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.

Great Lakes Wreck Diving 2014

  I am having an awesome diving summer. I have been diving in Presque Isle and Alpena Michigan twice. I have been to Paradise, MI at the UP three times. I have been to Port Austin, MI and Grand Marais, MI and Harrisville, MI. I have been wreck diving Lake Superior Whitefish Bay three times this summer, Lake Huron’s Thunder Bay Area and Lake Huron’s Thumb. Honorable Shipwreck mentions are the H.P. Bridge near Harrisville, MI and the A.A. Parker near Grand Marnie, MI in U.P. I have Captain Jitka to thank. I also met a couple of the best wreck divers PERIOD.  Eric and James. I am on my seventh T bottle of H2 (helium) getting ready to head back to the Thumb. With all the helium use I see a re-breather in my future. I have gone as deep as 240 feet. My last six of seven dives were over 200 feet. What a great experience. I traded boat work for the experience. I came out way ahead.

     Wreck diving the Great Lakes is one of the more difficult and rewarding diving activities. I have only heard deep wreck diving in the ocean to be possibly more difficult.

   On the Great Lakes we have to support each other through the whole dive. Quarters are tight and we must be prepared. Seeing wrecks that are fully in tack with mast up from 1860ies WOW!

   

Trimix Diver and Advanced Cave with Staging IANTD

I completed my trimix training with Scott Byars in Spring Hill, FL. I dove in a cave to a depth of 270 feet. I am certified to dive to a depth of 330 feet.

   The previous certification of normoxic trimix allowed me to dive to 200 feet. There are many wrecks basically untouched at between 180 and 240 feet. 

    I also completed my Advance Cave with Staging. This was a skill course that took me three trips to Florida, and about 12 dives to complete. This advances my ability to control extra tanks and helped me get my equipment set to the point of familiarity. The two classes complement each other because of the handling of multiple tanks (stages)

   Like most classes you sometimes think you can finish them in a specific time. Trimix is 4 dives and lots of math.  I completed in the minimum. Staging is up to the instructor. I am glad I had to work for staging. It without a doubt helped me in the skills I need to develop to become an elite diver.

Diepolder T Mix Down 240 feet

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   Michael J Apke

   December 8
   

   I was student passenger the last 3 days with a 2 hour ride each way doing dive planning with T mix. My instructor does not dive a computer. My VR computer was spot on 3 days in a row to his decompression schedule. Most importantly I understand dive planning CNS and how to get there. It reminded me of cramming for a test and the good feeling when you know in your mind you can do the math. Best I did my training in some special places. Eagles Nest and Diepolder. Thanks Scott Byars from Explorations Unlimited.
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

   
   

   

Obama Care Affordable Health Care

   For all you people knocking Affordable Health Care (A.H.C.), and not giving it a chance, I will mention a couple things that make huge difference to people. First insurance companies do not ask about your previous health condition. Everyone is on an even playing field. In the past anyone in the family with a pre-existing condition would almost for sure be denied or priced out of the insurance. Second if you were a smoker it would double your insurance in the past. Now you get a higher rate but it’s minimal. For a couple making less than sixty grand a year you will get help with your insurance rate. It is a subsidy. It is to bring insurance price in line. It is going to keep hospitals from charging $59.83 per Aspirin. You review it yearly and can change it yearly.

Health care was fucked for everyone except the healthy in the past. Now even though it is not perfect, health insurance is being made for everyone, sick included. If you think A.H.C. it is for welfare recipients only, get sick. In the past you would join the ranks of the poor unemployed or not insurable. Now you coverage will adjust to what you can afford. Many sick people lose some or all of their income after the get sick.

Four Years since my sister Nancy passed

I could have never imagined 4 years ago how fast four years would go by. I may have only spoken with Nancy once every couple months, but it was always very much a part of me. I will continue this post tomorrow or soon. Time to dream about Nancy