So then why have any markers? or any line for that matter.
Let's all just go in the cave and progressively penetrate, and learn the cave and we wont need anything right ?
Should be no problem getting a team of 3 out blind from a multitude of left/right turns with no line in the same amount of time it took to get in, right ?
EDIT: Richard is not saying "believe the markers like they were the word of god"
but if you see on the way out a bunch of markers that you know you left on the way in, they act as clues that you are going the right way.
Of course you need to learn the cave, but are you really saying that someone could put you in any passage you've ever been in, close your eyes, spin you around, swim you up and down for a bit and you would immediately know exactly where you are, were the exit is etc. etc. ?
I never said that you'd never need lines or markers. They're useful references but they should not be your primary means of navigation in a cave. Lines should be run in all passages in case of a zero or very low visability situation when visual references cannot be used. Arrows should point to the nearest exit.
Any change in the directionality of the arrows should be
expected and noted. Marking each arrow that doesn't point towards your exit is only necessary if you're incapable of memorizing the cave, the line, and the arrows and also being able to stay calm enough to access that memory in a stressful situation. Looking to the line to tell you which way to go on a routine dive is inexcusable. If you're not learning the cave and staying within your comfort zone you should reevaluate your decision to cave dive.
Your no line/blind example is completely irrelevant to this discussion. Those two scenarios are being addressed separately. If you put me one of my buddies 2000' in Ginnie and yank the lines I'll see you in the Eye in 30 minutes or less. It's remarkable what one can learn in about 100 cave dives Ginnie over a span of about 18 months.
Regarding your last statement: With few exceptions, yes. If not, I wouldn't have to go more than 100' before I figured it out. If the visibility were to suddenly drop to zero, I'd know exactly where I saw the line last--which direction, how far, and whether or not it was above or below me. Chances are I'd be on the line before the visibility hit zero.
Line following isn't thinking. It's a crutch. Learning the cave and having a mental map of the system that you can up date every second is the only safe way to navigate. Note turns, landmarks, odd formations, big rocks, etc, and use those to find your way. It's no different than driving to the grocery store. You rely on the lines when your primary navigation tools--visual references--aren't available. If at any point you don't know the way out, you've already screwed up. There's no excuse for getting lost. It's simply careless. The ONLY time you should be completely dependent on the line is in zero visibility. At all other times you just make sure you know where it is and verify markers as you go past.
I'm not saying that one one shouldn't use markers. I'm saying that they should never tell you something that you don't already know.
