Ginnie Report

[aainslie]

He really didn't head home, just exit the cave since we where only at the sign. Plus he could of if he wanted to, but didn't.

He could have sat in the middle of us on the scooter part and the swim. Anyway it was a cool dive.

Ah... THAT makes sense!

(I had visions of him swimming back 2000 ft on a 2W LED. Done it myself - not fun!!)

[chimie007]

(I had visions of him swimming back 2000 ft on a 2W LED. Done it myself - not fun!!)

LOL Try from 3300' Berman room solo Glad I had my mask light ON. Scootering was quite entertaining with the small Intova but I least I was out in no time...

Back on the hijacked topic...While I understand the copyright issues, this thread was a lot better with the labeled map....

[atedeschi]

I am going to make a stick map type thing when I get a chance.

[atedeschi]

Friday 20th:
Went in through the eye, dropped O2 on the gold line and began my swim. I jumped on to the Rollercoaster jump then back to the gold line. From there I jumped to the Hiller shortcut line then to the Hiller Tunnel. I made it to the end of the Hiller Tunnel, which placed me on the Double Domes line, were I swam to the EOL in the Double Domes. It is a really cool part of the cave and not that difficult to get to. I then got back on to the Hill 400/Hiller Line and began to swim out. On the way out I took a detour and made a jump to the first line of the Syphon tunnel and swam to the EOL of what I am calling Part 1 of the Syphon Tunnel. At this point I decided to head home and swam out back to the mainline and from there I hitched a ride from Dave on the way out.

BT: 2.5 hrs
RT: 3 hrs 20mins
Avg Depth: 85 feet
Setpoint: 1.0

Sunday 22nd:
Rode the scooter to the No DPV sign, dropped them and swam to the beginning part of the Scraper tunnel (I think 3400-3500'). We turned the dive, swam to our scooters, then drove out to the double domes jump, went to the EOL again and back to the gold line. From there we scooter to the Maple leaf and went down the Big Room/Bone Room line. After getting back on the gold line we headed back in made the Hill 400 jump and a light died, therefore the dive was over.

BT: 2 hrs
RT: 2 hrs 35mins
Avg Depth: 88 feet
Setpoint: 1.0

FYI: The Mainline is frayed right before the Mud Tunnel jump. Might be worth taking a look.

[atedeschi]

It has been awhile since I have posted a dive report, I still have been diving. Now its time to catch up with the reports and I have a map to go with it again. I am still continuing to learn the cave and see all the passages and having a blast doing so.

1/6/10
I started out late and just did a small dive to get back in the water after a month. I swam to Hill 400 jump, then jumped to July Springs and jumped right on to the Parallel Lines. At the first T I went right swam to the EOL, turned and went to the other side of the T. Reaching the 2nd T I went right again and swam to the EOL. Turned went back to the T, took the other direction and swam until it ends back at the Hill 400 line. At this point I turned the dive, headed home and pulled my spools.

1/7/10
Did a double stage dive to the back of Ginnie. Swam to where the EOL used to be, turned and took the 2nd T (Old Main Line) on the way to Chapel's Challenge. Swam to about 3800-3900' and turned my dive, picking up my stages on the way out.

1/7/10
Swam up to the Lips, and jumped in to the Lips Bypass. At the T we headed left back out to the Mainline. Once back on the mainline we swam until we jumped to the July Springs shortcut. From July springs we headed back to the Mainline via the Hill 400 line. At the mainline we swam up to the Mud Tunnel (The 2nd one), swam until we reached the Big/Bone Room line. At this point we turned the dive, headed back in to the Keyhole bypass to the Lips bypass to pull our spool.

1/8/10
On this dive I want to check out the Syphon Tunnels. Took the scooter up Hill 400 until I reach Syphon Tunnel (A), were I dropped the scooter. From here I swam the first part of the Syphon Tunnel and made it to the EOL, turned and head back out looking for the jump. I did not find it, but I know its there just missed it. At this point I swam back to the scooter, headed out to the mainline. Reaching the mainline I scooter up to the Maple leaf and exited via the Bone Room/Big Room line. I placed a spool to the wonder tunnel for my next dive.

1/8/10
Did a single stage swim to the Wonder Tunnel via mainline to the bone room line. Swam the EOL in the wonder tunnel, turned the dive and headed home.

Avg Depth 72'
Max Depth 91'
RT 1hr 29min
BT 1hr 7min

1/17/10
Did a similar dive as on 1/7/10 but with a different buddy. Only difference is we swam to the EOL of July Springs and did not go to the Mud Tunnel.

[deanme]

It has been awhile since I have posted a dive report, I still have been diving. Now its time to catch up with the reports and I have a map to go with it again. I am still continuing to learn the cave and see all the passages and having a blast doing so.


1/7/10
Did a double stage dive to the back of Ginnie. Swam to where the EOL used to be, turned and took the 2nd T (Old Main Line) on the way to Chapel's Challenge. Swam to about 3800-3900' and turned my dive, picking up my stages on the way out.

Two questions if I could please.

First, I'm planning to swim to the Hinkle, something I have never done. Could you please comment on your route? Did you swim up Roller Coaster and Hiller Tunnel and back to the main line? Or did you swim main line all the way? Also, where did you drop your two stages?

Second, I think I'm correct in saying you were diving during the 18 degree weather? How did you manage that? I'm guessing you had the place to yourself? I dive wet, so the cold kept me away.

