Cave Survey Paper has arrived!

[Webmaster]

Coil binding is pretty sorry stuff. Get the ring binder, it's much more useful and durable that way. You can easily take the used sheets out and put fresh ones in after each trip, or add back in sheets for a particular area you're pushing (after you scan them). It also gives a more rigid platform to write on, hold pencils, compass etc....

[rchrds]

I thought it was a good survey joke. LOL!

Didn't you say in May you were getting a giant package? Can we buy that stuff from you now?

Getting a giant package? I HAVE a giant package. Enormous. Fantabulous. Wait a minute, what are we talking about? Do you still need some of my giant package?

[Squirrel Girl]

Getting a giant package? I HAVE a giant package. Enormous. Fantabulous. Wait a minute, what are we talking about? Do you still need some of my giant package?

OK, I laughed a little out loud at your previous joke. I LAUGHED A LOT at this one! You slay me! You bet, baby, I *NEED* some of your giant package! I'll even PAY you for it!

[sandy]

OK, I laughed a little out loud at your previous joke. I LAUGHED A LOT at this one! You slay me! You bet, baby, I *NEED* some of your giant package! I'll even PAY you for it!

I thought you were buying a scooter from someone else.

[aainslie]

I'd love to buy some if you're having more made.

[L.A.]

Coil binding is pretty sorry stuff. Get the ring binder, it's much more useful and durable that way. You can easily take the used sheets out and put fresh ones in after each trip, or add back in sheets for a particular area you're pushing (after you scan them). It also gives a more rigid platform to write on, hold pencils, compass etc....

I haven't seen the ring binder for wet notes. Who makes the binder? Or, is this 'adapted' for diving from Office Depot?

[Squirrel Girl]

I haven't seen the ring binder for wet notes. Who makes the binder? Or, is this 'adapted' for diving from Office Depot?

IMO sells this one: http://www.innermountainoutfitters.n...n%20the%20Rain

It holds 100 sheets, so it says. At home I have a thick one and a thin one. I think I like the thin one better. Don't remember the number of sheets. Probably a google on Rite in the Rain will take care of things.

BTW - I was sent a link to a youtube video this morning. My favorite scene is the one where Mark (or Forrest) is flipping pages in his binder underwater:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=162cecAeSxU

[Squirrel Girl]

Here ya go:

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/pr...2+Ring+Binders

Has both the 1/2" and 1". I like the 1/2" better.

[rchrds]

Yea, I have to agree with Barbara, the half inch binder works better in the water, I use the 1 inch binders to archive data at the house, I have a whole shelf of them full of cave data.

Andrew, I will have to get another case soon, I have been using it all up this year. I will post when that happens.

Jason

[rchrds]

As a follow on to this post, Shirley asked me a question in a private email, the answer to which I think might help some folks out. Here it is:

On 10/14/2010 4:04 PM, Shirley Kasser wrote:
> In an underwater setting, where you can't yell readings to the book holder, how do you split duties between members of the team?
>


It depends directly on the accuracy of the survey. If you are doing only compass and knotted line, only one person does all the survey, and no communication is necessary.

If you are running tape, here is the process (practice it on the surface first)

1. lead swims out to the next station with the dumb end of the tape and holds it on the station.
2. Book pulls the tape slowly, adding tension. If the tape doesn't move, she pulls until the tape is snug and reads the distance. Then releases the tape tension. Book reads azimuth and depth and records. Book then swims to lead, reeling the tape.
3. As soon as book is in sight, lead starts swimming to the next station.

There are a couple of things happening here which may not be immediately obvious:

1. Lead is completely responsible for picking stations. This can hinder you if they suck at it.
2. The team is often not in emergency action distance of each other. You are essentially solo diving. We sometimes mitigate this by having a third swimming around in the middle.
3. There is some communication happening through tape tension. If lead is not ready to have the station pulled, and book starts pulling, lead can jerk it three times to signal they need slack. If lead has gone too far and has to swim back, book may have to reel some tape up before the tape is back under tension. With a quick team (i.e. Chrissy and I) She is good at setting stations, and as soon as the tape stops unspooling I can pull tension. Usually while it is unspooling I can get the other readings done, so the last measurement at the station is distance, but this often requires three hands- one to hold the unspooling tape.

I think that is about it. If one were really fastidious, one could have lead taking back azimuths at the front stations, but I fear this might just show how inaccurate in water survey really is.

Jason