Caverns OK for OW CCR Divers

[Tegg]

no one in their right mind would back a breather out to beauford

Especially with the daily rains we have been getting... I bet the swamp is "prime" right now...

[Greenwood_60]

no one in their right mind would back a breather out to beauford

Why do you say that? Not questioning, just curious. I have heard that about packing doubles in, but that is for weight reasons.

[ffdiver5597]

no one in their right mind would back a breather out to beauford

"an adventure is never fun while it's happening"

[Ken Hill]

no one in their right mind would back a breather out to beauford

We did! 3:20 run time searched every nook and cranny for any leads (none to be found.) All of 22 minutes deco. You are right about the muck! It is definitely a no-no for the OP who has no overhead training despite the CCR ticket.
/Ken

[Art Greenberg]

IMHO , some overhead environment training as well as some advanced nitrox/deco procedures training if you don't already have that should be in your plans for the near future. It seems to me that a rebreather can easily give you enough rope to hang yourself and the emergency procedures taught in such classes could help you and your wife from becoming statistics. Not trying to worry you, just some food for thought.

We're trained through CCR normoxic trimix, and we have some overhead training (wreck penetration). And IMO we're approaching "novice" skill levels with about 100 hours on CCR. We don't have any documented cave specific overhead training.

I am _not_ looking to dive beyond our level of certification. I specifically asked where, within a reasonable driving distance of our new home, open water certified divers can dive without making a certified cave diver's head explode.

We made two nice dives at Blue Grotto today. It's been 5 months since our last dives, and it was a good place to shake off any rust and practice skills. It wasn't necessary to go deeper than 50 feet. And the silt there wasn't all that scary to us.

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Art

[stairman]

Jersey to Gainsville, talk about your culture shock! With a cavern cert you will have alot more places to go and the training for 2 days is well worth it. Youll learn so much and the no lights rule will pertain to others.

[Al]

I specifically asked where, within a reasonable driving distance of our new home, open water certified divers can dive without making a certified cave diver's head explode.

There goes a keyboard.

al

[Art Greenberg]

With a cavern cert you will have alot more places to go and the training for 2 days is well worth it. Youll learn so much and the no lights rule will pertain to others.

OK, let me ask this. Who will teach cavern in CCR? And where can we go with a cavern card and CCR? I am under the impression (and I know I could be wrong) that the only CCR "cave" class is just that - zero to hero on CCR, equivalent to full cave straight through. We're not interested in anything like that. And we need to stay sharp with respect to CCR related skills, so switching to open circuit just so we can do a cavern dive does not make sense.

For now our "real" diving (I'm probably going to get some flak for that) will be reefs and wrecks in South Florida and the Keys. We want to learn about places to go near us between those trips so we can stay active. We wouldn't be very happy being "vacation divers." I don't think that's very compatible with CCR.

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Art

[FW]

OK, let me ask this. Who will teach cavern in CCR? And where can we go with a cavern card and CCR? I am under the impression (and I know I could be wrong) that the only CCR "cave" class is just that - zero to hero on CCR, equivalent to full cave straight through. We're not interested in anything like that. And we need to stay sharp with respect to CCR related skills, so switching to open circuit just so we can do a cavern dive does not make sense.

For now our "real" diving (I'm probably going to get some flak for that) will be reefs and wrecks in South Florida and the Keys. We want to learn about places to go near us between those trips so we can stay active. We wouldn't be very happy being "vacation divers." I don't think that's very compatible with CCR.

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Art

Talk to some CCR cave instructors. I am sure some of them would be willing to work with you. They may have to get a waiver to teach Cavern in CCR, but it can be done.

Here are a few:

Jill Heinerth 340 Cave

High Springs, Florida, USA
CCR Cave, Survey, Stage, Sidemount, DPV
www.IntoThePlanet.com
Paul Heinerth 165 Cave

Hudson, Florida, USA
CCR Cave, Stage, Sidemount, DPV, Sponsor
www.scubawest.net

Lamar Hires 191 Cave

Lake City, Florida, USA
CCR Cave, Sidemount, Stage, Sponsor
www.diverite.com

[Doppler]

Hey Art, contact Jill, Paul or Lamar and ask... the worst they can say is no. You WILL have fun.