UNDERWATER SPELEOLOGY
National Speleological Society • Cave Diving Section JulyI August, 1991 • Vol. 18, No.4
Olivier Isler preparing to dive Doux: de Coly. Photo by Oliver Knab. See article p. 7. UNDERWATER TABLE OF CONTENTS SPELEOLOGY The official publialtion r! the Owe Diuing NEWS StctDt cf the Natmal Spdtdogiall Society, Inc. 3 The NSS-CDS is Looking for a Few Good Men P.O. Box 950 • Branford, Fl. 32008-®50 3 Branford's Steamboat Under New Management 3 Last Chance to Win Cover Photo Contest Editor: H. V. GREY 6 Wmter Workshop P.O. Box 12 • Nokomis, FL 34274-0012 (813) 484--7834 • (813) 484.(,665 (fax) EXPLORATION 5 Record U.S. Deep Cave Dive at Board of Directors Red Snapper Sink - William L. Wilson 7 Swiss Cave-Diving Scene: 1984 - 1990 - Olirer Knab Olaitman: FRANK HOWARD 334 Portico Ct. • Chesterfield, MO 63017 SAFETY (314) 46%133. 542-aos (fax) 4 The Safety Line - ~Short 8 Live! ••• and Learn - Diana Gstmch Vu:e-Otairman: MARK LEoNARD 12 Safety in Cave Diving - Oliuer ~ Rt. 14, Box 136 • lake Gty, FL 32055 (SK>4) 752-100 TECHNIQUES 9 Finning 'Ireasurer. Bru.. FOOTE the Yucatan: Adjustments in Techniques - Gary 1433 S.E. 8th St. • Cbla, FL 32671 Wllten (SK>4) 622-3488 TRAINING Secretary: H. V. GREY 14 The Highs and Lows of Full Certification - Milre Nelson 16 NSS-CDS See contact infonnation above Instructor Roster LETTERS 'Iraining Chairman: }OE PROSSER 19 Emergency Radio 7400 N.W. 55th St. • Miami. FL Donated by COS to Peacock 33166 Springs (n;) 592-3146 (bus) • ~19 (res) State Recreation Area - Azei1 G. Nail (305) 593-2225 (fax) 19 Manatee Springs Dive Policy - Tom Gardner 19 What Makes a Cave Diver? - Frrmk l..aall1re Leadership Coordinator: DAN LINS 20 Broken Speleothems - Lenny KDlczynski 916 S.E. 13th Ave. • CXa1a. FL 32671 20 The theSong of Siren - MiJre Nelson (SK>4) 6'19~749
Director at Large: JIM BOWDEN Copyright C 1991 by the Cave Diving Section of the Natimal SpeleologicalSodety, Inc. All rights reserved. No portioo P.O. Box 49461 • Austin. TX 7fr765 of this publication may be reproduced withrut written permission of the NSS-
2 • UMERWAnR 5mJnoGY • Vol. 18, No.4 • July I August. 1991 THE NSS-CDS IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN
nd/or women. As per NSS.CDS self for any of these positions, provided the most rewarding volunteer positions A Bylaws, Chairman Frank Howard you meet the appropriate criteria. All you will ever undertake. ru you have has issued an official call for nomina relevant memberships and instructor questions about being on the Board, tions for the election of four Board statuses will be verified before the please feel free to ron tact any of the cur Members to serve two-year terms nomination is accepted, and all non rent Board Members. Their names, ad beginning Jan. 1, 1991. Both nomi self-nominating candidates will be dresses, and telephone numbers are nators and nominees must be current, given the opportunity to decline the listed on the inside cover page.) dues-paid members of both the NSS nomination if they so desire. Please send or call in your nomina and the NS5-CDS. Three of the posi Service on the NSS-CDS Board of tions to the Section Secretary: H. V. Grey, tions are open to any NSS.COS mem Directors can be very demanding and P.O. Box 12, Nokomis, FL 34274-0012, ber; the fourth position is for Training time ronsuming, and frequently invol 813-484-7834. Nominations must be Chairman and nominees must be cur ves taking on tasks no other cave diver received before Oct. 15, 1991. Can rent, active-status NSS.COS Full Cave will touch with a 10' pole (and no one didates may submit written platform Instructors. in his right mind will touch at all!). But statements for inclusion with the ballot You are wei rome to nominate your- if you love cave diving, it can be one of if they wish. •
BRANFORD'S STEAMBOAT UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
o many a veteran cave diver, the lot However, the property is well on and his co-owner, Chris Lewis, plan to T Steamboat Inn, located at the junc its way to hemming a diving landmark rontinue and improve the motel opera tion of US 27 and US 129 in Branford, . once again. tion, and to open a full-service dive Florida, half a block from the Suwannee NSS.CDS Cave Diving Instructor shop catering to cave divers where the River, has been something of a cave Dustin Oesi has just announced that he restaurant used to be. diving landmark. But the restaurant is retiring from his successful stock They will be offering NSS-CDS, has been closed for some months now, brokerage business in Tampa, and has NACO, and NAUI instruction, and and the widening of the highway did purchased a major interest in what is specialty cave-diving equipment, DPV further violence to the familiar parking now the "Steamboat Dive Inn." Dustin repairs, and mixed-gas technology. •
LAST CHANCE TO WIN COVER PHOTO CONTEST
,..-rus is it-your last opportunity to the tremendous cave-diving experience Divers Alert Network, romplete with I submit photo entries for the front and high level of insight that our ron recompression-chamber insurance, is and back rolor rovers of the new NSS tributing authors have brought to their the award for the slides or photographs CDS manual, Owe Diving: an Overview. writing. There are many exciting cha~ chosen for the front and back rover. The book is proceeding more or less on ters which well deserve to and will be Runners up will be featured on future schedule, with the final chapters now expanded into single-topic books. rovers of UWS. Please send a copy of being rompleted. (And the good news We extend very grateful thanks to any slide or color photo that you wish is that the editors have not had nervous everyone who has rontributed to the to submit to: breakdowns or killed each other ... yet) rompletion of this project with the No, in all seriousness, the quality of generous donation of time, effort, Joe Prosser the material received thus far has been and/ or money. 7400 N.W. 55th St staggeringly good, and clearly reveals A one-year's subscription to the Miami, FL33166 •
Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August. 1991 • lJNDERwATIR SPEunocY • 3 THE SAFETY LINE
by Wendy Short (NSS #30802). Safety Coordinator South
ello. I am your hostess, and I am way back in unfamiliar passage now. ting out alive! Habout to take you on a pumey. A We do not know if Zee has been here The water gets a little dearer. We journey through space and time, a jour before or not. He is single minded in search in another direction. We begin ney into another dimension, a trip making a deep penetration. to pray. Desperate pleas. God, if you beyond the Safety Zone . . . Okay. We follow him, not bridging show us the way out, we promise to be Meet Zee, our diving companion for the gap. We motor like crazy trying to good! We'll stop doing all those things this journey. He's quite an experienced catch up to him. He's oblivious to our we shouldn't be doing, if You'll just . .. diver, and has made hundreds of dives concerns. We're getting dose to thirds, 1he line! We found the line. Thank in different caves. He feels quite com so we call the dive after finally catching God! The exit now is the only thing on fortable accepting risks, and he does so up to him We tum, but the passage is our minds. Where is Zee? We still have frequently. We respect his experience very restricted and silty. Silt billows not seen him. Oh, well, he got us into and ability, so we allow him to lead us around us from everywhere, and we're this mess. We believe in self-rescue. on our dive. enveloped in a complete siltout We Our air supply is getting critical. Make The permanent line begins only 20' begin to follow the line out according tracks fast! Our technique suffers as we inside the cave, so he says there's no to our training. We wait for Zee to make bolt out of the cave. All we want to do need to run a line from the basin over tactile contact He never does. We do is get out. It seems to take an eternity. to it He's been here before and so have spot his light for a second and then the Visibility is still poor. we--okay, no problem. There's a little water is filled with silt again. Wait! Finally! Only that one restriction flow and chances of no visibility are What's this? One second we're on the near the entrance and we're out. We've slim. Zee is pretty lazy and not adept line. come to the end of the line. Again! Oh, at using the reel. After all, he never uses 1he next second we're not. God, no! one. Is this the jump we did not gap? Visibility is back to zero. How can We proceed into the cave, down one Great Visibility is only a few inches. we have such rotten luck? Was this passage after another. It starts to get We back up on the line and wait. A few shortcut of not running a line from open smaller and siltier. We come to a junc seconds. water worth it? We cannot see the tion where the lines go off in several Longer. daylight, only blankets of day and sand directions. Zee is far ahead, and we can A few minutes. floating silently around us. Our heavy barely see him with our lights. There is It is not dearing very quickly. The breathing is very notiooable. The only an out arrow on the line we came in on, flow back here is almost nonexistent sound is our exhaust bubbles roaring but no dip. Zee does not believe that's Zee is not with us. rapidly