JasonH20
Guest
Well, despite my fears to the contrary after reading earlier course reviews, I made it through Rick's Cavern course in one piece. Jtoorish's thread below is an excellent review of the course (http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=169329
), though I only completed the cavern portion.
While very humbling, it was a great experience. Prior to taking the class, I had no idea of the skills needed to safely dive what I previously thought would be relatively safe caverns.
This really struck home hard for me on our dive into Blue Grotto. I had run the line down to the far back of the cavern and tied off. I was following Rick around while we occasionally covered our lights to confirm we could still see light (just barely most of the time). After maybe 5 minutes of swimming about, Rick turns to me signaling "where is the line?" while handing me the infamous “Fickle Mask of Fate”. I don't know if I was narc'd or just being lazy (probably both) but I put on the mask and realized I really didn't know where the line was!:shakehead I went ahead and tried my best, but was unable to find my way back before Rick had to call the drill. In hind sight, I was doing a "trust me" dive, which Rick repeatedly warned me of. As many have mentioned before, Rick is a great instructor, but the world's worst "buddy".
Even though I had successfully done a lost line drill on an earlier dive at shallower depths, this failed attempt really stuck with me, and was a very sobering experience. It's not a fun feeling to be truely lost and blind in an overhead, period.
I wasn't sure if diving in a cavern (heck, it sure felt like a cave though!) would freak me out, but I didn't mind at all. My SAC rate was pretty outragous though, but every dive was full of new skills and experiences, often while wearing the “Fickle Mask of Fate”. Thankfully the mask didn't bother me too much either and I was able to muddle my way through the drills while wearing it.
Oh, and I too managed to kill Rick. You can find him tangled in a line at 95ffw, off to the right in Blue Grotto. Sorry about that! 
I'm really looking forward to getting back to Florida and trying some more cavern dives. Hopefully next time I can find a better buddy that doesn't constantly run out of air, get tangled in the line, leading me astray to far off nooks and crannies, only to disappear in an impenetrable cloud of silt. But even if they do, atleast now I know what to do, and have a fighting chance to make it back out. :14:
Thanks!
Jason
), though I only completed the cavern portion.
While very humbling, it was a great experience. Prior to taking the class, I had no idea of the skills needed to safely dive what I previously thought would be relatively safe caverns.
This really struck home hard for me on our dive into Blue Grotto. I had run the line down to the far back of the cavern and tied off. I was following Rick around while we occasionally covered our lights to confirm we could still see light (just barely most of the time). After maybe 5 minutes of swimming about, Rick turns to me signaling "where is the line?" while handing me the infamous “Fickle Mask of Fate”. I don't know if I was narc'd or just being lazy (probably both) but I put on the mask and realized I really didn't know where the line was!:shakehead I went ahead and tried my best, but was unable to find my way back before Rick had to call the drill. In hind sight, I was doing a "trust me" dive, which Rick repeatedly warned me of. As many have mentioned before, Rick is a great instructor, but the world's worst "buddy".
Even though I had successfully done a lost line drill on an earlier dive at shallower depths, this failed attempt really stuck with me, and was a very sobering experience. It's not a fun feeling to be truely lost and blind in an overhead, period.I wasn't sure if diving in a cavern (heck, it sure felt like a cave though!) would freak me out, but I didn't mind at all. My SAC rate was pretty outragous though, but every dive was full of new skills and experiences, often while wearing the “Fickle Mask of Fate”. Thankfully the mask didn't bother me too much either and I was able to muddle my way through the drills while wearing it.
Oh, and I too managed to kill Rick.
You can find him tangled in a line at 95ffw, off to the right in Blue Grotto. Sorry about that! I'm really looking forward to getting back to Florida and trying some more cavern dives. Hopefully next time I can find a better buddy that doesn't constantly run out of air, get tangled in the line, leading me astray to far off nooks and crannies, only to disappear in an impenetrable cloud of silt.
But even if they do, atleast now I know what to do, and have a fighting chance to make it back out. :14: Thanks!
Jason
