Newly Minted Cave Diver!! :-)

[GreatLakesDiver]

Congrats Tracy!!!!

It is a great feeling completing the class. I just finished by Cavern and Intro. I now can't wait to get back into the caves! Its very addicting.

[FW]

That is great Tracy, all that hard work paid off

[tsimon]

From one Tracy to another Tracy, congrats!

[T. Bix]

Re. Devils Ear -- there are eddies and currents at the top of the gallery that will actually pull you in if you know to look/work with them. Go gently and easy, don't fight the cave, be sensual and gentle with it and she will reward you.

Funny and fickle the comentaries can be here! When I first got Intro cert'd I mentioned how my fingerprints were worn and how happy I was to be in that condition as a result of the hard work. The responses I got ran all the way from " I didn't belong in there if I couldn't pull and glide properly" to "genuine congrats from some". I've moved on to full cave and even got myself a season pass to Ginnie. The thing that I learned along the way is just exactly as Ken says you can get quite a way with little work if you know what to look for in the Gallery. But at least for me it seems like tons of work to get from the Lips through the Keyhole. Once I get throught that short section I really relax and it doesn't seem that much like work. I guess I'm saying don't give up on Ginnie even though it's regarded as a "tourist" system there is still lots to see and do in there.

[BabyDuck]

congrats! welcome!

[MichaelAngelo]

Welcome to the legions of the Dark side. As for the flow in Devils, in time you will learn to pull and not cut up your fingers. In the main galleryIi advise divers to follow the white lines. Yes I know the main line is gold but if you look up high to the left side you will see a white wear line from divers pulling thru the lower flow areas. Like the steps at a bus terminal the wear indicates major traffic flow. Crowds of People like water always flow thru the paths of least resistense. Even in the areas where there is less traffic (further in the system or smaller tunnels) you will notice (if you look) wear signs at an arms lenght apart. Reusing the same pull points allows you two things: A) you most like going thru the path of least resistense and B) your helping limit the wear to those points. Have fun go slow dive safe.
MA

[Sludge]

The responses I got ran all the way from " I didn't belong in there if I couldn't pull and glide properly" ...

Please ignore idiots like that. Some of us have been cave diving for over fifteen years, but having baby-soft skin, still get cut-up fingers.

in time you will learn to pull and not cut up your fingers.

I quit getting cut-up fingers when I bought a scooter.

[JamesK]

Please ignore idiots like that. Some of us have been cave diving for over fifteen years, but having baby-soft skin, still get cut-up fingers.

I quit getting cut-up fingers when I bought a scooter.

So do you moisturize?

[TracyN]

Congrats Tracy, next step....think how much you will save on fills switching to a rebreather.

I don't see a rebreather in my future.

[TracyN]

That is great Tracy, all that hard work paid off

Thanks Forrest. I remembered to keep my head down. What a difference that made. Thank you for all of your help.