FI. 33564 Live Oak, FI. 32670 Diving Section. During this past year we be­ came the largest organization of cave divers WORKSHOP VISITORS in the world. Much of . the credit for this Henry Nicholson (N5521028) Roy Bailey (N55 196~) SUCcess must stand with our officers and com­ 4517 Park St. 1570 Lane Ave., Apt. # 410 Jacksonville, FI 32205 Jacksonville, FI. 32210 mittee members. I We sure owe them a big thanks. I for one remember the friendly INTERNATIONAL RESCUE charm and firm determination with which India Sheck Exley (N55 13146' Jeffrey Parker (NSS 2019l) Young fulfilled her role as chairperson. 10259 Crystal Springs Rd. Henry Stelling !N55 206451 jacksonville, FI. 32221 402 E. Carolina Certalnly, the quiet efficiency with which Tallahassee, FI. 32301 Bill Fehring, the outgoing secretary, got the

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Underwater Speleology Vol.8,No.1 election ballots and notices to you, general­ hardly needs an introduction. Aided by his lyon short notice, should not go unrecogniz­ trusty microcomputer, he is our ever effi­ ed. Gene Melton spent countless hours edit­ cient treasurer and newsletter publisher. ing our newsletter over the past two years as Forrest Wilson has been training director well as designing and producing the section's since the section first began instruction in Tee shirts. To all you and to Greg McCarty cave and cavern diving. Under his.guidance our outgoing vice-chairperson, thank you. this porgram has become the largest of it type in the 0.5. Finally, there's the The newly elected executive committee for editor. Well, my efforts shall be only to 1981 includes: Dennis Williams, chairperson, plain for you to evaluate. Karen Wark, vice-chairperson; Mary Ellen Eckhoff, secretary; Steven Maegerlein, treas­ This issue begins volume 8 of Underwater urer) Forrest Wilson, training director; and Speleology. In this volume I shall endevor myself as editor. I feel confident that, to continue in the tradition of past editors. with the poSSible exception of the editor, Incidents and Cave Diving Notes and to beg in this group will quide the section along its a new column, The Instructors Corner. By or­ currently successful path. ganizing these columns as well as our regular articles into a two column fdrmat and reduc­ The new chairperson, Dennis Williams, has ing the print size. I hope to provide twice concerned himself primarily with the study of the information on cave diving per issue at Lucayan Caverns and the various offshore blue little if any increase in publishing costs. holes of Grand Bahama Island where he lives. Many have enjoyed his magnificent slides of However, if I am to succeed in this ef­ these caves at workshops here in Florida as fort, I need your help. My exploits alone well as at several past NSS conventions. cannot fill these pages with sufficiently Though not a stranger to Florida, Karen Wark varied news to keep you interested. I must is better known for her investigations in depend on you, the membership, for that. various Virginia sumps including that in Should you want to write a full length arti­ Butler Cave. Those who know her are sure cle complete with maps and photos, great, that she will carry cut her position with the :'11 publish all I can get. However, if you same fervor she has shown in these past pur­ just want to scribble a little note to me on suits. Mary Ellen Eckhoff, probably the most a napkin, that's great too. What I need is a active cave diver in Florida, is also the lot of thoughts, feelings, dive reports, and most active NSS cave diving instructor and experiences from a lot of different cave di­ al so the organi zer of one of our most suc­ vers to keep this newsletter interesting and cessful cave diving workshops. Though she useful to the entire section, not just those characteristically underestimates her abili­ of us in Florida. Say you can't write! Ok, ties, you can be sure she will keep you well I'll write it for you, but send me the infor­ informed as secretary. Steven Maegerlein a mation. Help the section to have the best long time officer and Indiana cave dlver newsletter in the NSS.

