Day 8: crawling like a crab

Location: Mexico
Date: May 11, 2012   


Day 8


Day started off with some more land drills, which basically means a lot of lines between the trees in front of the shop. I'll try to make some pics tomorrow. This time we navigated the different jumps one can encounter ( 4 different types of jumps). It is all about the clear communication and the way you reinforce your lines ( i know repetition!!). After that we headed to the cenote Mayan Blue. The cenote itself has a fairly big open water section and several tunnels. Tunnel A, B and the death zone. We went in tunnel A. As per usual I was leading the dive and after a bubble check, gear matching and an S-drill of we went. Today I was diving with a new configuration which is always a bit tricky in the beginning. STuff feels differently and we took our time tweaking it so that I was comfortable.


The plan was to do the first Jump to the left, first T to the left and if we had the time another T to the right. After I nearly missed the first jump I connected to the new line and off we went. At this time I was still adjusting to my new setup which could add some stress. My stress was limited ( otherwise I would have called the dive). Basic rule in cave diving is that anybody can call the dive for any reason without questions asked. it is just plain stupid to continue diving if you are not feeling it especially when penetrating into a cave system. This dive was also about restrictions. A restriction can be minor ( you will fit but one by one) and Major ( you most likely won't fit through the tunnel wearing back mount but will with side mount. It also means you sometimes have to start pulling yourself up gently using your hands as there is no space for using your fins. I was literally crawling over the rocks like a crab trying not to hit the sides and not breaking anything of my surroundings. So unbelievably awesome! I officially LOVE confined spaces. Once we came close to our turn around time I was kind of getting weary of the space and checking how further along I should continue and being able to turn around as well. Once I came to a somewhat open-ish space I decided to turn around and inform Kim that we were going "up". On our way back off course some drills were added ( did I really think I would have a dive without?). SO out came the blindfold again and I now had to navigate through the small spaces trying to fit through using my memory ( mental note when going in) and my hands. At one point i had to use my buddy behind me slightly and had him push me through since my hands couldn't find any stable rocks to pull me ( remember I could not see anything). 


Once we reached a our T he had left tank regulator free flow and i quickly turned it off. Only then was I allowed to take my blindfold off and all of a sudden it was dark again... grrrr he switched off my main light. Now remember we are very deep into the cave and without light it is absolutely PITCH dark. So using my backup light i continued. I am very aware of my divers behind me so Kim had to pll a little trick on me for him to disappear on me ( basically swimming backwards shining his torch on my but , so i was still seeing him behind me, and as soon as he had hit a corner he switched of his line. GRRRR. So as soon as his light disappeared i went looking for him using the "lost diver" drill. I managed to find my, by now slightly panicked, buddy and directed him to my recovery line that I had laid. He went up front and together swam to the main cave line again. Whilst I was reeling in Kim had quickly chaned one of my directional arrows so it was now pointing out the wrong way. Once I arrived at the arrow i looked an it and though "F&^^& did i do it wrong? Looked at the exit but was sure I came from the other side so I corrected him and said nope we are not following this arrow, we are going the other way. Once i started taking off the reel and arrow i noticed it was well tied up so surely one of my very beloved instructors had turned it around ( thanks boys thankfully I passed the test!). Going back Kim pulled another trick one me when he wanted to go down a wrong temporary T which Frank had placed there. I quickly said NO not ours and we continued using the right one. So my awareness is improving. This cenote was so bloody effing cool that I want to go back and push it more and go a bit deeper ( which basically I need to get my Caribbean ass sorted and swim faster!).  


Once outside the we practised some skills again and i squeezed myself through a little hole that required me to take one of my tanks off and keep it in front of me. I LOVE SIDE MOUNT!!!!


Tomorrow we are going to swim from one cenote ( calimba) and connect to another cenote ( grand cenote) using the cave lines. SWEET!!!!!! It is also my last day of training :( well for now ;) hahahah


XOXO


p.s i did pull a typical Marijke today... forgot my wetsuits at the shop!!! WHOOPS! luckily the cenote was nearby *blush blush*