Cave diving and Wreck penetration (similarities)

[Harambe]

Cave diving allows for longer and deeper penetrations!

[RGU]

I think lines are a relatively newish technology in wrecks and were shunned at first by the wreck community, while cave divers have "made it their religion" (to quote Shadow Divers.) I think that the wreck diving community is also more accepting of penetrating without a specific certification than the cave diving community.


In the Great Lakes we were running lines in the 70's. They were on wire frames, welded into an "H", clipped to the weight belt. It's pretty hard to keep the line clear on a wreck in limited visibility (18 inches), so we learned to memorize where we were and decompress in open water.
Over half the guys I dive with now have no cave or overhead training. None of the old guys did. Some could move through a silt filled room like a ghost. Up here if you own a boat and gear, no one is going to check your C card before you dive.
A lot of classic wreck skills are dying with us old guys. Most of us just accept it and let it go.

[kk4mei]

I think lines are a relatively newish technology in wrecks and were shunned at first by the wreck community, while cave divers have "made it their religion" (to quote Shadow Divers.) I think that the wreck diving community is also more accepting of penetrating without a specific certification than the cave diving community.


In the Great Lakes we were running lines in the 70's. They were on wire frames, welded into an "H", clipped to the weight belt. It's pretty hard to keep the line clear on a wreck in limited visibility (18 inches), so we learned to memorize where we were and decompress in open water.
Over half the guys I dive with now have no cave or overhead training. None of the old guys did. Some could move through a silt filled room like a ghost. Up here if you own a boat and gear, no one is going to check your C card before you dive.
A lot of classic wreck skills are dying with us old guys. Most of us just accept it and let it go.

I was trained to always run a line into a wreck. At the same time I remember some wreck divers being against it in the very late 90's

[cmint]

Here's a question for the wreck divers among us or anyone with an opinion:

In a wreck versus a cave, do you stash your O2 when you get to the bottom of the descent line, just inside where you start penetrating, or carry it with you the entire time?

I opted for carrying it with me mainly because I think stashing it had at least a contributory effect on the Rouse's death. It would have been easier maneuvering within the wreck without it though.

[inverted_bear]

Here's a question for the wreck divers among us or anyone with an opinion:
In a wreck versus a cave, do you stash your O2 when you get to the bottom of the descent line, just inside where you start penetrating, or carry it with you the entire time?

Clipped to my line just out of sight inside the wreck. My buddy never ditches his, but he never runs a line.

[kk4mei]

Here's a question for the wreck divers among us or anyone with an opinion:

In a wreck versus a cave, do you stash your O2 when you get to the bottom of the descent line, just inside where you start penetrating, or carry it with you the entire time?

I opted for carrying it with me mainly because I think stashing it had at least a contributory effect on the Rouse's death. It would have been easier maneuvering within the wreck without it though.

Personally I kike to keep mine with me at all times but it depends on the wreck. Some of the U-Boats are really tight so I will clip off just inside of the wreck

[WEPIV]

Keep it with you if at all possible.

[RGU]

I was trained to always run a line into a wreck. At the same time I remember some wreck divers being against it in the very late 90's

If I'm out in the dirt away from the wreck, I run a line. Otherwise I do a swim through and return to the mooring on the deck. Great Lakes wrecks are pretty easy to find your way around inside.

[mddolson]

I never detach my deco gas, keep with me at all times. I run a line unless the exit is in sight (similar to cavern rules)

[crookshanky]

I think lines are a relatively newish technology in wrecks and were shunned at first by the wreck community, while cave divers have "made it their religion" (to quote Shadow Divers.) I think that the wreck diving community is also more accepting of penetrating without a specific certification than the cave diving community.


In the Great Lakes we were running lines in the 70's. They were on wire frames, welded into an "H", clipped to the weight belt. It's pretty hard to keep the line clear on a wreck in limited visibility (18 inches), so we learned to memorize where we were and decompress in open water.
Over half the guys I dive with now have no cave or overhead training. None of the old guys did. Some could move through a silt filled room like a ghost. Up here if you own a boat and gear, no one is going to check your C card before you dive.
A lot of classic wreck skills are dying with us old guys. Most of us just accept it and let it go.

RGU, would you mind elaborating on the "classic wreck skills" that are dying out? I'm always interested in learning from the, as you put it, "old guys".