Started as a dry caver

[sarysa]

I just thought I'd introduce myself and say hi. I was a dry caver in California for years before getting into cave diving. From the first local grotto presentation featuring cave diving to numerous international exploration sessions at NSS (National Speleological Society) conventions, I had fallen in love with the concept of cave diving -- though the finances weren't quite there. I've always had a fascination with the remote unknown, and effortlessly drank the caver (wet and dry) kool-aid in regards to caves being the final frontier on Earth.
I also found a lot of people in the grottos not to share my views, and the voodoo mentality is still present around here, but meh.

Years later I get into diving with cave diving in mind, train my butt off and learn both from some cave divers I met at 2011 NSS convention in Colorado and TAG Fall Cave-In 2011, as well as the more technically oriented divers in my area. I'm heading off to Mexico tomorrow for a grueling weeklong "all in one" training to full cave. (And I'm pretty excited )

So anyway, "hi". I hope to be a regular poster / contributor over time, maybe even post my experiences with the class. (I'm looking to do a presentation for my local grotto if I get enough footage) I'm also curious, are there many others out there who caved in PVC suits and vertical systems before doing so with dry suits and compressed gas?

- Pam

 

[Peter_C]

Is this whole thing Barbara's fault? Sure sounds like it. You also make it sound like you are giving up dry...errr muddy caving?

What agency are you taking your cave class with?

 

[sarysa]

Oh, I'm not giving up dry. Probably didn't phrase it that well.

I got my initial training from PADI (of which I have no particular loyalties, they just dominate the bay area) but I'll be seeing an NACD/PSAI instructor later today.

 

[Doppler]

Another dry caver as a kid living in England... have done very little dry caving since moving to North America, unfortunately. Cave diving is SOOOOOOOOOOO much easier!

And welcome!

 

[ianr33]

Before I got into diving I was a rockclimber for many years. Did a bit of "dry" caving on the side. Still do once in a while.

I do take issue with the word "dry" though. IMHO "muddy" is more like it!

Agree with Doppler that Cave Diving is easier and less painful.Sure don't miss crawling on sharp rubble for hours.

 

[Peter_C]

Pam, since you are in the process of interviewing instructors might I recommend taking a look at GUE (Global Undersea Explorers). We have three wonderful instructors locally that can start the process, then you can finish in either Mexico, France, Florida, etc. Rob, Beto, and Sue all teach out of Monterey, and any of them would be more than happy to talk to you about diving, and the skill set required to be safe in caves.

Cave diving is extremely dangerous and takes a lot of training, of which some of it can be done locally. I took the initial class "Fundies" with the three instructors listed above, and highly recommend it to anyone just wanting to improve their diving.

Most of us started caving in blue jeans, and it wasn't until much later the "cave suit" was purchased. Sure is nice having built in knee pads. My neighbors much think I am nuts, since I am often found working around the yard at night with my helmet on because it is the brightest headlight I own.

 

[TSandM]

I think Pam said she's off to MX tomorrow to do a zero-to-hero class . . . so I suspect she's already picked an instructor.

Have fun with it. Be conservative with your diving after class -- the caves teach new cave divers some hard lessons.

 

[Peter_C]

I think Pam said she's off to MX tomorrow to do a zero-to-hero class . . .

Yup, my reading comprehension is down a little isn't it. Hope she gets some excellent training.

 

[sarysa]

Thanks for all the info. And yes, I picked my instructor long ago. Planned this back six months ago when I was still a vertical AOW diver. He has 20-something (or is it 30-something?) years experience teaching cave and he's very laid back and personable. First day went well -- the first two 'cavern' dives of "zero to hero" (which seemed pretty deep for cavern dives, but who am I to argue ) went by easily for me. I'm the only person in the group of three students with any tec experience, so it's been a pretty laid back day for me. After what I saw during my 85 minutes bottom time at Chac Mool, I was thinking "if this is just cavern, I can't wait for the actual 'cave'."

Also yeah, "muddy" versus "dry" caving usually describes it. This season's dry caving in California has really been dry though...until last week we've had virtually no rainfall in central/northern California.

Not going to sleep much tonight!

 

[BabyDuck]

be sure to post a big report of your classes, and welcome to the dark side.