Low Vis & Bad Experience at Florida Spring

[NorCalDawg]

Just a question, but being that you've dove Morrison on several different occasions, why did you panic so much that you were in the smaller cavern? I realize that low viz can be disconcerting, but didn't you realize that you weren't far from OW, and couldn't go very far in the wrong direction? That cavern is no more than 40ft in one direction. I think the main thing you should remember is not to panic. When you start thinking about worst-case scenarios, you start losing your logical thought process. That's more dangerous than being in the cavern with low viz.

 

[loosebits]

Didn't have to use my name there... would have preferred being an anonymous object lesson

Not a dive I'm particularly proud of.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

Just a question, but being that you've dove Morrison on several different occasions, why did you panic so much that you were in the smaller cavern? I realize that low viz can be disconcerting, but didn't you realize that you weren't far from OW, and couldn't go very far in the wrong direction? That cavern is no more than 40ft in one direction. I think the main thing you should remember is not to panic. When you start thinking about worst-case scenarios, you start losing your logical thought process. That's more dangerous than being in the cavern with low viz.

I have never been in the exact situation described, but I have heard of other divers in similar situations having the exact same experience, sounds like he held it together enough and got out fine but I'm sure there is an initial rush of adreneline when fight or flight kicks in that has to be controlled, until you've been there done that one, you won't know how you would have reacted, after all there are people that panic in an out of air situation when their buddy hands them air they don't take it, programmed human instinct is a ***** to control and has to be overcome through conditioning.

my 2 cents on that

 

[ClayJar]

[...]we have debated on destroying the footage as well we had a boo boo and we can't let anyone see that cause you gotta be perfect for the videos but I think maybe it would be a great educational video of look people, ideal conditions, and now, 0[...]

After loosebits gets the vid transfered I'll get it chopped up and upload it for people to look at.

Please do upload it. I'd really like to see it and, perhaps, to be able to share it with those with less sense or experience than I. ("See, *that's* why I said you'd probably die if you tried that!")

 

[av8er23]

I have never been in the exact situation described, but I have heard of other divers in similar situations having the exact same experience, sounds like he held it together enough and got out fine but I'm sure there is an initial rush of adreneline when fight or flight kicks in that has to be controlled, until you've been there done that one, you won't know how you would have reacted, after all there are people that panic in an out of air situation when their buddy hands them air they don't take it, programmed human instinct is a ***** to control and has to be overcome through conditioning.

Well said it was like an initial rush. I calmed myself quickly but for a couple seconds i would describe the feeling as panic.

I would love to see that video if you have some way to share it.

 

[loosebits]

We need to pull it off the camera then we'll throw it on google video or something. It'll be a few days.

 

[timle]

Great quote from the NSS Cavern Diving Manual - there are no cavern dives after dark. What that means even with cavern training, diving morrison at night plus the tannic would make this a cave dive, putting it beyond a cavern divers training.

Glad you learned a lesson without a high cost.

My cavern class is in 2 1/2 weeks!

 

[daniel f aleman]

To be really correct: all cavern dives become cave dives in low/no vis.

 

[ams511]

It is kind of interesting, when reading the description of the place in the links I would have judged this as an easy dive. As someone that dived quarries for a few years the low vis would not have bothered me. I would have made the dive, no questions asked, unaware of the danger. Thanks for posting this, I really learned something.

One minor thing I am wondering is if you took a compass bearing before entering the cavern.

 

[FIXXERVI6]

It is kind of interesting, when reading the description of the place in the links I would have judged this as an easy dive. As someone that dived quarries for a few years the low vis would not have bothered me. I would have made the dive, no questions asked, unaware of the danger. Thanks for posting this, I really learned something.

One minor thing I am wondering is if you took a compass bearing before entering the cavern.

There is a lake here in TX that has massive overhangs/overhead, the vis in the lake is crap year round, like 2 foot on a good day, I've heard more than one story of divers ending up in these overheads simply because you have no idea you've entered it, the vis is too bad, let me see if I can find one...

here we go
http://www.fatboyscuba.com/cavediver.html