What line do you prefer follow?

[Dave1981]

For me, if I'm on gold line it means I'm not at the good part of the cave yet...

I far prefer to see original markers from exploration, to me that's as important as the cave its self. Gold is the proverbial sterilised shipwreck sunk on purpose, yeah I'll go look but not that interested in it.

[LCF]

I far prefer to see original markers from exploration, to me that's as important as the cave its self.

Agreed! One of the best cave dives ever for me was Yax Muul, where we got to see the original styrofoam cups placed by Mike Madden's folks when they explored the Lunas y Sombras line. And then getting to talk to Mike on FB was pretty cool, too -- and he seemed very pleased that the markers were still there, and that people enjoyed seeing them.

[jj1987]

For me, if I'm on gold line it means I'm not at the good part of the cave yet...

Ever been to Indian?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Its arguable that some of the better places in Indian are beyond the goldline eh?

[TJDiver]

Hi John!

The fuzz of the GL is one thing but as mentioned earlier, JerseyJersey said 'it goes out'. Well, at least one end of it goes out and that is the tricky part ins't it..??
As for system markers, they don't necessarily indicate YOUR exit.

This is the sort of complacency that GL tends to create, I think. Just rely on the color/thickness of the line and the system arrows and don't pay attention to the cave details so much. Thinking that you may have to find your exit without the line is an interesting factor. Isn't it..??

ps: when I say 'you' I don't point anybody in particular.

Don't worry, definitely no complacency here. I don't rely solely on the line, and do work on my situational awareness skills on every dive. My previous post was just my humorous way of indicating I'm a noob...ok...perhaps a weak attempt at humor.

I don't think gold lines generate complacency. I think individuals generate their own complacency. I've seen extremely experienced divers make all sorts of noob type mistakes, in many different types of diving environments, because they allowed themselves to become complacent. Laying the blame on a particular type of line is just a crutch.

[bletso]

What ever is in the section of cave I'm in. Makes no difference to me.

Dale

[CaveBuddy95]

Don't worry, definitely no complacency here. I don't rely solely on the line, and do work on my situational awareness skills on every dive. My previous post was just my humorous way of indicating I'm a noob...ok...perhaps a weak attempt at humor.

I don't think gold lines generate complacency. I think individuals generate their own complacency. I've seen extremely experienced divers make all sorts of noob type mistakes, in many different types of diving environments, because they allowed themselves to become complacent. Laying the blame on a particular type of line is just a crutch.

I didn't say 'you' were complacent.
And I still believe having too much of a set of physical references (line and markers) and being taught to use them to find your way out is not the right way to do it.

Take example of a survey dive, the first time the diver goes in, he/she will survey the line. But to produce a map that is going to be of any use for divers and others, the survey team need to survey the cave.
The line is just a path in the cave and is here to help in zero viz exit...if any!

Having a very visible and thick line could create complacency by creating a false idea that what ever happens, this same line will take me out. I think.

[Anders Knudsen]

Jason,

I really dont think it is the color of the line, or the thickness of the line, as long as it is well placed and dosent look like it is going to break while you are in the cave!
BUT it is the difference between the lines, that makes the difference, both for intro divers and for "vacation" cave divers that will tend to stay on the main line, doing maybe 1 or 2 navigations.
I know the line shouldent make a difference, but i am sure that it does, that when they see the change to gold line, they feel more at home.
AND most important, you never get in doubt of which line is yours. Ever been to Xunaan Ha far upstream ? if you swim about 1,5-2hours upstream till you reach the white bedding plane area, you will notice first of all lots of percolation, second of all that you have tons of jumps starting only 1 foot or so from the main line, a couple of times running almost parallel to the line.
a short lack of attention, would be dangerous here but not as dangerous if the main line would have been gold line! ok i doubt that anybody would install gold line, that far back , and crossing a gap, but there are other places out there where the difference in lines would really make a difference.

[DA Aquamaster]

Plus +. I saw some very interesting jumps in MX - jumps that were quite close and/or aligned in a manner where moving from one to the other would only require a moment's inattention to slip from one line to another, especially returning with the halocline nicely stirred up.

However, I dropped cookies anytime the potential for confusion existed, and that's a better approach than gold line since you can personalize any line, anywhere.

[JamesK]

Wow. I guess I really misunderstood the question!!! I thought you meant what color do I like!!!! Oops.