Provocative talk yesterday at NSS-CDS: Toss out the rule of thirds?

[Underwater Tourist]

I think that lends alot to why the average cave diver is out of it in 3 years.

I saw you mention that several times, just curious where is the info coming from?

 

[Manatee Diver]

I saw you mention that several times, just curious where is the info coming from?

It's an observation that many cave instructors have made in Florida.

People come in thinking it will be exciting, finish their cave training. Do all the check list dives (Henkel, Well Casing, The Nest, the Grand Traverse, etc), maybe do a couple of international trips. Find out that it really isn't exciting quit and move on to their next hobby.

 

[mr_v]

@Manatee Diver - it is sad as Henkel, Well Casing, the Nest, and the Grand Traverse are quite rudimentary and boring as "check mark dives." There is just so much more to explore!

 

[Manatee Diver]

@Manatee Diver - it is sad as Henkel, Well Casing, the Nest, and the Grand Traverse are quite rudimentary and boring as "check mark dives." There is just so much more to explore!

Yeah like Well Casing you need to first pass the Florida Rooms which is really cool, unlike Ginnie which seems like a collection of dome rooms connected by flow driven tunnels, it is a collection of huge cracks (for lack of a better word). When I visited the Well Casing for the first time I spent more time in the Florida room on the way back, just scootering back and forth looking at it.

I love Ginnie, every time I go I see something new, even in areas I've visited. And I've only visited Henkel a handful of times.

You couldn't pay me to do the Grand Traverse, there are so many other cooler areas of Peacock, Waterhole with the multiple layers of limestone in the cracks. Random rooms with huge domes that are 30ft tall. Cool striated clay banks, random fossils...

If you don't love what you are seeing heading into it with a sense of wonder... it really doesn't make this hobby worth it. The equipment is expensive and heavy and while we can minimize the risk as much as possible it is still there.

 

[crofrog]

@Manatee Diver - it is sad as Henkel, Well Casing, the Nest, and the Grand Traverse are quite rudimentary and boring as "check mark dives." There is just so much more to explore!

So many people are so focused on how far they can get into a cave and that becomes the goal not the enjoyment of the cave itself.

 

[Johnoly]

... it really isn't exciting quit and move on ...

Or can't find dive buddy because they are a distracted, unsafe diver and no one wants to dive with them.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

So many people are so focused on how far they can get into a cave and that becomes the goal not the enjoyment of the cave itself.

Hah, for sure. Often when I surface from a cave dive other cave divers ask me "How far did you go?" My answer is always "All the way".

 

[mr_v]

So many people are so focused on how far they can get into a cave and that becomes the goal not the enjoyment of the cave itself.

That is, in part, why I love diving with CC buds. CC folks are never in a rush because "personal best" does not really exist or matter.

 

[rjack321]

Okay, what do you learn from dozens of dives without any unusual or dangerous incidents?
Doesn't that suggest that diving is fun and problem-free, and wreck/cave diving is doable?
But what happens if an OOA situation occurs or is presented as possible/probable?
RMV increases more or less as a fight/flight response.
In most cases, it would be better to reduce all unnecessary activities to conserve breathing gas.
And this can be practiced specifically as a generalized response to OOA/imagined OOA.

If every dive is "problem-free" you're blind and not reflecting *critically* on each and every dive with the aim of continuous improvement in skills and attitude.

 

[Underwater Tourist]

It's an observation that many cave instructors have made in Florida.

People come in thinking it will be exciting, finish their cave training. Do all the check list dives (Henkel, Well Casing, The Nest, the Grand Traverse, etc), maybe do a couple of international trips. Find out that it really isn't exciting quit and move on to their next hobby.

I didn't expect that

Going to MX this week and will ask instructors there if they see the same trend