Isolation Room whale Bone Restoration Dive 1

[BigTex1836]

Thank you for doing this.

[decostanza]

Great job to everyone involved and thanks also for the pics Jarvis.

[Jarviz]

I went back today for some closeup shots of the Whale Bone

[Jarviz]

[FW]

Great job, everyone involved!

[MichaelAngelo]

Whale Bone Restoration In water Phase: Dive 1 report

2-27-15 dive team (if I misspell any names please correct me, all volunteers deserve recognition) :
Michael Angelo Gagliardi (artist/project leader), Peter McCumber (assistant), David Sheard (photographer), Krzysztof Dupel (safety diver 2), Jesse Folker (safety diver 1) and Jeff Rouse (tank Monkey). Please note we had divers from 3 organizations NACD, NSS-CDS and GUE.

Report:
We meet at 10 AM at Ginnie Springs, had a briefing on the day’s dive and how all the tools worked. The tools and fossil container was divided in separate “lobster bags” and divided up amongst the team for transport to site. We scootered directly to stage rock (1800 ft), while Jeff set all our deco tanks for us in predetermined locations. At stage rock, stage bottles were dropped and I retrieved the project area sign from bag. The team, then scootered to 2100 feet where scooters were tied off to the gold line and jump reel deployed. At the site, we located the fossil wall, then safety divers remained on the line while I took the fossil pieces which where preassembled to the fossils wall. Peter was beside me handling the epoxy gun system for me. This involved loading the cartridges into the gun and screwing on the mixing nozzles then handing them to me, then retrieving it back to change nozzles. The epoxy hardens in the nozzle so you go thru a lot of nozzles. Meanwhile, I laid the fossil container on the floor to unpack it. The pre worked fossil pieces were transported in a water filled Tupperware container wrapped in cloth for protection, this was then placed in a lobster bad which was clipped across the butt plate on my Nomad harness. Once unpacked I test fitted the large piece (about 40% of the fossil). This piece was preassembled from 3 larger pieces and 5 smaller fragments. It fit like a glove. I prepped the corresponding piece on the wall by drilling a series of shallow surface holes across the glue surface to match the holes previously drilled in the broken off piece. I used both a pneumatic die grinder and small wood carving chisel. This allows more surface area and creates “epoxy pins” when set. I signaled Pete for the gun then applied the epoxy to both sides. As expected the epoxy was neutrally buoyant had to be forced into the holes. On the surface the epoxy has a 21/2 minute pot life (15 minute full cure) which extended to 3-4 minute underwater. I held the large piece in place for 5 minutes to insure that its weight would not break the bond before the epoxy cures. Next, I pre-fitted the next piece and prepped the area while Pete changed nozzles. This was a smaller piece which involved matching the holes where nerves went thru. This piece was preassembled from 5 small fragments, it was about a 80% fit so I carved it to finish the fit. It was glued and held in place for 4 minutes. At this point, I thought we were at a good stopping point and vis and gas pressure were dropping so I thumbed the dive at about 60 minutes. I repacked the container lid and cloth pieces into the lobster bag and re-clipped it to my butt plate. I left the open container with the rest of the fragments under the fossil. The team left the jump line in and scootered to stage rock where I stored tools in the black bag and we retrieved our stage bottles and began our exit. We located the 50% and O2 bottles where Jeff left them. Jeff met us in the cavern zone and collected used stage bottles for us. The whole dive was documented by David Sheard using still photography. Total dive time was 127 minutes, max depth was 99 ft. Most of the team used 30% while I used 30/20 mix due to the detailed work. We return next week to finish the project. Please do not disturb the area where we are working.

Also, we can use a volunteer or two to act as tank monkey to preset deco bottles on Monday and Tuesday. It allows for more time on site. It’s an easy swim dive. If interested please PM me.

Please note all restoration projects should be done with land owner’s permission and as a coordinated effort.
While it’s great we can come together as a community to repair damage, it is also unfortunate that we have to. Please cave lightly

[MichaelAngelo]

on a personal note: this last dive was my 500 since finishing intro. No counted but still important at least to me

[sandy]

Thank you MAG, Peter, David, Krzysztof, Jessie, and Jeff. I look forward to diving that part of Ginnie in the future.

[adam_Hughes]

Awesome job guys. Thanks for the updates and pics.

[MarkR]

Great work! This is a really cool project.

Please note all restoration projects should be done with land owner’s permission and as a coordinated effort.
While it’s great we can come together as a community to repair damage, it is also unfortunate that we have to. Please cave lightly

Please explain "land owner". Who actually "owns" the uderwater caves?