Starting Full Cave next week!!

[TSandM]

One caveat . . . minimum deco is the deco that we are taught to do on recreational dives. It's basically one minute stops from half maximal depth. These stops are factored into the MDL limits we use -- although I'm quite sure one would emerge unharmed from surfacing more rapidly (just as one can probably blow off five minutes of mandatory deco and get away with it) it should be recognized that the limits were planned with the deco in mind. It's like the ascent rates on other deco models -- they are factored into the equation when the times are determined.

Rob, I don't know what decompression model you use or what gas you dive, but we were diving 32% everywhere and using the 120 rule times -- that gives you pretty generous bottom time before mandatory deco.

 

[CaveGuru]

hey i would be interested on your feedback about your courses, i am already a qualified cave diver but wanted to got there for some dives. where have you dived in caves before and how does it rate to playa or other caves around mexico?

 

[TSandM]

I've dived Florida (a few systems) and MX more extensively. MX is warmer, generally shallower, and again generally has less flow than FL. The caves are closer together in the commonly dived area, so there isn't as much driving. Because they were dry for a long time, they can be extensively decorated, and there is also a lot of halocline. They do not flood out in bad weather.

Cave diving in MX is just plain old fun.

 

[Dive-aholic]

One caveat . . . minimum deco is the deco that we are taught to do on recreational dives. It's basically one minute stops from half maximal depth. These stops are factored into the MDL limits we use -- although I'm quite sure one would emerge unharmed from surfacing more rapidly (just as one can probably blow off five minutes of mandatory deco and get away with it) it should be recognized that the limits were planned with the deco in mind. It's like the ascent rates on other deco models -- they are factored into the equation when the times are determined.

Rob, I don't know what decompression model you use or what gas you dive, but we were diving 32% everywhere and using the 120 rule times -- that gives you pretty generous bottom time before mandatory deco.

Well, I learned something today. Thank you!

I use Buhlmann and VPM, depending on the dive. I usually plan new dives using both and compare the outcomes. I also use 32% at all the usual caves. I guess we just end up spending a lot more time in the caves because we usually end up with at least 5 minutes of deco during the cave course.

hey i would be interested on your feedback about your courses, i am already a qualified cave diver but wanted to got there for some dives. where have you dived in caves before and how does it rate to playa or other caves around mexico?

Who is your question directed at CG? Are you interested in learning more about the Florida caves? And what type of information are you interested in?

 

[orm]

How much did you discuss decompression on your course? Did you do any deco on the dives you did? I imagine it's a bigger concern in Florida, but I was curious what Protec does in the cenotes.

We talked about it, but didn't do any deco dives. We always turned on gas.

 

[orm]

It's really too bad that breakins have become common there, especially after the owners put all the work into the nice tables. They should do what Mayan Blue has done, and hire somebody to watch the cars -- I think they'd get more traffic that way. It's a really nice cave, and the first 12 minutes are a fun challenge.

The place looks like a dump at the moment, there's bags of concrete everywhere, they've cleared out the carpark bit and laid stones down. There's empty cement buckets everywhere that have been turned into garbage bins that haven't been emptied.

I like their effort, but it's a bit half-arsed. It's such a beautiful natural cenote and they want to turn it into Xcaret!!

 

[rongoodman]

We talked about it, but didn't do any deco dives. We always turned on gas.

Thanks, that answered my question. From looking at their website, it looks like the more formal decompression information is presented in a follow-on course called "Technical Cave Diver". I should have TDI Adv Nitrox/Deco Procs completed this fall, and was curious how that information would fit into the cave training progression.