IRAP Administrator
08-04-2007, 01:16 PM
Planned: A basic backmount, no stage, scooter dive, along the main line for 2 man team. Expected penetration to approx. 4th Tee or trash pile area or approx 1/6 of gas supply.
Execution: I was leading dive on just about a wide open pitch on scooter. At the top of the chimney (pen 250ft) the scooter stuck on for a moment as I jogged the speed to negotiate the chimney. I decided to continue although I made sure my buddy saw what had occured. Taking the right tunnel at the 1st Tee (1100ft) we proceded toward the 2nd Tee (pen approx 1300ft, depth approx 80ft). At the 2nd Tee I prepared to stop to assure my buddy recognized the Tee before proceding on. The cave height is approx 4 feet tall in this area with both a hard floor and ceiing. The scooter failed to stop at this point. Unable to turn around in this area at that speed and my buddy coming up the rise into the 2nd Tee chamber area I elected to put nose into the ceiling. As I held the scooter in position my buddy quickly came to my assitance and attempted to depitch the prop. Visibilty when to near zero almost instantly. With conditions degrading quickly we elected to abandon the scooter and exit. I decided to not tie the scooter to the line and hoped it would stay put in this area. After about 30ft of zero viz although on the line I located buddy and we swam to the 1st Tee. He towed me out uneventfully.
Recovery: I returned with Wingman on Tuesday to recover scooter and inspect for line damage. Scooter was several feet from where I left it. I immediately fully depitched the prop and made no attempt to start it up. I received an uneventful tow to the cavern area where I started the scooter. It came on and stuck. It appeared to have a very good charge on it still. It remained on until I surfaced and began to take it out of the water when it stopped. I suspect it stopped running shortly after we abandoned it in the cave.
Summary & Analysis: Did I make all the right decisions? Given the hazards of getting knocked around in a small hard ceiling area, risking a gas rupture, broken mask or knock on the head, I believe so. I have metal blades a heavy duty Delrin clutch and hub which makes depitching difficult at best at full tilt. I am considering going to a solid state relay. At this time I have not opened the DPV to determine what stuck, the relay or the reed switch.
Execution: I was leading dive on just about a wide open pitch on scooter. At the top of the chimney (pen 250ft) the scooter stuck on for a moment as I jogged the speed to negotiate the chimney. I decided to continue although I made sure my buddy saw what had occured. Taking the right tunnel at the 1st Tee (1100ft) we proceded toward the 2nd Tee (pen approx 1300ft, depth approx 80ft). At the 2nd Tee I prepared to stop to assure my buddy recognized the Tee before proceding on. The cave height is approx 4 feet tall in this area with both a hard floor and ceiing. The scooter failed to stop at this point. Unable to turn around in this area at that speed and my buddy coming up the rise into the 2nd Tee chamber area I elected to put nose into the ceiling. As I held the scooter in position my buddy quickly came to my assitance and attempted to depitch the prop. Visibilty when to near zero almost instantly. With conditions degrading quickly we elected to abandon the scooter and exit. I decided to not tie the scooter to the line and hoped it would stay put in this area. After about 30ft of zero viz although on the line I located buddy and we swam to the 1st Tee. He towed me out uneventfully.
Recovery: I returned with Wingman on Tuesday to recover scooter and inspect for line damage. Scooter was several feet from where I left it. I immediately fully depitched the prop and made no attempt to start it up. I received an uneventful tow to the cavern area where I started the scooter. It came on and stuck. It appeared to have a very good charge on it still. It remained on until I surfaced and began to take it out of the water when it stopped. I suspect it stopped running shortly after we abandoned it in the cave.
Summary & Analysis: Did I make all the right decisions? Given the hazards of getting knocked around in a small hard ceiling area, risking a gas rupture, broken mask or knock on the head, I believe so. I have metal blades a heavy duty Delrin clutch and hub which makes depitching difficult at best at full tilt. I am considering going to a solid state relay. At this time I have not opened the DPV to determine what stuck, the relay or the reed switch.