toward the ceiling. We're only necessary. It's already marked as far as Air! Check the gauge-we cannot 20' from the exit! But we've left our he's concerned. We begin to have our see it, much less read it How long to safety reel back in the cave. Fear and doubts. This is not how we were wait? Wedecidetodoalinesearch. Tie terror have been foreign to us until this trained. Even though we are as ex off and head straight out dive. It's getting harder to breathe. We perienced as Zee, we do not violate the Nothing! decide to run for what seems to be the rules. We remember the gap was about proper way out. Only 20 feet! We There is no chance to express our 10'. Or was it 20? Think dearly! We swim ahead, but instead of going out concern because Zee is far ahead out of have gone too far. Try another direc we hit a rock wall. contact with our lights much of the tion. We are totally turned around time. We must swim fast just to keep Nothing! Trained cave divers are not sup up with him or risk being left alone. We Our hearts start to pound and that posed to die in caves. Oh, God, one do not have time to notice much of the anxious feeling of having to get out is more chance. Please! cave. We come to more T"s and a jump becoming overwhelming. Cold fear is We're in another dimension, one in the line. Zee did not gap that Are clawing at our guts. We start to breathe without time or space. We have trans we coming back this way, or are we more heavily. Is this where it will all gressed beyond the Safety Zone. doing a circuit? We did not discuss the end? Don't panic, we caution oursel dive beforehand. ves. Slow down the breathing. We Case in point Zee' s state of mind We are now getting beyond the have a long swim out. Don't even think had put him above the rules. Worse, he Safety Zone. What to do ... ? We try about the long decompression require encouraged others to break the rules. to signal Zee but he's out of sight and ments this delay will cause. We did not Now it is too late to return to the Safety does not see our lights. We're a long prepare for that Just worry about get- Zone.•
4 • UNDERWA"Iffi 5rEun.oGY • Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August. 1991 RECORD U.S. DEEP CAVE DIVE AT RED SNAPPER SINK by William l. Wilson
n June 1, 1991, Deep Breathing tidal stage seems hydrologically nor responsible for diving research), who OSystems made a second dive at mal. Other divers have also reported a determined that the echoes from the Red Snapper Sink. 26 miles east of Cres slight downward flow of water in the chest had an acceptable value of 3- at cent Beach, Florida. Jim King descend sink. intervals of 30 minutes and 60 minutes ed the northwest wall of the sink to a The presence of siphon tunnels at after the dive. The values decreased sloping sand floor at a depth of 460'. the bottom of the sink indicates that the (improved) to Grade 2 at 90 and 120 Laying a guideline, he followed the sink ronveys saltwater into the Floridan minutes. Values of 4 or higher would slope down to the northwest for ap Aquifer. It is not yet known if the water have indicated unacceptable amounts proximately 80' to a depth of 482'. The discharges during low tide, but this of bubbles in the bloodstream. slope was seen to rontinue to a depth seems likely, based on the observed~ Grading of doppler echoes is some of approximately 495' where the rock havior of flow in blue holes. Red Snap what subjective and should be done wall came down to the floor. The floor per Sink is an important example of a only by a trained expert. Doppler on the northwest side of the sink is sub high-permeability pathway that may echoes are helpful in determining the stantially deeper than the 434' floor en allow saltwater to enter the aquifer and adequacy of decompression, but rountered on the south side of the sink possibly intrude rapidly, through caves, should always be used in ronjunction on April 26, 1991. toward the peninsula as fresh ground with other data. After the dive, King The 80' of overhang enrountered on water levels in the aquifer decline. breathed pure oxygen and avoided the northwest side of the sink indicates The record deep dive at Red Snap physical exertion as extra safety that the base of the sink rould be as per Sink was made using open
Vol. 18, No. 4 • julyI August. 1991 • UNDERWA"Iffi SPELEoLcx;y • 5 tigraphic section has been described in Donna Welch served as a support up the lines that made the dives safe the immediate vicinity of Red Snapper diver, and relieved the science team of and efficient. Sink. The nearest drill holes occur extra bottles, samples and equipment. The dives were made from the 38' about 26 miles to the west and 51 miles The science divers timed their entry into commercial dive boat, Giant Stride, to the north. the water so that they and King would which is berthed at the Mayport Marina DeRouin, Sparks and Wilson dived finish decompression at approximately near Jacksonville. Tim aDonnell was on a 17/17 trimix, with 60/40 nitrox the same time. captain; George Lebahn and Anna a used from 60' to 30' and pure oxygen Two decompression lines were in Donnell were crew. used at 20' and above. Spechler dived stalled by Ken Saunders and Ken Zoril Deep Breathing Systems anticipates on compressed air and went to a max la. They tied the decompression lines making additional dives to document imum depth of 190'. Bottom time for onto two 300 lb. concrete weights that the morphology, geology and hydro the dive was 30 minutes. were positioned near the edge of the logic characteristics of Red Snapper The decompression schedulefor the sink. Saunders and Zorilla were also Sink. Future dives will explore the next deeper depth (21CY) was utilized responsible for staging the decompres ledge at 300-320' for fossils and spele for a total decompression time of 69 sion bottles and retrieving of the lines othems, and will produce maps of the minutes. Each diver wore double steel upon completion of the dives. Rigging profile and bottom of the sink. 104d tanks or aluminum lOOd tanks the decompression lines properly is dif and carried a stage bottle of compressed ficult and requires a high level of exper air for emergencies. The nitrox was tise. Without the selfless efforts of The author wishes to acknowlatge help staged at ncr and the oxygen was stage Saunders and Zorilla the other dives ful ranew of the article alxJve and contribu at 2CY on the decompression line, which would have certainly been more dif tions of infonnation roceived from Jim King, was suspended by a float Decompres ficult or even impossible. The other Vu:tor Sparks and Rick Spechler. • sion was successfully accomplished. divers are grateful to them for setting
Winter Workshop
ark your calendars for the NSS M CDS's Wmter Workshop, to be held over the weekend of Dec. 28-29 at the High School in Branford, Aorida. last year's Wmter Workshop, expertly chaired by Jim Gabriel, was heavily at tended and featured many outstanding lectures on exploration, technques, equipment and safety, as well as several very fine seminars, mini-workshops, and audio-visual presentations. This year's Winter Workshop is being coordinated by Eric Hutcheson, with assistance from Terry DeRouin and Bill Foote, who brought us our out "And this is my first time fishing . . . " standing 1991 Spring Workshop. The - by Mikhail Aljukov lecture line-up is starting to take shape, with the promise of some "explosive" underwater-cave video. Plans are also in the works for several purely social events to round out the workshop. The If You Move - let Us Knowl final highlight is the planned release of the Cave Diving Section's new com nless you make special arrange formed if you move. Write or call the prehensive manual, Cave Diving: an Uments to pay the additional CDS Secretary (address on inside front Overview. postage, the Post Office does not auto cover) with your new mailing informa Pre-registration forms and addi matically forward bulk-rate mail when tion, or corrections if we have you down tional information will be included in you move. Nor does it return un wrong. And many thanks to those of the next issue of UWS. • deliverables to us. So please keep us in- you who have done so! •
6 • llNDBMrAnR SI'El.B:wGY • Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August, 1991 SWISS CAVE-DIVING SCENE: 1984 - 1990 by Oliver Knab
he following is an up:iateof under near Ziirich, explored by myself and Aug. 6, 1989. T water-cave explorations by Swiss HeinerKubnyin the mid '70's. Rerent The big spring, SourCE du Bouillant cavediversinSwitzerland,FranCE,Italr ly, the German cave diver, Michael (laTouvre, Charente), has a high-flow Mexico, and Namibia. All the impor Meyberg, passed the 11"-wideentranCE restriction at -18m, just in the decom tant dives to great depth were realized restriction without fins, crawling at -19' pression zone. The divers must pull by the Groupe Lemanique de Plongee (underwater) through a passage half themselves with jumars on a fixed rope Souterraine, Suisse (GLPS). filled with liquid silt to a breakdown. through this water vent Cyrille Brandt After passing this obstacle he found a dove to -133m (436') in Oct of 1989, small new pit On the way back a loose turning the dive 300m from the EXPLORATIONS IN stone fell from the CEiling, banging on entranCE. The dive time was 5 hours, SWITZERLAND Michael's head in absolutely zero viz. 40 minutes, using Trimix (50% He, 15% On Jan. 6, 1986,0livier Isler dove the Buco del Bossi was explored to a big 02). In the autumn of 1990, Olivier Isler Source de la Chaudanne to a depth of room at -158' by myself. It is one of went to the phenomenal depth of -148m -110m (-361'), stopping at the top of a Switzerland's Nicest Places for cave (4855')! pit which is 575m (1886') from the diving (up to 100' visibility). Olivier At Doux de Coly there have been entrance. On Mar. 13, 1986, Cyrille Isler used mixed gas to reach -295' in large expeditions since 1971. Olivier Brandt explored this completely verti 1984. Isler dove 10 hours and 40 minutes to cal pit to -143m (-469'). The dive lasted reach 3100m (10,170') in 1984. The last 8 hours and 15 minutes. The explored expedition organized in 1989 tested the part of the final pit (3m) is 43m starting EXPLORATIONS IN FRANCE rebreather, RI 2
