Double Lines Circuit Solo
Peace and tranquility pervaded the Little Devil’s Spring picnic area yesterday as I rigged my gear: double 85s back-mount, and two Aluminum 80 stage bottles (390 total cu. ft. of EAN32). No one else was around except for a student and his instructor, the ever-effervescent Jim Wyatt. My plan was to head up the Hill 400 line to the proximal entrance of the Double Lines circuit, up that tunnel to the jump to the Sherwood Split, and dive that tunnel if I had enough gas, and then return via the distal portion of the circuit.
After socializing with Jim and his enthusiastic student for a few minutes, I swam down the spring run to the Devil’s Ear entrance and dropped like a rock into the system. Flow seemed to be up a bit, but the cave’s stunning beauty was intact. Visibility was perfect. I breathed my first Aluminum 80 on the way in, and paused for a moment at the Hill 400 jump in memory of a fellow cave diver and acquaintance (and nice guy) who had perished at that spot last week. Then, it was on up the Hill 400 tunnel to the 1000’ point, where I ran two reels: one to the Syphon Tunnel line and then a quick second reel to the Double Lines tie-in. I dropped my near-empty first stage bottle there, and switched to back gas. I could only breath 50 cubic feet (800 PSI) out of my back gas (to stay within thirds), so I kept a close eye on the gauge as I swam carefully through the bedding plane where the ceiling is low, and the floor is a muddy disaster waiting to happen.
The Double Lines circuit is a featured and gorgeous piece of passage. There are ups and downs, swim-throughs and domes. It was crackling clear, looking like no one had been in there for quite a while. I arrived at the Sherwood Split jump, and checked my gauge to find that I was at thirds (130 cubic feet consumed) – not enough gas to run another reel and look up into that remote section of the cave. I glanced into the opening, but kept swimming past the double arrows marking the mid-line point of the Double Lines circuit.
I was feeling pretty good, despite being so far from warm sunlight and cold beer, until I felt something tugging at me. I looked down and in back of me to find the regulator on my second stage bottle had come loose and was dragging on the floor. It caught on a rock and it plunged me into the mud. A few seconds of work to recover the regulator and my orientation, and I was off to the end of the line, where a reel (Larry Green’s) was already installed. I followed it back to the Hill 400 line, and then swam to my spent stage bottle and reels, recovering them. I then swam down the big Hill to the main tunnel, recovered my reel there, and cruised on out with the flow. I waved hello to a team that was on ingress at the Junction Room.
Decompression obligation was 16 minutes, performed lying on the log at 12 feet. I kept entertained by watching new students trying to swim into the Devil’s Ear against that hard flow, which takes some getting used to. I felt a bit badly about laughing, but we have all been there!
A great dive, followed by an afternoon spent in repose, swimming in the cool, crystal clear spring waters and lazing on the river bank, basking in the warm sun, with the birds tweeting their beautiful songs.
