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JT:
I see the Ghost Writer is back because I did not need my translator on =
this one.
I noticed that you keep going back to George, bent divers on the =
Britannic and Brazilians in caves. =20
What does any of that have to do with you making fun of people using =
their God given good judgment and not participating in your CF? I am =
simply pointing out that when they backed out of the dive you should =
have kept your yap shut and said nothing. Your actions only serve to =
push divers beyond their abilities and comfort zones to save face. Your =
answer is *FUBAR* - see my post for its position on the Barkometer Scale =
of Abominable Behaviors.
Of all the things you allude to, I was present for one event, told about =
two others, and no one was present for the last. I will indulge you =
this one time and address these issues for the benefit of the novices =
you refer to. Were it not for them, I would not even respond to you.
Unlike yourself, I will not side step and direct the entire response to =
your getting bent on the Doria, or how you so ignorantly encouraged a =
reluctant, possibly bent diver to dive, or how you lost your deco =
bottles in the Carolinas because you so stupidly secured them to the =
boat and got bent as a result. I do notice, however, that you are far =
more concerned with discrediting others than you are about addressing =
your own short comings. I mean, really now, what kind of an idiot =
knocks his own mask off with a stage bottle because he is mad that his =
buddy called the dive? FYI, the visual here is priceless. =20
The one event I was present for was a QON dive where a diver surfaced, =
swam to the boat and had some sort of episode, probably a convulsion, on =
the surface (of the water). I was on deco at the time of the incident =
so I saw nothing. After exhaustive medical evaluation, the diagnosis is =
inconclusive. He is in excellent medical condition but nonetheless, =
something occurred. Even though there was no error whatsoever on the =
part of the diver, because there was no diagnosis, he has given up the =
sport. There is no lesson to be learned here other than anything can =
happen so be ready for it as there are no guarantees in life.
Peter Ramsay queried:
"dream team of diving", yet with all the planning, ect. ect. a diver =
still got bent like a pretzel, I did not hear or see it in the show or =
have anyone post from the trip that it happened and later another diver =
from the team would die diving solo in a cave.=20
Since Andrew and JJ don't appear to be on this list, can someone else =
answer this accusation? Did it happen? If so, can anything be learned =
from it?
I mention this since JT has implied that there is a conspiracy to "cover =
up" and that everyone is "afraid" to discuss this or to answer Peters =
question. I will address this as best as possible and yes, it did =
happen. BTW JT, what is an ect., ect.?
The bent diver on the Britannic is second hand information and since I =
was not there, I will post it as such. As I understand it, a Swedish =
(?) support diver bounced to the upline ( <100 feet) and got whacked. =
This was not part of the plan and occurred while the team and its leader =
(JJ) were at depth. The diver took it upon himself to change the rules. =
None of the bottom divers got bent and since they were the ones who did =
the extreme exposures, what happens to them is what is significant from =
an informational standpoint. Hopefully you know why you don't bounce =
dive. For the novices who do not, there is a detailed explanation on =
the WKPP web site under lessons learned. So, a support diver breaks the =
rules and gets bent. What have we learned? Are you listening JT? Here =
is the answer. You break the rules, you pay the price.
You also are screaming about Brazilian cave divers getting bent. Their =
report was public and all over the lists. As I recall, they skipped =
stops on a 500' dive and got bent. Kind of like when you lost your deco =
bottles and you got bent. The lesson here is you break the rules, you =
pay the price.
And now on to the "other diver from the team" who "would die diving solo =
in a cave". Steve Berman was a close friend of JJ and at least a friend =
to most anyone who is a serious diver. He died diving solo in a cave. =
It was a terrible thing but Steve chose to dive solo, contrary to the =
rules of the game. No one forced him and at least some of his friends =
tried to dissuade him. Certainly, Steves skills and abilities were far =
beyond any level you (JT) could ever aspire to, and nonetheless, he =
died. All of this was common knowledge. No secrets here. If it could =
happen to such a highly skilled diver, it could certainly happen to =
anyone else. Once again, the lesson is you break the rules, you pay the =
price. =20
You are obsessed with a conspiracy theory and believe that because the =
both George and I think you are a dangerous idiot who spews reams of =
misinformation and promotes dangerous practices we must be out to get =
you. Nothing could be further from the truth. You are not significant =
enough for anyone to have any interest in "getting" you. Simply stated, =
getting you is no victory. The victory comes by opening the eyes and =
ears of anyone wise enough to listen. Hopefully they will just quietly =
separate themselves from you (as have a few who have emailed me =
privately) and they will select safe avenues of pursuit to further their =
diving. The goal here is to make people aware that your attitude is bad =
and you don't know what you are talking about.
JT, in case you haven't noticed, there have been two significant things =
learned from all of the above events. One is that anything can happen =
unanticipated so you need to be ready for the unexpected and the other =
is that if you break the rules, sooner or later you pay the price.
JT, you are an emotional dwarf, as evidenced by you knocking your mask =
off in a tantrum, and have no business in a leadership position of any =
sort. Allowing someone as unstable a you to captain a boat or lead a =
dive is beyond ludicrous. Surely, anyone with any foresight will see =
this.
I am through with you for now but I want you to know that the surly tone =
of your reply to my previous post just cost you your admission to =
MacDonald's Hamburger College. You will be doomed to flipping burgers =
and bussing tables forever.
Your friend.
Joe
"I was not lieing before an Im not lieing now"
Capt. JT Barker
=20
=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Capt JT=20
To: joe@po*.co* ; fltechdiver@mikey.net=20
Cc: vbtech@ci*.co* ; techdiver@aquanaut.com=20
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 5:52 AM
Subject: Re: Lake Jocassee Project
Joe
You don't have a clue, the truth is, I tell the truth. I have exposed =
George many times, you and your group with the accident you guys tried =
to hide, the Bent diver on the Britannic was common knowledge among the =
real divers. Someone tried to tell it on the list soon after the trip =
and George pounded them. I got it straight from 2 of the horses mouth =
that were there and they told me in front of others in our group, so =
they know it's true. If you guys told the truth about your dives, we =
wouldn't even be posting to each other.=20
The fact is this list is compiled of mostly novice divers and should =
be allowed to know that even the best have things happen on dives. So =
they can make a sound decision whether doing these kinds of dives are =
worth the risk for them. Only a select few that do real dives post, =
others like Dean and Joel should not even be diving, much less posting =
about it on a tech list. I exposed these guys long ago and they like you =
are trying to find a way to get back at me. LOL
Try the best you can to get at me with the bullshit, but I get at you =
guys with the truth. My guys are telling me that someone put the =
question out on quest about the bent diver and Peter asked for it to be =
answered on here. THE SILENCE IS DEAFENING........=20
You're a small man with a small mind. Please tell George to keep his =
zipper up, you're getting out way to much.
