Completed Cavern Successfully

[mainedvr]

Well,

We completed cavern successfully, began intro but I felt it was a bit outside of my comfort zone so we are going to work on our skills dive all the caverns we can and then try it again another trip.

I want to thank our instructor Peter Mc Cumber for all his hard work and helping us plan our trip. The extra work he did with us on doubles really helped with our long term dive goals outside of cave diving.

I know a few people commented about certs and that doubles was not a class or a cert or something to that affect. Well, in our case it was not a class nor presented as a class we did not have time to learn it on our own so I asked someone to work with us and while I am sure we could have gotten someone to do it sometime for no cost for the little we paid for someone's time (I know my time is money) it was sooooo worth it.

Anyhow, we dove Devils Ear made it to the grim reaper twice and I just did not feel it and while eating lunch I thought about it and decided to make a second dive, well got down to that point again and I hung out looked around and man was it beautiful but again I just did not feel I was ready to be tortured and twisted in that enviroment so decided to enjoy the scenery then turn the dive on sixths and during the debriefing I decided no intro at this time for me.

It was a great learning experience and I feel just with the cavern course alone we are much more prepared and capable divers.

Thanks again for all the input and we will see everyone around but only as far as the cavern for us for now.

[downunder]

Very well said. Glad you enjoyed it

[rddvet]

It's always respectable when someone doesn't push their limits or training when not comfortable. Out of curiosity did you do all of your dives at ginnie? I remember my first dives at ginnie and the flow made for a not fun first experience and had it been the sole place I dove during cave training I would have been very frustrated. The flow adds so much to the equation and to your workload that it can be overwhelming. I wonder if some dives in another system may affect your decision or not. Either way it shows you have a safe attitude which is what you need. We don't need zero to heros with no fear getting themselves killed.

[Leam]

mainedvr, you made the right call. I blogged about this on one of my own dives and being there gave me a new respect for those who chose wisely and not with their ego.

Leam

[mainedvr]

Up to that point yes we were at the ballroom but had moved to the devils ear and eye today. The flow was pretty amazing but that really did not bug me just a few things in the beginning made me think about some of the skills and how important they are. So I feel getting them much more tuned would work best for me rather than go right from Cavern. Also, there were a boat load of OW divers there and on the way into the ear what would have been the second time as I approached the cavern it was just wall to wall people and one person came blasting out. From what I got an instructor had taken some OW students into the cavern....the actually response was "well they are with their instructor" don't think it was a cavern class but anyhow. It was lots of fun and man what a beautiful formation I can only just imagine what is beyond and that gives me something to work towards at my own pace. We are going to dive some of the caverns the next few days putting what we learned into action and improving.

And thanks for the encouragement.

It's always respectable when someone doesn't push their limits or training when not comfortable. Out of curiosity did you do all of your dives at ginnie? I remember my first dives at ginnie and the flow made for a not fun first experience and had it been the sole place I dove during cave training I would have been very frustrated. The flow adds so much to the equation and to your workload that it can be overwhelming. I wonder if some dives in another system may affect your decision or not. Either way it shows you have a safe attitude which is what you need. We don't need zero to heros with no fear getting themselves killed.

[hunabku]

That's so great that you listened to yourself and stayed within your comfort zone. What the rush? I did about 40 cavern dives before I took my intro and when the time came to move up the class was a breeze and fun rather than a stressful mess.

Enjoy yourself!

[diveconjeff]

....I can only just imagine what is beyond and that gives me something to work towards at my own pace.....

And thanks for the encouragement.

It might be more accurate to say you can only "try" to imagine...

THe good thing is, the caves are in no hurry to go anywhere. It gives those that are willing to focus on the journey instead of the destination plenty of time to enjoy and grow.

Your enthusiasm reminds me of another cave diver I know pretty well.

[stairman]

congratulations on the cavern cert! Youll be a lot better diver from here on . Devils can be a bit intimidating for a first cave dive with the flow and all the kraggly formations. I think a low flow cave is a better choice for the first day of intro cave, but no need to rush it really, many dive to their level for a year before proceeding further. Theres a lot to learn in a short time and add in possible dangers, breathing hard and knowing you have to perform to standards under this stress and its a bit of a challenge. Glad it went well.

[sskasser]

Congratulations and welcome to the sickness!

Dive safe, and dive often!
Shirley

[Sludge]

Devils can be a bit intimidating for a first cave dive with the flow and all the kraggly formations.

Yes, my first intro dive was at Peacock 1 - only about a thousand times easier to enter the cave zone.