A NEW TYPE OF DIVERS DRY SUIT

by John Zumrick (NSS 18766)

Slowly, a new generation of dry suits will consist of an outer dry suit garment which. hit the commercial market. These new suits unlike the foam neoprene dry suits, offers no offer the potential of keeping a diver warm insulation in itself, but functions primarily for upwards of six hours in near freezing as a water barrier. Tl:tis suit will be much water. Furthermore, these suits will suffer like the currently available Viking dry suit, only a small loss of insulation as depth in­ being made of a very tough though noninsula­ creases when compared with conventional wet tive material. Though very durable, these suits or the foam neoprene dry suit. suits will limit diver motion somewhat. To retain as much mobility as possible these Developed by the U. S. Navy, these su its suits will be tailored somewhat oversized.

3 Underwater Speleology vol.a,No.1

Another material, crushed neoprene may help scent, compression of the closed cell foam reduce this problem somewhat. material of the suit will reduce the divers insulation perhaps to half that of the The entire insulation to the diver is pro­ surface insulation. Since all the insulation vided by the underwear which is made of a for these new suits is provided by the synthetic insulator called Thinsulate which underwear, and since adding air to the sui: is manufactured by the 3M Corporation. will prevent compression of the Thinsulate Thinsulate appears nearly ideal for use un­ underwear, insulation at depth is nearly the derwater. It offers almost twice the insula­ same as on the surface. tion of down at a fraction of the cost. Un­ like down, Thinsulate retains most of its in­ The Viking dry suit is already available sulation when wet. Because Thinsulate is and the crushed foam suit is expected soon. hydrophobic, any water leakage into the suit It is hoped that the Thinsulate underwear is repelled by the material rather than ab­ will be available soon. You should, however / sorbed. As a result the material below the be aware that currently available outdoor surface layers remains dry and retains its gear made of Thinsulate uses a different type insulation. of Thinsulate material that is not as suit­ able for dry suit use. Although most of the When using a foam neoprene dry suit part initial suits ~ill be directed toward the of the insulation is provided by the suit commercial diving industry, it is hoped tha: and part by the underwear worn underneath. sport diver models will be released shortly Thus, even if air is added to the suit on de- thereafter.

AN AMERICAN IN WOOKEY HOLE

by Sheck Exley (NSS 13146F)

As part of a chance of a lifetime visit decked out in the Various types of divin; to Paris and London, I had the opportunity gea!: used at Wookey: hard hat, closed circ',li ': to take a train to Bristol to meet Oliver oxygen, and the modern side-mounted ope~ Lyold, Martyn Farr, and other members of the circuit scuba. Cave Diving Group of Great Britain. From years of correspondence and perusing copies My first dive at Wookey was On the evenin~ of the CDS newsletter, I felt that I already of May 17, when Dany Bradshaw took me frail', knew them. However, this was a not to be Wookey 1 to Wookey 3, a short traverse of missed opportunity to meet my friends. I had only 150 feet at a maximum depth of perhaps the pleasure of staying with Oliver at Whitey 15 feet. Dany laid the line while I fol1owec Hause. Oliver is one of the most amazing men along, somewhat uncomfortably, since I wa~ I have ever met. He is a retired patholo­ not used to the side mounted forty cubic foo~ gist, in addition to being an accomplished tank Oliver had :Cent me. Amazingly, the u;)­ musician, archeologist, botanist, chef, au­ derwater portions of wookey reminded me ;Y: thor, connoisseur of fine wines, stage mana­ Peacock Slough with its clean, cream colorec ger, and, oh yes, spiritual leader of the ceiling and walls. The similarities even ex­ Cave Diving Group as its hard-working news­ tended to the slight flow and relatively letter editor. He is also the controller of clear blue water. But there the similarities all dives at Wookey Hole, considered by most stopped. The water, as warm as any in the as the finest cave dive in the British British Isles, was only 56 degrees) the floor Isles. was covered with red clay silt) and, na~ural- 1y, there were plenty of air spaces. Wookey Hole is a well known commercial caVe owned by Madame Tussaud who also owns The next evening wearing two of CHivers the famous wax museum. It also sports a forties, one on each side, Dany and aob Cor~ mUSeum which documents the efforts of the took me from Wookey 3 to Wookey 20 and back. Cave Diving Group there since the mid­ I can now definitely see the advantages of thirties. Especially interesting are the ar­ the small side mounted cylinders in negotiat­ cheological displays and the three manikins ing the low bedd ing passages so frequently

