My Biggest Cave Diving Fear

[OFG-1]

One of my biggest fears is getting a really fat guy stuck in a restriction when I am already in the cave. I mean someone a lot bigger than me. Sam DiPerna big. I mean, could you really fillet him with a sawed off steak knife and a pair of z shears? And if you were in Anderson when the guy gets stuck, how much additional pressure would build up in the cave? Would it cause Suwanacochie to overflow? And those crawfish, the sneaky white ones that hide on the ceiling and drop off as you swim by. I know they are just looking for some open cut or old wound to feed on. And gnats, everywhere when you are getting dressed. You know, the same kind of gnats that hang around a dogs private parts. Are they making some unflattering compairison that I should be offended about? And them gators, what the hell are they always smiling about? And cats, they are so smug. And Sludge, you just know he will delete this post. And ag inspectors, they must have extra gnats around them, and fruit flies.

[sskasser]

One of my biggest fears is getting a really fat guy stuck in a restriction when I am already in the cave. I mean someone a lot bigger than me. Sam DiPerna big. I mean, could you really fillet him with a sawed off steak knife and a pair of z shears? And if you were in Anderson when the guy gets stuck, how much additional pressure would build up in the cave? Would it cause Suwanacochie to overflow? And those crawfish, the sneaky white ones that hide on the ceiling and drop off as you swim by. I know they are just looking for some open cut or old wound to feed on. And gnats, everywhere when you are getting dressed. You know, the same kind of gnats that hang around a dogs private parts. Are they making some unflattering compairison that I should be offended about? And them gators, what the hell are they always smiling about? And cats, they are so smug. And Sludge, you just know he will delete this post. And ag inspectors, they must have extra gnats around them, and fruit flies.

Welcome back, John! Damn I missed you! Now excuse me while I clean up the mess made when I spewed diet coke out of my nose ....

[Sludge]

Welcome back, John!

Yeah, first post in three weeks.

Keep an eye on the rebreather thread. If the guy brings the Gems to Jackson Blue on September 12 I expect to see you there! It's been too long since I last hid from you.

[phillip1]

I was diving a cave we found here and was following the line in worsening viz and suddenly the line was buried under rock and silt, the line at this area of the cave is about 4ft above the floor and the collapse raised the floor by 4ft as now the line disappears horizontally in the floor.
I looked around a bit did not see the other end and turned the dive, cause I got a real uneasy feeling.
This collapse happened recently as we had dove there only a about 7-8 days previously.
When I saw the line buried like that I must admit it was scary, I know it is ultra rare, but in caves that have no decorations and have rocks that look like they are all in a balancing act it is kind of on my mind though.
We are going back this weekend to reline that section. I am not to concerned, odds are it wont collapse there for another 3000-4000 years hopefully.
This brings me to a question I never really got answered, does water act as a support to the cave roof or not? what if the rock is very porous will it make any difference as opposed to a dry cave.
Also how many collapses have occurred in dry caves and was anyone injured in that way?

[chimie007]

this brings me to a question I never really got answered, does water act as a support to the cave roof or not?

Yes.... http://www.cavediver.net/forum/showt...6438#post36438

[FW]

Reports of any cave diver lost due to a collapse have just been one, Parker Turner's event, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Well since Mike already mentioned Madison (lost 2 there), I will add Jacob's well in TX. It took years for that place to stabalize enough to do the recovery.

Y'all should be afraid, very afraid, and don't go in those dark nasty caves

[phillip1]

How about in breakdown caves with very porous limestone, did most of the breakdown collapsed rocks happen when the cave was dry or is it still happening on regular basis?
I ask this because the cave I dive the most really looks like it is about to collapse, huge building sized rocks that look like they are balancing on ledges etc..
This does not stop me from diving but sometimes as I look at theses things I really wonder what the odds are, could my exhaust bubbles really dislodge a big rock?
This might be a dumb question.

[LiteHedded]

The sandslide type restrictions freak me out a little. Maybe it has something to do with the Parker turner thing.

[MORGAN]

Well since Mike already mentioned Madison (lost 2 there), I will add Jacob's well in TX. It took years for that place to stabalize enough to do the recovery.

Y'all should be afraid, very afraid, and don't go in those dark nasty caves

Forrest, can you give the basics on the Madison collapse? I have heard of it but know no more about it. Madison is one of my favorites.

Thanks, Mike

[FW]

Forrest, can you give the basics on the Madison collapse? I have heard of it but know no more about it. Madison is one of my favorites.

Thanks, Mike

What I was told was, that it collapsed while they were in there, and it broke the line, reducing visibility. IIRC, they made it past the collapse, but ran out of gas/air.

Go to IUCRR accident reports and look at: October 19, 1999 - Madison Blue, Madison, FL