What is "Gold Line"?

[Knockneed Man]

The history behind gold line and the sad story of how it came to be:

Why are the main lines gold?

The reason why the main lines in Florida’s most popular caves are gold is history that deserves to be remembered.

www.cavediving.com

 

[Vicko]

The history behind gold line and the sad story of how it came to be:

Why are the main lines gold?

The reason why the main lines in Florida’s most popular caves are gold is history that deserves to be remembered.

www.cavediving.com

Simply put, Gold goes to an exit. The side passages are usually lined with thinner line, typically white in color. This practice originated after a fatality where there was confusion about the line being followed.

Assumptions in this case made a ass out of only me.
Last time I saw the colour codded lines was in Molnar Janos, after that I used them at work sites that were flat and mucky and just assumed that you guys in Florida do the same thing.

 

[Hodg]

To be fair, gold line being used to indicate the mainline in a cave is only standard in Florida. Here in Mexico, gold line is (almost) always used to indicate a cavern line. This confused the heck out of a buddy of mine once when I went to tie in to a white line and he was expecting gold.

That is all to say, find out about local navigation protocols before you dive!

 

[Guille G]

They are also testing color coded system arrows in some caves in Mexico, with colors indicating if the jump from that arrow is to the right or left. Not cookies, but in that general “color coding markers” theme…

 

[rjack321]

"Gold line" is the same basic size/strength/dimensions as 550 paracord. Kernmantle construction with a gold sheath and a 7 bundle core. It's about 3mm diameter.

 

[rjack321]

Also there has been mention of incident investigation reports for cave diving being published somewhere - can someone point me towards where?

Older

Incident Reports – IUCRR

iucrr.org

Newer

Accident Analysis - NSS CDS

nsscds.org

 

[RedSeaDiver2]

Older

Incident Reports – IUCRR

iucrr.org

Newer

Accident Analysis - NSS CDS

nsscds.org

Cheers! I've found the newer reports, and the investigations seem thorough enough.

 

[Imbodie]

To be fair, gold line being used to indicate the mainline in a cave is only standard in Florida. Here in Mexico, gold line is (almost) always used to indicate a cavern line. This confused the heck out of a buddy of mine once when I went to tie in to a white line and he was expecting gold.

That is all to say, find out about local navigation protocols before you dive!

I'm pretty sure "gold" line is only in the popular caves, I did a dive in LaFayette Blue (sort of west of peacock springs) and it still had white expedition line ran though the system. Still had survey cookies in it as well. Fun little dive if you are tired of the crowds at Peacock.

 

[PfcAJ]

I'm pretty sure "gold" line is only in the popular caves, I did a dive in LaFayette Blue (sort of west of peacock springs) and it still had white expedition line ran though the system. Still had survey cookies in it as well. Fun little dive if you are tired of the crowds at Peacock.

There are dorf markers in there too. Not many of those left.

 

[rjack321]

There are dorf markers in there too. Not many of those left.

I've debated going back to those in one-off sumps