4 Underwater Speleology Vol.8,No.1

found in Britain, as well as for climbing out spaces. Rather than pulling their lines of . the water beyond sumps. At chamber 20 tight as we do, they are intentionally left Martyn Farr, author of The Darkness Beckons slack so they can be pulled back and forth and eng ineer of the famous Wookey 25 deep while negotiating restrictions. And you are dive, invited me to climb out of the water expected to pull yourself along the line. for a look at the air-filled passage they had Mindful of the good visibility and relative discovered a few years previously. I declin­ lack of silt, I once let go of the line where ed since I was a little concerned about the it was routed through an area too small to silt washing into the water and my return negotiate, and was severly admonished later through this same passage which was new to for doing so. While these procedures may me. seem strange in the context of our Florida caves, they make good sense in Britain. One of the most striking differences between the British style of cave diving and I am forever indebted to Oli ver and the our own is the way they handle their lines. other members of the Cave Diving Group, who From Wookey 3 on there are fixed permanent were perfect hosts and were exceptionally guidelines, all of large diameter floating friendly toward and patient with me during my polypropylene. To avoid confusion all lines visit. Hopefully, we can repay a portion of are tied together above water in the air this at the cave diving camp this summer.

A COLD DIVE IN CLARKSVILLE CAVE

by Tom Cook (NSS 15548)

A month earlier John Evans and I had told go away, we put on our dive suits. I had a Bob Jeffreys that we would check him out in new dry suit, but John only had his old wet cave diving so he would be ready for his up­ suit, an air conditioned one at that, ha, ha. coming Mexican experience. As we were driv­ I checked the tanks that we had left in the ing up the Massachusetts Pike friday night, truck the previous evening. They were a nice toasting Flash Gordon and !-ting the .Merciless, shade of ice and mucho frost. Since it

we had occasion to stop on the readside to didn I t seem like things were going at all release some of the processed spirits that we right, we decided to consult the IChing. It had consumed. It was at that time, when a told us to pray that Jeffreys has four flats wine bottle fell out of the truck and broke, before reaching Clarksville. So we offered and the wine froze, that we began th inking old 0- rings that this be so, and drove off that maybe this was not the right time of the looking for a Burger King to flaunt our black year to do this. Quickly, finding an Albany rubber in. station on our supspace communicator we learned that the projected low temperature After having a deleterious breakfast of for the night was -12 to -17 degrees cold, beer and donuts, we noticed that the beer cold, cold. Checking our astrolog ic charts, was freezing in the cab of the truck with the we found that Cancer was rising and Mars was heater going strong. It was about this time burried by an avalanche. Not being ones to that we began thinking of makeing· blood sac­ disregard such ominous warnings, we decided rifices, preferably someone elses, in the not to stay in the cabin and instead cheCked hope that the cold would go away. But time the star charts, went to sublight speed and was not on our side, as the cave parking lot headed for Sue Sloans house. Kicking it back loomed up at us. As we go out of the trucK a into hyperspeed, we decided that we may be black cat crossed our path and froze to in trouble tomorrow, so we offered sacrifi­ death, a mirror broke, a cock crowed thrice, cial beer cans to the gods in the hope that and we walked under a .ladder. We put our­ Bob's van would not start and that we could selves into overdrive and dashed for the abort this questionable undertaking. truck. As we were just kicking in the main drive for a quick escape , knowing the Bob Arriving at our alternate rest area with­ would not be coming, he drove up. out breaking into subspace, we spent a warm night next to Sue's wood stove. The next Resigning ourselves to fate, I asked Bob morning after trying to make the cold weather to get his diving gear out so I could look it

5 Underwater Speleology Vol.e,No.1 over. "What gear?", he replied, "I told you Bob's MSA helmet light put out even though i~

