Diving Devil's Throat and Columbia Deep

[Mayor]

A few years ago I did this dive as a new rescue diver with a total of 100 plus dives in the book. It was fun but way over my skill set at the time even if i thought i was a good diver. Now with proper training and skills I look at this dive much differently. It is a cavern that's deep and if things go wrong in there how will I manage it. First off an OOA in that tight space can only be solved by a long hose. If I was unskilled enough to position myself where a mask would be knocked off do I have the skills to switch onto my back up mask? If I would have a total valve failure in that section on a single tank could I get to my buddy and air share to the surface? If my primary light failed do I have a back up? A lot of stuff can go wrong at that depth. Add in a hard ceiling and turn out the lights most problems will become amplified very quickly. If I'm on a boat and some divers want to push the limits then that's their choice but I will dive my level of training and come back to dive another day.

 

[fishi]

A few years ago I did this dive as a new rescue diver with a total of 100 plus dives in the book. It was fun but way over my skill set at the time even if i thought i was a good diver. Now with proper training and skills I look at this dive much differently. It is a cavern that's deep and if things go wrong in there how will I manage it. First off an OOA in that tight space can only be solved by a long hose. If I was unskilled enough to position myself where a mask would be knocked off do I have the skills to switch onto my back up mask? If I would have a total valve failure in that section on a single tank could I get to my buddy and air share to the surface? If my primary light failed do I have a back up? A lot of stuff can go wrong at that depth. Add in a hard ceiling and turn out the lights most problems will become amplified very quickly. If I'm on a boat and some divers want to push the limits then that's their choice but I will dive my level of training and come back to dive another day.

You can easily swim out of devil's throat side by side without a mask or a light. The only problems you're going to have are the ones you create for yourself.

 

[Mayor]

Good luck with your diving....

 

[cvchief]

I have to say I worried before I went because people were saying it was SO tight. It didn't think it was that tight. I think I could have grabbed my nephew and got out on his octo without too much trouble.

Of course I probably had around 75 dives at the time. Had AOW. Still haven't taken rescue. I also don't have a back up mask. or a spare air. I do have a sausage and a reel. and a whistle....

 

[flots am]

Like others have said, it's not as big a deal as some have made it out to be.

It's not a big deal as long as nothing goes wrong.

However if something does go wrong, an OW diver has no valid emergency options, and will soon discover that "swim-through" is another word for "cave" and that they have zero training for handling emergencies in a cave and especially a cave that's generally single file. In fact, if they were cave trained, they wouldn't have done the dive because the gas is insufficient.

There are tons of potential problems that I won't rehash, except for a couple, which include:

• "It only goes down." If you're not the last person in the group, you must go down to the exit @ 135', even if you're having problems equalizing or are terrified or don't want to go or are low on air, because there are people behind you and there are few (any?) places big enough to turn around, and in most places, not enough space for passing.
• If you run out of air, the OW procedures of sharing air with your buddy and surfacing aren't usable, and the 80 CuFt tanks don't leave enough of a reserve to get the donor and a panicked diver all the way down to the exit at 135' and then to the surface.

I did the dive when I was brand new, and had no idea what was involved. Now many years later, and even with my regular buddy, I refuse the dive when in Cozumel because I won't do it with just a single 80, because I understand the possible failures and their implications.

flots.

 

[Mike]

It's not a big deal as long as nothing goes wrong.

However if something does go wrong, an OW diver has no valid emergency options, and will soon discover that "swim-through" is another word for "cave" and that they have zero training for handling emergencies in a cave and especially a cave that's generally single file. In fact, if they were cave trained, they wouldn't have done the dive because the gas is insufficient.

There are tons of potential problems that I won't rehash, except for a couple, which include:

• "It only goes down." If you're not the last person in the group, you must go down to the exit @ 135', even if you're having problems equalizing or are terrified or don't want to go or are low on air, because there are people behind you and there are few (any?) places big enough to turn around, and in most places, not enough space for passing.
• If you run out of air, the OW procedures of sharing air with your buddy and surfacing aren't usable, and the 80 CuFt tanks don't leave enough of a reserve to get the donor and a panicked diver all the way down to the exit at 135' and then to the surface.

I did the dive when I was brand new, and had no idea what was involved. Now many years later, and even with my regular buddy, I refuse the dive when in Cozumel because I won't do it with just a single 80, because I understand the possible failures and their implications.

flots.

The dangers perceived or real have been discussed a bunch of times on this forum. I think when it comes to diving, I wouldn't hold it against anybody for being conservative and erring on the side of caution. However, we should at least clear up a few things in your post.

Your depth numbers are a bit off, the exit isn't as deep as you're suggesting. You certainly do not have to breach the recreational dive depth limits of 130 ft. nor especially have to hit 135 ft.

The only commitment to go 'down' is in the entry to the throat itself, once you go down the little drop off you level off and remain at that depth, within a few feet plus or minus. Also the only 'squeeze' would be the actual drop down in the throat itself. The 2 or 3 seconds it takes to fin this drop is the 'worst' part or the most dangerous. However, it's only about what? 6-7 linear feet? Once through the drop it widens out considerably. It's been a while since I've dived it, but my memory seems to tell me that two divers could do the 'squeeze' area if they had to side by side, however, most if not all would choose to go single file, but before it and after it, it is very wide open. My use of the word 'squeeze' is probably not really even very warranted. I think all the videos you can watch, including the ones posted on the thread show how big of space you are dealing with in regard to the throat itself.

