In an emergency, would you turn the dive or take a closer but unverified exit?

Did a dive in Orange Grove today, turning the dive at Challenge. Around 900 feet, the arrows flip direction, indicating that the next exit ahead is now closer. At around 500 feet to challenge, I started thinking - if I was to have a true emergency and needed to get out ASAP, which way would I go? I know my path backwards is verified but a lot further. I've been in the cave before, and feel pretty comfortable that I could get out there, assuming there aren't any broken gold lines or cave-ins I will have to contend with. Assuming the cave doesn't have any restrictions or major changes in depth ahead (so distance and non-verified line is the only thing I'm worried about) I think I'd have to be pretty close to the other exit to continue, instead of turning around.

What would you do?

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Originally Posted by Red Hat Jef

Did a dive in Orange Grove today, turning the dive at Challenge. Around 900 feet, the arrows flip direction, indicating that the next exit ahead is now closer. At around 500 feet to challenge, I started thinking - if I was to have a true emergency and needed to get out ASAP, which way would I go? I know my path backwards is verified but a lot further. I've been in the cave before, and feel pretty comfortable that I could get out there, assuming there aren't any broken gold lines or cave-ins I will have to contend with. Assuming the cave doesn't have any restrictions or major changes in depth ahead (so distance and non-verified line is the only thing I'm worried about) I think I'd have to be pretty close to the other exit to continue, instead of turning around.

What would you do?

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If it was a system I had never dived, I would calculate if I/we could reach the original entrance. If I didn't have enough gas, I would gamble on the closest entrance. What else could you do at that point?

The emergency..... needing to exit fast vs needing to exit. I was taught always go out the way you came in in these cases if possible. But if my buddy was having a seizure or some other medical emergency or loss of gas was significant and the difference in time was a factor..... it is a call I/we would have to make. Some systems, I may have passed a possible exit on the way in and could use those, maybe I am doing a traverse and am more than halfway, maybe the exit is 8 foot around with a 6 foot gator and 2 snakes playing in it...too many factors to make a hard fast statement.

But overall, I was taught go out the nearest KNOWN exit. Which is normally, where I came in.

If I knew the path to the next exit, knew it was closer, and knew we could get there, I'd go to the closer exit.

If I didn't know those things but could SEE the exit and that my route there was clear, I would consider going there, but not if the emergency was something which required getting someone out of the water, unless I knew that could be done at that exit.

I plan my gas to have enough to go back. Going back is the most certain exit.

You should be planning all your dives with enough gas to exit the way you came in. The only prudent thing to do is exit the way you came in. Keep this in mind - if you have not verified the exit how do you know the line will end in sight of natural light. What if the line ended 100' from from open water and around the corner from it. Let's look at Devil's as an example. From the beginning of the gold line you can't see natural light from either the Eye or the Ear. What if the end of that line you were gambling on was set up the same way? What if you chose to go toward the Eye and instead went into the Catacombs? Unless you can see natural light heading toward an unverified exit is too much of a gamble, under any circumstance.

Depends on the cave, my deco obligation, and the nature of the problem, and what resources I have available.

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Originally Posted by RN

You should be planning all your dives with enough gas to exit the way you came in. The only prudent thing to do is exit the way you came in. Keep this in mind - if you have not verified the exit how do you know the line will end in sight of natural light. What if the line ended 100' from from open water and around the corner from it. Let's look at Devil's as an example. From the beginning of the gold line you can't see natural light from either the Eye or the Ear. What if the end of that line you were gambling on was set up the same way? What if you chose to go toward the Eye and instead went into the Catacombs? Unless you can see natural light heading toward an unverified exit is too much of a gamble, under any circumstance.

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Great point!!!

the gold line in OG sits pretty far in as well and if you are not familiar and don't know you have to go this could end up problematic as well. No daylight anywhere close at the sign.

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Originally Posted by RN

You should be planning all your dives with enough gas to exit the way you came in. The only prudent thing to do is exit the way you came in. Keep this in mind - if you have not verified the exit how do you know the line will end in sight of natural light. What if the line ended 100' from from open water and around the corner from it. Let's look at Devil's as an example. From the beginning of the gold line you can't see natural light from either the Eye or the Ear. What if the end of that line you were gambling on was set up the same way? What if you chose to go toward the Eye and instead went into the Catacombs? Unless you can see natural light heading toward an unverified exit is too much of a gamble, under any circumstance.

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Well stated. The known is always a better gamble than the unknown.


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Originally Posted by tflaris

Well stated. The known is always a better gamble than the unknown.

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Yup, I totally get it. The dives I did were all planned appropriately and with plenty of buffer for unplanned issues. That's not really what this poll is about.

I guess my point is basically backed up with the poll results - while the letter of the law is "turn and follow the verified line" I think many of us would make a different decision if faced with a tough situation.

If you left from Orange Grove, swam 1600 feet towards Challenge where the arrow says 200 feet to air at Challenge, and then you or your buddy had a very serious problem, what would you do? It's really hard for me to justify NOT heading the last 200 feet - but it's totally a risk versus reward issue. It's about 2-4 minutes out to Challenge, but it's likely 15-30 minutes out to Orange Grove. I could see a case where this would be the difference between life and death.