JT
At 05:56 AM 11/11/02 -0500, joe@po*.co* wrote:
JT:
=20
I asked you why you were making fun of the people who used good =
judgement and did not participate in your Lake Jocassee cluster fuck.
=20
Instead of defending your position, you proceeded to yap about =
anything and everything, rather than answering a simple question of why =
you belittled those who choose not to participate in your stupidity.
=20
Fact: You are an illiterate moron with no scruples or ethics.
=20
Fact: When caught in stupidity, you will do anything possible to =
divert attention from it, especially trying to confuse the issue by =
making disparaging remarks about those whose accomplisments you could =
never approach. What ever transpired on the Britannic Expedition has =
nothing to do with your continually setting a horrific example of how =
not to conduct oneself in the dive community. Your likening yourself to =
the Britannic team is beyond funny and comparing an alleged 490 foot, 2 =
man sand dive to a legitimate expedition is ludicrous.
=20
I would also like to know what does an incident in Brazil have to do =
with your stupidity in Lake Jocassee? I never cease to be amazed at =
your inability to complete a thought. =20
=20
Another EXTREMELY disgusting thing about you is the way you gloat =
over "another diver from the team would die diving solo in a cave". =
Does this make you happy? =20
=20
Your version of the truth is not under scrutiny. No one really =
cares to dispute it because it is not significant. What is significant =
is the content of your dive stories. Specifically, your profound =
inability to conduct a dive that does not become some form of a SNAFU, =
shall we say. I hesitate to use CF again because I do not like to be =
unnecessarily redundant, but there are not many phrases that will =
adequately substitute for it. I trust you know what SNAFU means. Just =
in case you do not, I will succinctly and subtly explain it to you. A =
SNAFU is how you politely describe someone knocking his own mask off =
with a stage bottle out of frustration because his buddy called the =
dive. BTW, a SNAFU becomes a CF when the one commiting the SNAFU =
happens to be the leader of the dive. Now I realize that a CF is the =
norm for anything you do, so perhaps if we call it a SNAFU you will be =
better able to deal with it.
=20
For example, when you were horrificly bent on the Doria after =
solo-setting the hook (since you think you were the only one who could =
do it), you said you behaved badly so you did not dive the rest of the =
trip. Everyone knows you were just telling the JT "truth", and you =
spent the rest of the trip on your bunk sucking on O2 when you should =
have been flown out by the Coast Guard. This is similar to the NC trip =
where you tied your deco bottles to the boat and got bent because you =
couldn't get back to them. Actually, these are neither SNAFUs nor CFs. =
These fall under the TARFU category. However, your attempt to embarrass =
and cajole a diver into diving when they are saying they do not feel =
well (possible DCS) is beyond any of this. That is FUBAR.
=20
Now I realize that all of this is getting somewhat complex, =
especially for a pea brain such as yourself, so I have created the =
"BARKOMETER" scale of abominable behaviors. It goes like this:
=20
SNAFU - A dive on which JT is a participant. Invariably, something =
incredibly stupid will happen.
=20
CF - A SNAFU on which JT is the leader or organizer. Most likely, a =
NDE (near death experience) will occur.
=20
TARFU - A CF which is the fruit of a long 4 minute thought process =
by JT. Typically involves highly avoidable multiple NDEs.=20
=20
FUBAR - A TARFU which is the result of a malicious 3 minute =
thought process by JT. It is typically preceeded by several TARFUs, and =
is done in an attempt to smokescreen the multiple TARFUs that initially =
created the need for a FUBAR.
=20
In closing, JT, can I please have an order of McNuggets, fries, a =
happy meal, a bottled water and extra napkins -- to go? BTW - Make it =
snappy and I'll send a letter to get you into McDonalds University.=20
=20
Best regards.
=20
Joe
=20
"Your a lair, fries don't come with that."
Capt. JT Barker
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Capt JT=20
To: girvine@be*.ne* ; vbtech@ci*.co*=20
Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com ; FLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 5:55 PM=20
Subject: RE: Lake Jocassee Project
I will only answer you this once, after that you just try and =
turn these things into a shouting match. Funny how I can write about a =
dive and only the truth comes out in it. Just like I told the old short =
guy....make what you want of it.=20
Also you want everyone to watch a TV show that leaves out the =
accident. Lets put the facts out there. That team was hand picked, the =
so called "dream team of diving", yet with all the planning, ect. ect. a =
diver still got bent like a pretzel, I did not hear or see it in the =
show or have anyone post from the trip that it happened and later =
another diver from the team would die diving solo in a cave. These are =
just the facts.
It is really great that GUE forces their instructors to have =
good basic skills and even requires them to do a few real dives a year . =
But to have good enough skills to become a GUE instructor is not enough =
to handle the extreme stress of a 500ft dive, this was found out in the =
accident that was reported on techdiver ( =
http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/display?54330,from =
)of the GUE instructor his name was on this post and buddy who either =
panicked or had a RB problem at depth, bolted, and got seriously bent. I =
hear there was no mention of this on quest, was there a cover up so not =
to rattle the following? I give you permission to show my 490ft dive =
tape(since you have a stolen copy) to all GUE instructors so they can =
see how a 2 man team does that dive and no one gets hurt, they may have =
good enough skills to be the best instructors, but at least one had =
trouble surviving a real dive.=20
I hear you have been bashing Andrew over on quest pretty good, =
we all know none of those GUE instructors will stand up to you. They =
depend on doing diving instruction as a living and understand that when =
you shake that money tree on these lists it will effect their income. I =
have met a lot of these guys and they are just normal guys trying to =
make a buck.
I do not make a dime off of diving and nothing you can do or say =
will effect me. So standing up to you is just the right thing for me. =
When I call someone a "weenie", I'm right on the mark........ The last =
diver I called that on this list which was over a month ago has come and =
dived with me, he had 75 logged dives and is no match for me or anyone =
in our group. He was actually better than I thought he would be. Nice =
guy, he just will need a lot of dives and work to get where he wants to =
be.
