IRAP Administrator
08-03-2007, 09:38 PM
Single stage dive to the well casing. 4 in team. I was #3. When we got to the well casing first two divers went to the left of the casing and I "attempted" to go to the right. Realizing that it wasn't large enough to go that way I stopped and put my hand on the wall to steady myself and not disrupt the visiblity. At that same time my manifold came in contact with the line and became caught. I didn't fight it and freed myself easily.
This all took about 5 seconds and when I looked back the 4th team member was giving a rigourous turn signal. We all turned at that point to see that the passage behind us (the way out) had been blown out. I know we came in clean so I don't know what happened unless team member #4 had a problem and hit the floor (fin or otherwise) at the same time I had become entangled in the line.
We had agreed to make the return trip as quick as possible to limit our deco obligation and team member #4 took off with me close behind. We were in near 0 vis for about 30-40 ft then broke through to clear water. At that time team member #4 started pulling and gliding very quickly, at first I kept up and then looked back to see the other two in our team no where to be found. I signaled team member #4 to stop and wait. When the others caught up we again started a near frantic pace and again left the other two team members behind.
I was becoming very fatigued and signaled team member #4 to stop again. He didn't see my signal and kept going. I was getting winded and decided it would be better for me to stay for a moment and rest while waiting on the other team members. They came up in a couple of minutes and we continued on. I still saw no sign of team member #4 and then realized I was in a different part of the cave than the way we came in. I had missed the jump to the mudtunnel and had stayed on the mainline.
No problem I thought as this line leads to the same place just a bit different way than we came in. Turns out team member #4 had been in the mud tunnel waiting so when we didn't show he came in looking for us. Luckily he saw our lights and didn't go farther into the cave but joined in the rear behind team member #1. I was now leading out and when we got to the cavern area I was quite relieved. We did our deco then talked about what happened on the surface.
Not a good dive.
This all took about 5 seconds and when I looked back the 4th team member was giving a rigourous turn signal. We all turned at that point to see that the passage behind us (the way out) had been blown out. I know we came in clean so I don't know what happened unless team member #4 had a problem and hit the floor (fin or otherwise) at the same time I had become entangled in the line.
We had agreed to make the return trip as quick as possible to limit our deco obligation and team member #4 took off with me close behind. We were in near 0 vis for about 30-40 ft then broke through to clear water. At that time team member #4 started pulling and gliding very quickly, at first I kept up and then looked back to see the other two in our team no where to be found. I signaled team member #4 to stop and wait. When the others caught up we again started a near frantic pace and again left the other two team members behind.
I was becoming very fatigued and signaled team member #4 to stop again. He didn't see my signal and kept going. I was getting winded and decided it would be better for me to stay for a moment and rest while waiting on the other team members. They came up in a couple of minutes and we continued on. I still saw no sign of team member #4 and then realized I was in a different part of the cave than the way we came in. I had missed the jump to the mudtunnel and had stayed on the mainline.
No problem I thought as this line leads to the same place just a bit different way than we came in. Turns out team member #4 had been in the mud tunnel waiting so when we didn't show he came in looking for us. Luckily he saw our lights and didn't go farther into the cave but joined in the rear behind team member #1. I was now leading out and when we got to the cavern area I was quite relieved. We did our deco then talked about what happened on the surface.
Not a good dive.