I was being facetious. The comment was directed at a few who do, IMHO feel some compelling reason to seek recognition & respect and have the need to earn it in this manner.Originally Posted by Bobby
(Thank you for pointing out that my assumption that people would see it as I intended was incorrect.)
He didn't swim, that one. He did swim the half mile record, and Henkle swam the mile record. Sheck had a modified Farrallon for the 2 mile record.
I thought he swam Chips?.. and basically walked back out... due to the flow(siphon).
Sheck certainly felt very highly of John, from what I understand.
That may be true, but I was talking about Cathedral.
I had been under the impression that the 10,900 or so, he did at Cathedral was swimming. Thanks for the correction. I have wondered many of times how that was possible....
January 28, 1989: Sheck Exley made a world record dive (solo) in the Chips Hole Cave System in Wakulla County, Florida, by traveling 10,444 feet/3,684 meters from the nearest air space.
^^^ That dive was done swimming apparently.
I was told that GUE divers who pushed it out 16k+ later on were thinking how bad it sucked coming back out, with bottles, while on scooters and making a slow progress out... until they started noticing they were following Sheck's footprints from when he "walked" out from 10k against the flow. Things were apparently put into perspective and the sky in that cave got a little bluer for the GUE dudes.
Funny, I find it utterly exciting to dive caves I have dove before and see new details, learn the cave so well that I can close my eyes and imagine parts of it...
Last edited by Xenia; 02-28-2011 at 07:31 PM. Reason: clarification
Xenia, a.k.a. Local Zip Code Diver
Thanks for a logical approach to the breakdown of my post, RN (and others). Seriously, by the way.
While I completely understand what you guys are saying, all of you, its my point I was making, too: people start with a plan they think is safe. Then they will try to execute it. Whether it is actually safe or not is a matter of perspective or education or risk/benefit acceptance.
We later (or from the outside) look at their plan and usually see immediately some serious holes or flaws. Armchair quarterbacking at its best, in some instances. Dispassionate observation in others. Exactly. Provide considerate input (if there) or analysis and help people avoid or learn. That's the best you can do.
If no one is there to stop people, then the next thing you know they do some dumb stuff. Sometimes they live and sometimes they don't. Not to sound old, but I remember being told I should never try to change the tape in my player while driving. Now people change CDs, DVDs (for their kids!!), text, talk, type, eat....Anyway. The point is: if you live, few people analyze the occurence. If there is an accident: BAM, accident analysis. This cannot be helped or changed. Nature of the accident in the first place.
Teach, mentor, influence, train. Do it with respect and passion and people listen. No way to deny that (I know there are exceptions, but we manage patterns, not isolated incidents). We all have examples of where we had advice ignored or we ignored it ourselves. Michael Jordan made a huge name for himself by playing some seriously flawed fundamental basketball. Worked for him. It happens. People make it out alive from crap dives they never should have done and were not qualified to do: they were lucky.
Bottom line: The leaders of Cave diving out there can help by teaching or training or guiding. But they won't help everyone. People create plans they view as safe, our feelings on their plan aside. People need to adhere to their plan.
Few weeks ago we dove Eagles Nest. Plan was 2k upstream. Plenty of gas and a back up scooter for the team. We got to 2k and were significantly better on gas than planned...but: we turned ahead of time and pressures. The over-riding piece of the plan was the swimming out from 2k if the Poop hit the fan. Other people would think what we did was unsafe due to depth/time/distance/etc. In actuality, we planned very conservatively and with goobs of deco gas. My point: it was beyond the risk/acceptance for other divers. That's ok. But that doesn't mean it was "unsafe".
I cannot judge for others nor they for me. But some things are not judgement calls. We deal, primarily, in absolutes. Diving past thirds is not smart. A scooter dive on thirds is not smart. Etc.
I digress...what the hell was my point anyway? Oh yeah. Influence/teach/train/mentor people with considerate dialogue and enjoy the results.
Personal Record
Man, that last post has to be my personal record. Whew.
Sorry to be so verbose and wandering. Hope three or four words made a point. Such as it is.
Bob
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