I needed to borrow some. n Poor J a h n didn't was no use in the turbid water. Looking it have a chance to offer Bob his gear as I was over, I decided I could waterproof it; standing on his throat. "You can use mine another project for the EI Cheapo. Bob", I said with a smile you could see all the way to New Hampshire. I was thinking About this time Bob said he had had e­ that I still had a chance to get out of this nough. I undressed him as by :now r.i shand s alive. were numb. Me, I was fine, dry suit you know. John wasn't in such great shape ei­ John and I packed the gear. Bob wanted to ther. With mucho speed we packed up the gear carry it in while we checked the regulators. and headed for the entiance. It was colder As he lifted two tanks, we just starred and outside so we hustled to the trucks. John put Bob's name down as chief beare r on our and Bob got into Bob's van with its big hea~­ next diving expedition. In a short time all er so they could change to dry clothes fas~. the gear was at Gregory's entrance. Just I hung around outside, drank coffee, and then all my cave lights died, an omen if I packed the gear into the pickup. About this ever saw one. The ins ide of the cave was time John discovered that he had left t.:; very cold, but we got all the gear back to fins at the cave. Seeing he was not the the Cook sump area in short order. right color, white not pink, I got them f::Jr him. We all agreed that what we did we We went over the dive plan. John would shouldn't have done. Being out of beer an:: 1 e ad, Bob would follow, and I would swim on donut we went back to Delmar to eat and ge,: the surface as far as I could to keep tabs on warm. We found a very nice cafe on ~he rna:" them. The water temperature was 42 degrees, drag and for the next three hours proceeded not bad. John tied off the reel, and he and to solve the problems of the Northeast Regio~ Bob were gone - somewhat. Bob was positive and to worry the waitress. Now all John ar:d and popped to the surface. After adjusting I have to look forward to is our annual Feb­ his weights, he was down again. I followed ruary ocean dive. I sure hope John has his behind, and found that I could free dive the dry suit by then. sump. I was impressed by the amount of light

ORGANIZING CAVE DIVERS - AN OPINION

by John Zumrick (NSS 18788)

A short time ago a close friend of mine reports probably represent his entire know­ had a bone spur removed from his foot at con­ ledge of cave diving and to him these oper:­ siderable expense. Though he had had this water divers are just like you, a cave problem for years, it had only become bother­ diver. some after he took up running. Another friend commented that he couldn't understand In that past all that was freque:1~ly nec­ why he would go to such expense when he would essary to obtair. permission to dive was __ be alright if he just gave up running, and establish a relationship with the la:ldowner. besides he wasn't a very good runner anyway. Conversations about interesting things fou:1G This second friend simply couldn't understand in caves and the careful training and experi­ how running could be so important as to jus­ ence you have in cave diving were generall::' tify such expense. adequate to get you permiSSion to dive, espe­ cially if you kept the landowner informed a­ It shouldn't, therefore, be hard to under­ bout what you found. stand why a landowner who has a potentially diveable cave on his land might be reluctant However, the courts, particularly wi,:~ to let you dive. Most simply cannot relate their viewpoint towards individual liability, to someone diving into a deep, black hole in has changed this. Fearing potential liabili­ the ground, a situation obviously foreign and ty from next of kin, landowners whose poter:­ potentially dangerous. Their feeling are oc­ tial wealth has increased due to the increas­ cassionally reinforced by newspaper accounts ed value of their land are more reluctant of drownings in underwater caves. These than ever to allow one to dive. 1'0 make