So where does all this take us.........the fact remains and will =
always remain as long as people place their heads underwater someone =
will die, even the best will have a problem sometime, getting them to =
admit it or that it has happen is a hard thing to do . I have yet had =
to go to a chamber, no one has died on any trip I am in charge of. To my =
knowledge few have done more sub 300ft wreck dives than me. I only know =
a few divers who are more tougher underwater than me in the conditions I =
dive in. And you ain't one of them, I saw how that 53 degree water =
kicked your ass here on a 140ft dive. Stick to the clear warm water in =
them caves and you will remain at the top and can beat your chest.=20
I know you are going to blast a reply, I wouldn't expect =
anything less, but don't expect a reply from me.
BTW do you plan to have a recall on the wreck scooter so you can =
install the right clutch at no cost that should have been installed in =
the first place.=20
At 06:17 AM 11/7/02 -0500, George Irvine wrote:
Listen, "Capt JT" , this is really pathetic. For one, you have =
so little skill and knowledge that it is laughable when you discuss =
taking days to deal with this self-created clusterfuck that would be =
nothing to a skilled diver. You calling people weenies is laughable when =
I know for a fact that you would not know where to start with a real =
dive. Your criticism of people who show proper judgment when faced with =
one of your mindless dive plans is inexcusable stroke bullshit. I will =
remind you that Jarrod and I both pulled the thumb on one of your =
ridiculous dive plans after seeing your SWBS in action. Want to call the =
two of us "weenies", Big Time?
The fact is that you and you alone are the problem on all your =
dives - not only for yourself but for everyone around you. I can not =
believe these guys still subject themselves to this.
By the way, as long as you are sending your reports to the =
rest of the gang "to make changes if it is true or I am mistaken before =
I post it", perhaps you could persuade one of them to edit out the =
illiteracy so that the comedy of your stupidity does not divert =
attention from the seriousness of the stroke example that you set. The =
problem is that people are laughing at you on here, and you are not the =
least bit funny.=20
-----Original Message-----=20
From: joe@po*.co* [mailto:joe@po*.co*]=20
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 11:22 PM=20
To: vbtech@ci*.co*; Capt JT=20
Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com; FLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
Subject: Re: Lake Jocassee Project=20
I do not doubt the veracity of the report. You couldn't have =
made that up. I am talking about your ridicule of those whose survival =
instincts prompted them to back out. I find that offensive because it =
is a good way to push people into getting themselves killed for fear of =
being criticized.=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Capt JT=20
To: Joe ; vbtech@ci*.co*=20
Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com ; FLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 7:46 PM=20
Subject: Re: Lake Jocassee Project=20
Make what you want of it, everyone who was there and those who =
were to go but didn't know the answers. Not one of them will post =
anything different than what I say. Every report on dives I make is sent =
to those on the trip and they have the option to make changes if it is =
true or I am mistaken before I post it.=20
At 07:25 PM 11/6/02 -0800, Joe wrote:=20
JT:=20
I love the way you try to make fun of the people that had =
more sense than to dive with you, whether the reason was that the dive =
was beyond their abilities and experience or that they just were using =
good judgment and abiding by rules no. 1 and 2.=20
You make the dive sound like a dare. What's up with that?=20
Best.=20
Joe=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Capt JT=20
To: vbtech@ci*.co*=20
Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com ; FLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 11:19 AM=20
Subject: Lake Jocassee Project
Lake Jocassee is a dammed valley with depths at times to =
350ft. After last years trip to the lake ( read about it here =
http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/display?51280,from =
) a new project was born. When the valley was flooded around 1968 =
several structures were left and is the bases for many rumors as to what =
is still there and who left what. With forest, roads, peaks, and who =
really knows what is down there, it was a challenge to find a starting =
point to began a search for some of these rumored things.=20
Jackie Smith who has many dives to the lake had started to =
follow a road that would lead him to a bridge, sound easy? Once you add =
in the depth of 300ft and distance one might have to swim while poking a =
rod down through the muck to feel for the road you get the feeling this =
will take some time. =20
Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off The Wall Dive Charters"( =
www.offthewalldiving.com ) had done 3 years of interviews and archives =
of old aerial soil assay pictures from the 60's. After endless hrs =
motoring around looking Bill contacted friends with a Side Scan Sonar , =
Jonathan Royer & Danelle Haley with Deep Seekers to help map the bottom. =
After a few days an area was located that showed what could be a bridge =
with a creek/river, the bridge was over what used to be White Water =
River that ran adjacent to a camp. An old photograph taken from someone =
standing on the bridge revealed a place called "Camp Jocassee". Camp =
Jocassee established in 1922 for girls ran until late 60's the summer =
before the DAM, it had a main building and residence for the camp owners =
and several concrete block cabins for the campers.The entrance to the =
camp was lined with stone walls with pillars on each side of a white =
picket fence gate as shown in the picture taken from the bridge looking =
toward the camp entrance.=20
I asked Jackie if I could help and the project was born. =
Jackie arranged for the charter with Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off The =
Wall Dive Charters"( www.offthewalldiving.com ) and I assembled the =
group, I had at first limited it to 8 divers. Knowing that many would =
back out once the time came near I allowed 12 to commit. Saying you can =
do a 300ft dive in cold water in very low vis and actually doing it are =
2 different things. The first only takes your mouth, the second takes =
much more.=20
As the date came within a week the excuses started rolling =
in, I even heard one guy say his wife was planning on getting pregnant =
that weekend and he wanted to be there when it happened, so he couldn't =
make the dive. (not really true, but sounds good don't it)=20
With the group down to 7 we headed to the lake, one guy said =
his engine blew up, so we were down to 6 at dive time.=20
Capt. Bill with Samantha Swenson as crew (who did a great =
job) dropped a shot line in what was believed to be the old creek bed, =
the level of the lake was low and the depth here was only 315ft, some =
trees remained on each side of the creek and we believed that we could =
scooter it until we found the bridge and a lift bag would be deployed =
and secured to the bridge, then a permanent line could then be attached =
to it.=20
Tom Sawicki, Bill Ripley and myself were tasked for this and =
geared up for the dive. The air temp had warmed up from the morning cool =
of 33, to a cool of around 43. We entered the water carrying all gas =
needed for the dive, we were diving gas mixes and tables recommended by =
Tom, I am not allowed to disclose the mixes and tables. The water temp =
was 65 on top down to 80ft and did a drop to 46 degrees, vis went from =
20ft down to 5ft around 200ft. Tom stopped at 225ft and called the dive =
during the descent, I could not understand why. Everyone returned Ok =
signs back to me and yet Tom still was calling the dive, I could not =
understand why. I asked Tom why and on his wet notes he wrote "VIS", I =
was pissed........ It is a standing rule that if one calls the dive we =
must all surface, but that did not mean I had to be happy about it. At =
one point I knocked my own mask off while moving stages around because I =
was so pissed. Once on the boat he explained that scootering in that low =
vis was not doable and we were getting to far apart for such low vis, he =
was correct, but we did not know it was that bad on the bottom yet, but =
later we would find he was right about that and was only concerned with =
every ones safety.=20
The plan was then changed and Jackie Smith, Charlie Johnson, =
and Rodney King (not that Rodney King) would go down another line that =
was dropped and hoped it had hooked the bridge(if it was there) or near =
it, hopefully not in the trees. We watched as they went down and could =
see they were not leaving the line. They surfaced to report that the =
hook had in fact snagged the bridge, but vis was less than 5ft.