Vol. 18, No. 4 • July/ August, 1991 • UNDERWATER 5PEIEoLoc;y • 7 depth of -82'. At the bottom you will dive with the modified RI 200) had a Cenote Ucil. Ucil has been plumbed to find a steep rockslope and at the end of duration of 10 hours, 35 minutes, in -96m (- 315'). this one you will read -426' on your volving a total swim of 12,204'. 6 tanks In Namibia (Africa), the Swiss depth gauge. But this was only the wereused:oneeachof18%He,30%He, divers, Alain Vuagniaux and C. Rufi point from where Cyrille Brandt and 40% He, and surox 48%, and two ron reached -90m (-295') in July, 1986, in the Claude Touloumdijan started their ex taining 100% ~. biggest underground lake in the world, ploration dive. They followed a tunnel Dragon's Breath Hole. for another 360' to the terminal depth A trimix dive was made by 0. Isler of 449'. EXPLORATIONS IN ITALY, in the Grotte de Locoli (Sardaigne, On Sunday, August 12, 1990, Olivier NAMIBIA, AND MEXICO Italy). He reached -86m (-282') in the Isler made his first Traverse-dive with On Dec. 7, 1987, J. J. Bolanz swam thini sump (2362' from the last air). the semi-rebreather RI 2000 at Emer through the gin-clear, 7• C water of the Cogol dei Veci (Friaul, Italy) was gence du Ressel (Marcilhac, Lot). The Spring of Gorgazzo Gtaly) to a depth of dived by 0. Isler with the Rebreather, siphon is 1860m (6102') long. The -118m. RI 2000. He explored 2340m (1677') deepest point is -79.4m (-260'). 16 sup The Cenote Timul near Merida, without enrountering any airbells. The port divers worked for 14 days in this Mexiro was explored bymyselfto-72m dive time was 8 hours, 12 minutes, with spring to haul in derompression tanks, (-236') on June 15, 1988. 1\.vo days later the deepest point reached being -55m aquazepps and new guidelines. The I reached 70m depth in a giant pit at (180').•
LIVE! • • • AND LEARN by Diana Oestreich cNss #320B9>
am always interested in reading a doing in here?" I had one of each and ces that I would bring aiong on the I good article, or hearing someone' s decided they both had to go. Either dives. I cannot say that I have rom personal experience in cave diving. We they, or I, had to go, because my mind pletely reached my attitude goals, but I am learn so much from each other. Sit wasn't right Being fairly new, but in have matured as a diver, and will ron in a room with a group of cave divers love, I was determined to go on to more tinue to do so now that I have romered and you will hear a number of different advanced diving. My priorities then my foolishness and fears. scenarios on what to see, what to do, became a pursuit of balance where ron Now wait a minute, that was my what am happen, how to do it, when fidence, cautious respect, and love for story, not yours. Oh, well, like I said, you shouldn't, and where! the beauty of the environment were to we am all profit from sharing experien For example, two of my buddies be the only motivating factors and for- ces. Can you relate? • were recently diving at Ginnie Springs. It was a little cloudy outside, but noth ing unusual for a florida summer eve ning. Shortly after turning the dive at about a 700' penetration, they were sud denly hit with an electrical shock equivalent to that of sticking your tongue in a light socket! With heartbeat under rontrol, they proceeded out and informed us that we would have to scrap the romment, ''Let's get into the cave where it's safe from the storm." Of rourse, this is rare, but I have since heard of it happening to one other local diver. Well, I told you a story, now you tell me one. Tell me your innermost thoughts in the innermost parts of a cave system. Do you have a macho diver living in one of your ears, who only speaks to you when you are on the surface, and another small voice who romes along for the dive only to ask you by Oliver Knab the question, "What in the hell are you
8 • lJNDffiwATER SrErn:x.oc;y • Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August, 1991 FINNING THE YUCATAN: • Adjustments 1n Techniques by Gary Walten
uch has been written about the than to break off a stalactite that took larger passageways should be easy. M underwater caves of the Tulum/ millennia to form. Endurance is also an important fac Akumal area in the Yucatan. They are HALOCLINE. When passing in tor in order to maintain control. let's extremely beautiful and quite shallow. and out of the halocline, good visibility use the mighty Nohoch cave system as Most cave diving by visitors takes place can usually be maintained. The con an example. Nohoch, translated from in six major systems: Car Wash, figuration of the passageway dictates the Mayan, means huge or giant, and Naharon, Mayan Blue, Sac et Tum, the which techniques should be used. it's a perfect name. In addition to its Temple of Doom, and Nohoch. Dif Wherever possible, try to get off to the size, it is quite shallow. You can swim ferences between these caves and the side of a leading diver. In some areas it thousands of feet at 15-20'. Swimming underwater caves of northern Aorida may be better to get below or above the for 90-100 minutes using double 80's are numerous and worthy of note. halocline, away from the mixing area. typifies a first-time tour of Nohoch. En Aorida caves vary greatly in depth. Remember, the object is to stay away durance is key. Pace yourself. Proper They are filled with freshwater only from delicate formations and maintain technique suffers if you're tired or (some possible exceptions on the coast) orientation to the line and your buddies. dehydrated (especially after the 2k hike and they have no speleothem forma Note: in systems with line T"s (i.e., the into the jungle). Drink something tions. Some have minimal flow while Temple of Doom) some line junctions before the dive for energy. Believe me, others have high flow. Periodically, will occur in the mixing area. Caution it's worth the effort! during flooding, river water washes must be observed on penetration and FLOW AND FLOODING. There through some of the caves and renders exit to verify direction. is very little flow in the \Ucatan and no them undiveable for a period of time. SPEI..E01HEMS. When swim flooding as we know it in Aorida. Be ming through In comparison, the caves of the delicate areas, use com cause of this the cave floors do not mon sense and good judgment Fol Yucatan are predominantly shallow. repair themselves. As of now there are lowing a line through a speleothem There are some ''basement" pas very few blemishes. When finning, ex restriction or window requires extreme sageways, but they are the exception. ercise caution in order to preserve their caution. Critical factors are: The halocline (saltwaterI freshwater in pristine appearance. terface) is a prominent feature in many 1. Fme tuning buoyancy before of the caves. If you follow closely be entering. hind someone in the mixing area, his fin 2 Ftns not too high or low. Conservation is the key. Respect for kicks will disrupt the separation of 3. Gentle modified flutter the ecosystem. Although our presence fresh-and saltwater, and produce a dis preferred. is invasive, we can minimize our im orienting visual "siltout" Speleothem 4. Arms in front (don't pull on pactbydivinggentlywithcareandcon formations are common and can be weak formations). trol. Emphasis on this attitude will not quite fragile. Winding around and 5. Take your time, move slowly. only help save the caves, but may save through them will challenge your tech If one can negotiate a restriction well, some lives in the process. • nique. Water flow is minimal here. There are no high-flow systems like Ut tle River or Devil's Ear. These differences in environmental make-up require an adjustment in tech nique to dive safely and not damage formations. The following is a list of technique modifications addressing various environmental conditions. DEPTI-L When diving at shallow depths, buoyancy control is more criti cal. Lung volume plays a larger role in vertical positioning. Caution must be used not to damage delicate spele othem formations. If a buoyancy prob lem occurs, try to stay low rather than high! It's better to kick up a little silt
Vol. 18, No.4 • July/ August, 1991 • UNDERWATfR S!HEoux;y • 9 / ./ hs enerated by the v: g demonstrating datJJNS:'?'...ma~ Divt Profiler Judy Onneroid at tht Jim""" O•-o~ CDS T-shirt tablt
Chairman Mark Leonard suD UP
/eft Bozanic, /im Brown and ,unnr~L zumndc .
