i have a question about passing in a cave. when you come up behind some slower divers in a fairly tight cave, what is the procedure for passing or do you not pass.
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i have a question about passing in a cave. when you come up behind some slower divers in a fairly tight cave, what is the procedure for passing or do you not pass.
"Outta the way, Sunday driver!" - Otis Campbell
depends on the passage.
I would pass them
I'd wait until the passage opened up enough then pass... just be courteous...
Dive safe,
Celia
I would think any generous slow moving team would allow you to pass anyway. Although after seeing some teams in the caves last December, I would tell them to slow down too, and enjoy the cave.
Actually, that's a good question. In the grand scheme of things, all teams go at close enough speeds that we shouldn't HAVE to pass. So what if we want to go at 75 ft/min but get slowed down to 65 ft/min?
But those of us that are impatient can't live with that. So it's what Celia said. If you're going in the Peanut Tunnel and come up on a slow group, just grin and bear it until you get to the breakdown and can pass.
I believe that's dependent on whether you're wearing a drysuit or a wetsuit. You wouldn't want a sudden buoyancy shift to run you into anyone. But you can always dump some gas in anticipation.
I usually cave dive in a wetsuit, so I just let 'er rip. My drysuit doesn't have a p-valve, so if diving dry I have to hold it. Sometimes on a long cold water dive I'll use Depends.
Oh - your question was about "PASSING in a cave" - never mind!
Mike
I'm with Celia... Going in, I wait until there is room or they move to the side. There is no rush and the cave will be there tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by amphipod06
Going out, well sometimes there are reasons to flash them and pass.
I remember once coming out of Cow. I had done a stage dive to a passage off the line pretty far in the cave. Deco was racking up so once I got back to the main line I was eager to get out of the cave ASAP.
Just as I get back up not my fault, I get stuck behind 3 big guys in doubles going slow slow slow. Silt flying off the floor. Nothing bad but bad technique for sure. Heck one of them was an instructor I figured out later. Anyhow, the passage is large but they are so spread out that I can't pass them easily without mixing with the team. I'm thinking how long it will take for them to pass the restrictions coming out... deco is racking up.... they are going as slow as one can... the last guy as no clue I'm following him so he's not gonna let me pass...
Finally I get a break. We get to the section where the ski tow rope goes one way and the main line goes another passage for about 75'. My chance I tell myself... they all follow the main line... I go super speed on the tow line..... As I make the sharp right up turn, I get face to face with the 1st guy... I get the deer in the headlight look from him... I think I scared the poor guy, anyhow I kind of did the "oh sorry I'm passing by" move underwater and kept on going. I don't think the guy was too happy but hey I needed to get out. They still go out of the water before since I was on deco quite a bit.
LOL...actually, I am probably one of the ones being passedQuote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Wouldn't the good etiquette be that if you are exiting and someone appears behind you, you'd try to pull aside and let the team by somewhat right away? Exiting teams first and they obviously are exiting "more" than you are :D
Personally, I would do this going in as well, as soon as possible - as they weren't there before and now they are, it obviously means someone is going faster than me and I don't like stalkers.
I get out and go somewhere else. Multiple teams in narrow passages aren't a good mix.
I would slow down my dive, or change the dive to a different part of the cave. I have no desire to follow another team thru a narrow passage. You never know if they are going to have to turn around and come back past you.
Bob Klauck
I slow down and wait until a wider spot, flash them and pass. Most divers will know you are there and be ready to let you pass anyway. Instructors will hold the class up and let you pass. Unless of course I have a problem and then I just climb right over them. :)
Unless it is really crowded (Ginnie on a holiday weekend?), you can usually see who is there, get a general idea who is getting in around the same time you are and talk with them to see where they are going.
I am not opposed to changing my plan to go somewhere else in the system (or go to some other system entirely that day) to avoid congestion, nor am I opposed to floating in the basin for 10-15 minutes to put them 500-800 feet ahead of me in a system to avoid congestion going in.
As an aside to the turn pressure/lost buddy conversation, that kind of pre-dive polling of other teams' plans also gives you an idea of where other teams may be and what resources may be available, and that may shape your choices and responses in an emergency.
I've passed a team in the peanut tunnel (they were exiting) it really wasn't a big deal IMHO. We pulled over out they went. If we'd all been exiting and we were in the rear I suspect I'd have just gone slower for a few minutes, its not that long a passage. If I was in front I'd pull over - I don't like being stalked either :D
The only thing that I will say is to be respectfull and careful. A buddy and I were exiting at Telford Springs when approached by a team going in. We moved to the left away from the line which was located on the right wall. We inadvertantly then followed thier line to their jump (at the end) on this side passage. When we exited they were waiting for us hoping we did not get lossed. This was an eye opener for me to know that when you pass another team, insure that you get back on the right line. A good example is in Mexico where all the lines are primarily white (a limited amount of systems have a gold line). Somebody was looking out for us since We were both not ready for a dirt sleep.
i appreciate all the info, im fairly new to this and didnt want to start out pissing people off, this is too small a community to get a bad name. thanks
And "Cracker" is a good name? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by cracker
Cheers,
Jeff
P.S. My apologies if it is your real name...
Signal the other team, then flip them the bird and pass them a note questioning if they are waiting for a court order to get their butts in gear ;) If that does not work just jump on top of them and push them into the silt......
cracker is a nickname from a long time ago, no hidden, non pc, meaning to it and every name i tried on here that i use online was taken. so on cavediver.net, i am cracker