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Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 15:37:34 -0600 (CST)
From: Thorn <tthorn@co*.ua*.ed*>
To: Ken Sallot <KEN@co*.ci*.uf*.ed*>
cc: techdiver@terra.net, 74513.2275@co*.co*, 102441.2503@co*.co*
Subject: Re: Lines in Yucatan
On Sun, 3 Dec 1995, Ken Sallot wrote:

> Subject: Re: Lines in Yucatan

 
<snip out of Andy's stuff>

 
> Andy, realize I've never been to Akumal. I plan on going someday when the 
> time and $$ become a reality.
> 
> However, think about this.
> 
> You're diving in the most beautiful cenotes in the world. You're looking 
> at everything around you with your jaw hanging dropping almost so much 
> you're loosing your regulator.
> 
> You're following the line in. Some a**hole has a blind T that you miss.

According to the accident report, "Unless you look directly at the T, you 
could, at a glance, miss it, even though the E-line and B-line had the 
appropriate arrows at the junctions"

Well, aren't you _supposed_ to look at T's? I guess that someone  in a 
cave for the first time probably should do more than "glance", huh?


> When you get back to the T, there are two sets of lines with arrows 
> pointing away from you (i.e. "This way is out").

	According to the accident report, "... even though The E-line and B-line 
had the appropriate arrows at the junction."

	According also to the recovery team, the junction was properly marked,
with a single set of arrows pointing back the way the divers came in. 

 
> Remember, these systems have more then one entrance. The arrows on the 
> lines change directions all the time to point to the closest exit. 
 
	True.  The system is extensive and connects several cenotes.

> Now you come to the end of that line.....

	Let's get it right.  When they got to "the end of that line"
which was __B-line__, they did a *visual 10' jump* from B-line to A-line and
followed the arrows pointing out. 

>.....your reel isn't there (because,  surprise, you got on another line).

	By ignoring (not seeing?) line arrows, by not referencing the cave
(the way they went _in_ was large roomy tunnel. The way they went out is
_much_ smaller tunnel with several minor restrictions) and by visually
jumping from B-line to A-line (they did not make a visual jump on the way 
in - that alone should have told them they were not on the same line they 
came in on!)


>The arrow points at the end of the line, but no daylight to be found. 

Correct.  And, since they, for whatever reason, didn't know the general 
orientation of the cave, they apparently turned around and went the other 
way.


harve

Harve Thorn
TThorn@co*.ua*.ed*




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