My Humble intro:
Well, I actually passed the class with Jill Heinerth and am now CCR/Full Cave
Jill is an awesome instructor and makes even the "butt chewing" bearable. I definitely choose the right instructor!
I still have a long way to go, and need a lot more cave dives under my belt. Hopefully, I will be able to get up to cave country once a month to add to my experience.
I had the opportunity to meet a lot of folk during my "week of hell" and found the cave diving community to be very friendly and hospitable.
Here is what I got recorded from my class, I didn't get much recorded from the first few days and now my memory is gone
CAVE CLASS DIVE LOG
Friday June 27, 2008
Day 1
Ginnie Springs
Dive 1
Ballroom
Most of our first dive was done in the basin. We ran lines and did touch contact drills.
Dive 2
Ballroom
Lost line drills.
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Saturday June 28, 2008
Day 2
Peacock
1 2 and 3 are all at different locations(stairs)
Dive 1
Peacock 1
Dive 2
Peacock 2
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Sunday June 29, 2008
Day 3
Madison Blue
Wooden platforms at 20' for deco.
Dive 1
Dive 2
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Monday June 30, 2008
Day 4
Ginnie Springs
long swim through a "path" to get to the opening of Devils Ear with a big log in opening at 20' for deco.
Dive 1
Devils Eye
Dive 2
Devils Ear
This dive was just to set the reel for the next dive and to experience to outflow and control our ascents for deco.
Dive 3
Devil Ear
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Tuesday July 1, 2008
Day 5
Little River
Small parking lot without any shelters or picnic tables. Suiting up is a pain in the ass. Jiffy johns only, no bathrooms. Long staircase to traverse.
Dive 1
Jill lead the way. Tony was second and ran the line. We ran a primary line to the main line and then followed until the first set of double arrows and then did a jump to the left. We followed this line til the first set of double arrows and did a jump to the right. We followed this line (same as the first primary line) an little further when Jill turned the dive. I did not see Jill turn the dive, I thought Tony turned it.
We turned and began the return. We did the entire exit on backup lights (I need to reconfigure my backup lights, it was a ***** to get one out) I stopped after each jump and waited for Tony to gather up the reels. At on point, I had to plaster myself to the ceiling to avoid the flow. We also did a tank swap during the exit (not pretty, but it was done).
We were suppposed to do a line cut/repair drill at the turn point, but we forgot and just exited.
Just before the primary tieoff, Tony signaled me, Jill was missing. We turned to go find her. She was not very far behind and We found her quickly. We both assumed that she was just watching us fumble along, but it turns out that we just left her at the turn point. We felt like idiots for leaving a team member in the cave.
Dive 2
I lead the way. Tony was #2 and Jill was #3. I ran the primary line to the main line and we followed that the entire dive. At the "T" we went right. Tony stopped to catch his breath. Later, I stopped to catch my breath, at this point the dive was turned. On the way out, we did a line cut/repair drill. After the drill our exit order was changed, Tony led the way, I was #2 and Jill was #3. I looked back many times and made visual references to her lights during the entire exit. After untieing from the main line and starting up to do our deco, I signaled Jill to go in front of me as I reeled in.
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Wednesday July 2, 2008
Day 6
Peacock 2
This is the furthest back one. The entrance is directly under the steps and is deep enough for a giant stride from the steps.
Dive 1
Peacock 2
This dive was to set up for our first circuit. We did not run a primary, but used the existing temporary one. Tony led the group, I was second and Jill was last. I felt like I was working way too hard, right from the beginning, in an attempt to keep up with Tony. We followed the main line to the right side. I had to stop and catch my breath on the main line. We did a jump to the tunnel on the left at about 1000'. We traveled about 200' to the end of the line and jumped to the other main line. We turned the dive and began the exit. I stopped to catch my breath, but was not having any luck. I was ready to BO to OC when Jill gave me the "out of air" sign. Not a problem, I wanted OC anyway. I was not catching my breath and was really hating the feeling of doom and dispair that was creeping up on me. I grabbed a rock and halted for awhile. I had all kinds of unpleasant thoughts running through my head. In all reality, I have never been so scared underwater in my life. The one thing that (in my mind) kept me from lossing it was the conscience effort that I was putting forward to breathe long deep breaths and relax. I knew that I had to get my breathing under more control. I let go of the rock and continued to exit, but my breathing was still not completely normal. I was exiting slow and careful so as to breathe as easy as possible. When I sucked my BO tank dry and switched to my second tank, I picked up the pace greatly, because I was now concerned with having enough gas to make the exit. Turns out that I still had plenty. I went back on the loop at the safety stop.
Dive 2
Peacock 2
This dive was to complete the circuit. I was a little nervous about diving after my last experience, but needed to "get back on the horse". I geared up very slowly and really did an overkill of tests in the water while prebreathing at the surface. When I was finally relaxed enough, the dive was on. I led, Tony was second and Jill followed. We took the mainline to the left this time. In the beginning I was still "face planted" but later in the dive was hovering above the line. This works much better. I set the pace much slower and at the 1000' or so I found the reel that Tony had left earlier in the day. I followed the jump and Tony collected the reel. Same at the next jump. On our way out Jill had Tony do a mask off drill. I offered assistance by guiding him along the route.
**********************
Thursday July 3, 2008
Day 7
Ginnie Springs
Dive 1
Devils Ear
I noticed that my dump valve string was missing on the swim to the ear and we returned so that I could make repairs. The plan was to BO, switch regs and swap tanks with buddy. I lead and ran the primary line to the main line. Tony was #2 and Jill was #3. I started out low and tried to go high to get out of the current. I went to OC and took the planned 10 breaths, then switched to my 2nd tank for 10 more breaths. I was already working too hard and getting out of breathe again. I grabbed the wall and signaled "hold". I went back on the loop here. Jill was writing on her wetnotes when I saw Tony "thumb" and saw 2 regs in his hand. Jill showed me the notes and I signaled NO with a shake of my head and signaled "thumb" and pointed to Tony. I began to go toward Tony and motioned for Jill to follow me (there was NO way that I was going to leave my instructor in the cave again). During the exit I made sure that Jill was following. I left the line for the next dive. We did a very short stop and ascended. Tony went to repair his regs
Dive 2
Devils Ear
We had a similar plan, but this time it would be done on the way out instead during entry. At the entrance we met a solo diver who signaled me with a signal that I didn't understand (flat palm pointing away from him). We went past the lips when Jill thumbed and we began the exit. Just when the cave opened (lips) we began the drills. We deployed a regulator, stowed the reg, and then swapped tanks. It was not very pretty, but we got it done. My big concern was to stay off the floor (i did it too). We got to the reel and I waited till jill was on the exit side to reel up. We stopped at the log and Tony played batman again.
I look forward to meeting and diving with some of you>
Don
Welcome to the Cave Diver's Forum.
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Originally Posted by Slüdge
I wasn't there on Thursday, but I'm thinking I see Wingman often enough around the store, if I have a username and real name paired right in my head, so he could point me out easily enough. 
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