Finally completed my Intro to cave course but...

[Atomic_Diver]

hey whoa... hold on a second, 1.) my instructor from Mexico told me and my dad that the devils ear would be safe for him to dive in as long as we had a guide so please don't blame me for some info I was told by someone else, and 2.) I said a Cavern - (Through) Extended Range Cave instructor; or so he told me. 3.) Yes it is possible to do a dive that is a "level up" as long as you have a guide that is a instructor to levels at, and surpassing the "level up" dive you request according to NACD/NSS-CDS-(ex president), and TDI Extended range cave diving instructor: Johnny Richards website

 

[giles45shop]

Baby Trolls are Sooo Cute!

 

[InkDiver]

OK, let's start with first things first.

NO...NO and NO!!!!!!!

First off, I would like to know who is thinking of taking you, who just finished Intro in MX and you OW father on a guided dive in a high flow system to do some "jumps and stuff". Seriously, post their name here, so that we can make sure that they are dealt with accordingly within the community.

Next, taking a camera on your first dives to a high flow system right after Intro...BAD idea. Devil's Ear is like nothing you experienced in Mexico. The flow is ripping, and you can get yourself into trouble fast without excellent technique. Having never dove in the system, trust me, you are in no way prepared to be taking your camera on cave dives there. Now if you want to do down to the log and take a few photos from there and then go put the camera away, probably not an issue. If, however, you are thinking of taking the camera into the cave on your "guided tour", DON'T.

I've photographed the Devil's Ear and taken the camera into the cave, but not until I had my Full Cave training and many dives in the system. Even now, we never take it more than 200-300 feet into the system. I think if you ask anyone who has photographed in the cave, they will tell you it is no place to bring your camera without much more experience than you have now.

If it sounds like I'm being harsh, GOOD. We've had too many people thinking that they can get away with crap like this. In fact, the last Intro and OW divers that I know of that went into a cave where neither belonged are dead. Their waterlogged, bleeding bodies were dragged out of the cave. When their masks and hoods were taken off the blood splattered everywhere, their eyes were bleeding, their noses and mouths, and oh yeah, THEY WERE DEAD!!!!!!!!! Their families are now without husbands and fathers, cave diving at local sites is being reexamined, it's not good times. Hell, they even posted questions about how best to go about killing themselves online, and there are many people kicking themselves that they didn't do more to stop them. (although, there were plenty who tried to stop them)

So, wise the F up!!

And for those who are going to pipe in and say, "give the poor guy a break," save it. This is cave diving, not preschool and bad ideas need strong condemnation.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

to answer your question divestoclimb...... 5 rules:
1.) be trained in cave diving & stay within your limits
2.)keep at always a contunous guideline to the cave entrance/exit
3.)keep 2/3 of gas for reserve & exit
4.)stay within safest possible limits of breathing media
5.)use at least 3 sources of light

 

[divestoclimb]

hey whoa... hold on a second, 1.) my instructor from Mexico told me and my dad that the devils ear would be safe for him to dive in as long as we had a guide so please don't blame me for some info I was told by someone else,

I'm far from being a cave instructor, but I think your instructor was mistaken. Guided dives are performed frequently in Mexico with divers of all experience levels (in the gigantic "cavern" zones) but in Florida they are, best case, rare. The only way this could be done legitimately is as I said earlier, by having the instructor take your dad essentially as a cavern student, but the Ear is a very short cavern dive. Even then, not knowing anything about you or your dad, I would be concerned about your dad's limited diving experience--he only averages one dive per year and most agencies say you need AOW + 25 dives to start cavern...

The two of you are much better off sticking to the sites that will allow open water divers in like the main Ginnie Spring cavern and Blue Grotto (assuming that one's not blown out). Maybe you can buddy up with that instructor (alone) for an intro-level dive or two.

Sorry if I or others are sounding harsh, usually people asking questions like this slept through their cave training or something. If your instructor misled you into thinking this was a good idea I can't blame you for that.

1.) be trained in cave diving & stay within your limits

There's the problem...

 

[ianr33]

Who was your instructor?

 

[Peter Guy]

Atomic -- simple question -- did you take Intro in a single tank or doubles -- and which agency? As an Intro diver at Ginnie, I had a slight problem in getting permission to use doubles but thanks to Larry Green's "intervention" I was permitted to use them since I had taken Intro in doubles.

BTW, I did my Cavern and Intro in Mexico and my first post Intro dives were in Florida -- Ginnie in fact. There is NO WAY I would have taken a camera with me (and I'm not sure I would have been able to hold it if I had) on my first or any of my subsequent ones. I'd be VERY surprised if you even get to anywhere in Ginnie where you could do a jump -- even if it was permitted under your cert -- on sixths.

 

[TSandM]

As everybody has said, you will find Florida caves a big challenge after training in Mexico. Flow changes the dynamic of the dive tremendously. I did my first cave dives after Intro in Mexico, on a Florida trip, and I was blown away. No WAY I could have taken a camera into the Ear; I could barely get ME in there, and controlling my exit was another hurdle.

Mexican caves have big cavern zones and no flow, and that's why the cavern tour business has grown up there. Florida is very different, with less extensive caverns and a lot of flow. You would probably have fun and learn a lot, doing some Intro level dives with a more experienced buddy.

Your father does not belong in an overhead environment, with his limited experience and training. If his friend is truly an instructor and intends to take your father into those places, he is a poor instructor, a poor friend, and is showing very poor judgment.

 

[Atomic_Diver]

divestocomb,

I do see what your saying, and I just thought it would be nice to let him see what a cave is like... he is really better off at Ginnie's Ballroom. the whole guided dive was just a thought, but probley not going to happen, i guess I will just stick with my cousin Ryan (full cave certified) and stay on the main line...

 

[Atomic_Diver]

Ianr33-

his name was Jose Correa