Going deeper underground

Location: Mexico
Date: May 3, 2012


Dear Dad,


I have decided to write the next couple of posts to you. Why? Well it involves diving.. and lots of it. I am also kind of hoping that you could break the news gently to mother dearest... thanks:)


Right where do I start? I am now officially a Tec 40 and Side mount diver ( sorry mom). The tec 40 dive course was pretty intense and very humbling. I thought I was comfortable and at ease in the water. Well that all changed as soon as I put those twins on my back. First - they are Heavy - Second - they are uncomfortable - third it limits my movement. But hey no complaints I just have to accept the fact that I basically have to start from scratch. Our instructor Frank is very strict and takes no BS. Which to be fair in such a serious diving environment - is all for the better.  We have learned to dive with more gasses ( 2 normal tanks plus a deco tank with 50% oxygen - which will allow to shorten our deco time) and tanks. Well after this I can tell you I could not wait to go side mount. Now we wear the tanks to our side. Straight from the bat my buoyancy went up a couple of notches. YES!!!!

next up is Full cave certification. This area is very famous for its cenotes. And since I am lazy i'll quote from wikepedia: Cenotes are formed by dissolution of rock and the resulting subsurface void, which may or may not be linked to an active cave system, and the subsequent structural collapse of the rock ceiling above the void. Rock that falls into the water below is slowly removed by further dissolution, creating space for more collapse blocks. The rate of collapse increases during periods when the water table is below the ceiling of the void, since the rock ceiling is no longer buoyantly supported by the water in the void. Cenotes may be fully collapsed creating an open water pool, or partially collapsed with some portion of a rock overhang above the water. The stereotypical cenotes often resemble small circular ponds, measuring some tens of meters in diameter with sheer drops at the edges. Most cenotes, however, require some degree of stooping if not crawling to access the water.

one word : AMAZING!!!!


Today was Day 1. after having practised lines and done some theory a couple of days back it was time for the stress circuit. Great... well it ain't called stress circuit for no reason huh! yup. Blind folded we had to do a couple of runs through lines and encounter problems. I seem to have a problem holding on to the line I also lost my buddy and turned the wrong way when giving him my octopus.. Ah well I am here to learn right so am working on it! Hands are cut up, I am extremely worn out but very satisfied. Dad you would have loved it! Mom you'd hate it! hehe

xoxo