Whatever it UXlS, it must have been interesting! 1990 WINTER WORKSHOP Photos courtesy of Jeff Bozanic
mp explorer and photographer New Yazrs EVe bo ,;; Ron Simmons n1.re party
Vol. 1 , . 4 • July I August. 1991 • U SAFETY IN CAVE DIVING by Oliver Wells
Reprinted with cJranges by the author tached to each of them. I have never on this point. At the very least you with permission from the Belfry Bulletin, been so close to drowning in my life. I should practireunderwaterwithin two the journal of the Bristol Exploration Club, seem to remember that when I was weeks of diving in a cave. Vol. 44, No. 453, Feb. 1990. taught to use an oxygen rebreather by Perhaps I might add that the use of [Atm-iOR'S NarE: In this article I Jack Thompson and John Buxton in a line along the floor in this way has the discuss some aspects of safety in cave diuing. 1954 and 1955, the training was equally shortcoming thatitdoes not exercise the Many etpmlly important questions such as no-nonsense but was carried out in a diver sufficiently in the finer points of dive planning ar the step-by-step training more humane way (apart from the buoyancy rontrol. It is better to practire of cave divers are not mentioned. Members physiological tests, that is). The dive with a line about 5' above the floor for of the Bristol Exploration Club such as store that I do business with these days that Donald Cazse and Harry Stanbury, were follows the more humane approach Another important point is what I active in the Cave Diving Group in the also. call the "safety reflex'' of the diver. H 1940's and BEC members continue to be so Possibly you may have realized by you are an open-water diver, then your today. They were very helpful during my now that I do not like the "heroic" idea of safety is the surfare. As a cave return to cave diving with the CDC at method for training divers, especially diver, yourreactionsmustbetotallydif Wookey Hole in 1988. Before too long I had from the receiving end. I prefer a more ferent You should have two simul written something for their journal .. .] tranquil approach based on extended taneous responses if a sudden problem periods of time spent underwater should arise. You first automatic reac he anival of the Belfry Bulletin is gradually becoming acclimatized to the tion should be to check your backup T always an agreeable moment and life below. "Exercises" such as mask mouthpiece. Your serond should be to perhaps the efforts of the editor and of removal, mouthpiece exchange and so check your contact with the line. Then the regular contributors are too often on can then be accomplished without you can sort out your problem. taken for granted. The happy feeling any worry whatsoever (or can even be A friend who read the above para that this is not really my problem was come agreeable if youareonreallygood graph points out that the more general ended rather abruptly in my case when form). idea is of "penetration diving" rather I found myself talking to this hard An important question is how often than cave diving if the above ideas are working gentleman in the Hunter's you should practire your basic diving to apply. His interest is diving on Lodge Inn. He reminded me that as a skills. There are, it is true, rertain in wrecks. At one dive site, there is a member of the BEC I was expected to dividuals who have the unfair ad wreck directly below the channel used put pen to paper and then send the vantage over the rest of us in being able bylargeoil tankersthatsailbyatregular result to him. So I was wondering to perform underwater to perfection intervals with their propellers churning whether some notes on safety in cave without regular practire. But if you and so on. The divers lay lines from the diving might be of interest Nothing wis~ to be rtlllly on form then you side and employ all of the precautions that I shall say here is new, but I have a should go below the surfare at least described above. (Wreck divers gene special reason for writing this article onre a week. In the 1950's I met this rally carry an independent aqualung that I shall describe in a moment requirement by swimming in a flooded supplied from a small "pony bottle" It has always seemed to me that gravel pit while a helpful rolleague that does not have the duration of the there are two main schools of thought rowed a boat from which a nylon rope backup system carried by a cave diver.) about training cave divers, depending rome down from the sky, as it were. Constant practire can pay divi upon how much mental strain is put Before my visit to England in 1989, dends in many ways. For example, upon the trainee. H you join the army I practiced for a total underwater time during my swim back from Wookey 19 (as many of us had to do in the 1950's) of about five hours with a thin nylon with Bob Drake in September, 1989, it then you will find that the training is a line laid between weights at a depth of seems that I did not tighten the belt that rather ''heroic'' process in which the about 9' in a lake behind a friend's holds the cylinders around my middle finer sensitivities of the trainee are ig house. Such has been the progress with to the degree that was required. (That nored. In the same sort of way, when I diving equipment that neither a boat steep, restricted, muddy rock slope in signed up for an underwater course nor a safety line tied to the diver were 19 is not the most romfortable plare for about ten years ago to see if I could still needed. Sometimes while doing this I putting on cave-diving equipment that do it, I was dismayed to find that the would deliberately stir up the mud and I have ever been in.) I knew that I was instructor seemed to be a frustrated then keep in rontact with the line under on good form when I went underwater marine sergeant who scattered tanks conditions of zero visibility. A col and the lines appeared to be more across the bottom of a really quite deep league who tried to do this expressed "friendly" than the surface. About 15- indoor pool and then expected us to swprise that the line rould suddenly 20' along the line and while I was in a swim from one tank to the next, taking vanish completely-obviously you fairly rompact section of the passage, only one breath from a mouthpiece at- must ronrentrate your mind endlessly the tube from the regulator to my right 12 • UNOERWAnR 5PaiDLOGY • Vol. 18, No.4 • July/August, 1991 cylinder suddenly pulled tight so that his cylinder and the regulator at a depth dent underwater in a cave is probably the mouthpiece set off at a brisk speed of 7CY in open water. In Hawaii, I was increased if there is a serond diver too in the direction of my lower right wis in the boat when a diver emerged with closely in contact to delay you and dom tooth (possibly the tube was too a stream of bubbles roming from his generally cause ronfusion. Solo diving short). It is amazing how fast the jaw pressure gauge. About two weeks later, can be very agreeable if you are on form, muscles can tighten at a time like that a diver right in front of me suffered a and yet I u,us very grateful to Bob Drake Possibly I may have turned my head to blowout of some kind from the cylinder when he unwound the guidewire from chase the vanishing mouthpiece, but I valve behind his head and then sur around my left regulator on the first of cannot be sure about that now. Unex faced in a cloud of bubbles that was my two trips back from 19. We had pectedly perhaps, I did not feel alarmed larger than any such cloud that I had been operating separately for all prac even slightly, and stopped swimming, ever seen. {Utter I was outside a dive tical purposes until I was delayed at that checked the backup regulator, checked store when the rupture disk on a tank point my contact with the line, and then in their storage room blew out, and I Here the reviewer wrote: "All dive pulled the cylinder back to where it believe it was the same problem here.) certification agencies emphasize the should have been (for the first of the One day when practicing in an in need to dive with a partner. Your state many times that I did so on a very door pool with a borrowed regulator, I ment will be criticized ..." Diving with agreeable dive). was surprised when the rubber mouth a partner makes very good sense in a The "episode" described above was piece came off and I was connected very large number in cases, but I still fairly trivial. This sort of problem oc directly to the water. Oddly enough, in think that in cave diving the problems curs to cave divers all the time. I only the 1950's we dived regularly in caves caused by a rompanion in rontinuous mention it here to emphasize the need without any backup system apart from close rontact in causing delays, stirring for ronstant underwater practire if you a serond oxygen cylinder that fed into up mud and so on can outweigh the ad do not wish