Holmes Creek report

[cmufieldhockey8]

Just out of curiosity, if you were exiting in zero viz, why weren't you in touch contact? That's what I was taught . . . I think I'd have an anxiety attack if I were exiting along the line, and had no idea if my buddy was still behind me or not.

Glad you pointed that out. My group has devised a system of the lead diver exiting swimming a short period of time (maybe 30 seconds) then stopping and waiting for the 2nd diver to bump into him or her. Sounds like the bump and go Rob suggested. A pre-dive talk is a must for these kind of dives.

[cmufieldhockey8]

Pics like this is the reason this is called the Redneck Riviera

That is the best picture ever!!

[Dive-aholic]

Pics like this is the reason this is called the Redneck Riviera

All we were missing was the beer!

Glad you pointed that out. My group has devised a system of the lead diver exiting swimming a short period of time (maybe 30 seconds) then stopping and waiting for the 2nd diver to bump into him or her. Sounds like the bump and go Rob suggested. A pre-dive talk is a must for these kind of dives.

Yep. The bump and go has been around for a long time. It used to be taught in cave classes until a few years ago. Some instructors still bring it up in class as an alternative way to exit. It is not a standard of the courses, though, and is not a skill that is actually taught.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

I guess I should feel lucky that it was brought up during class. No idea why it would be dropped as its a very effecient way to exit in a low-no-visibility situation if everything else is doing OK.

[ShagMan]

Seems like to me, as a lowly cavern diver, that you'd HAVE to use something like that in a single-file type situation.

Rob taught us the "hold the arm of the leader" method for cavern (where you're supposed to always be in areas that are at least two-wide), but that'd be a little tough to do single-file

[cmufieldhockey8]

i would think the bump and go would not be the most efficient way to exit a cave as it may increase the time it takes to make it out. Can't think of any other reason to use it unless traveling through a very small passage.

[denisegg]

Hmmmm...so why did my instructor teach the "hold their thigh or butt method"? Isn't that what the 7' hose is for?

[SuPrBuGmAn]

i would think the bump and go would not be the most efficient way to exit a cave as it may increase the time it takes to make it out. Can't think of any other reason to use it unless traveling through a very small passage.

It really isn't ineffecient in practice.

Definately no worse than contact with the line and attempting to hold contact with another diver, while keeping good trim and bouyancy. Especially when divers are swimming at different paces due to different regularities, increased stress, etc.

Instead, you have a hand on the line, another to work out any other issues and free range to keep your bouyancy and trim at your comfortable pace. Stopping incrimentally(as a lead diver) and waiting for the trailing diver to bump into your feet before continueing on.

Give it a try, even if you don't like that particular method as much, its good to know alternative methods for when the situation dictates.

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Hmmmm...so why did my instructor teach the "hold their thigh or butt method"? Isn't that what the 7' hose is for?

If in a single file line, you'll need a 7' arm to grope my booty and not get kicked in the face continuously.

[TSandM]

I think I'd have a hard time managing my anxiety, if I were the diver in front and didn't know whether the one behind was entangled or otherwise having difficulties. That's the advantage of touch contact. But I'm speaking from almost pure theory, because I've never done an exit in zero viz and never swum in a passage as small as you guys were diving in.