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To: techdiver@aquanaut.com
Well, where do I start???
Firstly, the article �Cave Diving in Britain� was written two years ago
with a specific �target� audience in mind � namely a number of
�technical divers� who were starting to take an interest in diving in caves
in the UK. These divers were trained outside the UK often by people with no
experience of diving in UK caves. The article was intended to educate people in
the obstacles they faced, and the techniques developed by the Cave Diving Group
of Great Britain for this particular type of diving over the last sixty-five
years.
Of course the Cave Diving Group has had some incidents � some seventeen
members suffering fatalities in the UK during those sixty-five years. But each
time we have learned something from the mistakes that were made, and revised
our equipment/ techniques to try and ensure no more deaths occur. The article
in question tried to explain the ways in which we sought to minimise risk, in
our own particular environment. I happen to believe that giving a reasoned (and
reasonable) explanation to most sensible people will have more influence than
shouting, bullying and insulting them.
The article was intended very much to restrict its advice to UK cave diving, an
area where we consider we have some expertise.
If you read the article carefully you will see that it states:
�Many divers have come across the �Hogarthian�/ �Doing It Right�
philosophies promoted by the WKPP, GUE, etc�. No argument � these
principles are perfect for the large, deep, easy-access springs, and the
open-water sites they dive. The value of the techniques and gear configuration
is reflected in the amazing explorations they have carried out with few
accidents. As the old saying goes: the proof of the pudding (is in the
eating)�.�
In other words, we have tremendous admiration and respect for your achievements
� all of which have only been possible due to the abilities of the divers
involved and the way you conduct your dives. Yes, you do make it look easy, but
that is the hallmark of experts.
I�m puzzled as to how anyone can consider this to be �bad-mouthing� the
WKPP.
With respect to your views on British cave-diving, you ask us to tell you about
it so you can have a bigger laugh.
First, you ask if limestone is different, the water is different, etc. etc. in
the UK.
Well, yes, George, it is! Any caver who knows anything about speleology will
tell you that no two areas have identical limestone (either structurally or
chemically) and that different materials carried by the water in a region will
affect how a cave is formed. Thus there are no identical caves. True some areas
will have caves with similar physical characteristics, because the conditions
leading to the formation of caves will be similar. Thus in Wales they have
long, gently sloping systems, on Mendip they have shorter, steeply sloping
caves, and in Yorkshire they have horizontal systems with linking vertical
shafts.
The typical characteristics of underwater caves in the UK is that they are
small in passage cross-section, with water containing heavy organic &
sedimentary contamination, usually with a temperature between forty and
forty-three degrees Fahrenheit (five to eight degrees Celsius) and relatively
shallow (rarely deeper than 100 feet).
But then, I presume you know all that, and you must have dived in our caves in
order for you to be able to tell us what we should and shouldn�t be doing.
You also ask what we (the Brits) have done for the sport of cave diving. Good
question. Except for, in 1963, extending the world�s deepest cave �
France�s Gouffre Berger (-3680 feet). Oh, and in Britain in 1978, Kingsdale
Master Cave/ Keld Head � the then world�s longest through dive (of 5990
feet), and again in 1991 the world record traverse from King Pot to Keld Head
(10,150 feet), apart from these we have done very little, but at least they
show what has been achieved in spite of our �stroke� gear & techniques�.
Of course, these cannot compare with the internationally renowned achievements
of (amongst others) Hassenmeyer, Exley, Isler, Gomes, and, of course, you & JJ.
Nevertheless, British divers persevere in our own squalid little caves�.and
of course, what could we expect to achieve in Wakulla?? That�s a bit like
asking Manchester United to play in the Superbowl.
But let�s just go back to what I wrote about � diving in caves in the UK.
Every single foot of underwater cave passage in Britain has been explored by
cavers who learned to dive. As a caver, I can understand why solo diving is an
anathema to everyone from a diving background, as all diver training agencies
promote buddy diving as the only way to do it � the panacea for all
underwater problems.
Your phrase �every man for himself� is an emotive expression suggesting
selfish motives. In truth, anyone claiming to dive as a �buddy� who then
abandons them would fulfil description perfectly.
But we do not claim to dive as a �buddy�, we dive solo and therefore have
no-one to abandon!
I remember years ago (probably 1984?) when Messrs Exley & Fulghum had their
problems in Atlantida, and just got out sharing gas. There was discussion in
the CDG Newsletter about this. Vital seconds were lost because one of the
divers thought the leak was coming from the other diver. We agreed that a solo
diver would have known it was his own leak � partly because with side-mounted
tanks he would have seen it, and partly it couldn�t have been anyone else�s
leak � and would have closed the tap down straight away, thereby saving a lot
of gas. Assuming �thirds� rules were properly maintained, he would have had
enough gas of his own to have got out, and perhaps could have manually operated
the faulty tap/ tank to use some of that gas besides. Instead, both Messrs
Exley & Fulghum did the perfect buddy thing, and made it out � but only
just�
Again I have to say that if the passage is so restricted, and visibility so
poor that a diver behind can see the tips of my fins, how is he going to know I
have problem? Perhaps by kicking him in the face. And where is he going to put
his long hose regulator to help me???
But, hey, in the article we were not promoting solo diving, or suggesting it
should be used anywhere else but here � we were just explaining why we did it
our way.
Throughout the article we were at pains to point out that what is right for one
dive may not be right for the next � horses for courses, as they say - so
every diver should consider what is right for the dive he is about to do. His
equipment choices should be decided upon after he has thought it all through
carefully. He should not do it the way someone tells him to do it, without
understanding why first. And we are the first to take on a dive only what is
absolutely necessary.
So to everyone else in the world, I will still say look at DIR � diving safe
and simple is the best way. Consider how DIR is applied, and how it works for
the dive in question. And I will apply that philosophy in deciding what I need
for my dives.
So, going back to the question that started all this � helmets, what�s the
deal?
Every caver knows the value of a helmet. Sorry, George, but the main purpose of
wearing a helmet down a cave is not to protect you against falling rocks. It is
to carry your light on to leave your hands free to climb, crawls, etc, and to
stop you banging your head when the roof gets low. It may also help if you fall
off while climbing.
So is it really so hard to understand, why these cavers like to wear helmets
underwater for the same reasons? � to protect their heads when the roof gets
low & to leave their hands free.
Again your assertion that bashing your head equates with having zero technique
or diving ability shows you to have no understanding of our caves. How do you
avoid coming in contact with a roof in a passage which is so small divers have
to wear oversuits to stop their drysuit zips getting filed away on the roof?
Haven�t you ever explored any low passages (i.e. 18 inches or less) over
there???
I wear a helmet because my skull isn�t as thick as some people�s must be. I
put lights on my helmet so that there is light where my face is pointing. Sure,
in some conditions, I will hand hold a light. But as we nearly always have to
hold onto guidelines with one hand in the poor visibility over here, I prefer
to suffer backscatter than risk tangling a handheld on the line. And as for
blinding someone with my lights? Well, I don�t face them directly when I look
at them � that�s why eyes are designed to move from side to side! And if I
wanted to blind them, I could just as easily do it with a thoughtless move of
my hand held light, couldn�t I?
So finally � helmets, what is the deal?
Simon, please think about it for yourself, and consider the caves you are
diving in. Don�t compromise your safety for anyone. If the caves are big,
clear and you are unlikely to be anywhere near the roof, keep it simple and
keep gear to a minimum. If on the other hand you find yourself in an eighteen
inch high passage with sharp flakes in the roof�..
Dive safely & live long.
Best Regards
Scoff
--
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