NSS-CDS Full Cave: The Live-Blog

[The Chairman]

THIS I am finding a bit hard to fathom.

I'll bet she is referring to Little River and it can be tough to negotiate. When the flow is high it's simply a beast and the handholds are a bit far for the shorter crowd. I died twice on the same dive in Little River. I got into anchor line mentality where the next handhold was more important than all else. I passed a decision point, a "T" twice. If it weren't for my instructor I'd still be going in circles.

I know of at least three women who will not attempt Little River anymore. It's one of my favorite dives.

 

[The Chairman]

For the more experienced cavers, how do you handle vertical pulls in a head-down orientation?

I grin and bear it.

I have often marveled at fish who orient themselves upside down but oriented to the piece of coral they are on. They are magic. When I'm in a pool or a spring by myself, I will often invert and try to maintain a foot or so from the surface. Impossible? It was at first but I don't give up easily. The more I do this and force myself into other "out of my comfort area" attitudes under water, the less they freak me out. This is where experience is manufactured.

 

[PfcAJ]

For the more experienced cavers, how do you handle vertical pulls in a head-down orientation?

My brain stem just doesn't like the idea of pitching face-first into darkness as a survival strategy, so the first couple of runs down the Ear through tannic were challenging.

You’re in a 3d world.

Operate in 3d.

 

[Jack Hammer]

For the more experienced cavers, how do you handle vertical pulls in a head-down orientation?

My brain stem just doesn't like the idea of pitching face-first into darkness as a survival strategy, so the first couple of runs down the Ear through tannic were challenging.

I usually dump enough air in drysuit and wing to start dropping, then adjust as needed to not become too negative, very light kicking, then pause briefly at the choke to re-orient, select a path, and keep breathing rate low, then start adding air to both with one hand as I come through. Try avoiding suddenly becoming a lawn dart.

There is also reading the cave which takes a little experience. For The Ear try staying out of the main part of the flow until through the restriction, less fighting. Then pick paths that keep you out of the main part of the flow.

 

[PfcAJ]

“Reading the cave” = listening to where other folks tell you are low flow areas.

 

[The Chairman]

To the point that no one credible would use it, if your instructor tells you this RUN AWAY!

I use it all the time with my students.

 

[Schwob]

I use it all the time with my students.

Live news broadcast on the cave channel: Strange running stampede of people in scuba gear from northern FL to GA in progress...

 

[The Chairman]

Live news broadcast on the cave channel: Strange running stampede of people in scuba gear from northern FL to GA in progress...

Teach and let teach. That's really the crux of the matter here. Every instructor approaches their craft differently and that's OK. I like the diversity. There are many, many instructors that teach in a manner that I would never emulate. Some yell and demean their students. Some are quite meek and seem to apologize for their students' mistakes. Some teach on their knees, some lack patience, and few are as good looking. The proof is in their results. How do their students look? How safe are their students? Posting things like "run away" does exactly what the poster was complaining about: it oversimplifies a complex process that he hasn't even experienced. Learn and let learn. In reality, there are only a few instructors that I have sought to emulate. Mike Brady, Georgia Hauserman, @Capt Tom McCarthy, @Capt Jim Wyatt and yes, Reggie Ross. Each one taught me valuable skills or instilled crucial insights that have changed how I teach. There are a few other instructors I would like to see in action. Edd Sorenson, Ted McCoy, @Trace Malinowski, @kensuf and Lamar Hires top that list. They are my creme de la creme of the instructor genre and you probably can't go wrong with any of them. No, they aren't the only great instructors out there, and no one should feel slighted if I left you off of my Dream Team.

On the flip side, there are many more instructors that I have tried to "de-emulate" but you'll probably never know who they are. I learned how I didn't want to teach by witnessing their antics in and out of the water. They don't impress me much, but they still might be the perfect instructor for you. Instead of saying "run away", I would rather discuss the positive attributes of those instructors that wow me.

Dive and let dive. Teach and let teach. Learn and let learn. What you think is the best way to go isn't accepted by everyone. @dewdropsonrosa has chosen the best way for her and has learned to "call the class" when things weren't going the way she thought they should. Flexibility in goals and approaches are a hallmark of a great diver. It's part of my second rule of diving, aka "The Rule of Fun". You can call a dive (or class) at any time for any reason with no questions asked and no repercussions. IOW, if you're not having fun, you should STOP, analyze the situation and make appropriate adjustments. I see a great future for Rosa in cave diving and look forward to her next brutally honest analysis of her continued journey in learning. I wish her well and hopefully we'll get to dive together someday. I'm patient, so don't feel in a rush to make that next step. I like Rosa's moxie and she reminds me a lot of Lynn.

 

[Pedro Burrito]

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[DavidFL]

My brain stem just doesn't like the idea of pitching face-first into darkness as a survival strategy, so the first couple of runs down the Ear through tannic were challenging.

This very thing nearly derailed my 'journey into tech' a year ago. First in-water session in TDI AN/DP was in Hudson Grotto. After accomplishing everything on the surface, heading down into blackness overwhelmed my senses. I managed to do it, but it was the hardest working against what my senses were "telling" me to do I can remember in a very long time. I will have to go look at the computer and see if I can figure out what my instantaneous SAC/RMV was.