So, i am completely new. Probably part of the problem, well certainly part of the problem to some extent. It is a complex problem but I'd like to address just part of it from a newbies perspective. I understand that ultimately I should never touch anything in the Cavern/Cave. In reality I know that everyone does touch something in the Cavern/Cave. Here's my point, that I have been slowly circling, it would be incredibly helpful to me, as a newbie, to know specific locations, formations, etc. in the various systems that are particularly delicate and/or in danger of being damaged and what should be done or how best to avoid inflicting further damage beyond a blanket, "just don't touch anything" rule. Aside from word of mouth, and Caveatlas (thank you CaveAtlas) it is still difficult to find specific information regarding these sites that need the most protection and ultimately my most focused attention when moving through these spaces. I love learning about the systems and appreciate any and all efforts/ information that will assist me in ensuring that they will not be destroyed by my presence. To those working on surveys of the systems, Thank You, and might I add that it might be helpful to make notation of the most fragile areas within and find a way to collect this information and provide it to the community of divers.
Just my perspective
Dominick Gheesling
Hike your own hike.
Just dont fill in the witness part. I always dive with my wife so i put her info in and she signed it and I hers the night before we drove up, obviously with thr date of the dive. For a long time it was fine, then someone decided a staff member had to sign. So if you do it leave the witness part blank
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That's very different than my experience; in my course, the emphasis on conservation was literally built into everything. Every discussion had during the class came back to being aware of the environment you're in and doing everything you can to prevent damaging it (or minimizing the damage if something does go wrong).
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These are tough questions to answer because sometimes they can be contingent on the system. If you have a high flow system and my forward propulsion is dependent on cave contact, then I will, trying my best to contact places other people have touched. Once I reach spots where the flow is less, then I resort to kicking, and avoid physical contact. If I am in a low flow system, I do everything to avoid contact with anything. If I scooter then I use the speed appropriate to the passage, and get off the trigger and swim when the passage demands it due to size. Kudos for asking the questions you ask, and having the desire to learn and be a better cave diver.
The is awesome, and sounds like a great class. In some of my research, this is less common.That's very different than my experience; in my course, the emphasis on conservation was literally built into everything. Every discussion had during the class came back to being aware of the environment you're in and doing everything you can to prevent damaging it (or minimizing the damage if something does go wrong).
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
To add to what Kelly said, learning to read the cave and utilize the flow to your advantage will help you minimize and /or avoid the need to pull yourself along in many places, even in very high flow.
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Jeff Rouse
Chicago, IL
Ding Ding Ding
My first instructor was very staunch on don't touch anything anywhere and don't listen to the people that say it's Ginnie, so just pull and glide. That's followed me through my diving. It seems everybody thinks you constantly have to pull everywhere in Ginnie and then since it's OK there then it's Ok at Peacock too. I pull and glide at Ginnie, but only when I have to and only in areas where there's already been lots of pulling and gliding going on. If I don't see obvious marks of others I avoid it. There seems to be alot of pull, pull, pull.
I'm sure my first instructor didn't mean never pull and glide. He was simply trying to force into our minds that if you're going to touch it, you better make sure it's absolutely necessary or appropriate.
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
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