Nacd journal

[shellmoundal]

I just received my NACD Journal and I must say it was some of the best reading cover to cover than anything I have seen. It truly focuses on cave diving and also has a fictional story that will continue issue after issue. Can't wait to get the next one to see what will be the outcome of the OW Diver.
Rob Netto had a very good article on the "Pull and Glide". I was taught by a very well known local Cave Diving Instructor that if you swim in a cave you are not properly cave diving. This was pounded in my head from Cavern to Apprentice. I attended 2 different workshops, NACD and NSS/CDS and heard the same thing; protect the cave when diving. The "Pull" is used in a very high flow situation. The "Pull and Glide" I was taught was so that the diver would be conserving his gas by not swimming. My initial cave and cavern diving was always a "Pull and Glide" method of propulsion. I am embarrassed to admit that but that is what I was taught and had no idea how wrong it was.
Michael A. had a great article on Cave Conservation. If this forum was not available and students or new cave divers did not ask questions, they would be doing what they were taught. I now know that no matter how long the instructor has been diving the "Old School Method" it should not be taught to new students. There are new and more conservational methods in todays cave diving. This same instructor says that SM is a fad. I believed that until I tried it. I am now a Full Cave Certified SM Diver through Edd.
No matter what agency you are with you have the right as a student to ask questions and get other opinions from cave divers if you think your instructor is teaching you wrong.
I will not give the name of this instructor but I am sure that almost all of you know him well or at least by reputation.

[vicp]

... My initial cave and cavern diving was always a "Pull and Glide" method of propulsion. I am embarrassed to admit that but that is what I was taught and had no idea how wrong it was.

Really depends on the surroundings - in high-flow, usually low-silt areas, you pull & glide taking care where and how you do the pulling. Obviously in high-silt, typically low-flow areas, you stay off the bottom and top by swimming carefully and in control.

The one place that I think pull & glide is very useful is in the Peanut Tunnel at Peacock. It has typically low to very low flow, but is somewhat small and not silty. I have been taught and do pull & glide there as it seems more efficient and swimming there without bumping something is not easy. Anyway, I am still surprised to see many divers, even very good ones, still swimming it.

[Kelly Jessop]

The one place that I think pull & glide is very useful is in the Peanut Tunnel at Peacock. It has typically low to very low flow, but is somewhat small and not silty. I have been taught and do pull & glide there as it seems more efficient and swimming there without bumping something is not easy. Anyway, I am still surprised to see many divers, even very good ones, still swimming it.

If I might suggest consider moving to a modified flutter kick in the Peanut tunnel. You will move through the cave without having hand or fin contact, and move to a modified frog kick in the wider areas.

Not to judge others,but I am of the school of thought that pull and glide should be eliminated,because if a glide component is possible,then more likely swimming is possible. I prefer pull and pull,which suggests such high flow conditions that physical contact is absolutely needed. When touching,areas that have previous wear versus unspoiled areas.

[shellmoundal]

If I might suggest consider moving to a modified flutter kick in the Peanut tunnel. You will move through the cave without having hand or fin contact, and move to a modified frog kick in the wider areas.

Not to judge others,but I am of the school of thought that pull and glide should be eliminated,because if a glide component is possible,then more likely swimming is possible. I prefer pull and pull,which suggests such high flow conditions that physical contact is absolutely needed. When touching,areas that have previous wear versus unspoiled areas.

Agree totally. It is also a great place to practice your trim and buoyancy while swimming the modified kicks we all should have learned in our cave classes.

[SlowDiver]

Peanut tunnel is also where I got behind a class and the instructor decided to see how quickly he could make good visibility go to crap.
I know it doesn't have the traditional silt but it can still be stirred up . I guess that is why it's often referred to as a training cave.


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[Puttzer]

Does the NACD journal have an online version? I am still so negative on the NACD I tossed the journal ,……... to my regret.

Sounds like it was worth reading.

Richard
Tallahassee

[vicp]

If I might suggest consider moving to a modified flutter kick in the Peanut tunnel. You will move through the cave without having hand or fin contact, and move to a modified frog kick in the wider areas.

Not to judge others,but I am of the school of thought that pull and glide should be eliminated,because if a glide component is possible,then more likely swimming is possible. I prefer pull and pull,which suggests such high flow conditions that physical contact is absolutely needed. When touching,areas that have previous wear versus unspoiled areas.

I do agree with you (mostly), especially about "When touching,areas that have previous wear versus unspoiled areas." I have also always called the pull & pull method, as used in high flow areas, pull & glide - at least that is what it was called when I learned it (Gallery, Little River, etc.).

That being said, as regards the Peanut Tunnel (the section from where the line turns by the boulder until just short of the breakdown room), I have always swum this section (along with countless air-share and lights out drills). My last instructor (for full cave), who is very knowledgeable, experienced (SM, CCR, exploration, DPV, etc.), and highly regarded, suggested using pull & glide in this section. I was skeptical at first but discovered that it worked very well. As I have been in this tunnel countless times, I know, for the most part, where to touch or grab with minimal impact. I was actually surprised - I could get through this tunnel with little to no impact, no silting and rather quickly with less effort, allowing more gas for the remainder of the dive. Considering how heavily traveled this area is, I feel that (a judicious) use of pull & glide here to be efficient and highly effective.

Other than that, I agree that the less we touch the better it is. I guess it boils down to experience and judgement as to what and when to use with regards to all considerations - conservation, safety, efficiency, etc.

[vicp]

Does the NACD journal have an online version? I am still so negative on the NACD I tossed the journal ,……... to my regret.

Sounds like it was worth reading.

I also looked, but could not find it. It is not like the CDS journal, which is usually available on line.

Too bad, as I am also somewhat negative on the NACD. Several recent changes to the BOD, though, may make me look at the NACD again. Being able to read the journal online would certainly help that -

*Hint to the NACD*

[shellmoundal]

I am a Member of NACD and NSS/CDS. By being a member there are perks that non members have. I think this Journal is sent to Members Only. Am I wrong?

I also looked, but could not find it. It is not like the CDS journal, which is usually available on line.

Too bad, as I am also somewhat negative on the NACD. Several recent changes to the BOD, though, may make me look at the NACD again. Being able to read the journal online would certainly help that -

*Hint to the NACD*

[FW]

I am a Member of NACD and NSS/CDS. By being a member there are perks that non members have. I think this Journal is sent to Members Only. Am I wrong?

You are mostly right, but the NACD is trying to get members back, by sending members that didn't renew copies of the journal.