Thanks,
dean

[FW]

Two questions if I could please.

First, I'm planning to swim to the Hinkle, something I have never done. Could you please comment on your route? Did you swim up Roller Coaster and Hiller Tunnel and back to the main line? Or did you swim main line all the way? Also, where did you drop your two stages?

Second, I think I'm correct in saying you were diving during the 18 degree weather? How did you manage that? I'm guessing you had the place to yourself? I dive wet, so the cold kept me away.

Thanks,
dean

The Roller Coaster is a way to avoid the high current on the mail line. With the current down, that may not help much.

[jj1987]

Two questions if I could please.

First, I'm planning to swim to the Hinkle, something I have never done. Could you please comment on your route? Did you swim up Roller Coaster and Hiller Tunnel and back to the main line? Or did you swim main line all the way? Also, where did you drop your two stages?

Second, I think I'm correct in saying you were diving during the 18 degree weather? How did you manage that? I'm guessing you had the place to yourself? I dive wet, so the cold kept me away.

Thanks,
dean

Dean,

If it's any help, typically stage 1 gets people in the 700ft range. I have to drop a bit early because as you know, too far beyond 700ft and you're going to be dropping the stage in the clay. Stage 2 I drop in the 1600ft range near the double domes jump.

I've found roller coaster doesn't really save me any time. I don't have the balls to let myself start doing visual jumps, and putting in 2 jump reels seems to kill any time you save. I can't see any way the hillier tunnel would save time, but I haven't tried it either. However, if you're OK visualling, the roller coaster certainly saves time.

Have you seen the split, insulation rooms, and sweet surprise? They're all prettier than the heinkle and easier to get to if you're swimming.

The one last thing I do differently on these long Ginnie dives is bring 3 o2 bottles between 2 divers. If you really take your time on the way out, especially near the heinkle where it's >100ft in some areas, you'll rack up close to 25-30min of o2 deco, and your buddy wont have enough spare o2 to share if needed due to a failure or stolen o2 bottle.

[atedeschi]

Two questions if I could please.

First, I'm planning to swim to the Hinkle, something I have never done. Could you please comment on your route? Did you swim up Roller Coaster and Hiller Tunnel and back to the main line? Or did you swim main line all the way? Also, where did you drop your two stages?

Second, I think I'm correct in saying you were diving during the 18 degree weather? How did you manage that? I'm guessing you had the place to yourself? I dive wet, so the cold kept me away.

Thanks,
dean

As far as route, I did it from mainline, to rollercoaster, back to mainline. As far as stages both times I swam I was on CCR so I had a stage at stage bottle rock and then my lp45s on my person. The other time I was scootering so again it was different. I did it with a buddy who did it on OC. What they did was a setup dive leaving a stage at stage bottle rock. Then on the henkle swim he droped his staged at the rollercoaster jump, went to backgas. Swam to stage bottle rock picked up his stage and continued to the hinkle. The time to do it is now, the flow is down some, put the vis sucks for Ginnie vis. Doesn't clean up till about mainland. Do not take the Hiller it is not faster.

[deanme]

Dean,

If it's any help, typically stage 1 gets people in the 700ft range. I have to drop a bit early because as you know, too far beyond 700ft and you're going to be dropping the stage in the clay. Stage 2 I drop in the 1600ft range near the double domes jump.

I've found roller coaster doesn't really save me any time. I don't have the balls to let myself start doing visual jumps, and putting in 2 jump reels seems to kill any time you save. I can't see any way the hillier tunnel would save time, but I haven't tried it either. However, if you're OK visualling, the roller coaster certainly saves time.

Have you seen the split, insulation rooms, and sweet surprise? They're all prettier than the heinkle and easier to get to if you're swimming.

The one last thing I do differently on these long Ginnie dives is bring 3 o2 bottles between 2 divers. If you really take your time on the way out, especially near the heinkle where it's >100ft in some areas, you'll rack up close to 25-30min of o2 deco, and your buddy wont have enough spare o2 to share if needed due to a failure or stolen o2 bottle.

Thanks for the input.

I almost always take one stage into Ginnie and drop it off around the Hill 400 jump. I dive solo in Ginnie, and having a stage waiting for me at the Hill 400 jump gives me peace of mind in case of an equipment failure. I dive side-mount and always dive thirds, but having an extra tank waiting for me so far back into the cave is nice.

I almost never put in jumps reels while diving Ginnie, so I’ll try the Roller Coaster to save time with the flow on the mainline. I’ll skip the Hillier, and plan on dropping my second stage on the main line sometime after the jump back to the main line from Roller Coaster around Hangers and Weights, depending on when I hit thirds on my second stage.

I’ve never swam to Sweet Surprise. I’ve never been much beyond the main line then the jump to the Double Domes. So I appreciate the input about Sweet Surprise being better then the Heinkle. I’ll target Sweet Surprise instead of the Heinkle.

I agree, it is a bit stressful when you build up 30 or 40 minutes of backgas deco and are somewhat dependent on your O2 bottle. If figure in a pinch I can decompress with my backgas reserve and the reserve in my stage bottle. I almost always go in the Ear and out the Eye, tying off my O2 bottle at the sign in the Gallery, and I can’t imagine anyone who can get to the sign taking an O2 bottle. It would be interesting to hear if anyone has had an O2 bottle stolen, and if so, where it was dropped.

dean