6 Underwater Speleology Vol.S,No.1 matters worse, most now realize that even a As suburbia expands and many cave ridden signed release from a diver cannot completely pasturelands are acquired by corporations, absolve them from responsibility at least in access is likely to become even more restric­ the eyes of the court. As a result it has tive. Even assuming the role of amateur gotten more dificult to gain access even to speleologist may not be successful. In this some of the traditional cave diving sites. instance your request to dive will likely be referred to attorneys if considered at all. unfortunately, for many cave divers atti­ These attorneys are less likely to be impres­ tudes as to their right to dive certain well sed with the benefits of your diving and more known caves have not changed. Many long time impressed with the legal ramifications of cave divers seem to feel it is their right to di ving. They are likely to request that you dive these traditional and still popular cave provide the owners with indemnification in­ diving sites even when the owner disagrees. surance to protect them in case of an acci­ Without even checking the law, they site laws dent. This has already happened. of proscriptive easement which they interpret give them the right to dive anywhere that has It is highly unlikely that an individual been open for diving in the past. Full of e­ could afford to provide insurance in the a­ motional zeal, somehow they feel they can ob­ mount required. Most insurance companies tain access by assuming an adversary rela­ seem to become highly nervous when diving is tionship, rather than one based on friend­ involved, and I shudder to think about their ship. response to a request to provide cave diving inSUrance. What is needed is an organization Even many caving organizations appear to of speleologists with a demonstrated record have ignored this changing attitude among of productivity and above all a clean safety landowners. The new Florida cave law while record. Since most landowners are likely to a good one, does not have a provision provid­ require controlled and limited access, such ing the landowner protection from liability an organization must assume a structure like suits from those venturing into his cave as that of the Cave Research Foundation, or as do the laws in some states. Fortunately, an official NSS project. more groups are becoming aware of this prob­ lem. At the last NSS Cave Diving Section The benfits of such an organization should be workshop held in Branford, Florida, it was obvious. By combining the accomplishments of pointed out that in Florida at least there is many indivduals, its achievements will look a law protecting landowners from liability even more impressive than those of the indi­ who allow others at no charge to use his land viduals. By combining the talent.s of may to for recreational purposes. One member has accomplish a project., productivity will pro­ offered to research this law and to try to bably increase. Such groups can usually af­ determine if it truly provides the landowner ford to print brochUres to further enhance protection. their professionalism. In such a context sporadic reports of cave drownings will as­ Another approach is to assume the role of sume much less importance to the group. a serious speleologist, by assuring the owner that you are interested primarily in studying As individualistic as many cavers tend to his cave by surveying it, photographing it, be such an organization dispite its advantag­ and taking water quality samples. Certainly, es is bound to create problems .. Since the any such data you gain will be useful in bet­ group has promised to provide the owner with ter under stand ing the geology of the area. a certain product in exchange for permission It is of course particularly helpful if you to di ve, and since landowner s will in most can demonstrate true interest in speleology instances restrict access to a limited number by providing the owner with evidence of pre­ of participants, any such group must limit vious experience such as a map , or partici­ its membership to those who are productive in pation in some other worthwhile project. its viewpoint. Unfortunately, such an ar­ That you are doing this as a recreational rangement precludes participation by those outlet is also a useful benefit to you. In who dive for purely recreational purposes, or sharing this information you gain with the those new cave divers who have not yet estab­ landowner, you will provide him with some­ lished themselves. Any old timers who are thing for his efforts.

7 Underwater Speleology Vol.8,No.1

not included in the group and who share the Unfortunalely, it is also possible that such traditional attitudes of right of access are a group may become controlled by a few who in likely to complain, not because they would a narrowminded view overly restrict partici­ have been a useful asset, but most likely be­ pation to a few, and who become overly pos­ cause they will have viewed their stature in sessive of the cave. Such behaviour will the,.cave diving community as being lessened. probably lessen their productivity and con­ For example, in one group of 30 participants sequently their control of diving at the in a project where most of the work is done cave. by the six organizers, it is at times dif­ ficult to get any of the other participants Whatever the consequences and evils of to even come along. Yet any at tempt to re­ such an organization, they are a necessary place these participants with others who may part of the new cave diving scene. It is es­ wish to contribute is certain to result in sential that we cave divers redirect our severe criticism of the organizers and the thoughts toward such groups, and rather than group by a few. Somehow in not being able to try resist forming them to consentrate on dive On exactly our Own terms when we want, structuring a group that will accomplish all we ignore the fact that these same people who Our goals. Failure to do so may restrict are criticized at least provided the opportu­ cave diving in Florida to those few commer­ nity to dive a place normally closed to cial cave diving sites. diving.

