New Goyden - Diving Video

[jonnybellman]

A few weeks ago, I joined Rob Middleton for my second trip in New Goyden along with Phil Walker & Chris Fox with the task to radio locate the Caravan Trail location to the surface. Rob also got the third sump re-lined too, so overall a productive trip.

Took some footage going through Sumps 1, 2 and Middle, although the visibility isn't the greatest. Thought I'd share here:

 

[Goydenman]

Jonny dragging that bag looked a right pain!!

 

[jonnybellman]

I had 2, one rope bag clipped off to me, which sat rather nicely actually. The heavier bag was just oddly weighted, but no doubt I made it look more effort than it should have been . If you were going further with kit, you'd want to trim/weight them to be near neutral. For what we were doing, faster just to plod on with it being sub-optimal. All good experience though!

 

[JasonC]

Good for a non-diver to see what it looks like

 

[Cantclimbtom]

You don't often see a comment of people diving a dump to bypass dry caving

Daft question from a non overhead diver... how do subsequent divers know when a sump is clear if the line is tied off (so you can't signal by tugs on the line). Can you use a tank banger or something in shorter sumps, what's usual practice?

 

[Benfool]

Having multiple divers in the same sump isn't really a problem as you have time to either pass each other, turn around or back out. Obviously, in the free diving scenario, 2 people meeting underwater could be catastrophic.

We often leave a set amount of time between divers to split people up a bit and maybe discuss beforehand what happens if we meet underwater.

 

[Pitlamp]

This reminds me of the “Three blind mice” incident in Whiye Scar Cave back in the 70s.

 

[Goydenman]

update.... the divers have lined all the way through sump 1-6 and 60m into sump 7. They have used 12mm line close to the roof throughout to give it a good chance of surviving the winter harsh floods. For now though floods are not a concern with this weather and low reservoir. Two key objectives ahead
1. survey of Equinox chamber so far unsurveyed at the end of passages leading off New Goyden 4
2. A drop in sump 8 drops into larger passage heading north and south (old abandoned eastern trunk route?)....explore north so far not investigated beyond point where the roof is at 0m depth

 

[jonnybellman]

You don't often see a comment of people diving a dump to bypass dry caving

Daft question from a non overhead diver... how do subsequent divers know when a sump is clear if the line is tied off (so you can't signal by tugs on the line). Can you use a tank banger or something in shorter sumps, what's usual practice?

You'll see in the video I was going ahead, but there's at least one occasion Rob catches me up just as we surface in one of the dry chambers. The sumps here are reasonably large, and you'd have no trouble passing one another.

 

[Pitlamp]

It's not like crawling around in a normal cave. Divers are floating weighless, astonaut-like, so you can just drift sideway to pass elegantly, like the NASA boys and girls on telly.

Well, that's the theory . . . .

 

[jonnybellman]

It's not like crawling around in a normal cave. Divers are floating weighless, astonaut-like, so you can just drift sideway to pass elegantly, like the NASA boys and girls on telly.

Well, that's the theory . . . .

You told me you didn't do any of that weightless floaty stuff John!

 

[Pitlamp]

No I didn't! I just readily confess to not being the best at subtle buoyancy control.

Been on loads of expeditions in big deep stuff in Europe. Some time remind me to tell you about diving in the rather fine Sargasso Spring in N E Italy. What I may have said is that I've learned to focus instead on projects in the Dales and Peak District as they count so much more.

 

[jonnybellman]

No I didn't! I just readily confess to not being the best at subtle buoyancy control.

Been on loads of expeditions in big deep stuff in Europe. Some time remind me to tell you about diving in the rather fine Sargasso Spring in N E Italy. What I may have said is that I've learned to focus instead on projects in the Dales and Peak District as they count so much more.

I jest! I'll remind you about Sargasso next time I see you. Your CNCC Geology day, if not before!