Diepolder November 2014

November 2014 Cave Diving Florida

   I took a short four day dive trip with the target area of High Springs, FL. I stayed at the Cadillac Motel which has nice ground level large room with big refrigerator and a nice flat screen. 

   I started diving the eye of Ginny Springs Friday 11/14. The day I arrived for shakedown dive. Next day dove with Austrian Dave and instructor Scott Byars in Madison Blue State Park in Lee, FL 32059. We dove a stage. I had a little trouble due to gauge on stage was pointing down. But in all it was a good dive.

   Next dive was Diepolder three in Spring Hill, FL. A great challenging decompression dive my third at Diepolder Three. 253 feet total of 76 minutes. Next Diepolder Two. Requirement for Two is 3 dives at Three. This was a trimix decompression dive. My mix was 13/52. I also had 50% and 100% deco gas.

   Monday I dove Indian Springs.  This dive I carried a stage because we were at 140 feet for a short time then we were in a room that was about 80 foot deep. We breathed off an 80 cubic foot stage with a 30 % mix then back to back gas with trimix of 26/32. Indian has some of the largest rooms that in a traveling cave or a cave that is not just a big sink. A great cave. A guide is needed like Diep older.

   The last day Tuesday was 2 dives. Little River and Cow Springs. Little River the flow was kick ass. It was hard work the whole dive. Being spit on the way out was dangerous due to the change in depth. We dove it on 32% mix. I did bring Go Pro. The first part of video is ok but rest is spotty.

   Last dive was cow. Cow is another spectacular cave. Very tight on the way in, with tight zigs and zags at the beginning. Then it has an uphill ski rope to pull for about 100yards so as not to destroy the sand base I like to pull... I hit a restriction that I wasn't comfortable with and that was our turning point. 

   On the way out the last restriction to the surface or deco area, I got stuck. Scott tried a little pulling. Instead I backed up and took a solid d ring of belt. Entrance is slightly triangular. Let me in one way but my right side was too large to escape. I backed out took off the D ring and got rite out. Valuable lesson in reaction and being calm. 

   I could see panic and force causing someone to get stuck and not being able to remove gear. This would lead to a disaster. If need be I could have removed my gear and floated it ahead of me. I will practice this, so I will become comfortable in this manovouer. Better to practice it when not needed.