to be alarmed by such a the same breathing circuit, and it is not vantages. Solo cave diving saves you thing. The final five chapters in Alan clear to me looking back on it how we from all the worries of whether your Thomas' book, The Last Adventure, con could have felt so self-assured. A totally rompanion is safe or whether he will tain examples of happenings that were independent backup system now ap do something that you did not foresee. more dangerous than the above. In my pears to be absolutely essential, in my Having a serond diver not too far away opinion, if you want to go cave diving, opinion. can be very romforting, however. then you should read these chapters, In response to a question from a Concerning deep diving when think about these episodes and then non-caving friend, cave divers (or more breathing air in caves, I am against it practire underwater until you are ron accurately, sump divers) wear a In September, 1958 I went with John fident that you can meet such crises in cylinder on each side ("side-mounts" in Buxton to the HMS Vernon in a totally calm way. And even then the current jargon) with a pressure Portsmouth where we went to the please do not be in too much of a hurry gauge and a regulator on each of them. equivalent of 200' in a pressure chamber to "push the limits" until you have been You exchange mouthpieres from time in rompany with some Naval Offirers. doing it for some time. to time to maintain equality between We sat on benches along the two sides Crises that occur underwater can be the pressures in the two tanks. The idea of a horizontal cylindrical chamber of all the more terrifying for being unex is never to get yourself into a situation diameter about 5' while a naval pected. Tony Jarratt told me about a where you cannotgetoutwith the other gentleman at one end rommunicated diver who was exploring in an under system. with the world outside by hitting the water mine, stirring up the mud as he Head protection was neglected in wall with a noisy blunt object. We wentalong. Whenitwastimetoretum, the 1950's. Bob Davies wore a beret stared at the needle on an oversized he found that his line reel was jammed over the thin rubber hood on his dry depth gauge as it slowly rotated dock and that he had been pulling the belay suit with this idea in mind, but the rest wise between us. There was nothing to block along behind him. There was no of us did not even do that Nowadays reportdown to 17CY, whennitrogennar line back through the muddy water to cave divers (or at least sump divers) rosis came on with about as much sub air. Tony tells me that he got out suc generally wear a helmet and with good tlety as being hit on the back of the head ressfully. It is a terrifying story, but is reason. The only question is how soon with a hammer. It was a ghastly ex useful perhaps in emphasizing that you the use of helmets will spread to open perienre. I felt as if I was being whirled cannot be too careful. water divers also, because even there in a centrifuge at about ten times faster By "redundancy" we mean that if the diver can (and sometimes does) than I wished to go. But the plan was the respirator should suddenly stop knock the head. to go to 200', so on we went By this working (or worst of all, release its air) Another question is whether it is time the air was so heavy that it was a then you can change over to a serond safer to dive solo or whether you should major athletic enterprise to breathe mouthpiece on a backup system and maintain close and continuous rontact either in or out, in addition to thenar reach safety using your own resourres with a serond diver at all times. Ob rosis. The Naval Offirer told us later alone. Perhaps it should be em viouslyitisagood idea tohaveaserond about the incredibly stupid things that phasized that this is a minimum require diver not too far away, but it is a even experienred divers had done at ment since such failures can and do delusion to expect that he can help you such depths. Cave diving, anyone? happen. For example, I had a friend in if anything really serious should go (Here the reviewer wrote: "Dive Pittsburgh who lost theO-ring between wrong. In fact, the chanre of an acci- rertification agencies generally prohibit
Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August, 1991 • UNDERW~ SPa.Eoux;y • 13 dives below 120' ...) there are many other important topics alternative points of view) then I shall My final point ronccms the expecta that I have not rovered here. be very happy to acknowledge any tion of the diver. All of us would like to Oh, yes, why did I write this article? such help in the final version. be at the cutting edge of cave diving, About six months ago I agreed to write Cave Diving has a great future and and yet nowadays I have been forced a chapter on the history of cave diving it will be interesting to see how it is by a certain feeling of reality to regard (which is more difficult than giving a made safer as it continues to advance myself as being in the position of a lecture because you cannot fluff over in all aspects of underwater exploration tourist to the Alps who admires the the difficult bits). So this article is a par by human divers, by remotely control scenery from an easy climb. This does tial "dry run" in an effort to unconfuse led vehicles and finally by means of not excuse me from the need to practice my mind on this subject. The style of autonomous romputerized devices my skills, attitude and equipment (you my chapter will be somewhat different that will explore and record data at dis cannot escape from this). from the conversational tone that I have tances, depths, temperatures and As I said in the introductory note, in used here. So if the reader would like through small holes with fast-flowing this article I have presented one to help me by sending me any rom water that are far beyond anything that person's view of certain aspects of cave ments on the above (especially with ref can be done now. • diving, and it is obvious enough that erence to the origins of these ideas or to
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF FULL CERTIFICATION by Mike Nelson
A nd random thoughts and insights High Point: As my head was pound 80's after finishing the class. .1-1\rrom the experience ... ing something fierce after the second High Point: Watching our instructor, dive, our instructor inquired about who had been the epitome of cool, Low Point Saving pennies for a year my condition and situation. I com calm confidence, tum to silly putty and a half. mented that I had not come to upon receiving a message that his High Point: Having enough extra for Florida from Iowa to learn what I al wife had checked into the maternity a few scuba items I "really needed." ready knew-that I was a poor ward. Low Point Working 6 hours of my 8- swimmer. (This is what I attributed Low Point False alarm, his wife went hour shift before spending another the CDl hits to.) Or for that matter, home with the baby still in place. 26 hours driving, 200 miles of it on to get certified. I came to learn all I High Point: As we missed a dive glare ice. could about side mounting in the while our instructor was at the High Point: Shirt, shorts and tennis hopes of making the sump diving I hospital, I meandered over to shoes in January. do in Iowa as safe and productive Orange Grove Sink. (The fourth High Point: Going for a short easy as possible. Now I have never man out in our group had an in run, early before our class, to work before met a teacher of any manner dividual class going there with out all the knots from the long ride of scuba instruction who tolerated anotherinstructor.) Everyoneneeds down. Feeling the atmosphere, criticism of any sorl But our in a personal moment of real rest and smelling the smells of a very foreign structor took what I had said into serenity on his vacation. I got mine environment consideration. He borrowed a set of sitting on the rock ledge overlooking Low Point Having to wade through Florida-style cave-adapted SO's for the sink, contemplating the erratic all the trash in the ditches to examine me to use. He rebuilt my confidence rise of exhaust bubbles, listening to some of the local flora. by stating that it was a wonder that distant thunder, watching light High Point: Witnessing the aesthetic I had done as well as I had with what raindrops pierce dark twinkling improvement that bureaucratic ron I was using. He tailored our class to stars into the solid green sheet of trol has had on the Pearock Springs facilitate our needs as much as pos duckweed below. area. sible, while remaining within the Low Point Then the skies opened up Low Point Toting gear to various sites guidelines of certification. This was big time and chased my butt back in the Pearock Springs area. the beginning of my slowly coming into my car. Low Point Suffering