Trip Report: Vortex Spring Cave 5/4/2008

[jimdiverman]

I drove over from Marianna to Vortex around 10 am this morning, and when I got there, John Faircloth was giving his rebreather lecture to about 8 divers. 10 divers ultimately tested out the Optima there today including Shane and Johnny Mac. They tell me that the record is 14 though.

I made the dive into the cave at Vortex with Eduardo this afternoon around 2pm. We got to about 50 feet or so from the end of the second restriction when I called it on deco obligation. Its a long way at 100 feet. Max depth was 123 feet for 76 minutes (We stayed in the water a little while after the dive vacuuming silt in the open water area). I started the dive with 3350 PSI and finished with 1900. I dove it with 27% EANx so I wanted to keep it above 140 feet. We were almost to the opening where Eduardo says is now a bigger opening and no longer a restriction. I'll have to take his word for it until next time. We'll do this cave again on sidemount when I get my new Nomad rig all ready to go. It was slow going for about 150 feet in that second restriction. Sidemount would make it a bit easier. I was surprised at how much sand was covering the floor of the cave past the grate. You could tell that there was clay underneath some of the sand though, so its still prudent to watch your fin kicks with that low ceiling.

I found out why my Dive Rite Nitek Duos read differently. I was wondering why I was getting to the safety stop on dives and one computer was showing deco and the other wasn't, or they were showing different deco obligations. The problem is that my depth sensors are off by 2 feet at the deeper depths. They read the same at shallower depths. Since I wear one on my left wrist and one on my right wrist, and carry my light in my right hand, I usually only read the left computer at depth. But there was more light at the deeper entrance to the Vortex cavern, so I was able to see the difference there. I clearly read 47 feet on one, and 49 feet on the other. So one computer thinks it is diving 2 feet deeper than the other, and that distance is probably greater at greater depths. Since DiveRite was here today, I asked Jeff Laughlin about it. He said that this is normal. I wish there were tighter quality controls than that on the depth sensor, to be totally honest. I would like to know which one is right.

Oh well, it was still a good dive, and I finally got to see the inside of the Vortex cave. Vortex Springs is the first place I ever dove and did my open water with Chris Kopecky and Fred Mirambel in 1999. Shane is doing some really great things with the place. He showed me the new compressors today. Did you know that Shane has Nitrox now? Did you also know that Shane has helium now? He and Johnny Mac are certified trimix blenders, and Shane's price for helium is cheaper than other places I have seen in cave country. Shane is upgrading all of the lodging accommodations on-site. Vortex Blue Springs is really a great place to train for all types of diving now. Keep up the great work, Shane!

Well, I need to get some sleep so I can fly tomorrow. I rescheduled my flight a little later so I wouldn't have to fly before my computer counted down to 0 next to the little airplane. (He He)

- Jim

[jj1987]

What's the cost of nitrox there? We're planning a trip that'll bring us that way, I'd prefer to have a fill station somewhere close by.

[battles2a5]

I found out why my Dive Rite Nitek Duos read differently. I was wondering why I was getting to the safety stop on dives and one computer was showing deco and the other wasn't, or they were showing different deco obligations. The problem is that my depth sensors are off by 2 feet at the deeper depths. They read the same at shallower depths. Since I wear one on my left wrist and one on my right wrist, and carry my light in my right hand, I usually only read the left computer at depth. But there was more light at the deeper entrance to the Vortex cavern, so I was able to see the difference there. I clearly read 47 feet on one, and 49 feet on the other. So one computer thinks it is diving 2 feet deeper than the other, and that distance is probably greater at greater depths. Since DiveRite was here today, I asked Jeff Laughlin about it. He said that this is normal. I wish there were tighter quality controls than that on the depth sensor, to be totally honest. I would like to know which one is right.

I accidentally set mine to fresh water last weekend and I was having the same issue against my BT, the Duo was showing a couple of feet deeper. Make sure they are both set to fresh water (or salt, depending on where you are diving). It is easy to accidentally set it on the wrong one when you are scrolling through the dive mode setting up gasses. Hopefully this is the issue, it gives me the willies when a computer manufacturer is calling inaccurate depth measurements "normal".

[jimdiverman]

What's the cost of nitrox there? We're planning a trip that'll bring us that way, I'd prefer to have a fill station somewhere close by.

I actually didn't get Nitrox there since I was diving deeper, but here is the number for Vortex. Call and talk to Shane or Johnny Mac. They will have pricing for you for Nitrox and helium.

850-836-4979
850-836-4557

www.vortexspring.com

[jimdiverman]

I accidentally set mine to fresh water last weekend and I was having the same issue against my BT, the Duo was showing a couple of feet deeper. Make sure they are both set to fresh water (or salt, depending on where you are diving). It is easy to accidentally set it on the wrong one when you are scrolling through the dive mode setting up gasses. Hopefully this is the issue, it gives me the willies when a computer manufacturer is calling inaccurate depth measurements "normal".

I checked that half a dozen times. It is definitely not the wrong water type. Both computers are set to fresh. I wonder if they are labeled wrong in the electronics though. I may try switching one to salt and see what happens.

[battles2a5]

Wow, then that is scary. I would maybe try diving w/ a BT or another computer to see which of the Duo's matches it. 1-2 feet can make an appreciable difference in deco over an extended dive. Good luck w/ that.

[Serota]

I dive with 2 Duos and one reads about 4' deeper than the other at 100'. I have checked the settings many times and they are identical. I always do my deco based on the one that reads deeper and generates more deco time, but would be much more comfortable if they read the same. Also, I checked the depth readings against another computer and the DUO that read shallower matched. I think I will contact DR today and see what they say about this.

[Sludge]

I dive with an He and a Plus. They both give the same reading at depth.

[Cantey]

I dive with an He and a Plus. They both give the same reading at depth.

any chance you wanna part with that Nitek He?