UKMC and CDG trip to Pridamsleigh Cavern July 2016

UKMC

New member
Simon (UKMC), Robbie (UKMC & CDG) and Pete (CDG) joined up at this site for an afternoon dive. Ably assisted by Hat (Wessex CC) as a porter. The mission objective was for Pete to use his rebreather to explore an un-dived passage. The previous week another passage was explored by Robbie but it does not progress. Dislodging of silt by exhaled gas cannot be avoided in parts of this cave.
To reach dive base there is a muddy and slippery journey taking about 20 minutes involving stooping sections, horizontal crawls, a roped clamber and a small traverse. Haul bags are essential and everything is caked in wet mud.
Unfortunately, while preparing to enter the water Pete suffered an 02 loss which compromised his dive entirely. Robbie and Simon entered the water to drop 25mt down a lovely wide shaft before a short horizontal swim and then the ascent into the main chamber. What a beautiful room full of large formations such as curtain stalactites, absolutely breath-taking for the first-time visitor. We took several minutes to absorb the atmosphere and our powerful dive and video lights made the best of our views. With Robbie being familiar with the cave we returned to dive base on an alternative route. Sadly, Simon?s helmet mounted camera disappeared on the return journey so there are no pictures to show the beauty of this cave.
A nice bonus to this site is a stream very close to where we park the cars so we wallowed around in it to wash off the worst of the mud and clay.
Only one thing to do then ? plan the return journey to achieve the mission.


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