This past weekend at Vortex proved interesting to say the least. First of all the weatherman lied. Forecasts were for 67 degrees and sunny skies but instead we had solid cloud cover and a strong wind from the northeast. In addition to all that, we learned on the way down that after hours of continuous pounding rain Otter Creek had breached the Berm and was flowing across the swimming area into the spring. Joey reported visibility at two-feet outside the cave.
Friday evening we went directly to Sallys and met Joey and Jay for dinner. The Georgia crowd didnt come in until nearly midnight so we talked and waited up for them. We needed to know Saturdays plan. Water was still above the piers but the pumps were running and the level falling rapidly.
Saturday we placed tarps on the building next to the fill station as a windbreak. The water actually felt warm. Visibility had improved to about 25 feet. We broke the 16 open water students into two groups and were able to get all their skills done with no problems. Emmet brought some toys and on my third dive of the day I played with the Sea Doo scooter. For the last two dives I used a full face mask just to see if I liked it. Of course I did I was afraid of that.
Kevin, Bugman, and another diver did a side-mount dive to about 1600 feet I think they said. One diver by himself with doubles and lots of tech gear was really plowing the bottom of the cave.
Flow coming from the cave proved very strong. During the evening barbecue Eddie discovered that one of the pumps had stopped and the water level was above the piers once again. He drove to the pump station and reset the circuit breakers. By morning water level was back down and the visibility back to about 20 feet. We had no trouble sleeping Saturday night.
Sunday we kept the weather radar called up all morning. Forecast called for 95 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. We hoped that the weatherman lied once again. He did give us a reprieve and we were able to get the students done before rain started. Throughout the weekend we certified 16 open water divers, 9 Nitrox divers, 1 Dry suit diver, and 3 Associate Instructors.
The drive home wasnt so great we watched the clouds grow angrier the farther north we went. Between Troy and Montgomery we got severely rained on. All the creeks were out of their banks and swirling muddy water filled every ditch. Once again Sunday evening we had no trouble sleeping.
Friday evening we went directly to Sallys and met Joey and Jay for dinner. The Georgia crowd didnt come in until nearly midnight so we talked and waited up for them. We needed to know Saturdays plan. Water was still above the piers but the pumps were running and the level falling rapidly.
Saturday we placed tarps on the building next to the fill station as a windbreak. The water actually felt warm. Visibility had improved to about 25 feet. We broke the 16 open water students into two groups and were able to get all their skills done with no problems. Emmet brought some toys and on my third dive of the day I played with the Sea Doo scooter. For the last two dives I used a full face mask just to see if I liked it. Of course I did I was afraid of that.
Kevin, Bugman, and another diver did a side-mount dive to about 1600 feet I think they said. One diver by himself with doubles and lots of tech gear was really plowing the bottom of the cave.
Flow coming from the cave proved very strong. During the evening barbecue Eddie discovered that one of the pumps had stopped and the water level was above the piers once again. He drove to the pump station and reset the circuit breakers. By morning water level was back down and the visibility back to about 20 feet. We had no trouble sleeping Saturday night.
Sunday we kept the weather radar called up all morning. Forecast called for 95 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. We hoped that the weatherman lied once again. He did give us a reprieve and we were able to get the students done before rain started. Throughout the weekend we certified 16 open water divers, 9 Nitrox divers, 1 Dry suit diver, and 3 Associate Instructors.
The drive home wasnt so great we watched the clouds grow angrier the farther north we went. Between Troy and Montgomery we got severely rained on. All the creeks were out of their banks and swirling muddy water filled every ditch. Once again Sunday evening we had no trouble sleeping.
