The Great Travis Traverse

[FIXXERVI6]

wasn't a joke. the platforms at windy point are numbered 1-8. if the start of the GTTP line isn't tied to platform 8, where is it tied off? the depth seemed right (its the deepest platform), so i thought that's what you had referenced.

tree, there are no platforms down there in the trees

 

[texdiveguy]

No, it not a cave, but they are not the only thing worth diving for, and a bunch of us hold little interest in them... (BUT I dove a wonderful recreational type tour cenote in Mx.--wow) and a few grotto's that would let you think your in a cave (of course applying proper protocols for solid overheads),,,,,,, but that can be argued till all of us are in our 90's, and never agree ---LOL.

Would like to think the project 'might' be finished, as it got a good start from a few dedicated divers, and some planning and donated materials.

I can see it being a ton of work, and some of the issues to over come, but I have never run a line that far.

**Then again, is it really necessary at Lake Travis?????

 

[Zinc]

I dove to the deep platform off stair 3, 108 feet. There is a line running deep from there, but it's not the GTTP starting point, however, it may lead down to it, I guess you'll know soon enough

 

[FIXXERVI6]

No, it not a cave, but they are not the only thing worth diving for, and a bunch of us hold little interest in them... (BUT I dove a wonderful recreational type tour cenote in Mx.--wow) and a few grotto's that would let you think your in a cave (of course applying proper protocols for solid overheads),,,,,,, but that can be argued till all of us are in our 90's, and never agree ---LOL.

Would like to think the project 'might' be finished, as it got a good start from a few dedicated divers, and some planning and donated materials.

I can see it being a ton of work, and some of the issues to over come, but I have never run a line that far.

Then again, is it really necessary at Lake Travis?????

1. The problem becomes it is a virtual overhead, when the vis goes black and you can't read a compass or your computer you have two options, come up on a bag and dodge boats or come back on a line.

2. its good practice for running the reel and line, this isn't like real exploration just having some fun.

3. good excuse to dive, its nice having a line for reference makes things go a lot faster without having to watch a compass when you hit the mud flats, if it ever gets finished the final crossing (if done by me) would be by scooter, I'd much rather have a line.

4. when its black keeping track of your buddy is a lot easier with a line, he is either in front, or behind.

We are semi serious about it, if it comes to choosing between going cave diving or going to travis there is no contest. We would have made a lot more progress if the vis hadn't gone to 0 on the bottom and then the lake went and dried up. If conditions stay favorable or even close we plan on putting the line all the way up the other side eventually. You know its bad when you can't read your depth or your pressure gauge, hard to read a compass and lay line in the right direction when that happens.

In can also be used by some for a mix training aid, I've seen travis layer out its vis, like 120 to 140 will be just crud, 0 vis then 145 will open up, line is nice for that, you know the line has a path through the trees for example. I've taken compass shots in the past and had to turn back because we just ran into brush with no way through or a very thick branchy area.

One thing that sucks about travis is you could be 3 feet away from your buddy and never know it

line is NICE

 

[FIXXERVI6]

I dove to the deep platform off stair 3, 108 feet. There is a line running deep from there, but it's not the GTTP starting point, however, it may lead down to it, I guess you'll know soon enough

Skip the fling and come with us mud is better than salt!

 

[Phreatic Fanatic]

No, it not a cave, but they are not the only thing worth diving for, and a bunch of us hold little interest in them... (BUT I dove a wonderful recreational type tour cenote in Mx.--wow) and a few grotto's that would let you think your in a cave (of course applying proper protocols for solid overheads),,,,,,, but that can be argued till all of us are in our 90's, and never agree ---LOL.

Would like to think the project 'might' be finished, as it got a good start from a few dedicated divers, and some planning and donated materials.

I can see it being a ton of work, and some of the issues to over come, but I have never run a line that far.

**Then again, is it really necessary at Lake Travis?????

No, it's not necessary. It started out as a fun project nearly 4 years ago:

First, some background.

About 2 years ago, not long after completing tech diving training and about the time I did my full cave class, I had what seemed like a crazy idea. I wanted to swim across lack Travis, from Windy Point park straight across, on the bottom. This would be roughly a mile swim, and would involve considerable deco. My goal, besides being able to say I had done it, was to practice installing line, dealing with complex dive plans and just to have a mission when I go to Travis.

About a year ago, Carl (Phreatic Fanatic) and I finally laid the first 500 feet of line, starting at the edge of the old river bed heading straight out. The line was tied off to a log (I think, vis was pretty horid that day) and headed straight across as well as I could navigate on the scooter while managing the compass, the reel and Carl in tow behind me. As we went, we stopped to put in mud stakes at as close to regular intervals as possible. The first stake is a long way from the bank in any case and if I remember right, there are 5 stakes on 500' of line.

That is where the project stalled. My job and Carl's teaching restricted our dive time together.

However FIXXERVI6 found the line a few weeks ago and posted about it and somehow it got back to me. It seems there is some interest in this project! I'm starting this thread to "organize" the project. However, I want to be clear, I don't own the lake, and short of asking everyone not to destroy work that has been done, it is a free country. However, those that would like to try planning this like a "real" project, please post here. I want the experience doing it for my dive resume!

Goals and Planning

Primary Goal:

Cross Travis from Windy Point straight across on the bottom (1 mile traverse) as a simulated hard overhead (obviously deco will make it a soft overhead at least).

Secondary Goals:

Lay line around the river bottom to make diving it more plausible/interesting (I love it just the way it is to be honest).

Survey the line on the bottom (talk about a great narcosis drill!).

My basic plan is as follows:

1) Traverse line will begin at the edge of the old river bed (possibly farther up, but I have concerns about open water divers pulling it out by mistake in that case - a short jump between the shallow line and the deep line would prevent that though) and head due west.