two nasty CDl to the realization that this instructor High Point: Being on the "telephone hits while trying to accomplish is the kind of guy who would have decompression" when a friend rudimentary requirements of full a waiting line of donors should he dropped a telephone into Uttle cave certification. was a using ill-fit ever require a kidney transplant. River with a note telling our instruc ting borrowed double 80's). Low Point Having to return those tor to call his wife as soon as he was 14 • UNDERWATIR SraEowc;y • Vol. 18, No.4 • July/ August, 1991 finished dcrompressing. sonal policy. too far too fast A select few have Low Point After everyone else had Middle of the Road Point: Realizing perished because they played a split to await the "blessed event," thatmanyofmyown practices may riskygametoitsextrcmesandsimp watching Dave Ecklund stoop well be as questionable, though ly lost Another thing my friend told down in the parking Jot at Uttle motivated by other circumstances, me was, ''No one can be arrested for River and pick up ten pieces of Jitter and seeing that each of us make diving over 130', but that doesn't within his reach. Nine of these were choices regarding the risks we as disrountone from paying dearly for undoubtedly cave-diver trash. sume. Hopefully, somewhere in pushing one's experiences too far High Point: The baby is born, every here there is a message. Do I frac ahead of one's capabilities." We one is okay. ture rules of safe cave diving? Do I found ourselves gauging our "suc High Point: Adapting a quicker, fracture them because others do it or cess' by how far and how deep we handier attachment for my side because I have had experiences, in got during training dives. I would mount system. It was an a~table a protracted manner, that give a reli easily assume that this mindset is trade off of stability for simplicity able indication of personal strengths rommon among neophytes and it is and was worth the trip; indeed, the and limitations? Do the rules apply plain what this kind of thinking may reason for the trip and classes. This only to recrmtionalists and not the lead to. was more important to me than the hard-rore,severelymotivated,high High Point: Side-mount diving up certification itself. Also, our instruc ly experienced Jot? Do these ques stream Cow Spring. tor's set-up was a fine Jesson in the tions really need asking? Should Low Point Saying goodbye to all the logical layout of side-mount acces these facts be dragged on out into folks that made the time in florida sory gear. The thoughtful place the light of the rise pool? Maybe. so enpyable. I became somewhat ment of equipment makes a good Maybe because if recrmtional cave glum knowing how slim my chan side-mount system that much more divers were intimately aware of the ces of roming back were. My inter efficient, effective and safe. time and effort and rommitment est in following lines is zip. My Low Point Hearing of and witnessing dedicated by those at the hub of the abilitytoparticipateinundertakin~ cave-diving practices and/or pro<:e sport, they might see where to draw of my liking in the florida theater, dures that are rontrary to the ac the line and be Jess tempted to push about the same. cepted policy of the cave-diving ever farther and deeper. I see the High Point: Feeling ronfident in pur rommunity. Pondering the why's deaths of trained cavediversinadif suing side-mount projects back at and the wherefore's of the dis ferent light now. Those cave divers home. crepancies, only to later have a doing leading-edge work are there, Low Point Getting back there, 26 friend point out to me that it was not doing what they do, because ex hours of driving into the ice and unrommon for the ''bottom line'' to perience allows it Those who meet rold.• dictate many an individual's per- their maker have obviously gone
TALES FROM THEC4VERN ZONE
LA"RG£Si ,AL.w..4ys EN.,-•W.S i=;lt.ST .,l.r.i1> E.x iTs ~s:r.
Vol. 18, No.4 • July/ August. 1991 • UNLOWATER Sm..EOLOGY • 15 NSS-CDS INSTRUCTOR ROSTER Cu"ent as of August 15, 1991 TRAINING CHAIRMAN: Joe Prosser
Averill, Harry, #218, Instructor Coordinator (All levels), The Idea Factory, P. 0. Box 873, High Springs, FL, 32643, 904-454-4585 (bus), 904-454-7476 (res) Bailey, Jr., Lloyd W., #172, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Lloyd Bailey's Scuba, 3500-F N.W. 97th Blvd., Gainesville, FL, 32605, 904-332.{}738 (bus) Berman, Steven J., #219, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Ginnie Springs Resort, 7300 N.E. Ginnie Springs Rd., High Springs, FL, 32643, 904-454-2202 (bus), 904-454-4811 (res) Booth, Brenton C., #241, Cave Diver Instructor, Overhead Environment Divers, 3307 Longwood Ln., Conway, SC, 29527, 803-248-6131 (bus), 803-248-5403 (res) Booth, Christina S., #242, Cavern Instructor, Overhead Environment Divers, 3307 Longwood Ln., Conway, SC, 29527, 803-248-6131 (bus), 803-248-5403 (res) Bounting, Frank R., #232, Cavern Instructor, P. 0. Box 667, Belize City, Belize, 011-501-222-143 (bus) Bowden, James L., #226, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, P. 0. Box 49461, Austin, TX, 78765,512-928-4727 (res) Bozanic, Jeffrey E., #181, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, P. 0. Box 3448, Huntington Beach, CA, 92605-3448, 714-846-5220 (bus) Brady, Kelly, #216, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Cartography Instructor, P. 0. Box 4278, Gainesville, FL, 32613, 904-372-3819 (res) Bromenschenkel, Jay, #222, Basic Cave Instructor, P. 0 . Box 2445, High Springs, FL, 32643, 904-454-1639 (res) Broome, Gene, #225, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Branford Dive Center, P. 0. Box 822, Branford, FL, 32008.{}822, 904-935-1141 (bus), 904-935.{}146 (res) Brown, Larry, #249, Cavern Instructor, Rt. 1, Box 17, Moncure, NC, 27559, 919-542-5343 (res) Butler, Daniel B., #195, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, 61 Golden Shower Ln., Dededo, Guam, 96912 Burge, John W., #221, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Surveyor Instructor, 11711 Chanticleer Ct., Pensacola, FL, 32507, 904-492-2232 (res) Butt, Peter L., #186, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, P. 0. Box 1057, High Springs, FL, 32643, 904-454-3556 (bus), 904-497-4823 (res) Clesi, Dustin M., #199, Cave Diver Instructor, DPV Pilot Instructor, Steamboat Dive Inn, P. 0. Box 1000, Branford, FL, 32208-1000, 904-935-1471 (bus) Coke, James G., #193, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Recovery Instructor, Surveyor Instructor, DPV Pilot Instructor, Akumal Dive Shop, Postal 1, Playa Del Carmen, a. Roo, Mexico, 7n10 Dabbs, Joseph R., #145, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, 1815 Inspiration Ln., Huntsville, AL, 35801, 205-534-8668 (res) Dadestan, Kamran, #250, Cavern Instructor, 189 Shoaf St., Tarentum, PA, 15084, 412-265-4187 (res) de Groot, Johanna, #210, Cave Diver Instructor, Excursions Nautica, Postal1, Playa Del Carmen, a. Roo, Mexico, n710 DeRouin, Terry, #238, Cave Diver Instructor, Divers' Supply, 5208 Mercer University Dr., Macon, GA, 31210, 912-474-6790 (bus), 912-471-9730 (res) Doviat, Stush, #211, Cavern Instructor, Scuba South, 2727 Banksville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15216, 412-531-55n (bus) Exley, Sheck, #101, Cave Diver Instructor, Recovery Instructor, DPV Pilot Instructor, Cathedral Canyon, Rt. 8, Box 374, Live Oak, FL, 32060, 904-362-7589 (res) Eyring, Marc W., #228, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, 8268 Burgos Ct., Orlando, FL, 32819, 904-392.{}510 (bus), 407-352-5649 (res) Forman, Steve, #106, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, 5400 Struthers Rd., Winter Haven, FL, 33884, 813-657-2822 (bus), 813-324-6052 (res)
Would You likE to BEcomE an CDS Instructor? IMPORTANT If you would, then begin by developing your skills in diver educaJion by offering PHONE NUMBERS specialty courses. We also recommend a minimum of two y(!J).rs' experience as an DAN instructor before applying to the CDS. Next, obtain a current copy of the NSS Dlv&rs Al&rt Instructors' Training Manual and all of the current textbooks offered by the NSS N&twork CDS. Then, seek out one of the Instructor Sponsors. He will aid you in preparing 919-684-8111 to conduct NSS training courses. This preparation includes, but is not limited to, Diving Medical Assistance actual assisting in the presentation of course materials to a minimum of three different NCIC classes. At the Instructor Institute candidates' skills are evalUJlted by a staff of Cave Nat'l Crlm& Information Ctr. Diving Instructors. A Cavern Instructor Institute is scheduled for November, 1991 904-630-0514 and a Cave Diver Institute is planned for D"cember, 1991. Rescue/Recovery Emergency
16 • UNDERWAJm SParoLOGY • Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August. 1991 NSS-CDS INSTRUCTOR ROSTER Continued . .
