A Danger of Freediving Sumps

[Cantclimbtom]

Probably a stupid question, but to avoid confusion, that's right hand inbye (away from Swildon's 1&2 ) and left hand outbye? (back home)

 

[PeteHall]

Probably a stupid question, but to avoid confusion, that's right hand inbye (away from Swildon's 1&2 ) and left hand outbye? (back home)

Yes, that's correct.

 

[jwtbids]

Probably a stupid question, but to avoid confusion, that's right hand inbye (away from Swildon's 1&2 ) and left hand outbye? (back home)

Yes, that's correct.

On a side note, MU5 recommends the line being held in the right hand in both directions. Not sure if this is contrary to peoples experience.

 

[PeteHall]

On a side note, MU5 recommends the line being held in the right hand in both directions. Not sure if this is contrary to peoples experience.

That works fine too.

Certainly right hand heading downstream, that's non-negotiable in my opinion.

Heading back upstream, it doesn't really matter too much and you should be fine either way.

 

[martinr]

MU5 recommends the line being held in the right hand in both directions.

Avoids free divers meeting head on when the cave is busy?

 

[jwtbids]

Avoids free divers meeting head on when the cave is busy?

Maybe we could get one of these put in going both ways clockwise?

 

[PeteHall]

Avoids free divers meeting head on when the cave is busy?

I'm guessing that this was meant as a joke, but I'll answer sensibly just in case.

First off, even in a busy cave like Swildon's, the chance of two dree-divers encountering each other by chance anywhere other than Sump 1 is extremely remote.

However, one should always inspect the rope and its anchor at the current end, to ensure it's OK for thd return. Next one checks the rope is secure ahead by giving it a good Tugging before setting off. Next one will lie down in the water, rope in hand and acclimatise to the temperature to avoid shock on emersion. Finally, one will go through a breathing routine (3 relaxed, but deep breaths for me), before making the dive.

If anyone was the other side, going through a similar routine, you'd see or feel the rope moving. If someone else was part way through,they would have surfaced long before you'd completed your pre-dive checks and drills.

A more likely scenario is two free-divers in a group, where one goes through, then the returns as the second follows. This may be because of bad air in an airbell forcing a retreat, or (as per the original post in this thread) the diver failing to pass the sump, or it could be that the second diver takes so long thinking about it that the first diver returns to see what's going on. In any of these situations, the risk can be mitigated by using a clear set of signals through the rope, which should be agreed and rehearsed before each dive.

 

[martinr]

... guessing that this was meant as a joke ...

It was

 

[PeteHall]

A more likely scenario is two free-divers in a group, where one goes through, then the returns as the second follows. This may be because of bad air in an airbell forcing a retreat,

I should add that this exact situation has lead to multiple fatalities.

Clear communication using predetermined signals through the dive line is really important.