Dive JB this Weekend?

[edd]

Hey Chuck, I was glad you and Rob were ok. That day there was a lot of lightning but that one was so close and so BRIGHT and loud. Bill had just got to the shop and when that one hit he said "I hope those guy's are ok, that hit right by where they are diving".
It was good to finially meet you. Hope you will stop by again soon. Edd

[mcmacken]

The instant that the strike occurred, I was hit with a sharp, momentary shock that caused my entire body to involuntarily spasm. At the same time, I remember hearing the muffled clap of thunder. Realizing that I was unhurt, I began calling out “are you okay, are you okay” to Rob through my regulator. In that brief moment I had lost track of his whereabouts, and I couldn’t see him as I spun around in the water. I made a quick search of the bottom, which was very turbid by now, then headed for the surface. He had surfaced looking for me as well. Rob immediately asked if I was okay, and if I too had felt the strike. There was absolutely no doubt what we had experienced.

Oh boy, does this sound familiar. A few years ago a buddy and I were zapped on Hill 400 in Ginnie. We didn't know until we exited what had happened.

[edd]

The instant that the strike occurred, I was hit with a sharp, momentary shock that caused my entire body to involuntarily spasm. At the same time, I remember hearing the muffled clap of thunder. Realizing that I was unhurt, I began calling out “are you okay, are you okay” to Rob through my regulator. In that brief moment I had lost track of his whereabouts, and I couldn’t see him as I spun around in the water. I made a quick search of the bottom, which was very turbid by now, then headed for the surface. He had surfaced looking for me as well. Rob immediately asked if I was okay, and if I too had felt the strike. There was absolutely no doubt what we had experienced.

Oh boy, does this sound familiar. A few years ago a buddy and I were zapped on Hill 400 in Ginnie. We didn't know until we exited what had happened.

I thought that the lightning strike while in the water stories were just that stories until Chuck and Rob came in after living through it. I just figured you would be safe in the water. A electrician said in theory if you are in water and not touching ground you would not get shocked. I guess he was WRONG! Edd

I had just exited the water at JB and was halfway to the pavilion when that bolt struck. Vince just looked out at the pond and said, "I hope Chuck and Rob didn't feel that!"

Needless to say, my planned one-hour surface interval became a three-hour surface interval.

Russell

[edd]

Does JB really need a line committee? If Edd is willing to make repairs, let him. The line placement is good and doesn't need changing. Just repair worn out sections.

I think the line committee idea is more about having someone to be responsible for seeing that the line gets replaced prior to it needing to be repaired. More of a maintenance thing than anything, which is why I think Edd is the best person to head up such an effort. The last thing I want to see on the pond is the crap that got started at Peacock recently.

I agree that it should be primarily maintance and repair. I believe Scott did most if not all the gold line in that cave and did a great job and I can't think of anything that should be changed. Edd

[Scott Hunsucker]

Years ago when we ran goldline after Mike's death there were, at my last count, 19 Ts to the end of the line. It is cleaner now and should stay that way. I don't feel a line committe is needed as the area has always been an out-of-the-way no man's land. If a comittee is started then we have Peacock North, no need. There are enough people that dive JB on a fairly regular basis and would be able to simply fix what is broken. Why complicate something that is simple.

Run the line in the largest and most logical area of the cave and fix what is broken. Coming out, calling a meeting, setting schedules, etc is all overrated. If Edd has the line use it to repair only what is needed and don't take it upon anyone's private idea of the way it should be. This is the only way to keep the political agendas out.
Scott Hunsucker

[edd]

Years ago when we ran goldline after Mike's death there were, at my last count, 19 Ts to the end of the line. It is cleaner now and should stay that way. I don't feel a line committe is needed as the area has always been an out-of-the-way no man's land. If a comittee is started then we have Peacock North, no need. There are enough people that dive JB on a fairly regular basis and would be able to simply fix what is broken. Why complicate something that is simple.

Run the line in the largest and most logical area of the cave and fix what is broken. Coming out, calling a meeting, setting schedules, etc is all overrated. If Edd has the line use it to repair only what is needed and don't take it upon anyone's private idea of the way it should be. This is the only way to keep the political agendas out.
Scott Hunsucker

I agree. The line is just where it needs to be, and I have gold line here at the shop and would be happy to repair any broken or worn line's. Edd

[Kenny P.]

Good point. The only way to keep peace is have a multi organizational line committee, so there aren't any "line wars" like went on in Mexico a couple of years ago.

I will contact the NACD, and GUE and get their input. I am sure Scott Hunsucker will want some input as well.

Forrest,
I'm sure you're right. As you know, Scott and Pat Watson took care of the lines in the millpond for a long time. Heather and Pat did a good part of JB, when the Gold was put in. Edd is there now and dives regularly enough to keep an eye on the lines. All these other volunteers are a good thing. Great spirit and much needed in out little niche.
Thanks to all,
Kenny P.

[Genesis]

The instant that the strike occurred, I was hit with a sharp, momentary shock that caused my entire body to involuntarily spasm. At the same time, I remember hearing the muffled clap of thunder. Realizing that I was unhurt, I began calling out “are you okay, are you okay” to Rob through my regulator. In that brief moment I had lost track of his whereabouts, and I couldn’t see him as I spun around in the water. I made a quick search of the bottom, which was very turbid by now, then headed for the surface. He had surfaced looking for me as well. Rob immediately asked if I was okay, and if I too had felt the strike. There was absolutely no doubt what we had experienced.

Oh boy, does this sound familiar. A few years ago a buddy and I were zapped on Hill 400 in Ginnie. We didn't know until we exited what had happened.

I thought that the lightning strike while in the water stories were just that stories until Chuck and Rob came in after living through it. I just figured you would be safe in the water. A electrician said in theory if you are in water and not touching ground you would not get shocked. I guess he was WRONG! Edd

That theory works well in salt water, which has greater conductivity than your body. The odds of getting hosed in salt water are very low.

It does not work in fresh water, where the water has HIGHER resistance than your body does.

It is the voltage gradient in the water that is the problem.

Grab a 10,000V line with one hand, all is fine. Provided there's no way for that current to get to a lower potential place, that is. This is why a bird can land on an uninsulated line and not fry.

Lightning hitting water sets up a gradient in the water, with a few million volts at the point of impact, dissipating with distance (in three dimensions)

The problem is that the gradient is pretty high over the distances between, say, your hands or a hand and your head (since your body proper is probably inside an insulated suit if you're diving dry) - and your body is a lower resistance path than the water is.

So if you happen to be in a fairly large area near where the strike occurs in fresh water you can get crisped.

A few milliamps through your heart (and between your hands is a pretty direct route!) can KILL.

In salt water you pretty much have to be hit almost directly to get hosed.

In fresh water this is not true.

Those guys were lucky...

Dive safely folks.... and keep an eye on the WX.

(BTW if its close its not 'thunder' - it sounds like a really loud snapping noise and the flash basically "blue-whites" your vision for a few seconds. If its REALLY close your hair stands up on end just before the flash and snapping noise. Guess how I know this.... )

[wingman]

So if you happen to be in a fairly large area near where the strike occurs in fresh water you can get crisped.

They were at indian washtub and the bolt hit in the vicinity of twin, so that's about the width of the mill pond. Bill