CAVE DIVING SECTION SPRING THING

by John Zumrick (NSS 18788)

Tonight is monday July 21 as I sit writing went down some 50 feet further to the bottom this and marvell ing that the wonderful ma­ to belay me on my first rappel. Then I fell! chine that is my body remains relatively in­ I had always wondered if one who in falling tact. I had just returned from a Cave Diving to his death really emitted those blood curd­ Section expedition to do some dry caving in ling screams like on TV. Now I know. Actu­ northern Alabama. This trip provided Mary ally, after getting on rope, I stooped down Ellen Eckhoff and myself under the tutalage to see how the seat harness felt. In doing of our fearless leader, Mike Sanders, the op­ so I slipped over the edge. As I swung over portunity to learn some vertical caving tech­ the abyss pendulum fashion, Mike complimented niques and to do some exploration of the lo­ me on how smoothly and without fuss I stepped cal caves. off. I saw no point in correcting him just then. Mary Ellen gasped, "You didn't say you Fr iday we arr i ved at Stephens Gap pi t to were on rope; you weren't on belay.R Now she try our hands at rappelling and pruss icing • tells me. Why couldn't she just wait till I Mike carefully secured the rope and lowered got down? it into the pit, while I somewhat cowardly crawled to the brink for a short peek down­ On saturday we met Forrest Wilson who a­ ward. The second peek didn't come until con­ long with Mike Sanders had organized this siderably later, after I recovered from what trip. In all about twenty Cave Diving I saw during the first look. I couldn't see Sect ion members were present. We proceeded the bottom through the mist. I gasped to to Fern Cave in three groups. We all entered Mike, "You expect me to go down into that on through the New Fern entrance. E. T. Davis a rope!" And they say cave divers are crazy. was to lead one group on a short trip through well, to you vertical cavers, remember. I can the upper section. Forrest was to lead a swim, can you fly? second group to a thirty foot pi t for some vertical work. The last group five in all Mike rappelled down smothly and easily, including Mary Ellen, Mike Sanders, and my­ the force must have been with him, while Mary self were to continue past this pit hopefully Ellen and I descended to the 90 foot level to Helectite Heaven about a mile from the via another route by a more trusty means, entrance. footpower. I just had to try to rappel from, this somewhat less lofty perch. Mary Ellen

8 Underwater Spelelology Vol.S,No.l

Mary Ellen descended the pit first. Judg­ ominous beginning to my deepest rappel to ing from her gi9g1es and the prolonged time date. she swung on the rope, she must have enjoyed the rappel. Shortly thereafter, however, it To make matters worse, a few other cavers became apparent that Mike was out to destroy alerted US that a nasty tempered poisonous our bodies. After subjecting my wonderful snake awaited us below. Who should go first? body to a steep climb up a mountain in midday Using the time honored democratic process, heat, he proceeded to guide us through a nine Mary Ellen and I decided that it should be hour trip in this beautiful cave. It really Mike. Our wonderful bodies you know. was interesting, particularly when he feined to be lost. Or was he? Mike having disposed of the snake, we pro­ ceeded to rappel down to meet him. Mary Ell­ Finally, on Sunday the fearless trio jour­ en went first. Later she gasped that throug­ nied to another pit, 105 feet deep and im­ out the descent she was a nervous wreck. mediately adjacent to a narrow winding moun­ Ever wonder what a wreck looks like? tain road. Mike demonstrated his enthusiasum for this pit by nearly driving his truck off All told it was a most interesting and ad­ the road into it. I kid you not. The trucks venturous trip. We all owe Mike, Forrest and right front wheel was airborne as we teetered all the others our thanks. From this trip I on the edge of the road. Boping to lighten can draw some close parallels to cave diving, that side of the truck, I opened the door and Florida style. Our rappel progression of immediately disappear from their view as I from 30 to 110 feet suggests that divers af­ slid down the incline toward the pit. Mary ter their ini tal checkout of about 30 feet Ellen later pointed out that was the first should diVe to 110 and 330 feet respectively. time she had ever encountered where one need­ Perhaps vertical cavers should adhere to our ed a belay to get out of a truck. What an porgress ion 4, 10 and 30 feet. Then there would be fewe,r wrecks in Live Oak.

