Nearly catastrophic gas failure and snoozing on deco

[PeterVICEG]

In the early 90's my partner and I were working on connecting the resurgence of one of the largest caves on Vancouver Island to the main cave. We were in the fifth sump in this alpine cave and had decided we were up for pushing what we called the letterbox. This is at a depth of aprox 140 and of course we were breathing air. Folks had been looking at this for many years, but had sensibly turned back. The hazard is that the passage trends down steeply to a very tight but wide opening. The opening is through rock, top and bottom, and is at the bottom of a steep pile of gravel that lies at the angle of repose due no doubt to being placed there by the sping freshet.

In addition to the clunking dive lights I had strapped to my helmet I had an English Speleotechnics cave light with the big red battery on a belt in the middle of my back. Of course we were diving side mount.

I was able to wriggle through and soon my partner joined me. Previously we had been blessed with great vis but that quickly changed now that we were in much smaller passage as the silt was fairly raining down on us due to our bubbles. We proceeded to lay some line but I got kinda creeped out and turned the dive despite not yet at thirds.

We were still using yolk connectors for the first stage to tank. When I attempted to squirm my way back through that brick shaped red battery in the small of my back jammed me tight in the squeeze. One hand in front and one behind I wailed away until I decided to do the manly thing and just give err.

Next thing I knew I had popped off the first stage on my left side which sent hp air up the steep gravel slope which instantly and unfortunately buried me. It was also unfortunate that I was breathing off of that reg.

For sure an os moment. Somehow I was able to wriggle back, find my other second stage and turn off the offending tank. It was then that I learned that one can re attach a first stage underwater. My partner was blissfully unaware of all the drama due to the lack of vis. He did notice my fins flapping around, but thought little of it.

I have never felt bad about turning a dive before thirds after that. I needed that air.

Then there was the time I was sleeping on deco on the cave ceiling. Alone of course, I had been doing this deco for several days in a row and had become complacent. With me suit overinflated I was enjoying my snooze, lights out, when I sucked the tank dry. So.... I had to, work out what was wrong, turn on a light, open my exhaust valve, descend a few feet, grab one of the other tanks that was just out of reach, turn it on and purge it. Not one of my finer moments.

Peter