Testing air

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Originally Posted by gschaut

There are also small paper test strips for CO that are used on board light aircraft. In addition to testing for O2 content, you also should make sure the cave is not saturated with CO.

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H2S maybe
Where would the combustion to create CO have come from?

Actually, one of the biggest dangers is high CO2. There have been cases in England, and Australia of high CO2 levels in air filled chambers that didn't have direct connection to the surface.

This thread reminds me of IFR flight with a cat and a duck

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Originally Posted by a64pilot

This thread reminds me of IFR flight with a cat and a duck

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It is every bit as reliable :-D

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Originally Posted by OFG-1

Phillip, its easy.

Before the dive, put a cat into a waterproof container, such as a pressure cooker or something. Take the cat with you until you reach the air chamber (hopefully its not too far or the cat will expire or you will have to install a O2 injection system and scrubber in the pressure cooker.). Let the cat loose in the air chamber and have it wander around for a while. You may have to tie a reel to the cat to make sure it does not wander off too far. If the cat falls over, then don't breathe the air.

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what about a mouse a cat is a bit big, or a kitten

use an open water diver

First to fall over when the atmosphere is less than perfect.
Your sensibilities are shaken by the slightest defect.
You live your life like a canary in coal mine.

I say any small bird will do.

So this is the situation we will dive about 7000ft and come up in a very large dry cave, we then need to climb up a big breakdown pile and down the other side to get back in the water and continue exploring, Forrest being an experienced sump diver what would you do?

Don't worry Phil, I will be the Guinea pig. We can take a lighter.

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Originally Posted by phillip1

So this is the situation we will dive about 7000ft and come up in a very large dry cave, we then need to climb up a big breakdown pile and down the other side to get back in the water and continue exploring, Forrest being an experienced sump diver what would you do?

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I have yet to find a chamber after a sump that had air so bad it would kill without warning. I hold the reg close to my mouth and sniff the air. If it doesn't smell , or taste right, I go back on the reg. High CO2 will cause you to feel anxious, and tire easily. Low O2 in more subtle, if you feel faint, get back on the reg fast. You don't have long if the oxygen is too low.