siltout?

[gbray]

I had an eye opening experience today. I am not a cave diver but as I have expressed before I do have an interest. I went to my local quarry for my usual weekend dive and all the regulars were leaving as I got there late. Since they don't allow solo diving I was forced to help the staff who were working on the platforms. I often try to assist and know all the staff so they tolerate me. We had to move and re-anchor the platforms. The bottom 15 feet got so black I could not see my hand until pressed against my face mask .I certainly couldn't see the other diver at my shoulder. I could only feel him when we bumped against each other. I have been in low viz before but this was no viz. I searched for 20 minutes to find a light one of the divers dropped (and it was on). I never did see it. Only felt it. it was the darkest I have ever experienced in broad daylight.

On my way home I got to wondering if this is what a siltout in a cave is like. The only difference is I could ascend 20 feet and see again. We were about 37 feet deep.

Can anyone relate?

 

[Cave Diver]

I had an eye opening experience today. I am not a cave diver but as I have expressed before I do have an interest. I went to my local quarry for my usual weekend dive and all the regulars were leaving as I got there late. Since they don't allow solo diving I was forced to help the staff who were working on the platforms. I often try to assist and know all the staff so they tolerate me. We had to move and re-anchor the platforms. The bottom 15 feet got so black I could not see my hand until pressed against my face mask .I certainly couldn't see the other diver at my shoulder. I could only feel him when we bumped against each other. I have been in low viz before but this was no viz. I searched for 20 minutes to find a light one of the divers dropped (and it was on). I never did see it. Only felt it. it was the darkest I have ever experienced in broad daylight.

On my way home I got to wondering if this is what a siltout in a cave is like. The only difference is I could ascend 20 feet and see again. We were about 37 feet deep.

Can anyone relate?

Yes, that is pretty much the same thing you can experience in a cave as well.

Siltouts are not cave specific. They can occur anywhere, caves, wreck, open water.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I've been in a few siltouts in caves. The extent of the siltout can vary, but the worst siltouts are exactly like that. Imagine not being able to see a 24 watt canister light right in front of your face. Fortunately, we have lines in the caves to follow.

 

[karstdvr]

I've been in a few siltouts in caves. The extent of the siltout can vary, but the worst siltouts are exactly like that. Imagine not being able to see a 24 watt canister light right in front of your face. Fortunately, we have lines in the caves to follow.

The worst I have seen was in your backyard. There was a collapse in JB,and the whole thing was blown all the way to the cavern.

 

[Dive-aholic]

The worst I have seen was in your backyard. There was a collapse in JB,and the whole thing was blown all the way to the cavern.

I haven't looked at the breakdowns there the same since the first time I heard about that experience of yours!

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I had an eye opening experience today. I am not a cave diver but as I have expressed before I do have an interest. I went to my local quarry for my usual weekend dive and all the regulars were leaving as I got there late. Since they don't allow solo diving I was forced to help the staff who were working on the platforms. I often try to assist and know all the staff so they tolerate me. We had to move and re-anchor the platforms. The bottom 15 feet got so black I could not see my hand until pressed against my face mask .I certainly couldn't see the other diver at my shoulder. I could only feel him when we bumped against each other. I have been in low viz before but this was no viz. I searched for 20 minutes to find a light one of the divers dropped (and it was on). I never did see it. Only felt it. it was the darkest I have ever experienced in broad daylight.

On my way home I got to wondering if this is what a siltout in a cave is like. The only difference is I could ascend 20 feet and see again. We were about 37 feet deep.

Can anyone relate?

Now try to imagine that same situation in a place where you can't ascend 20 feet (because there's a rock ceiling in the way), and the line you need to follow to get out of the cave is that backup light you were looking for. Then try to imagine that while you're looking for the line you inadvertantly swim into a side passage that's going to take you further away from your exit.

That's why there are procedures for dealing with a siltout in a cave, and proper training in how to use those procedures is so extremely important ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[gbray]

Now try to imagine that same situation in a place where you can't ascend 20 feet (because there's a rock ceiling in the way), and the line you need to follow to get out of the cave is that backup light you were looking for. Then try to imagine that while you're looking for the line you inadvertantly swim into a side passage that's going to take you further away from your exit.

That's why there are procedures for dealing with a siltout in a cave, and proper training in how to use those procedures is so extremely important ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Even with procedures and proper training that has got to be a scary proposition the first time someone encounters it.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Even with procedures and proper training that has got to be a scary proposition the first time someone encounters it.

Probably not just the first time.

I'm very new at cave diving, and haven't experienced a complete siltout in a cave yet (although I bloody near caused one at Little River on our last training dive). I have, however, experienced it inside a shipwreck when our bubbles caused rust to rain down off the ceiling ... that isn't much fun either ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Mr.X]

As mentioned - complete silt outs are something else. They can be so bad that 50 watt 24/21 HID's are invisible. At points during a recent virgin penetration the black silt of the bottom actually looked like clear dark water vs. what it really was - a soft, floating hydrogen sulfide layer which was easily stirred up.

Training & lines are what get you through the day. Rebreathers can help, but in some overhead environments crud can rain down on you even with the slightest cave fin kick. If anything, it can be best describe as funky experience.

X

 

[Chugwhump]

Either cavers are nuts, or I am a coward.
-or-
Both...lol

Chug