With the first day gone, plans were made for the second day. =
Tom, Bill, Rodney, and myself would go down the line we left buoyed to =
the bridge,Tom would run a line from the bridge in a direction we =
believed the camp to be, Rodney would video, Bill and myself would stay =
near them and survey.=20
Once at the top of the bridge which was at 289ft I waited =
for everyone to show up, Rodney videoed while Tom and I secured the line =
to the bridge that would be run. Once everyone made the move away from =
the bridge I was at the rear and checked my gas(I was the only one using =
the same tanks from the first dive and they were less than full when we =
started, I had gave my second set of doubles to Tom to use). I had =
reached my turn pressure and returned to the bridge, vis was so bad they =
were not aware of this and I chose to remain close to the up line and =
just inspect the bridge to conserve gas. They returned with excitement =
in their eyes having run the line to a white picket fence that surrounds =
the camp which has stone pillars at the entrance and can be seen in the =
video, the reel was left on the fence for who ever goes next to run the =
line into the camp house which should be just inside.
Jackie and Charlie were tasked to take down a permanent line =
and chain it into the bridge that would be left for future dives, a keg =
was placed on the line 20ft under the surface and GPS coordinates were =
taken.=20
I will show the video at the VBtech meeting on Thursday and =
place photos on my site as soon as I can.
Hope you have enjoyed this report=20
Capt JT=20
=20
"You can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you =
have to get in the water"=20
Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East Coast & more =
Web Site http://www.capt-jt.com/=20
Email captjt@mi*.co*=20
"You can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you have to =
get in the water"
Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East Coast & more=20
Web Site http://www.capt-jt.com/
Email captjt@mi*.co*
"You can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you have to get =
in the water"
Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East Coast & more=20
Web Site http://www.capt-jt.com/
Email captjt@mi*.co*
"You can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you have to get =
in the water"
Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East Coast & more=20
Web Site http://www.capt-jt.com/
Email captjt@mi*.co*
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>JT:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I see the Ghost Writer is back because =
I did not=20
need my translator on this one.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I noticed that you keep going back to =
George, bent=20
divers on the Britannic and Brazilians in caves. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>What does any of that have to do with =
you making=20
fun of people using their God given good judgment and not participating =
in your=20
CF? I am simply pointing out that when they backed out of the dive =
you=20
should have kept your yap shut and said nothing. Your actions only =
serve=20
to push divers beyond their abilities and comfort zones to save =
face. Your=20
answer is *FUBAR* - see my post for its position on the Barkometer Scale =
of=20
Abominable Behaviors.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Of all the things you allude to, I was =
present for=20
one event, told about two others, and no one was present for the =
last. I=20
will indulge you this one time and address these issues for the benefit =
of the=20
novices you refer to. Were it not for them, I would not even =
respond to=20
you.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Unlike yourself, I will not side =
step=20
and direct the entire response to your getting bent on the Doria, =
or how=20
you so ignorantly encouraged a reluctant, possibly bent diver to =
dive, or=20
how you lost your deco bottles in the Carolinas because you so =
stupidly secured them to the boat and got bent as a result. I do =
notice,=20
however, that you are far more concerned with discrediting others =
than you=20
are about addressing your own short comings. I mean, really now, =
what kind=20
of an idiot knocks his own mask off with a stage bottle because he is =
mad that=20
his buddy called the dive? FYI, the visual here is =
priceless. =20
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The one event I was present for =
was a QON dive=20
where a diver surfaced, swam to the boat and had some sort of episode, =
probably=20
a convulsion, on the surface (of the water).</FONT> <FONT =
face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> I was on deco at the time of the incident so I saw =
nothing. After=20
exhaustive medical evaluation, the diagnosis is inconclusive. =
He is=20
in excellent medical condition but nonetheless, something =
occurred. Even=20
though there was no error whatsoever on the part of the diver, =
because=20
there was no diagnosis, he has given up the sport. There is no =
lesson to=20
be learned here other than anything can happen so be ready for it as =
there are=20
no guarantees in life.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Peter Ramsay queried:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT><FONT color=3D#0000ff><EM>"dream team of diving", yet
with =
all the=20
planning, ect. ect. a diver still got bent like a pretzel, I did not =
hear or see=20
it in the show or have anyone post from the trip that it happened and =
later=20
another diver from the team would die diving solo in a cave.=20
<BR></EM></FONT><BR><EM>Since Andrew and JJ don't appear to be
on this =
list, can=20
someone else answer this accusation? Did it happen? If so, =
can=20
anything be learned from it?<BR></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I mention this since JT has implied =
that there is a=20
conspiracy to "cover up" and that everyone is "afraid" to discuss this =
or to=20
answer Peters question. I will address this as best as =
possible and=20
yes, it did happen. BTW JT, what is an ect., ect.?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The bent diver on the Britannic is =
second hand=20
information and since I was not there, I will post it as =
such. =20
</FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As I understand it, a Swedish =
(?) support=20
diver bounced to the upline ( <100 feet) and got whacked. This =
was not=20
part of the plan and occurred while the team and its leader=20
(JJ) were at depth. The diver took it upon himself =
to=20
change the rules. None of the bottom divers got bent and =
since they=20
were the ones who did the extreme exposures, what happens to them is =
what is=20
significant from an informational standpoint. Hopefully you know =
why you=20
don't bounce dive. For the novices who do not, there is a detailed =
explanation on the WKPP web site under lessons learned. So, a =
support=20
diver breaks the rules and gets bent. What have we =
learned? Are=20
you listening JT? Here is the answer. You break the rules, =
you pay=20
the price.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>You also are screaming about Brazilian =
cave divers=20
getting bent. Their report was public and all over the=20
lists. As I recall, they skipped stops on a 500' =
