First Spiegel Grove dives and lessons learned

[gamon]

The many times I’ve dove the Grove, I bring my own cylinders. LP 85’s with Cave Fills to 4,000 psi. It’s only an 8 hour drive for me in North Florida.

I could say making that sort of trip if you're doing a bunch of dives or other stuff while you're there and making it at least an overnite excursion. But just for a couple of dives maybe 40 minutes each.. no thanks.

 

[LFMarm]

The crew did ask me if I wanted to go solo, but the first follow-up question was "do you have a redundant air supply?" and that was a no. In hindsight, obviously, it would've been quite a mistake to go solo (although I probably would've stayed closer to the downline just out of caution).

Very good decision. Going solo requires much more than a redundant gas supply. I would highly recommend a solo class with a skilled instructor that regularly tech dives. You will learn a lot that will be helpful for your buddy dives as well.

 

[LFMarm]

I never saw a need to complicate things with a jon line and never even heard of a garvin hook until you mentioned it.

I also like to avoid using unnecessary gear but there are very good reasons for jon lines. For example, for deco dives in strong currents it's quite common to use jon lines. It not only makes it easier to fit many divers staying at the same stop but it also makes it safer (almost impossible to get separated from the line).

 

[gamon]

For example, for deco dives in strong currents it's quite common to use jon lines.

I'm speaking from the perspective of a recreational diver who doesn't spend more than 3 minutes on the line.

 

[Allen-1]

I'm speaking from the perspective of a recreational diver who doesn't spend more than 3 minutes on the line.

 

[Nemrod]

I'm speaking from the perspective of a recreational diver who doesn't spend more than 3 minutes on the line.

That dive will probably give a 5 minute safety stop for a Shearwater on the Adaptive setting. It can be quite a cluster around twenty feet.

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah on the boat the groups of 2 or 3 deeper divers are like separate countries with different languages
But with sign language you would imagine they could communicate with each other and stagger jumps