So I'd say yes if an OOA happened at the precise moment of the drop in the throat, you would have a moment of nervousness, when you'd have to decide to swim through to the larger space on the other side or have your buddy come up next to you.

What I do recall and in most videos you see, there is only about 1 second of darkness, once through this drop in the throat you see daylight immediately.

I don't disagree with you, the throat is a dive with potential for problems. However I think they are totally manageable by a diver with some experience who is calm, collected and confident in their diving, (and diving with a competent and responsible buddy), and hopefully the dive ops do a good job at screening and only allowing those who fit the criteria to do the dive.

I will say, I would not dive this dive with an "insta-buddy"

 

[Mayor]

Maybe I recall it being tighter then it is but we also did from what I understand devils ledge. That section was somewhat disorienting. Which ever the case it still a deep dive with an overhead. One thing is for sure if I'm not in doubles I will be slinging a al40 as a stage. Over kill maybe but I can solve lots of problems knowing I have gas resources for the team. Here is a little list of items I will have on the dives. Left pocket all clipped in.....3ft SMB on a 100ft spool, 150ft spool, roll up snorkel, dive alert, strobe. Right pocket all clipped in..... Wet notes (zip ties, pencil, o-rings, DAN card, notes, Rock bottom info, etc, and back up mask. On my back in the storage pack I have a 6ft SMB. Two back up LED lights on each side of the harness and one 21w Primary light.

 

[Mayor]

It's not a big deal as long as nothing goes wrong. However if something does go wrong, an OW diver has no valid emergency options, and will soon discover that "swim-through" is another word for "cave" and that they have zero training for handling emergencies in a cave and especially a cave that's generally single file. In fact, if they were cave trained, they wouldn't have done the dive because the gas is insufficient.There are tons of potential problems that I won't rehash, except for a couple, which include:

• "It only goes down." If you're not the last person in the group, you must go down to the exit @ 135', even if you're having problems equalizing or are terrified or don't want to go or are low on air, because there are people behind you and there are few (any?) places big enough to turn around, and in most places, not enough space for passing.
• If you run out of air, the OW procedures of sharing air with your buddy and surfacing aren't usable, and the 80 CuFt tanks don't leave enough of a reserve to get the donor and a panicked diver all the way down to the exit at 135' and then to the surface.

I did the dive when I was brand new, and had no idea what was involved. Now many years later, and even with my regular buddy, I refuse the dive when in Cozumel because I won't do it with just a single 80, because I understand the possible failures and their implications.flots.

Sounds like we are on the same page but I will be doing the dive on a single 120hp and slinging an al40 stage. My main concern diving in a buddy system vs a team is some panicked diver in a restrictive section freaks out and comes at me. This could put me in real danger. I have the skills to handle issues and train to but diving out of a trained team opens one up to the real unknown. Look I'm not trying to scare anyone and every diver knows the risks when doing any dives but I plan for the worst and hope for the best. Sounds like some diver don't follow our outlook.

 

[cvchief]

Maybe I recall it being tighter then it is but we also did from what I understand devils ledge. That section was somewhat disorienting. Which ever the case it still a deep dive with an overhead. One thing is for sure if I'm not in doubles I will be slinging a al40 as a stage. Over kill maybe but I can solve lots of problems knowing I have gas resources for the team. Here is a little list of items I will have on the dives. Left pocket all clipped in.....3ft SMB on a 100ft spool, 150ft spool, roll up snorkel, dive alert, strobe. Right pocket all clipped in..... Wet notes (zip ties, pencil, o-rings, DAN card, notes, Rock bottom info, etc, and back up mask. On my back in the storage pack I have a 6ft SMB. Two back up LED lights on each side of the harness and one 21w Primary light.

:wow: You dive with Dandy Don? I guess you never say, "Heck, I'll just use the rental gear....." Holy crap, that's a LOT of crap. I mean I like the idea. I am all about gadgets. Can you use your dan card or an o ring on a dive? I do get the lights. Our first night dive was like a back up light drill..... But you don't have the new radio thingy? I was thinking on of them would be the nice ultimate safety thing. Especially with that "Careful diving north, they'll find your body in Cuba!" thing....

 

[Mayor]

:wow: You dive with Dandy Don? I guess you never say, "Heck, I'll just use the rental gear....." Holy crap, that's a LOT of crap. I mean I like the idea. I am all about gadgets. Can you use your dan card or an o ring on a dive? I do get the lights. Our first night dive was like a back up light drill..... But you don't have the new radio thingy? I was thinking on of them would be the nice ultimate safety thing. Especially with that "Careful diving north, they'll find your body in Cuba!" thing....

Rental gear! Now that's funny....... Really just taking what I need for the dive. I always keep my DAN card on me and also an old driver license in my wet notes. Who knows I might need it or if I'm found in Cuba they could send me back. This is a clean rig with everything tucked away.