dive and=20
got bent. Kind of like when you lost your deco bottles =
and you got=20
bent. The lesson here is you break the rules, you pay the=20
price.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>And now on to the "other diver =
from the team"=20
who "would die diving solo in a cave". Steve Berman was a close =
friend of=20
JJ and at least a friend to most anyone who is a serious =
diver. He=20
died diving solo in a cave. It was a terrible thing but Steve =
chose=20
to dive solo, contrary to the rules of the game. No one forced him =
and at least some of his friends tried to dissuade him. =20
Certainly, Steves skills and abilities were far beyond any level you=20
(JT) could ever aspire to, and nonetheless, he died. All of =
this was=20
common knowledge. No secrets here. If it could happen to =
such a=20
highly skilled diver, it could certainly happen to anyone else. =
Once=20
again, the lesson is you break the rules, you pay the price. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>You are obsessed with a conspiracy =
theory=20
and believe that because the both George and I think you =
are a=20
dangerous idiot who spews reams of misinformation and promotes =
dangerous practices we must be out to get you. Nothing could be =
further=20
from the truth. You are not significant enough for anyone to =
have any=20
interest in "getting" you. Simply stated, getting you is no=20
victory. The victory comes by opening the eyes and ears of =
anyone=20
wise enough to listen. Hopefully they will just quietly separate=20
themselves from you (as have a few who have emailed me privately) and =
they=20
will select safe avenues of pursuit to further their diving. =20
</FONT><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The goal here is to make people =
aware that=20
your attitude is bad and you don't know what you are talking =
about.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>JT, in case you haven't noticed, there =
have been=20
two significant things learned from all of the above =
events. One=20
is that anything can happen unanticipated so you need to be ready =
for the=20
unexpected and the other is that if you break the rules, sooner or later =
you pay=20
the price.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>JT, you are an emotional dwarf, as =
evidenced by you=20
knocking your mask off in a tantrum, and have no business in a =
leadership position of any sort. Allowing someone =
as=20
unstable a you to captain a boat or lead a dive is beyond =
ludicrous. =20
Surely, anyone with any foresight will see this.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I am through with you for now but I =
want you to=20
know that the surly tone of your reply to my previous post just cost you =
your=20
admission to MacDonald's Hamburger College. You will be doomed to =
flipping=20
burgers and bussing tables forever.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Your friend.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Joe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"I was not lieing before an Im not =
lieing=20
now"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> &nbs=
p; =
; =
=20
Capt. JT Barker</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial
size=3D2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial=20
size=3D2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
<A title=3Dcaptjt@mi*.co* =
href=3D"mailto:captjt@mi*.co*">Capt JT</A>=20
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Djoe@po*.co*=20
href=3D"mailto:joe@po*.co*">joe@polarbearinc.com</A> ; <A=20
title=3Dfltechdiver@mikey.net=20
href=3D"mailto:fltechdiver@mikey.net">fltechdiver@mikey.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A =
title=3Dvbtech@ci*.co*=20
href=3D"mailto:vbtech@ci*.co*">vbtech@cisatlantic.com</A> ; <A =
title=3Dtechdiver@aquanaut.com=20
href=3D"mailto:techdiver@aquanaut.com">techdiver@aquanaut.com</A> =
</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 12, =
2002 5:52=20
AM</DIV>
<DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Lake Jocassee =
Project</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Joe<BR> You don't have a clue, the truth is,
I =
tell the=20
truth. I have exposed George many times, you and your group with the =
accident=20
you guys tried to hide, the Bent diver on the Britannic was common =
knowledge=20
among the real divers. Someone tried to tell it on the list soon after =
the=20
trip and George pounded them. I got it straight from 2 of the horses =
mouth=20
that were there and they told me in front of others in our group, so =
they know=20
it's true. If you guys told the truth about your dives, we wouldn't =
even be=20
posting to each other. <BR><BR>The fact is this list is compiled of =
mostly=20
novice divers and should be allowed to know that even the best have =
things=20
happen on dives. So they can make a sound decision whether doing these =
kinds=20
of dives are worth the risk for them. Only a select few that do real =
dives=20
post, others like Dean and Joel should not even be diving, much less =
posting=20
about it on a tech list. I exposed these guys long ago and they like =
you are=20
trying to find a way to get back at me. LOL<BR><BR>Try the best you =
can to get=20
at me with the bullshit, but I get at you guys with the truth. My guys =
are=20
telling me that someone put the question out on quest about the bent =
diver and=20
Peter asked for it to be answered on here. THE SILENCE IS =
DEAFENING........=20
<BR>You're a small man with a small mind. Please tell George to keep =
his=20
zipper up, you're getting out way to =
much.<BR><BR>JT<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>At=20
05:56 AM 11/11/02 -0500, joe@po*.co* wrote:<BR><FONT =
face=3Darial=20
size=3D2>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=3D"" type=3D"cite">JT:<BR> <BR>I asked you why
=
you were=20
making fun of the people who used good judgement and did not =
participate in=20
your Lake Jocassee cluster fuck.<BR> <BR>Instead of defending =
your=20
position, you proceeded to yap about anything and everything, rather =
than=20
answering a simple question of why you belittled those who choose =
not to=20
participate in your stupidity.<BR> <BR>Fact: You are an=20
illiterate moron with no scruples or =
ethics.<BR> <BR>Fact: When=20
caught in stupidity, you will do anything possible to divert =
attention from=20
it, especially trying to confuse the issue by making disparaging =
remarks=20
about those whose accomplisments you could never approach. =
What ever=20
transpired on the Britannic Expedition has nothing to do with your=20
continually setting a horrific example of how not to conduct oneself =
in the=20
dive community. Your likening yourself to the Britannic team =
is beyond=20
funny and comparing an alleged 490 foot, 2 man sand dive to a =
legitimate=20
expedition is ludicrous.<BR> <BR>I would also like to know what =
does an=20
incident in Brazil have to do with your stupidity in Lake =
Jocassee? I=20
never cease to be amazed at your inability to complete a =
thought. =20
<BR> <BR>Another EXTREMELY disgusting thing about you is the =
way you=20
gloat over "another diver from the team would die diving solo in a=20
cave". Does this make you happy? <BR> <BR>Your =
version of=20
the truth is not under scrutiny. No one really cares to =
