Congratulations are in order for three new members to the cave diving community. Kelsey Harnish, Chip Brooks and Ben Davis completed full cave training Sunday morning at Little River. It has been an extreme pleasure working with these three from cavern through completion of full cave. They performed at a very high level of technique and buddy skills.
The caves were very cooperative with good conditions. We started at Peacock 1 with a dark brown soup in the basin. Once at the cavern entrance vis improved to 50 ' or so. Dive 1 was the P1 to Olsen sink traverse via the P-nut line & Cross-over tunnel. Good buddy skills and jumps went smoothly. We did an 18 min. SI in Olsen sink and discussed the dive and the return trip. Dive 2 was the traverse back to P1 from Olsen leaving our reels in place for the circuit in the afternoon.
After fills and lunch we set out on Dive 3 down the Pothole line for the circuit. We pulled our reels at each end of the Cross-over and returned to the cavern for safety stop and pulled both primary reels. Great first day and fine start to the course.
Had a good dinner and fine fellowship on Main Street in High Springs at the Great Outdoors restaurant. Sunday morning we made our way to Little River. We had the park to ourselves as we set up for a circuit on the Merry Go Round for Dive 4. The basin was blue clear with a good surface boil. The flow was high but manageable. Vis was 50' or better with a slight haze. Limestone still tannin stained. Excellent dive to complete the requirements of full cave.
We had world famous Luraville Country Store subs for lunch and drove to Madison Blue. Only one other team in the water. Basin was clear blue with good flow. Kelsey and Ben parted way for the long drive home and Chip and myself suited up for a fun dive on the Godzilla Circuit. Vis. was 40' and better with slight haze. The cave is still dusty from the floods but in great shape for some good diving. Chip put in the Primary and jump to the Godzilla Circuit. He led to the end of circuit line where I put in a jump reel. He continued to lead around circuit to the Godzilla Room. This is always an awesome dive. No Godzilla's were to be found this trip. I pulled my reel and led out to the jump and mainline. Chip pulled his jump and I led out and he pulled the primary. We had only a safety stop required.
What a great weekend with good dives, good folks, cooler weather and no bugs! <(-:}
Congrats again to all three for a job well done!
Bless,
Kenny P.
The caves were very cooperative with good conditions. We started at Peacock 1 with a dark brown soup in the basin. Once at the cavern entrance vis improved to 50 ' or so. Dive 1 was the P1 to Olsen sink traverse via the P-nut line & Cross-over tunnel. Good buddy skills and jumps went smoothly. We did an 18 min. SI in Olsen sink and discussed the dive and the return trip. Dive 2 was the traverse back to P1 from Olsen leaving our reels in place for the circuit in the afternoon.
After fills and lunch we set out on Dive 3 down the Pothole line for the circuit. We pulled our reels at each end of the Cross-over and returned to the cavern for safety stop and pulled both primary reels. Great first day and fine start to the course.
Had a good dinner and fine fellowship on Main Street in High Springs at the Great Outdoors restaurant. Sunday morning we made our way to Little River. We had the park to ourselves as we set up for a circuit on the Merry Go Round for Dive 4. The basin was blue clear with a good surface boil. The flow was high but manageable. Vis was 50' or better with a slight haze. Limestone still tannin stained. Excellent dive to complete the requirements of full cave.
We had world famous Luraville Country Store subs for lunch and drove to Madison Blue. Only one other team in the water. Basin was clear blue with good flow. Kelsey and Ben parted way for the long drive home and Chip and myself suited up for a fun dive on the Godzilla Circuit. Vis. was 40' and better with slight haze. The cave is still dusty from the floods but in great shape for some good diving. Chip put in the Primary and jump to the Godzilla Circuit. He led to the end of circuit line where I put in a jump reel. He continued to lead around circuit to the Godzilla Room. This is always an awesome dive. No Godzilla's were to be found this trip. I pulled my reel and led out to the jump and mainline. Chip pulled his jump and I led out and he pulled the primary. We had only a safety stop required.
What a great weekend with good dives, good folks, cooler weather and no bugs! <(-:}
Congrats again to all three for a job well done!
Bless,
Kenny P.
Had a blast then too! We ate at the italian restraunt in Alachua though, THAT was some excellent grubbage!
