After 20 years, need one last dive (Lake Travis)

[In10se]

You've got the best you're gonna get with K-valve, but I'd volunteer to go along as a third if K sees merit in the idea.

Issues for you to consider. Without a C-card even renting gear will be a task. Gas will be especially hard. You pose some serious liability issues. If you die on this dive, then those of us who aid you, including the pre-dive stuff, are liable. Even with a waiver signed by you, witnessed by the Pope, and notarized by God himself it would be hard to explain to your surviving family members, and their legal representation, why we aided you.

Most serious divers have enough gear to put together 3 or 4 complete kits from what's laying around in their garages, so everything is relative to your reasoning and need. Once we understand the deeper issues of your situation than something might ... MIGHT ... get worked out on the gear.

This better be good for you to get people involved in such a risky venture. You seem serious, and helping someone in your situation just feels like the right thing to do. I gotta admit though, my curiosity is what drives me here.

 

[RumBum]

Its not a good idea.

I agree with Bill. This sounds like an accident looking for a place to happen.

 

[Kayla]

If this turns out to be a dive checking on the site of some previously disposed bodies or something, will you guys post the story? I'd be interested in hearing it!




Oh, and I would just like it to go on the record that I'm mostly kidding, think its great that someone is helping, and kudos to you for not doing it if you don't feel its safe... Does that cover my bases? I hope so!!

 

[Zinc]

 

[Debraw]

I'll speculate!!!!

I think it's a memoriam dive of some sort for a lost loved one. Not lost in the proverbial sense of the word, but in a past life now, lost. His reasons are his own and he only asked a question here which we can say "yes" or "no" to. Interesting to say the least and curiosity is enough for me to keep up with this thread and then ask later on what ever happened with that guy who wanted to.....blah, blah, blah. Sometimes it is worth the risk to offer help when someone else is looking for closure. Closure is one of those things that can keep you sane for a lifetime, so in the big picture it might be worth the risk. On the flip side Regret can last a lifetime.
I don't really have enough experience in this sort of thing to say yes to it, but if I felt comfortable enough to accompany someone, I would take the risk. K-Valve's offer is the best you will get in the public side of this forum but you may want to look in your PM box. I can think of a couple of people on this board who might be willing to help you if their anonymity was preserved.

 

[k-valve]

Sorry for the vague post about my offer, but I want to talk to Barry and evaluate his motivation, skills and abilities and I don't want to show my hand here. Trust me, if at any point I don't like the odds I won't be taking him...and that's all I'm saying. For all I know the guy is Jacques Cousteau reincarnated, as fit as Nuno Gomez and has a dang good reason to make this dive. I'm not going to cut him off at the knees just yet. I think he at least deserves a chance to make his case.

Barry, if you're still interested you can call me on my cell phone. I'll shoot you a PM with it in a minute.

 

[texdiveguy]

Interesting reading....the plot thickens.............

 

[bcwatson]

hhhmm... ok, I'll give up the goods...
It's for a hobby called geocaching where a person uses a GPS to try to find a container that has been hidden... There has been one placed just off Windy point. Not actually a container, but it qualifies none-the-less. It is a plastic chain anchored to the ground with a bouyant letter "S" attached at one end. If a diver should find this, please dont' move it. I would love to be able to get the FTF (First To Find) on this, but having put myself in harm's way many times in my life (I'm 51 now), I am very cautious and not one to take on things unless I'm comfortable with the risks. I appreciate all the concern, but really... I am not some teenager looking to get some equipment and jump in without knowing the dangers. I do know the dangers. I don't know the advances/changes in gear over the last 20 years. I haven't looked at dive tables in that long either. I learned in Okinawa (a beautiful place to dive), but only certified to Basic Open Water. I do have my dive card for verification. I have my dive log book. Needing to do just this one dive (but am willing to keep an open mind about getting back into it again), K-Valve's offer is exactly what I'm looking for. (I checked out your profile and certs) Someone qualified to check me out and chaperone me down this one time... Some short dives on same day is perfectly reasonable of course. Even if not on same day if necessary. My only concern is timing. Lots of geocachers will try to find ways to be the FTF for this and I would hate to lose out. But I wouldn't hate it enough to be unsafe. My main concern is my chronic sinusitis and getting clear enough for the pressure to not be a problem coming up. I remember the pain of sinus squeeze the one time I had it... felt like a nail being driven into my forehead and I have no desire to experience that again. I do know the risk of embolisms and "bends" and hypothermia. Because my reason for the dive might be considered too "frivilous" to bypass a refresher class, I can and would understand anyone not wanting to "supervise" me on this. And, no, I wouldn't attempt it otherwise... Please, I do appreciate the cautious tones, but I have no desire to put myself in harm's way any more than I already have during this life. (I've been way more lucky than one person deserves to be.) If this won't work, then it won't work. I think my wife is holding her breath on this one... Her main fear is that I'll get bit by the bug again and want to take the class and buy new gear all over again....
I am in fairly good shape. I've done some adventure races, finished the Colorado River 100 (100 mile kayak race), very comfortable in the water at any depth...
John, I'll give you a call...
Barry

 

[Kayla]

Well, there goes my theory! At least its something interesting!! Good luck in finding it!!!

 

[chucksaul]

First I thought the Geocache box was by the dam not WP... I went looking for it last summer and never found it but I have the link on my computer at home...

Second, this sounds like the makings of a great novel... We use DebraW's opening nad each add to it... There are enough stable and those not so stable that it could get pretty funny...

Third... John, I don't have my Tshirts yet and while affairs of the heart, finding a lost wedding ring for a 25th anniversay, releasing ashes of a loved one, etc might be good reason for doing this... playing a game with two peoples lives probably isn't...

Stay Thirsty My Friend