2) 4' or 6' Mud stakes will be used to secure the line on the soft bottom at 50' intervals. (the original section is done with 3 and 4 foot stakes, which are both on the short side for the soft bottom).

3) Initial line instillation will focus on laying the line on the correct course, with fewer stakes.

4) Later teams can install additional/longer stakes as required to secure the line.

Things we need overall:
1) 1 to 1.5 miles of #18/#24 braided nylon line.
2) 1" PVC x 8' - 50 sticks.
3) A chase boat
4) Deep team for line install
5) Shallow safety divers for traverse.
6) O2 on chase boat
7) Extra bottles/regs

Want to be involved?

At this point the only requirement to be involved is a desire to help! Please post if you are interested. Eventually, I'll collect everyones email to get details of experience, certification, interest, etc. At that point we (as a group) will decide what requirements will be enforced for give roles in the project.

Things I can tell everyone for sure:
0) No one will be asked to do anything the are not 100% comfortable with.

1) You must be certified to the depth/deco profile you will be diving. We will not dive outside of our certifications or equipment.

2) I suspect that I will want all the safety divers to be at least Rescue Diver (or whatever a given agency calls it - SSI is Stress & Rescue for example). For those not at that level yet, it is a great certification and anyone diving seriously should have it. If there are a number of people that need it, we can look at an organized class for the project.

3) All diving will be in 2+ member teams. Some of us (tech/cave divers in particular) dive alone often, but for this project I we will work in teams. Anyone diving with us will need to observe that. All our line installation and survey procedures will be designed around a 2 person teams.

Since that time, others have taken over. If they are safe and have fun doing the dives, then is it not worth it for the select few who have the training, skills, and desire to do this?

 

[texdiveguy]

1. The problem becomes it is a virtual overhead, when the vis goes black and you can't read a compass or your computer you have two options, come up on a bag and dodge boats or come back on a line.

2. its good practice for running the reel and line, this isn't like real exploration just having some fun.

3. good excuse to dive, its nice having a line for reference makes things go a lot faster without having to watch a compass when you hit the mud flats, if it ever gets finished the final crossing (if done by me) would be by scooter, I'd much rather have a line.

4. when its black keeping track of your buddy is a lot easier with a line, he is either in front, or behind.

We are semi serious about it, if it comes to choosing between going cave diving or going to travis there is no contest. We would have made a lot more progress if the vis hadn't gone to 0 on the bottom and then the lake went and dried up. If conditions stay favorable or even close we plan on putting the line all the way up the other side eventually. You know its bad when you can't read your depth or your pressure gauge, hard to read a compass and lay line in the right direction when that happens.

In can also be used by some for a mix training aid, I've seen travis layer out its vis, like 120 to 140 will be just crud, 0 vis then 145 will open up, line is nice for that, you know the line has a path through the trees for example. I've taken compass shots in the past and had to turn back because we just ran into brush with no way through or a very thick branchy area.

One thing that sucks about travis is you could be 3 feet away from your buddy and never know it

line is NICE

You must be answering my last statement???

I still question the need for a line. Most fun lake diving is accomplished without layed lines to guide you around regardless of depth and viz. Navigation in Windex is no fun--to easy....it is in very low viz and darker the better were you find yourself.

Exploration can be what ever you want it to be, for a new diver it's diving CSSP for example on his/her first dives. With Travis or any other large lake I like the opt. to go in the direction my feelings are that day, lead me and to any depth I desire and have fun just seeing or finding new places. Or if the desire is there --- follow the provided line!

As to being with a buddy and not seeing him from 3ffw, try a short 'buddy line'.

Gold lines are a blessing at times!.....but not always the way to explore and feel on the edge or a bit of a rush. By the way as in caves, many ship wrecks at times are silver lined in similar fashion if popularity warrants for safety and training.

Not knocking lined tour parks, as a way to have some fun and ensure not to miss a great sight, a healthy blend of both is what ensures a well rounded diver IMO.

 

[Phreatic Fanatic]

No, it's not necessary. It started out as a fun project nearly 4 years ago:

Tex,

What part of FUN PROJECT do you not understand?

If they want to lay a line and follow it and they have fun, is that not reason enough?

 

[FIXXERVI6]

You must be answering my last statement???

I still question the need for a line. Most fun lake diving is accomplished without layed lines to guide you around regardless of depth and viz. Navigation in Windex is no fun--to easy....it is in very low viz and darker the better.

Exploration can be what ever you want it to be, for a new diver it's diving CSSP for example on his/her first dives. With Travis or any other large lake I like the opt. to go in the direction my feelings are that day, lead me and to any depth I desire and have fun just seeing or finding new places.

As to being with a buddy and not seeing him from 3ffw, try a short 'buddy line'.

I refuse to use a buddy line, but thats just me.

If you don't think there is a need for a line then go for it with a compass, didn't say it couldn't be done without one, there are just some advantages to having one vs not as I stated, and the primary purpose, just out having fun with it, I don't expect to discover spanish gold or set some world record or anything like that, its an excuse to go play in the mud.

And you forget, we are not just following line, line is being laid by navigating with a compass, if you don't want to follow the line then, well, don't I guess

Its fun, gives the dive purpose, and adds an extra layer of safety, I've given info to some of the others here that if they want to go add to it, or like make jumps off of it or whatever, I dunno, its like, why do they sink a plane in cssp or make a big steel shark, gives you a little play ground as mud reefs aren't quite the same as salt ones.

 

[Phreatic Fanatic]

... I dunno, its like, why do they sink a plane in cssp or make a big steel shark, gives you a little play ground as mud reefs aren't quite the same as salt ones.

How dare they mess up the beauty of the flooded sand pits and quarries with all that junk!