FLORIDA SEARCH AND RECOVERY TEAM

Any cave drowning, even if the victim is The goal of the project is to distribute not a trained cave diver, reflects unfavorab­ to county sheriffs a list of cave diving team­ lyon the cave diving community. Because a leaders and members. This new network will sheriff was unable to locate capable search be patterned after the well known and re­ and recovery divers, a recent accident victim spected ·National Cave Rescue Commission and was not recovered for several days reSulting also integrated into it. Currently, Jeff and in additional grief to the victims family as Dutch are formulating search and recovery well as more negative cave diving publicity. procedures which they will present for dis­ To aid local sheriffs in this unpleasant task cussion to search and recovery team members and as a public service to the cave diving during a meeting to be held in May at community, Jeff Parker (NSS 20192) and Dutch Branford, Florida. If you are interested in Stelling (NSS 20645) have begun organizing an helping, write to Jeff Parker, 402 E NSS Search and Recovery team in Florida. Carolina, Tallahassee, Florida 32301, and he will send you and information form.

MAMMOTH CAVE CRAYFISH SIGHTED

The Cave Research Foundation reports in ground in Echo river in Mammoth Cave. This it's December newsletter that a rare and pos­ species once abundant in the Roaring River sibly extinct species of cave shrimp, area of Mammoth Cave has been declining and Palaemonias ganteri, the Mammoth Cave shrimp, was last seen alive in 1967. The designation was spotted by divers Stephen Maegerlein (NSS of this shrimp as a rare and endangered 8340) and John W. Dickerson, 360 feet under- species is being sought.

9 Underwate~ Speleology Vol.8,No.l

THE ABE DAVIS SAFETY AWARD EARNING IT GETTING TOUGHER ALL THE TIME

by Sheck Exley (NSS 13146F)

To date 115 American cave divers have re­ perhaps John Harper, who probably has made ceived the Abe Davis Safety Award for the 1000 cave dives but does not keep a log, have successful completion of 100 or more cave one thing in common. The three of us logged dives. This NSS Cave Diving Section sponsor­ large numbers of dives in the sixties when an ed award not only recognizes a dedication to interesting and challenging cave dive was far cave di ving safety, as evidenced by the only shorter, and less involved than they are to­ incontrovertible criteria, long term surviv­ day. The frontiers of cave diving have ad­ al, but also gives the cave diving community vanced enormously. The longest penetration a positive statistic with which to counter into a spring in Florida by 1965 was probably the detractors of cave diving who ignorantly less than 1500 feet, about a forth of todays proclaim it a suicidal activitv. If you have maximum distances. So it is not surpr~slng logged 100 cave dives or know somebody who that the longest penetration made during my has and has not yet received this award, first 100 cave dives was only 400 feet. With please notify India Young, Route 3, Box 119K, todays improved safety equipment and proce­ Byron, Georgia 3100B. dures, students frequently venture furthe= during training. Today, it seems almost i~­ If you haven't yet qualified for this a­ conceivable that anyone could make 100 cave ward, get set for some bad news. It is get­ dives without straying further than 400 feet ting harder to get with each passing day. back without collaps ing from sheer boredom, No, the criteria for the award haven't chang­ unless you are a paid cave diving instructor ed. The simple fact is that today it is (another advantage Tom Mount and I enjoyed). harder - to make 100 cave dives than at any Dur ing these early days of cave di ving mul­ other time over the past two decades. tiple dives each di ving day were common, and long exposures loIere avoided. I averaged two One major reason is the rapidly escalating dives per dive day in 1966, but only one ~r cost of diving. These costs seem to be ris­ day in 1979. ing more rapidly than the purchasing power of the diver. When I completed my 100th cave Another factor in limi t ing the number of dive on August 2, 1967, gasoline could be di ves logged today is that even if you can

