Dive at P3 with Dr. Peter Buzacott
We dove P3 yesterday with Peter. It was a fun dive even though it was more pea soup than P3. The water was dark black in the cavern with up to 5 ft viz. It got milky after I tied at the main line and viz improved to 10 ft. All the time I was praying that when we reach the spring tunnel as was the plan, the viz would improve so that Peter can see a bit of the cave... it did not. It was up to 15 ft in there but not nearly as clear as I have seen it so many times.
I turned the dive pretty quick, on sixths on my back gas (we were staging). I had heard from Bobby a while ago that when it starts raining after a long drought the caves become quite volatile. There was a voice in my head saying it is still raining and things may turn worse.
I was questioning my conservatism and felt a bit bad for cutting it short for Peter until we reached the first 400 ft. The black water was penetrating from the cavern in the cave. It was no longer milky in there. Imagine that this happened in one and a half hour that we were in the cave. I have never seen something like that.
Paul Heinerth was getting ready to go in but moved the class to P1. I believe P3 is probably blown out by now.
Overall we had a lot of fun... How many times do you get two PhD's cave diving and nothing terribly stupid happening??? :roll: Thank the Gods of rain and may it go on for a few months!!!
