Voodoo Gas In The Vortex! :)

[Fish_Whisperer]

Just to sum up: In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have gone into the cave, and I would certainly never do it on my own, and in fact, I'll probably never do it again. There are more interesting sites to dive without going to Vortex and doing that corridor. The experience was nice. I'd rather do reefs and wrecks...

 

[Wayward Son]

Well, one way to be sure you get what you want is to ask for it

 

[JKSteger]

I've never dove Vortex and I've never been in a cave (underwater that is) but I was wondering something here. Why doesn't Vortex put a gate at the beginning of the cave system instead of way beyond the "daylight zone"?

Isn't this just asking for some type of trouble / liability out of Vortex? It's almost a false sense of security. Think of the new OW diver, esp. the one who doesn't educate him/herself on the Internet as we all do. They go down, see a cave system, curisly they look into the system and low and behold there is a "lighted pathway". Now they heard that there was a "gate" in place so that thoes without cave training cannot go into it. Now the OW diver is thinking "this is lighted, the gate keeps us out of danger in the cave so lets go on in and take a look around".

I don't know, sounds a little odd to me.

Just my .02 bubbles worth,

Jeremy

 

[ciret]

My thought too Jeremy, sounds like an accicent waiting to happen.

 

[TheRedHead]

According to the Vortex Springs website, the only restriction is beyond the locked gate. It appears they are inviting experienced divers to explore a cavern:

SCUBA Divers Heaven
For the more experienced divers, the natural cavern is the real deal. 58+ feet deep, it continues through a garage-sized tunnel into cave diving. Meandering gracefully another hundred yards or so to a depth of 115 feet, it has a penetration depth of 310. The tunnel is blocked by a steel grate at this point. The white sand bottom is gently rippled by the outflow from the underground spring. Pockets of air randomly collect at the ceiling, creating a sound like unto gentle piano tones. Guided by a permanent safety hand rail, divers may explore at their leisure along the beautiful limestone confines of this wonder of nature, confident of their way back to the surface. Penetration beyond the locked gate is with FULL CAVE CERTIFICATION only. Once beyond the gate, cave divers find the need for side mounts. Here you can really feel the 28 million gallons per day water flow. 2004 current maximum recorded depth is 157' with a recorded cave length of 1,642 feet. Growth of this cave penetration continues with the flow of water removing the sand slowly 24/7. Exactly where the water source is, remains the mystery since there is no "spot" where the sand reveals the incoming water flow.

 

[mike_s]

Just to sum up: In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have gone into the cave, and I would certainly never do it on my own, and in fact, I'll probably never do it again. There are more interesting sites to dive without going to Vortex and doing that corridor. The experience was nice. I'd rather do reefs and wrecks...

Frank.

I didn't mean to stir up a mess and hijack your trip report.

I hope you didn't take my comments negatively towards you. I wasn't questioning you going into the cave. That's your own decision.

I was just surprised your instructor took you in there was all. He could of had his ***** sued off if there was an accident. It just wasn't prob the best judgment call on his part.


Regardless, I'm glad you had a good time and some good dives.

-mike

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

Not at all, Mike. I appreciate everyone's feedback. As a pretty new diver, I'm still learning, everytime I jump in the water, and each time out is a new lesson in humility and safety, so thank you to everyone. (Even Fixxer) LOL

 

[mike_s]

just curious... did your instructor brief you before the dive on what you were going to do and discuss going into the cave ?


BTW..> I like your signature line To hell with coffee! Gimme Nitrox!!!

 

[Fish_Whisperer]

just curious... did your instructor brief you before the dive on what you were going to do and discuss going into the cave?

No.... Not really.

BTW..> I like your signature line To hell with coffee! Gimme Nitrox!!!

Thanks!

 

[TheRedHead]

Frank I had a similar lecture about a dive into Devil's Throat in Cozumel. :shakehead