Day 9: swimming 9000 feet in 1 day!

Location: Mexico
Date: May 12, 2012   


Day 9

Kim's army style setup

Today is the last day of my certification. Sad cuz it is going to be over and I had soooo much fun. Happy cuz now I can attack these mental caves myself ( sorry mom). So funny to think that dad would probably be thrilled to read all of this and mom would think "what did I do to make her like this???" . 


Today we spoke about Traverses and Circuits. A circuit is.. well a circuit ;) Traverse is basically one way in and coming out another Cenote. The later is something were planning on doing. In order to do a full traverse you need at least 2 dives. The plan was to go in Dive 1 ( also called the setup dive) at the Gran cenote side. We choose that because it needed more works ( 2 jumps including reel work) so it would cost more time and thus more air). We would than swim as far in the caves as our "thirds" would allow us as deco time was not an issue during this dive. Once we would hit our thirds ( basically means you have the same third to swim back and an extra third to,cover any emergencies), we would place a marker on which we wrote "Traverse 12/05/12 K & M" and turn around to exit at Gran cenote. We would get out of the water drive to the other cenote and enter from there and see if we would reach the marker within our thirds. Alrighty then, "game face on" as Kim would say.

the guys looking at the plan.

Calimba cenote at the top and gran cenote at the bottom

So we hit the water and started swimming down the lines. After placing the reels and markers we continued along the cave line. Lots of droopy stalagmites and tites, lots of flat surfaces and different colours in the formations. Flaky salty looking flakes on the bottom made you think you were on a glacier but then you look to another point and you are back in the cave. Amaazing! the inspiration I get from diving in caves is just insane. We had some restrictions but not real bad so we did not have to pull and push to much. There were a couple of jumps to other lines but we did ot take them since we wanted to connect to the Calimba Cenote. I could see loads of tunnels and interesting tubes where you could swim and I was thinking about those guys exploring the caves on their own. That must be such an adrenaline rush. Both Frank and Kim are part of exploring teams and it is really cool to listen to their stories and how passionate they are about it. 


Once we reached our thirds we turned around and swam back. I did achieve the name "tortuga" during my course here since I am just slower than slow however for this dive I picked it up a little bit knowing that at my original pace there was no way in hell we would be able to connect. haha Swimming back we would normally pick up the markers and reels but not this time as we will need them for dive 2. Coming back into the Gran Cenote cavern is just amazing and the light is sooo beautiful. I had to stop to take it in and I was praying that on the next dive I would be able to see this again. At this point i was slightly freezing as well... hey I just spend 100 minutes underwater in 25 degrees. Give me a break!!!!


Once we were out of the water we stowed our kit in the car and drove to the other cenote named Calimba. Calimba is basically a muddy-ish small hole in the ground which is very shallow. you can't see shit, and you literally have to dive under some stalactites to get into the cave where it is super duper clear again. This cenote as a completely different look and feel. It feels a bit more Dracula where Gran Cenote feels more fairytale. I actually preferred this end of the cenote, mainly because of the restrictions - SMILE - . Trying as hard as I could not to bang to much into the formations but I am still getting used to my new "dive size" having tanks dangling from the right.  I saw some funny little white/see through creatures one could resemble a little teeny tine lobster and some crabby-ish things. all not bigger than maybe 5 cm. Bear in mind that these guys have not ever experienced day light. Even the silt on the bottom has its own texture and looks so you don't want to disturb it that much. We reached a T and I knew that the marker was coming up soon and I wasn't even close to my thirds. My heart did a little jump of joy YEY I made it. Once I saw the little Swedish flag reflecting in my light ( Kim's markers are marked in a very swedish way ;) )I knew i was going to exit at the Gran cenote side again. WHOOP WHOOP.


we discussed in our briefing that at "turn around" point Kim would go in-front and I would go in the back which would mean I would stay the leader and pick up the markers and reels. Normally e.g. I would lead in and Kim would be behind me and than when turning around Kim would be in front and I would behind, that is how you would normally lead in and out.
 So now we are doing something I had never done before. Instead of turning around we actually went deeper in the cave to exit. Knowing very well we had more than enough air to do so but the feeling is kind of exiting ;). My awareness has improved lots and i immediately knew where I was and started recognizing when sharp angles to the left or right or even up or down were coming. Yey me! 
The boys heard a lot of Oooohh and Ahhhh's and even some giggles coming from me ( something that will probably follow me the rest of my cave diving career! hahaha) whilst admiring the cave formations. 


