Diver Drowns at Ginnie Springs

[almitywife]

if it is true that he was 3000+ft into the system - wow and thankyou to those that recovered him

as this forum exists to "This forum is for the discussion of diving Accidents and Incidents", and as im someone that doesnt dive caves

would a diver usually run a line and would that explain why the recovery team found him quite quickly?? (well what i would call quickly as i can only imagine the logistics to start a search like this at short notice)

 

[2Tours N Iraq`]

I am not a cave diver nor will I pretend to know anything about running a line, however, I think it is probably pretty obvious that he briefed someone of his planned dive since the recovery operation took place rather quickly. I also agree that patience is needed until the official report comes out. Let's try to see things from his family and friends' point of view and not speculate until a more appropriate time. Until then, my condolences to all that knew him as I am always saddened by the loss of a fellow diver.

 

[Jim Kerr]

Looking at his web site his credentials were very impressive indeed. And that should be a wake up call to all of us that no matter what your level of experience or training, "Murphy" is always watching. My sincere condolences to the family.

 

[TSandM]

Almitywife, most of the popular caves have permanently installed guidelines, at least in the common passages. There's usually a central guideline, called the gold line, that may branch, depending on the cave. Side passages have their own lines that usually don't link up directly with the main line. When someone dives those side passages, standard practice is to run a spool "jump" line from the main line to the line in the side passage. The spool line is pulled when the diver returns.

If someone is pushing a cave into new passageway, they carry a reel, tie in to the last spot in the gold line where they leave it, and run the reel into the new passageway. When they reach their turn point, they tie the line off and cut it, and take the reel back out with them.

I don't know if this diver did any of those things, but that's the common practice, for educational purposes. The basic principle is to have a continuous guideline from where you are in the cave, all the way back out to open water.

 

[TennInstr]

if it is true that he was 3000+ft into the system - wow and thankyou to those that recovered him

as this forum exists to "This forum is for the discussion of diving Accidents and Incidents", and as im someone that doesnt dive caves

would a diver usually run a line and would that explain why the recovery team found him quite quickly?? (well what i would call quickly as i can only imagine the logistics to start a search like this at short notice)

Yes, one of the golden rules of cave diving is to "always have a continuous guideline". The system he was in is well mapped and I'm sure someone knew where he was headed. From what I have read on the forums so far this was no average cave dive. 3000+ is a long way in. The recovery team deserves an enormous amount of gratitude.

EDIT: TSandM beat me to it.

 

[lamont]

3000 ft is about 60 minutes of swimming, only 15 minutes by scooter.

 

[contender]

3000 ft is about 60 minutes of swimming, only 15 minutes by scooter.

Only in the best of conditions for both cases, especially in high flow.

 

[mkutyna]

Isn't the flow reduced right now due to the high water levels?

 

[jimdiverman]

Isn't the flow reduced right now due to the high water levels?

I dove at Ginnie in Devils last Wednesday and Thursday. The flow was up pretty good. I don't know if it may have dropped off between Friday and Monday, but I suspect not.

 

[cappyjon431]

In addition to flow rate, you also most consider the time necessary to stage, to tie off lines, and the possibilities of restrictions that make it necessary to remove and replace gear. I've never been that far back in Ginnie, so I can't speak for the number of tight restrictions necessary to reach that particular point, but my experience is that it is difficult to apply "average" swim times to advanced cave penetrations.