line in the catacombs

[LiteHedded]

looks like someone put a line in there since the open water diver got himself killed in there.

is that going to stay? saw it while exiting this weekend and thought it was weird...

[Tegg]

Seriously? That's not a good idea.

[Greenwood_60]

I was just thinking about this the other day. How sane is it for us to keep a section of cave known as the "Catacombs", within 100' of the surface, completely unlined. Yeah, they shouldn't be in there. That obviously isn't enough to keep them out. This was a condition report posted to caveatlas.com on 8/31/2011:

Hi to all divers. Made a weekend trip and did several dives. I hope this post may be helpful to divers who like caves but are not cave certified. Let me explane. I am the type of person who can tell my self I know what I am doing and it will be fine. You see, I was poking around in caves with out proper training. I am sure I made a few cave divers who truly understood the risk angry at my bravado. Well let me offer this public apologies. Especially to Walter. I am sorry, I did offend. I am wrong. I can now say I truly don't know it all, and I will get the training. Proper training is not expensive. Average is 500 dollar for cavern and intro combined. What made me have this change of heart? It was my last dive in the devils eye and ear system. Any divers out there who think like I used to, which is " It won't happen to me " please read this. It did happen to me. I am not lecturing here. just sharing. Well I started the dive entering the eye and was supprised to find no line. I poked around the in the cavern zone and hung out buy the danger sign looking around the cave. I got my bearings and went in further. Followed the eye slowly till I came to the danger sign at the ear. I thought COOL, I know where I am at. Checked my air and was time for me to call it with a good reserve. When I turned, and please pay attention, I made this mistake, I went into the catacombs instead of back into the exit tunnel that lead to the eye. Took me some time to find my way back out of them. I was lucky I had the air. I burned up 1000 psi getting back to the sign at the ear. It was there that I made the exit. I was so close to the exit I could the whole time but was so far a the same time. So when a trained cave diver tells you you should not do that. Give them a listen. He or she is not being difficult and trying to keep you out of the secret cave diving club. But rather they are offering advice that falls on deaf ears like mine were. I mad it out of this cave because I got lucky. Next time I make it out of a cave it will be because I got some proper training.

I know the Catacombs are great for practice laying line, but maybe the location is not the best.

[loquat149]

Yea, my wife said she saw a line there on Sat...I thought she was mistaken

[WEPIV]

Yea, my wife said she saw a line there on Sat...I thought she was mistaken

Great seeing and talking with you two yesterday.

[LiteHedded]

Seriously? That's not a good idea.

looks like a jump line. starts about 15' from the sign

[mdax]

We've been in the catacombs about four times within the week. The reel is Larry's and we were not about to mess with it.
Doesn't seem to be causing any problems and once he feels like recovering it i'm sure he will.

Not sure if lining it is the answer, others with many more years of experience have left it unlined and it can sometimes be unfriendly in there. I don't think it's a sane/not sane question. I'm just glad the owners at ginnie still let cave divers dive, we mean very little to their bottom line.

[LiteHedded]

well from what I heard larry and tracy went in to get him. so if he thinks that line needs to be there that's good enough for me.

doesn't bother me either way

[roguediver]

I don't like this as well.

[tomhauburn]

If its Larry line please drop this as he probably just does not feel like going back after it right now. I doubt he would want to leave it in there for what is being suggested. Also do not think it would have made any difference on that particular case based on what little bit I know. ( I cannot post any details since I work there ) Just my opinion though.