After 78 minutes we were back at the entrance of Gran Cenote and boy was it a beautiful sight. At this point the snorklers had gone and the light was slightly blue-er. Wow.. mesmerizing indeed! The feeling of accomplishment hit me as well as sadness cuz it was done now..... at the safety stop Kim held up his wetnotes that said: "Congratulations you are now a cave diver ".. Oh Yeah SWEEEEEEET.


Once we gave each other the "up"signal I let the boys pass me so I could just take it all in. 9 days of sweating, frustration but overall one of the best experiences i have had was over. I made it. It was an overwhelming feeling. I am now a good confident cave diver ( well I hope hahaha) thanks to a very tall Sweed and a crazy Guatemalan. Lucky Me :) Thanks guys!


Just today I spend 3 hours underwater and swimming a whopping distance of 9000 feet (2.7 km). Not even talking about the other days. Me carib "tortuga" girl is now Full Cave certified ( sorry mom). 

XOXO

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* 

Day 7: all about the T's

Location: Mexico
Date: May 10, 2012   


Day 7


can't believe that it is already day 7. I have been diving my crazy ass off and looooving it :). The fear of being in the caves is slowly disappearing making place for respect and total AWE-ness.


Today it was all about learning how to read T's, how to properly navigate around them and about the awareness in the cave. I have the biggest respect for caves. I mean in the open water, generally when something is wrong you can go up... not so much in a cave since you will be hugging the ceiling or the stalactites. Now before i go on I will post a picture that says it all:

This sign is for all those divers that are not trained, not respecting the caves and not have the proper equipment. must admit seeing the signs kind of makes you go "oh boy". However I am following this course for a reason. To become a good safe and very aware cave diver. I did admit to Frank today that during dive 2 of the day I had this spilt second of "what the F am i doing". However that quickly went away once i saw the pretty-ness of the caves and remembered everything that I had learned so far. The 2 teachers I have could not be more different but I actually think that is a good thing. I am learning so much form both of them and then translating it to my own language. How do you like your tanks, how do you like your setup, where are your markers etc etc. Off course you do not adapt any of the basic rules. The only thing you adapt is how you wear it but not what you wear. 


Anyway where was I . Oh yeah T's. A T is a just like a T section in traffic. You have a choice and you either go right or left. In cave diving you reinforce your T's by marking it with your own "cookie"or "REM". Everybody's cave divers cookies and REM's are personal and you identify them by looking at them but also by touching them. E.g my name is on my REM and I have made 3 indents in them so that with low or no vis I can feel the cookie and say.. "oh yeah this is mine". Which is like a personal note attached the the traffic sign saying I came from this way. Now you don't want to trust a piece of plastic as my instructors say. My life is worth more than $2. So you need to remember where you went and make a mental picture of the situation. Both going in and looking back ( cave has 2 faces - going in and going out!!!!!) 


After practising navigating T's on land we drove to the Cenote "temple of Doom".  The entrance to the cenote requires a ladder ( yes i hear you - interesting when carrying tanks down!!!!!) Luckily I have 2 make instructors that helped me lower 1 of my tanks down and hauling them up using ropes. I did take 1 tank down the ladder myself because in the end I need to be fully independent ( yes it includes having very bruised shoulders).


The dive plan for the first dive was navigate the first T right, 2nd left and third right. Every T you encounter you communicate with your team mate saying ok we go right here and I am placing my personalised REM here. SO everybody is aware what is going on. I think i am saying this everyday now but I have lengthened my penetration again. We went 40 minutes into the cave now. It was soo pretty that sometimes i just had to stop and look around. wow so gorgeous. Beautiful hailoclines which made you think the surface was right there ( optical illusion), gorgeous decorations, little passages etc etc. It is so difficult to write this down cuz there is just no way to describe it. On the way back we did a blind exit ( surprise surprise!!) whilst airsharing. Which is great when you are upfront and your very tall Swedish instructor is pushing you forward... I'M FLLYYYYING!now remember you now have to navigate T's blindfolded... interesting. Especially when your other instructor all of a sudden introduces new lines which were not there on the way in.......


once the dive was over we got out and changed our tanks for new tanks and had a little break ( i seriously needed to warm up).


