1985--one certified cavern diver and two OW's diving Madison Blue, when it was still just a place to drive up too and jump in!

We had been there before and diving the horseshoe was fun. In the big entrance around the bend using the permanent line and out the small entrance. This time we stopped around the bend out of the light zone, I noticed a small entrance leading down to another room and from there on to cave country! I gave the signal to OW diver #1, "hold the line and stay here". I grabbed his hand on the line and sternly looked at him meaning "stay". Even though I had a jump line, I foolishly did not use it and descended down into the opening with OW diver #2. Two lights, Y valve, lots of diving experience etc, but no jump line and out of my realm. I look up, good, OW #1 is still on the line and I can see him. We poke around and suddenly I'm aware of OW#1 has left the line and joined us. I signal up to everyone and we ascend to the main cavern. Suddenly, out of the light zone we cannot find the main line. We search and stay in the immediate area. Now to the mega cavers I know this sounds ridiculous, but to three non cave trained divers we got panicky! No entrance light, no line, and back in a cave. Suddenly confusing thoughts race through my mind "did we really go up into the main cavern?" "If so, where's the main line?" "Maybe we're lost in a side tunnel, etc" You could feel the fear set in and see it in the eyes of my two dive buddies. They were looking at me and panic was setting in. I knew the odds would not be good with dealing with two panicked divers, maybe by myself I could get a handle on this but the fear was setting in fast and you could feel it.

I checked my gauge, plenty of air on my single 80cf (2100 psi)I had to do something fast or thoughts of the typical dive stories of people clawing might happen here. I stopped still for the briefest moment I could spare and felt the slightest drift of the current on my face. Turning, I began swimming hard toward what I thought was the exit. I knew my two OW buddies would follow. A quick glance back and there they were. Nothing seemed familiar in the cave as I swam. Suddenly there it was, the entrance, light never looked so good.

I learned some valuable lessons that day.
1) something small can grow into a giant in the right circumstances
2) at all cost keep cool and try to evaluate an escape plan
3) use your equipment, especially if you have it on you. I felt utterly foolish for not using something as simple as a jump reel
4) stay out of areas you are not trained
5) know your dive buddies and avoid diving with idiots.

Things can happen fast in an environment that requires precise training and equipment. Stay out if not trained or equipped. I wondered later how many have perished just so close to the entrance through sheer panic.