dispute it=20
because it is not significant. What is significant is the =
content of=20
your dive stories. Specifically, your profound inability to =
conduct a=20
dive that does not become some form of a SNAFU, shall we say. =
I=20
hesitate to use CF again because I do not like to be unnecessarily=20
redundant, but there are not many phrases that will adequately =
substitute=20
for it. I trust you know what SNAFU means. Just in case =
you do=20
not, I will succinctly and subtly explain it to you. A SNAFU =
is how=20
you politely describe someone knocking his own mask off with a stage =
bottle=20
out of frustration because his buddy called the dive. BTW, a =
SNAFU=20
becomes a CF when the one commiting the SNAFU happens to be the =
leader of=20
the dive. Now I realize that a CF is the norm for anything you =
do, so=20
perhaps if we call it a SNAFU you will be better able to deal with=20
it.<BR> <BR>For example, when you were horrificly bent on the =
Doria=20
after solo-setting the hook (since you think you were the only one =
who could=20
do it), you said you behaved badly so you did not dive the rest of =
the=20
trip. Everyone knows you were just telling the JT "truth", and =
you=20
spent the rest of the trip on your bunk sucking on O2 when you =
should have=20
been flown out by the Coast Guard. This is similar to the NC =
trip=20
where you tied your deco bottles to the boat and got bent because =
you=20
couldn't get back to them. Actually, these are neither SNAFUs =
nor=20
CFs. These fall under the TARFU category. However, your =
attempt=20
to embarrass and cajole a diver into diving when they are saying =
they do not=20
feel well (possible DCS) is beyond any of this. That is=20
FUBAR.<BR> <BR>Now I realize that all of this is getting =
somewhat=20
complex, especially for a pea brain such as yourself, so I have =
created the=20
"BARKOMETER" scale of abominable behaviors. It goes like=20
this:<BR> <BR>SNAFU - A dive on which JT is a =
participant. =20
Invariably, something incredibly stupid will happen.<BR> <BR>CF =
- A=20
SNAFU on which JT is the leader or organizer. Most likely, a =
NDE (near=20
death experience) will occur.<BR> <BR>TARFU - A CF which is the =
fruit=20
of a long 4 minute thought process by JT. Typically involves =
highly=20
avoidable multiple NDEs. <BR> <BR>FUBAR - A TARFU =
which is=20
the result of a malicious 3 minute thought process by JT. It =
is=20
typically preceeded by several TARFUs, and is done in an attempt to=20
smokescreen the multiple TARFUs that initially created the need for =
a=20
FUBAR.<BR> <BR>In closing, JT, can I please have an order of =
McNuggets,=20
fries, a happy meal, a bottled water and extra napkins -- to =
go? BTW -=20
Make it snappy and I'll send a letter to get you into McDonalds =
University.=20
<BR> <BR>Best
regards.<BR> <BR>Joe<BR> <BR>"Your a =
lair,=20
fries don't come with=20
=
that."<BR> &nb=
sp; &nbs=
p; =20
Capt. JT Barker</FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DL>
<DD>----- Original Message -----=20
<DD>From: <A href=3D"mailto:captjt@mi*.co*">Capt JT</A>=20
<DD>To: <A =
href=3D"mailto:girvine@be*.ne*">girvine@bellsouth.net</A>=20
; <A =
href=3D"mailto:vbtech@ci*.co*">vbtech@cisatlantic.com</A>=20
<DD>Cc: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:techdiver@aquanaut.com">techdiver@aquanaut.com</A> ; <A=20
href=3D"mailto:FLTechDiver@mikey.net">FLTechDiver@mikey.net</A>=20
<DD>Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 5:55 PM=20
<DD>Subject: RE: Lake Jocassee=20
Project<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DD>I will only answer you this once, after that you just try =
and turn=20
these things into a shouting match. Funny how I can write about =
a dive=20
and only the truth comes out in it. Just like I told the old =
short=20
guy....make what you want of it. <BR><BR>
<DD>Also you want everyone to watch a TV show that leaves out =
the=20
accident. Lets put the facts out there. That team was hand =
picked, the=20
so called "dream team of diving", yet with all the planning, =
ect. ect. a=20
diver still got bent like a pretzel, I did not hear or see it in =
the=20
show or have anyone post from the trip that it happened and =
later=20
another diver from the team would die diving solo in a cave. =
These are=20
just the facts.<BR><BR>
<DD>It is really great that GUE forces their instructors to have =
good=20
basic skills and even requires them to do a few real dives a =
year . But=20
to have good enough skills to become a GUE instructor is not =
enough to=20
handle the extreme stress of a 500ft dive, this was found out in =
the=20
accident that was reported on techdiver ( <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/display?5433=
0,from"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/d=
isplay?54330,from</A>=20
)of the GUE instructor his name was on this post and buddy who =
either=20
panicked or had a RB problem at depth, bolted, and got seriously =
bent. I=20
hear there was no mention of this on quest, was there a cover up =
so not=20
to rattle the following? I give you permission to show my 490ft =
dive=20
tape(since you have a stolen copy) to all GUE instructors so =
they can=20
see how a 2 man team does that dive and no one gets hurt, they =
may have=20
good enough skills to be the best instructors, but at least one =
had=20
trouble surviving a real dive.=20
<DD>I hear you have been bashing Andrew over on quest pretty =
good, we=20
all know none of those GUE instructors will stand up to you. =
They depend=20
on doing diving instruction as a living and understand that when =
you=20
shake that money tree on these lists it will effect their =
income. I have=20
met a lot of these guys and they are just normal guys trying to =
make a=20
buck.<BR><BR>
<DD>I do not make a dime off of diving and nothing you can do or =
say=20
will effect me. So standing up to you is just the right thing =
for me.=20
When I call someone a "weenie", I'm right on the mark........ =
The last=20
diver I called that on this list which was over a month ago has =
come and=20
dived with me, he had 75 logged dives and is no match for me or =
anyone=20
in our group. He was actually better than I thought he would be. =
Nice=20
guy, he just will need a lot of dives and work to get where he =
wants to=20
be.<BR><BR>
<DD>So where does all this take us.........the fact remains and =
will=20
always remain as long as people place their heads underwater =
someone=20
will die, even the best will have a problem sometime, getting =
them to=20
admit it or that it has happen is a hard thing to do . I =
have yet=20
had to go to a chamber, no one has died on any trip I am in =
charge of.=20
To my knowledge few have done more sub 300ft wreck dives than =
me. I only=20
know a few divers who are more tougher underwater than me in the =
conditions I dive in. And you ain't one of them, I saw how that =
53=20
degree water kicked your ass here on a 140ft dive. Stick to the =
clear=20
warm water in them caves and you will remain at the top and can =
beat=20
your chest. <BR><BR>
<DD>I know you are going to blast a reply, I wouldn't expect =
anything=20
less, but don't expect a reply from me.<BR><BR>
<DD>BTW do you plan to have a recall on the wreck scooter so you =
can=20
install the right clutch at no cost that should have been =
installed in=20
the first place.
