new cave diver

[lv2dive]

I have been in a low flow cave, and plan to learn what a medium flow cave is before attempting high flow

Well isn't Ginnie pretty much medium flow right now anyway? Recent reports on JB have it picking back up.

 

[TSandM]

Ginnie? Medium flow? In my dreams . . .

 

[Quero]

Congrats on your achievement! I'm also a new cave diver, but I did my training in Florida. I hope to finish up my last level here in Thailand, and then I've got Mexico and Brazil to look forward to. Probably Brazil first, though since I go there regularly. And of course, more of Florida. My mom lives just an hour south of High Springs....

 

[corvettejoe]

yes, I need to.

25 Cave 1 dives are needed before moving on to Cave 2, and I am planning on splitting these between Florida and Mexico over the next year You can be sure you will see posts sometime in the future beginning with "any Cave 1 divers going to be in Florida in <month tbd>..."

Congrats! There's a lot of us cavers in FL. Just post up when you're coming and I'm sure you'll get lots of offers for buddies


Remember with the bubble leaks.. you have PLENTY of gas. If it's bad enough just end the dive. Fix it, and do another dive. It's not worth stressing over.

As to the colors... yes color is lost under depth, but that is only because sunlight can't reach those depths. In a cave, there is no natural light available...so whatever you see around you is with your bright dive light... which is close enough to whatever you're looking at to not have any loss of color at that point If you took your same cave light and shined it around a deep reef, the immediate areas around it would be just as colorful, which is why you use BIG strobes to photograph said reefs

Welcome to caving!

 

[LiteHedded]

Ginnie? Medium flow? In my dreams . . .

it happens

 

[PfcAJ]

You weenies.

"High flow" caves aren't the big hairy boogyman that people make them out to be. You just go slower and not as far. Here is the 'high flow diving master course'. I usually charge $100/ day for this, but you for guys, its free. Don't say I never gave you anything.

Grab a rock, pull on that rock, do it again. Hide from the flow behind big rocks if you can't find a rock to pull on. Keep lines tight. Think about what you're doing. Always face into the flow when you're trying to stop. Get flat in the water and eliminate all dangly bits. Flutter instead of frog. Take your time. Did I mention to take your time? Also, pull on that rock! Now, if you really wanna be slick, hide behind big rocks WHILE pulling on rocks, stay shallow if you can, and go slow. If you're huffing and puffing you're either a) doing it wrong or b) need to hit the gym. Hitting the gym (or pool, or track, whatever) is a good idea anyway. Also, get some helium in those tanks. 2 reasons: 1st, it reduces narcosis (nitrogen, co2). 2nd, its lighter so you need less gas in your wing (aka drag) to float those big ass tanks.

Guess what? Its a high flow cave. Its probably 85-100ft deep. You're NOT gunna go far. Wanna go far? Take more gas and/or take a scooter. But you can have a nice, enjoyable dive in a high flow cave without being spat out the Ear like a piece of choked on broccoli. There's a bunch of cool cave in the first 1000' of ginnie (and LR and JB, too, I'm sure. I just have less experience in those 2) that you can easily see on backgas. Add a stage you wanna get real nutty and you can get all over that cave.

 

[nimoh]

You weenies.

"High flow" caves aren't the big hairy boogyman that people make them out to be. You just go slower and not as far. Here is the 'high flow diving master course'. I usually charge $100/ day for this, but you for guys, its free. Don't say I never gave you anything.

Grab a rock, pull on that rock, do it again. Hide from the flow behind big rocks if you can't find a rock to pull on. Keep lines tight. Think about what you're doing. Always face into the flow when you're trying to stop. Get flat in the water and eliminate all dangly bits. Flutter instead of frog. Take your time. Did I mention to take your time? Also, pull on that rock! Now, if you really wanna be slick, hide behind big rocks WHILE pulling on rocks, stay shallow if you can, and go slow. If you're huffing and puffing you're either a) doing it wrong or b) need to hit the gym. Hitting the gym (or pool, or track, whatever) is a good idea anyway. Also, get some helium in those tanks. 2 reasons: 1st, it reduces narcosis (nitrogen, co2). 2nd, its lighter so you need less gas in your wing (aka drag) to float those big ass tanks.

Guess what? Its a high flow cave. Its probably 85-100ft deep. You're NOT gunna go far. Wanna go far? Take more gas and/or take a scooter. But you can have a nice, enjoyable dive in a high flow cave without being spat out the Ear like a piece of choked on broccoli. There's a bunch of cool cave in the first 1000' of ginnie (and LR and JB, too, I'm sure. I just have less experience in those 2) that you can easily see on backgas. Add a stage you wanna get real nutty and you can get all over that cave.

sounds easy enough, but I think I'll still work my way up to it. I'm pretty sure it will still be there next year

 

[kathydee]

Congrats! Nice job, I loved that first pre class dive . It's well earned.

It was Fred, funny enough, in my 3 classes done at Zero Gravity (Fundies, Fundies and Cave 1) I have still not met Danny. Does he really exist? I am starting to think he is Fred and Chris' imaginary friend

Yes Danny exists & is an awesome instructor . I did my C1, C2, Fundies tech pass, DPV & a ton of guided days with him .

But... Fred & Chris are also totally amazing instructors, divers and really great guys. I <3 diving at ZG!

 

[TSandM]

AJ, you have to understand the mindset of people who learn in MX. There, it's all about finesse -- don't touch anything, don't kick anything, never leave the gold line. When you come to FL, the first dive into flow is daunting, to say the least. You HAVE to grab and pull -- and if you do it wrong, say goodbye to your fingerprints. You don't have a clue how to read the cave and figure out where the flow is mildest (I'm still not terribly good at this). You haven't flutter kicked in ages. It's easy to get perceptual narrowing and only look for the next handhold -- and end up in the wrong place.

Yes, there is beautiful cave in the front of Ginnie. I honestly love the Gallery, and wish I could figure out how to spend more time there. But getting in is an eye-opener, when you have never done anything remotely like it before.

 

[darushin]

Ginnie? Medium flow? In my dreams . . .

Compared to little river, it's definitely medium flow. Last time I dove that cave and it was screaming I think it took me three fin kicks to go 1500 ft on the way out.

Daru