Fox, A. Dale, #163, Cave Diver Instructor, 10700 Marlborough Rd., Fairfax, VA, 22116, 703-591-8053 (res) Gum, Darel, #251, Cavern Instructor, P. 0. Box 3044, Merrifield, VA, 22116, 703-255-2984 (res) Harmon, Chip, #236, Cavern Instructor, 6401 N.W. 54th Way, Gainesville, FL, 32606, 904-378-1253 (res) Heinerth, Paul, #165, Cave Diver Instructor, Scuba West, 8109 New York Ave., Hudson, FL, 34667, 813-863-6911 (bus) Hempstead, Jamie, #194, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, P.O. Box 6774, Columbus, GA, 31907, 404-323-9363 (res) Hires, Lamar, #191, Cavern/Cave Instructor & Sponsor, DPV Pilot Instructor, Sidemount Instructor, At. 14, Box 162, Lake City, FL, 32055, 904-752-1087 (bus), 904-755-5913 (res) Howard, Frank, #234, Surveyor Instructor, 334 Portico Ct., Chesterfield, MO, 63017, 314-469-6433 (res) lliffe, Dr. Thomas, #156, Cave Diver Instructor, Dept. of Marine Biology, Texas A & M University, Galveston, TX, 77553-1675, 409-740-4540 (bus), 409-763-8707 (res) Jay, John D., #247, Cavern Instructor, Ginnie Springs Resort, 7300 N.E. Ginnie Springs Rd., High Springs, FL, 32643, 904-454-2202 (bus), 904-454-7604 (res) Jubb, PeterS., #158, Cave Diver Instructor, 1901 W. Bay Dr., Largo, FL, 34640, 813-585-0938 (bus) Kolczynski, L. J., #223, Cavern Instructor, 17 Sea Bass Ln., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 32082, 904-285-4022 (res) Kristovich, Ann, #239, Cavern Instructor, P. 0. Box 49163, Austin, TX, 78765, 512-480-8840 (res) Leonard, Mark D., #169, Cavern/Cave Instructor & Sponsor, Recovery Instructor, DPV Pilot Instructor, Rt. 14, Box 162, Lake City, FL, 32055, 904-752-1057 (bus) Maufroy, Robert, #152, Cave Diver Instructor, 109 Oak Ct. , Kingsland, GA, 31548, 912-729-7851 (res) Menke, Ronald, #209, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, Kissimmee Pro Dive Center, 406 E. Vine St., Kissimmee, FL, 34744, 407-933-5090 (bus) Miller, Marianne, #252, Cavern Instructor, 15204 Omaha St., Hudson, FL, 34667, 813-869-2939 (res) Mims, R. Lynn, #237, Cave Diver Instructor, The Dive Buddy, 334 Hoover Cir., Toney, AL, 35773, 205-852-6467 (bus) Murphey, Milledge, #190, Cave Diver Instructor, 1815 N.W. 7th Pl., Gainesville, FL, 32603, 904-392-0584 (bus), 904-373-9234 (res) Nicholson, Henry, #148, Cavern/Cave Instructor & Sponsor, Recovery Instructor, 5927 Hyde Park Cir., Jacksonville, FL, 32210, 904-786-6363 (res) Oliver, Peter L., #248, Cavern Instructor, P. 0. Box 49591, Austin, TX, 78765 Oestreich, Bill, #253, Cavern Instructor, 8585 N. Pineneedle Tr., Crystal River, FL, 32629, 904-563-2763 (res) Page, E. Eugene, #245, Cavern Instructor, 205 S.E. 16th Ave. #2-C, Gainesville, FL, 32601, 904-371-3990 (res) Power, Robert A., #166, Cave Diver Instructor, P. 0 . Box HM 1643, Hamilton HMGZ, Bermuda Prosser, Joe, #188, Training Chairman, 7400 N.W. 55th St., Miami, FL, 33166, 305-592-3146 (bus) Purchase, Dale J., #140, Cave Diver Instructor, 4181 S. Wayside, Saginaw, Ml, 48603,517-791-1707 (res) Questel, Kelvin, #235, Cavern Instructor, 938 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH, 44691, 216-262-3483 (res) Rhea, David W., #233, Cave Diver Instructor, Rhea's Diving Services, 313 Whitecrest Dr., Marysville, TN, 37801, 615-977-0360 (bus) Sirota, Philip, #182, Cave Diver Instructor, Rt. 2, Box 211-U, Wellborn, FL, 32094,904-963-2904 (res) Straatsma, Steven, #143, Cave Diver Instructor, 2901 Beeler Dr., Tampa, FL, 33626, 813-920-2908 (res) Sutton, Carl, #243, Cavern Instructor, 1020 N.E. 7th Pl., Gainesville, FL, 32604, 904-376-0215 (res) Wallen, Gary, #240, Cavern Instructor, 4119 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21211,301-467-3503 (res) Watson, Patton E., #227, Cave Diver Instructor, P. 0. Box 250174, Montgomery, AL, 36125, 205-265-2335 (bus), 205-264-3313 (res) Williams, Dennis, #118, Cave Diver Instructor, 5385 Sand Lake Dr., Melbourn, FL, 32934, 407-724-4922 (bus) Young, Tom, #215, Cave/Cavern Instructor & Sponsor, 26555 Westwood Dr., Spring, TX, 77386, 713-367-3999 (bus)
GARY WALTEN Announcing the INSTRUCTORS: {301) 467-3503 association of Contact the Editor to CAVERN COURSES DUSTIN M. CLESI & make arrangements to STEAMBOAT DIVE INN September 1-8 advertise your Branford. Florida luravllle. Florida forthcoming cave- and Cav&rn thru cavern-diving courses. (Spring Systems) · Sp&clalty Ca~• Dlv&r R&port corr&ctlons to th& 2 days, 4 diVES Coming soon: sal&s. s&rvlc&. abov& listings to th& Train lc&-cold air and $115 ... mor&l Ing Chairman and Editor.
Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August, 1991 • UNDERWATER SraEOLOGY • 17 BACK ISSUES OF UWS
e have had many requests for No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 We are still looking for the missing W back issues of Undenazter 1981 - Volume 8 issues and hope one day to be able to SpeJeolDgy. Unfortunately, we are not in No's. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 offer a complete set. H you happen to possession of a complete set of the full 1982 -Volume 9 have any of the missing issues and 1'7'112 years' worth of the newsletter. No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 would be willing to allow us to However, _copies (and we mean that 1983 - Volume 10 photocopy them (or to photocopy them literally is some cases) of the following No's. 1, 2/3, 4, 5/6 yourself and be reimbursed), please let issues may be ordered through NSS 1984- Volume 11 us know! CDS Publications: No's. 1, 2/3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B The prire for back issues is $2 per 1985 -Volume 12 issue, which includes postage and han No's. 1, 1974- Volume 1 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 dling. Send your check or money otder No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1986- Volume 13 to: 1975 - Volume 2 No's.1,2,3,4,5,6 1987- Volume No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 14 NSS Cave Diving Section 1976- Volume 3 No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 P.O. Box950 1988- No's. 6 Volume 15 Branford, FL 32008-0950 1977- Volume 4 No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1989 No's. 5, 6 -Volume 16 Please allow 4-6 weeks for process No's.1,2,3,4,5,6 1978- Volume 5 ing, as requests must be processed and 1990-Volume 17 No's. 2,4,5,6 forwarded through the Section a couple 1979 -Volume 6 No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 oftimesbeforereachingtheappropriate 1991 - Volume 18 No's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 person. • 1980- Volume 7 No's.1,2,3,4
GROWING PAINS
he question of increasing member meeting for the same reasons, and was dues from people wishing to join the ship dues was brought T up at a CDS again shot down for the same reasons. CDS, so that they could join both at Board Meeting a couple of years ago. At press time, CDS membership onre, rather than having to wait until (Dues then, as they are now, were$5 per had topped out at just over 750 mem theirNSSmembershipscleared. Butthe year, which includes six issues per year bers, foreign and domestic. In addition, process is a long and complicated one, of Underuxlter Spelmlogy, as well ass~ there are subsaibers, NSS internal or and we appreciate your patience. stantial discounts on publications and ganizations, exchange newsletters, state Hrst the mail arrives at the Section's workshop entrance fees.) parks, sheriffs' offices, etc., that bring permanent address In the face of inflation and the in the total mailing list up to almost 900. in Branfotd where, creased size of the newsletter, it was Because of the very heavy workload in after a suitable delay, it is forwarded to recognized that dues were not covering volved, it was decided to split up the our 'freasurer, who lives in Ocala The the cost of producing and mailing the jobs of secretary and treasurer, which Treasurer then sorts through the mail newsletter-let alone anything else. had been combined functionally some and forwards it to the apparopriate However, it was also recognized that six or seven years ago. This meant coordinators. Checks for memberships NSS membership, at $25 per year, is a separating membership roster lists are logged into the oomputer, and then prerequisite of CDS membership, and from finances, and dividing the infor the actual applications are mailed with that to raise CDS dues would be adding mation between two computers. As a check for the NSS, at monthly inter ''"msult to injury." A past d\airman at was explained in UWS 18:2, we were vals, to the Secretary for entry into the tending the meeting also pointed out unable to successfully extract data from mailing list. The Secretary then for that there had been a terrible upcry from the primitive program they were stored wards the application information and the membership when the dues were in and it was necessary forthe secretary check to the NSS, last raised, back in something like 1981 to rekey the entire mailing list. We are where its paid offire or 1982. "What were the dues raised still correcting errors and appreciate staff pprocesses the new memberships. from?'' someone asked. ''From $4 to your apprising us of any corrections to We apologize for delays and errors, but $5." Everyone laughed. (Who says be made or of changes in your address. it is sometimes late at night when these that CDS Board meetings are dull?) As a oonvenience to new members, jobs get done, as they are all volunteer The question of raising dues was we had made arrangements some years efforts. They are also only a small por brought up again at a recent board ago with the NSS offire to collect NSS tion of the duties involved. •
18 • UNJJERWATER Si>EIIDLoGY • Vol 18, No. 4 • July I August, 1991 L E T T E R 5 Emergency Radio 1he primary ronrern is to find out the extent of the impact, if any, that diving What Makes a Donated by CDS has on the natural resourres. Cave Diver? to Peacock Your romment about the fossilized turtle shell not being disturbed is a good I believe that if every trained cave Springs State observation, and supports our decision diver answered that question, we to increase the number of cave-diving would get almost as many different Recreation Area parties from one to three groups. In answers. There are several factors spections have shown very little van which play a part in each person's at Letter to the Section dalism inside the cave system. Most titude toward cave diving. The strong June 27, 1991 damage has been in the cavern area, desire and the obsession to dive caves Dear Sirs: where less-experienred divers usually and to continually gain knowledge I would like to take this opportunity dive. We believe that well-trained cave about caves is a leading factor, in my on behalf of the Division of Recreation divers generally respect the unique and opinion, towards making a skilled, & Parks, Ichetucknee Springs State Park fragile underwater resourres. rompetent cave diver. A diver with a & Peacock Springs State Recreation A recent survey revealed that 5,400 lax attitude towan:is cave diving does Area to thank you for the generous divers utilized the park during a 16- not usually make a good cave diver. donation of the hi-band radio which month period. Attimes,asmanyas 100 Cave diving has been growing by will be used for security at Peacock divers were in the park in one day. Be leaps the past few years, as diving Springs. cause of our ronrern for possible impact springs, sinkholes, and caverns be I would also like to extend a special on the park's resources, a carrying romes more popular. This is evident by thanks to Richazd Brady for delivering capacity for diving was recently imple the increasing number of divers who the radio all the way from Atlanta, mented. We would like to emphasize are signing up for cavern and cave rour Georgia that the carrying capacity is on a trial ses. Many of these divers take their Your organization has shown great basis and will be evaluated over the cave diving very seriously and actively interest in Peacock Springs SRA Your next two years. 1he new capacity is no pursue their cave diving and their cave support is greatly appreciated not only more than 50 divers at the spring at any diving education. However, many of by me, but also by the Park Servire as one time. As part of the 50-diver max these divers do not Tiley receive their a whole. imum, no more than three cave-diving training, call themselves cave divers, I am looking forward to rontinued groups (maximum of 4 people. per then cave dive so infrequently or cooperation and support between our group) will be allowed in the cave sys beyond their ability that they pose a two agencies. tem at any one time. threat to themselves and to other divers We will carefully monitor the num with them, who may also be equally in Sincerely, ber of divers, if any, that are turned experienred. Some of these divers are Azell G. Nail, Park Manager away due to the new carrying capacity. hemming seasonal or occasional cave Ichetucknee Springs State Park If a substantial number of divers are divers, with s.ome of them not cave turned away, we will ronsider a reser diving for months or years at a time. • • • vation system. Your comments are I recently dived a small cave system very timely, sinre state-park diving fees in Pinellas County, outside of Tarpon are currently under review. Springs. One of my long-time dive Manatee Springs It is our understanding that the park buddies, who has been diving much Dive Policy manager, Bill Maphis, has requested longer than L and who is a highly ex that the second line be removed from perienred deep diver, wanted to join in the cave. We understand your ronrern on the dive. I declined his request. . Letter to Wendy Shari, Safety for the safety of divers and will make Why? He is basic- Vol. 18, No. 4 • July I August. 1991 • Urn:RWATER Sl'runoGY • 19 Broken destroy. assessing their own personal limita The world is definitely getting tions, they would be more ronscien Speleothems smaller. With package and group rates tious in their determination to expand being offered to Akumal, anyone can those limitations, even if only sub Letter to the &iilor easily get to dive these cenotes. It's dif liminally. August 24, 1991 ficult to promote something so beauti It was acceptai, even amongst my I recently returned frOm a week ful, yet to try to protect if from harm. own full-cave-rourse classmates, to long trip to Akumal. This was my I wish all cave divers rould witness elicit pride from how far we had gotten serond cave-diving trip there in two the beauty of these emotes, but this is on our dives. Is that really why we do and a half years. I got turned on to the not the place for divers with ques it? Those with the natural talent to excel area by Jim Coke's fantastic presenta tionable buoyancy skills. Places like will disrover it, and if circumstances tions at the workshops. The diving is Peacock, Madison, and little River are allow it, will fall in with those doing sig definitely the best I've ever seen The where these skills need to be honed. nificant work. Hnot, one can only hope water is warm, the dives are shallow, I have already planned my next trip they have the sense to simply enjoy the the visibility is fabulous. Everything for February. I look forward to the ex underwater cave environment without that florida springs aren't No more citement of the diving, happy hour at sua:umbing to the ''how far can I get'' freezing during long decompression the beach bar, and dinner at the Xpu-ha siren. stops! Even better, almost no decom Restaurant But what I really look for pression stops! ward to is seeing the beauty of the Mike Nelson (NSS #27176) As if all that isn't enough, the speleothems exactly the same as they Fertile, Iowa speleothems are spectarularly beauti were on the last trip. ful. Well, at least the ones that haven't been broken off. My buddy and I were Lenny Kolczynski