Double Domes

[Rick Palm]

2/7/2007:

John Townson and I brought an extra stage bottle each, swam up the main line and jumped to the Double Domes line, traveling to the end of the line at 1822 feet. The line is tied to the far wall of the last Dome. A bit of an arduous swim up the main line, but flow diminished once we were in the Double Domes, a big tunnel with a milky haze. It is an appealing place, however, and worth the effort to get there. The Dome is Romanesque, somewhat like the White Room, but not as big, it seemed to me.

At the beginning of the dive, we breathed a stage bottle down one third, dropped it off at the Junction Room, switching to back gas there. We both hit thirds at the end of the Double Domes line.

Total gas used on ingress: 132 cubic feet. Gas used on egress: 83 cubic feet. Decompression obligation was 28 minutes at 10 feet, reduced to 12 minutes on 100% oxygen. Bottom time was 80 minutes. SAC rate was 0.7 cubic feet per minute based on an average depth of 88 feet. Bottom gas FO2 was 32%.

[stickydeco]

Good going Rick. That is probably one of my most favorite Ginnie swims. The variation that Jackie and I like to do is to stage to Rollercoaster, up RC to the end of line, make an immediate left to the Beatle Tunnel, then in about 200 ft, go right with a jump onto the Hill 400-Hillyer Line to EOL and then a left onto the DD line. Exit Main Line. Almost the same time for the whole mess, but a lot more "stuff" to look at and out of the flow. Going up them Sand Dunes tucker this Boy out! Jackie likes the DD's cause she can cuss me up a good one about my piss-poor technique halfway thru the dive!

Idiot Boy Jack

[mfascuba]

If you're going to talk to each other in the air space, don't breath in from it - you don't know what's in it (I don't). Breath in from your reg, speak to exhale, repeat. Last thing you want is a problem that far back. That's a kick butt dive, and about the far reaches of "swim territory". Much further brings quite the deco obligation if you're not scootering.

Nice report!

Mark

[Rick Palm]

Mark and Jack: Thanks for the comments! Jack, I looked on the map at the variation you described and it does look really good. I've never been in the Hillier Tunnel. From looking at the map, it appears that the Roller Coaster cuts off a lot of the distance we swam in the Main Line. Plus, as you mention, it's out of the wicked flow, with more to see (the Mud Flats get old quickly!) We will try that one soon, and let you know how it goes.

Mark, are you guys suggesting that there is an actual air space in the Double Domes where you can pop heads out of the water? We didn't see it, but that would be wild!

Thanks again for the comments, gentlemen, and good diving!

[stickydeco]

The Hillier Tunnel is ABSOLUTLY beautiful. You will love it. Once you get to the end of the line jump over to the DD line (like about a 1 ft jump!) At that point look right and you will be within less than 100 ft of the Ginnie ML Yes, go up into the top of that "Romanesque Dome" (the bigger one) and by damn, have that conversation. doing it the way Mark suggests. When my honey has absolutely had it with my BS and refuses to go with me on a given day, I just solo up to there so I can talk to myself. It's a great deal!

Crazy Jack