GUE Cave 1 / NSS-CDS Apprentice
Page 3
Day 2, we arrive before class and drive to the back of EE to get our tanks filled.
We start the day 2 lecture with some deco theory from the Cave II class. I learned some important things, such as how to modify Decoplanner tables for real world diving. After the lecture we headed over to Peacock Springs.
The water level at Peacock I is much lower than last year, and I couldn't see
the little aligator anywhere.
On the first dive, Francis ran the reel, Pat, and then me into the pothole tunnel. After the pothole gap, I called the dive on sixths. I was leading the dive out when Francis' light went out, I stopped and turned around to see what happend to the bright 18w helios light. I tried to signal to Pat to stop, but I ended up just hitting Pat on the head a few times. Francis moved into the #2 position and we headed out. From reading Joe Talavera's Cave 1 Experience I knew we would have to stop for our 20 foot deco stop before we finished removing the reel. At about 20' I tried to signal to Pat and Francis to stop for deco, they looked a little confused, but we eventually all stopped.
For the second dive I ran the reel, Pat, then Francis into the Peanut Tunnel. Although the main line now runs almost to open water, for the class we ignored this and ran our own line. I lead the dive until the breakdown room and then Tamara turned the dive. Pat started sharing air with me, then we turned our lights off and started exiting the cave sharing air in touch contact. Everything went well until we had to cross over the line at the end of the peanut tunnel. Pat signaled me to cross the line, I thought he was worried about kicking me in the head with his feet, so I sort of "helped him" (to be read as pushed) his legs over the line. The next thing I know I can feel Pat plummet towards the floor of the cave since there is a drop off past the mini restriction. Luckily Pat didn't lose the regulator from his mouth (7' hose is a real good thing) and we continued to the reel. It seemed like we were still far from the cave entrance, but we could see some green light pouring in from the openwater.
After the dives, I stoped by the Country Store to get some snacks.