PSSP tunnel sizes

Diving today at PSSP we entered yet another tunnel that was too silty and too small. Really a mess and we are embarrassed that the silt drifted and also messed up the main line area.

If we know what tunnels are was suited for backgas, for sidemount anddfor "don't go there", that would be nice. After we "trashed" the area we spoke with some other divers. They were delighted when we told them of tunnels that became small and silty and those that were larger.

So to my point: wouldn't it be nice if there was a map that identified these tunnel characteristics for divers. I wished I dove enough to do this for you guys but I don't. Is there anyone out there who is willing to provide this information?

Richard
Tallahassee

Quite simply,everybody has a Peacock map,identify what tunnel you want to do and get a description from the forums. I commend you for recognizing a limitation versus pushing on.

You can make your own personal map with information that you acquire from dives and from others. Make your own notes on the map and that way you'll be able to plan a dive using past info and also be able to give advise to divers that ask you about a tunnel in a system.

Richard:

Some passages in the Peacock Springs cave system(such as the Distance tunnel which is located about midway between Orange Grove Sink and Challenge Sink) are better done in a sidemount rig instead of a backmount rig because of the low vertical height and the silty floor.

I've been diving this cave system since 1987 and have numerous dives in it, so I've learned where many of the bad areas are.

Diving experience, proper equipment and swimming technique, and learned knowledge are about the best ways to deal with any cave system.

As previously stated, having your own map of this cave system and making notes on it of where the bad areas are is a very good idea.

Frank

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Puttzer

...wouldn't it be nice if there was a map that identified these tunnel characteristics for divers. ...

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Theoretically survey team making map puts descriptors on the final product like (pls correct me and add from your experience):
Z - silt, ZZ- lots'o silt , ZZZ helluvasilt
X - restriction of a size where you buddy can get stuck
XX - restriction of a size where you can get stuck
sm - passage continues sidemount only
Lots of sm and no-mount passages are not on maps so if i don't see it on my laminated Peacock-1 poster it means "for mazohist only".

For those who don't like trial and error, here are two tunnels identified to me as "maybe don't go there"

The first jump off the Peanut tunnel to Water Hole and

The jump from Pothole to the Breakdown room.

Happy Diving

Richard

Both are definitely sidemount dives, unless you want your buddy to eat silt half of the time.

There is a huge map of Peacock on the side of the shop near there owned by a gentleman and said gentleman knows the system well enough to probably tell you what is a suitable configuration for every tunnel on the map and a bunch not on the map.