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DD> At 06:17 AM 11/7/02 -0500, George Irvine =
wrote:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=3D"" type=3D"cite">
<DD>Listen, "Capt JT" , this is really pathetic. For one, you =
have so=20
little skill and knowledge that it is laughable when you =
discuss=20
taking days to deal with this self-created clusterfuck that =
would be=20
nothing to a skilled diver. You calling people weenies is =
laughable=20
when I know for a fact that you would not know where to start=20
with a real dive. Your criticism of people who show =
proper=20
judgment when faced with one of your mindless dive plans is=20
inexcusable stroke bullshit. I will remind you that Jarrod and =
I both=20
pulled the thumb on one of your ridiculous dive plans after =
seeing=20
your SWBS in action. Want to call the two of us "weenies", Big =
Time?<BR><BR>
<DD>The fact is that you and you alone are the problem on all =
your=20
dives - not only for yourself but for everyone around you. I =
can not=20
believe these guys still subject themselves to this.<BR><BR>
<DD>By the way, as long as you are sending your reports to the =
rest of=20
the gang "to make changes if it is true or I am mistaken =
before I post=20
it", perhaps you could persuade one of them to edit out =
the=20
illiteracy so that the comedy of your stupidity does not =
divert=20
attention from the seriousness of the stroke example that you =
set. The=20
problem is that people are laughing at you on here, and you =
are not=20
the least bit funny. <FONT face=3Dtahoma>
<DD>-----Original Message-----</FONT><FONT face=3Dtahoma =
size=3D2>=20
<DD>From: joe@po*.co* [<A =
href=3D"mailto:joe@po*.co*"=20
eudora=3D"autourl">mailto:joe@po*.co*</A>]=20
<DD>Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 11:22 PM=20
<DD>To: vbtech@ci*.co*; Capt JT=20
<DD>Cc: techdiver@aquanaut.com; FLTechDiver@mikey.net=20
<DD>Subject: Re: Lake Jocassee Project</FONT><FONT =
face=3Darial size=3D2>=20
<DD>I do not doubt the veracity of the report. You =
couldn't have=20
made that up. I am talking about your ridicule of those =
whose=20
survival instincts prompted them to back out. I find =
that=20
offensive because it is a good way to push people into getting =
themselves killed for fear of being criticized.</FONT>=20
<DD>----- Original Message -----=20
<DD>From: <A href=3D"mailto:captjt@mi*.co*">Capt JT</A> =
<DD>To: <A href=3D"mailto:joe@po*.co*">Joe</A> ; <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:vbtech@ci*.co*">vbtech@cisatlantic.com</A>=20
<DD>Cc: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:techdiver@aquanaut.com">techdiver@aquanaut.com</A> ; <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:FLTechDiver@mikey.net">FLTechDiver@mikey.net</A>=20
<DD>Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 7:46 PM=20
<DD>Subject: Re: Lake Jocassee Project=20
<DD>Make what you want of it, everyone who was there and those =
who=20
were to go but didn't know the answers. Not one of them will =
post=20
anything different than what I say. Every report on dives I =
make is=20
sent to those on the trip and they have the option to make =
changes if=20
it is true or I am mistaken before I post it.=20
<DD> At 07:25 PM 11/6/02 -0800, Joe wrote:<FONT =
face=3Darial=20
size=3D2>=20
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=3D"" type=3D"cite">
<DD>JT:</FONT> <FONT face=3Darial size=3D2>
<DD>I love the way you try to make fun of the people that =
had more=20
sense than to dive with you, whether the reason was that the =
dive=20
was beyond their abilities and experience or that they just =
were=20
using good judgment and abiding by rules no. 1 and 2.</FONT> =
<FONT=20
face=3Darial size=3D2>
<DD>You make the dive sound like a dare. What's up =
with=20
that?</FONT> <FONT face=3Darial size=3D2>
<DD>Best.</FONT> <FONT face=3Darial size=3D2>
<DD>Joe</FONT>=20
<DD>----- Original Message -----=20
<DD>From: <A href=3D"mailto:captjt@mi*.co*">Capt =
JT</A>=20
<DD>To: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:vbtech@ci*.co*">vbtech@cisatlantic.com</A>=20
<DD>Cc: <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:techdiver@aquanaut.com">techdiver@aquanaut.com</A> ; <A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:FLTechDiver@mikey.net">FLTechDiver@mikey.net</A>=20
<DD>Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 11:19 AM=20
<DD>Subject: Lake Jocassee=20
=
Project<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><
;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B=
R><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>&
lt;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR=
><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>&l
t;BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DD>Lake Jocassee is a dammed valley with depths at times to =
350ft.=20
After last years trip to the lake ( read about it here <A=20
=
href=3D"http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/display?5128=
0,from"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.aquanaut.com/bin/mlist/aquanaut/techdiver/d=
isplay?51280,from</A>=20
) a new project was born. When the valley was flooded around =
1968=20
several structures were left and is the bases for many =
rumors as to=20
what is still there and who left what. With forest, roads, =
peaks,=20
and who really knows what is down there, it was a challenge =
to find=20
a starting point to began a search for some of these rumored =
things.=20
<DD>Jackie Smith who has many dives to the lake had started =
to=20
follow a road that would lead him to a bridge, sound easy? =
Once you=20
add in the depth of 300ft and distance one might have to =
swim while=20
poking a rod down through the muck to feel for the road you =
get the=20
feeling this will take some time. <BR><BR>
<DD>Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off The Wall Dive Charters"( =
<A=20
href=3D"http://www.offthewalldiving.com/" =
eudora=3D"autourl"><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>www.offthewalldiving.com</A></FONT> ) =
had done 3=20
years of interviews and archives of old aerial soil assay =
pictures=20
from the 60's. After endless hrs motoring around looking =
Bill=20
contacted friends with a Side Scan Sonar , Jonathan Royer =
&=20
Danelle Haley with Deep Seekers to help map the bottom. =
After a few=20
days an area was located that showed what could be a bridge =
with a=20
creek/river, the bridge was over what used to be White Water =
River=20
that ran adjacent to a camp. An old photograph taken from =
someone=20
standing on the bridge revealed a place called "Camp =
Jocassee". Camp=20
Jocassee established in 1922 for girls ran until late 60's =
the=20
summer before the DAM, it had a main building and residence =
for the=20
camp owners and several concrete block cabins for the =
campers.The=20
entrance to the camp was lined with stone walls with pillars =
on each=20
side of a white picket fence gate as shown in the picture =
taken from=20
the bridge looking toward the camp entrance.=20
<DD>I asked Jackie if I could help and the project was born. =
Jackie=20
arranged for the charter with Capt Bill Routh owner of "Off =
The Wall=20
Dive Charters"( <A href=3D"http://www.offthewalldiving.com/" =
eudora=3D"autourl"><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>www.offthewalldiving.com</A></FONT> ) =