The second dive, Kim lead in the cave. As mentioned before - he is Swedish and tall. SO here I come with my Caribbean pace and shorter legs..... bearing in mind that he already slowed down hus pace to accomodate me hahaha. At some point i was just in awe and had to stop and look around to take it all in. So beautiful. This time we took a slightly different route with smaller passages which put my sidemount diving skills to the test. Trying out the different fin kicks etc.  Once it was time to turn around I had to lead us out. off course this is when the fun started for Kim and Frank cuz all of a sudden my equipment miraculous started malfunctioning. I had a hose pop, a free flowing regulator a self inflating BCD and light failure. This is just to test your awareness - to see how quickly you react and if you actually react doing the right thing. which I did.. PFFFFFFFFFEUH!.


after the safety stop we practised some skills such as opening your reg underwater ( e.g. when some silt comes in your reg it cold lead to a free flow so important for you to know how to solve it). after 83 minutes i was cold, had a sore back but was very satisfied. I am happy with my improvements however need to improve a lot still. Something I am happy with and confident in that I will.


Back at the shop we did an accident analysis. We talked about personal experiences, accidents that happened or could happen and how you can prevent them. Which would be a blog post of its own should I go deeper into it.


Frank has been filming lots so at one point I'll grab some video's and post them as well.


Tomorrow we are jumping :) 


XOXO

Day 6 : going deeper into the caves

Location: Mexico
Date: May 9, 2012  


Day 6


Oh my. First day of my full cave training. I was the only one continuing on the full cave course so all of a sudden it was just me and 2 instructors. Yikes! Yes definitely intimidating no way of messing things up now. I had  a little bit of pressure of showing my new instructor that Frank ( my cavern and intro instructor) had thought me well. SO first he needed to get to know me and i needed to get to know him.  First bit of theory went well ( i had to do a calculation of thirds again and my maths skills still suck especially when being under pressure. massive brain black out). 


Once the theory bit was over we went to the cenote called Car wash. Which got its name by... well it used to be a car wash ( sometimes it is just so simple, the way things work!). We started out by doing some line work including some new skills and practising a single tie off by using just one hand. so ok.. i think i got that one down. We geared up and jumped in the cenote. Good thing about this cenote is that it actually is warm water at the surface ( which I can tell you is great after you finish your dive). I will be the leader of all coming dives so I need to lead the briefing, bubble check and gear matching as well as deploying and reeling in the lines. And especially the latter is a test to my non existing muscles ( still waiting for the Yoga practise to help me here.....). After the S-drill ( which is an out of air practise you do before every dive) we penetrated the cave and went in quite far, I think the furthest I have yet been into a cave mainly because all restrictions have now been lifted. Once we reached our time limit we turned around and I had to find my way out blindfolded. I remembered writing all the data down this time and was also able to notice immediately when Kim ( my instructor) tried to "disappear". Pfff that one is in tha pocket. off course when blindfolded I practised the "touch contact" with Kim and all went well. :) Reeling in the reel however i managed to fuck it up slightly  ( whoops!). anyway we got out safe and it was time for the debriefing. I like debriefings it really helps you perfect your skills and think about what you could/should have done different.


After the debriefing it was time for our second dive which was a repetition of the first but then off course taking all the critiques in mind and actually implement them. We had to fix my reel first ( whoops.. blush blush) tho but hey minor detail. 


I feel more and more at easy diving which is why I think it is so good that there is a lot of repetition in this course and doing it "ok" is so not an option. It has to be prefect and everything has a purpose and you always stick to the same sequence. second dive was a bit shorter due to the fact I was on regular air and therefore did not have as much no-deco time available. After the dive we practised the different fin kicks, mask clearing, disconnecting your inflator hose and "feathered breathing". the latter is an exercise i really liked actually. It is basically a skill you would use if for example when  your regulator free flows. Obviously you won't keep the tank valve open at all times as you would lose to much air. SO you close your vale and then slightly open it to breath in after which you close it and you breath out - tank valve open for a breath in etc etc. 


AFter the dives we went back to the classroom and discussed T's. A T section is basically ( like i regular traffic) 2 options.. right or left etc. A cave has 2 faces - one going in and one going out - so your total awareness needs to be spot on ( still working on that - hey I am just girl.... hahah so navigation is tricky!!). You need to remember: ok so I took a T left and then a T right. SO on your way back you go left first and then right. Still following? Anyway lots of stuff to deal with. Tomorrow is the T day including a dive where basically I expect everything will go wrong. No doubt that my reg will free flow, I will have zero vis and i might even have to do a line recovery.


That being said.... i think it is time for my beauty sleep! night night peeps! tomorrow is another day


XOXO