purchased for just over 20 cents per gallon, afford to oi ve, chances are that you don I t and scuba tanks retailed for 60 to BO dol­ have the time to dive. Thos~ with plenty of lars. Now gas sells for S 1.30 a gallon and time on their hands, college students for ex­ the same scuba cyl inder for over S 180. If ample, no longer have the wherewithal t.o you consider the costs to John Harper who overdose on cave diving. My most prolific started cave diving in 1959 and probably year for cave d:ving, 2B7 dives, was my last qualified for this award by 1961, the differ­ year in college, when I took advantage of ence is even greater. Though incomes have senior priority to schedule my classes in increased over this period, they probably four days, two of which I often cut to take have not kept pace with this three to five advantage of a five day cave diving weekend. time increase in cost unless :,ou were very Alas, with today's increased tUltlon co~ts lucky. When I started cave diving in 1965, most students are hard pressed jus'::. to stay the best dressed cave divers did not have to in school even with a part time jo~, not to have octupus regulators, dual valve mani­ mention having enough money to go cave div­ folds, double hundreds, nickel cadmium ing. For many years in eastern Europe, cave lights, or diver propulsion vehicles since divers have not been able to afford t.heir own such items did not exist. Today many of equipment. Instead they joined together int.o these are considered essential safety items. large clubs to purchase· a few sets of gear :0 Finally, in 1960 those dive sites that charg­ be used on a rotat ing bas is. Al so, they ed five dollars admission were few and far could only afford to travel to dive sites in between. large groups only once or twice each year. We may reach the same point here soon. So Those divers who have logged 1000 cave hurry and get your Abe Davis Safety Award dives: Paul DeLoach, Tom Mount, myself, and while the gettin's good.

10 Underwater Speleology Vol.8,No.l

POT SPRINGS CAVE

Hamilton Co., Fla.

Survey by: Guy Bryant Lee Sams December" 5, 1980 Survey length 469 m., 1540 ft.

THE EXPLORATION OF POT SPRINGS CAVE

by Guy Bryant

Pot Springs is a little known spring on the 1 ine unt il stopped in the pi t rOom by break­ left bank of the Withlacooche River just down. Still having plenty of air, we return­ downstream from Madison Blue Springs. I ed to the right fork tunnel and explored first saw it while on a canoe trip with Buddy about 200 feet further, before we had to call Sanders and Hal Davis in July 1978. I didn't an exit. Good thing we did as the tunnel was know if it had been dived. It looked promis­ very silty. We didn't see much exiting. ing, but, unfortunately, we didn't have any dive gear along. Lee and I returned in September, this time with double hundreds, intending to map the A few weeks later, Buddy returned with Court cave. We extended the line in the right fork Smith and Doug Douglas. Sure enough, nobody tunnel until it ended, leaving only one small had been in before. Following a more or less tunnel along its right wall to be checked. typical phreatic tube, they installed about This we did in October after cleaning up some 300 feet of line before being stopped by a of the incomplete survey. Lee was to go low bedding plane area. first and I was to follow surveying. Poof, a total silt out. I waited about thirty se­ In August 1980, Lee Sams and myself re­ conds and followed, but only got about ten turned to see what this tunnel looked like. feet before running into Lee. I was able to Wearing double tanks, we easily reached the back out, but Lee was stuck more securely, low area. After looking it over carefully, and had to remove his tanks to effect an we decided we might be able to add more line exit. pushing his tanks ahead of him, Lee and squeezed through. A cave divers dream, and I decided that a prompt if not graceful it opened back up and went roaring out of exit was in order. sight. Adrenalin flowing, we swiftly laid

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