and I=20
assembled the group, I had at first limited it to 8 divers. =
Knowing=20
that many would back out once the time came near I allowed =
12 to=20
commit. Saying you can do a 300ft dive in cold water in very =
low vis=20
and actually doing it are 2 different things. The first only =
takes=20
your mouth, the second takes much more.=20
<DD>As the date came within a week the excuses started =
rolling in, I=20
even heard one guy say his wife was planning on getting =
pregnant=20
that weekend and he wanted to be there when it happened, so =
he=20
couldn't make the dive. (not really true, but sounds good =
don't it)=20
<DD>With the group down to 7 we headed to the lake, one guy =
said his=20
engine blew up, so we were down to 6 at dive time.=20
<DD>Capt. Bill with Samantha Swenson as crew (who did a =
great job)=20
dropped a shot line in what was believed to be the old creek =
bed,=20
the level of the lake was low and the depth here was only =
315ft,=20
some trees remained on each side of the creek and we =
believed that=20
we could scooter it until we found the bridge and a lift bag =
would=20
be deployed and secured to the bridge, then a permanent line =
could=20
then be attached to it.=20
<DD>Tom Sawicki, Bill Ripley and myself were tasked for this =
and=20
geared up for the dive. The air temp had warmed up from the =
morning=20
cool of 33, to a cool of around 43. We entered the water =
carrying=20
all gas needed for the dive, we were diving gas mixes and =
tables=20
recommended by Tom, I am not allowed to disclose the mixes =
and=20
tables. The water temp was 65 on top down to 80ft and did a =
drop to=20
46 degrees, vis went from 20ft down to 5ft around 200ft. Tom =
stopped=20
at 225ft and called the dive during the descent, I could not =
understand why. Everyone returned Ok signs back to me and =
yet Tom=20
still was calling the dive, I could not understand why. I =
asked Tom=20
why and on his wet notes he wrote "VIS", I was =
pissed........ It is=20
a standing rule that if one calls the dive we must all =
surface, but=20
that did not mean I had to be happy about it. At one point I =
knocked=20
my own mask off while moving stages around because I was so =
pissed.=20
Once on the boat he explained that scootering in that low =
vis was=20
not doable and we were getting to far apart for such low =
vis, he was=20
correct, but we did not know it was that bad on the bottom =
yet, but=20
later we would find he was right about that and was only =
concerned=20
with every ones safety. <BR><BR>
<DD>The plan was then changed and Jackie Smith, Charlie =
Johnson, and=20
Rodney King (not that Rodney King) would go down another =
line that=20
was dropped and hoped it had hooked the bridge(if it was =
there) or=20
near it, hopefully not in the trees. We watched as they went =
down=20
and could see they were not leaving the line. They surfaced =
to=20
report that the hook had in fact snagged the bridge, but vis =
was=20
less than 5ft.<BR><BR>
<DD>With the first day gone, plans were made for the second =
day.=20
Tom, Bill, Rodney, and myself would go down the line we left =
buoyed=20
to the bridge,Tom would run a line from the bridge in a =
direction we=20
believed the camp to be, Rodney would video, Bill and myself =
would=20
stay near them and survey. <BR><BR>
<DD>Once at the top of the bridge which was at 289ft I =
waited for=20
everyone to show up, Rodney videoed while Tom and I secured =
the line=20
to the bridge that would be run. Once everyone made the move =
away=20
from the bridge I was at the rear and checked my gas(I was =
the only=20
one using the same tanks from the first dive and they were =
less than=20
full when we started, I had gave my second set of doubles to =
Tom to=20
use). I had reached my turn pressure and returned to the =
bridge, vis=20
was so bad they were not aware of this and I chose to remain =
close=20
to the up line and just inspect the bridge to conserve gas. =
They=20
returned with excitement in their eyes having run the line =
to a=20
white picket fence that surrounds the camp which has stone =
pillars=20
at the entrance and can be seen in the video, the reel was =
left on=20
the fence for who ever goes next to run the line into the =
camp house=20
which should be just inside.<BR><BR>
<DD>Jackie and Charlie were tasked to take down a permanent =
line and=20
chain it into the bridge that would be left for future =
dives, a keg=20
was placed on the line 20ft under the surface and GPS =
coordinates=20
were taken. <BR><BR>
<DD>I will show the video at the VBtech meeting on Thursday =
and=20
place photos on my site as soon as I can.<BR><BR>
<DD>Hope you have enjoyed this report=20
<DD>Capt JT=20
=
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><
;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><=
BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B=
R><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>&
lt;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR=
><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DD> =20
=
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><
;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><=
BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B=
R><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>&
lt;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR=
><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
<DD>"You can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you =
have to=20
get in the water"<FONT color=3D#0000ff>=20
<DD>Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East Coast =
& more=20
<DD> Web Site <A href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/" =
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.capt-jt.com/</A>=20
<DD>Email =
captjt@mi*.co*</FONT>=20
=
</DD></BLOCKQUOTE></DD></BLOCKQUOTE></DD></DL><BR><BR>&l
t;BR><BR><BR><BR><BR=
>"You=20
can't learn to dive on the net, sooner or later you have to get in =
the=20
water"<BR><FONT color=3D#0000ff>Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving =
along the=20
East Coast & more <BR> Web Site <A=20
href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.capt-jt.com/</A><BR>Email =
=20
captjt@mi*.co*</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>"You can't learn =
to dive on=20
the net, sooner or later you have to get in the water"<BR><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff>Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East =
Coast &=20
more <BR> Web Site <A href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/"=20
=
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.capt-jt.com/</A><BR>Email =
=20
captjt@mi*.co*<BR></FONT><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>"You
can't =
learn to=20
dive on the net, sooner or later you have to get in the =
water"<BR><FONT=20
color=3D#0000ff><U>Your Guide to Great Wreck Diving along the East =
Coast &=20
more <BR> Web Site <A href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/"=20
eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.capt-jt.com</A><A =
href=3D"http://www.capt-jt.com/"=20
eudora=3D"autourl">/<BR></A>Email =20
captjt@mi*.co*<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></U></BODY></HTML
>
------=_NextPart_000_0188_01C28A82.C4322F40--
--
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