Dave said:Thanks Andrew W.
Just to answer your question-you are not the first to ask- i want to cave dive because-
1) I do not want to get to a sump (that i know has been dived) and wonder what the cave the otherside is like, i don't want to always look at the pictures i would love to have the skill to go through the sump and see the cave for myself-i can only imagine how it feels to enter a new piece of cave that a) i have never been in and b) only certain people are able to go there as they have the skill to
2) (Do not take this point the wrong way) Id like to feel what it is like to go through the submerged overhead environment-i do not know but i think it must be exciting but you will always have the doubt in your mind of what if..
I do not by anymeans think cave diving is romantic with amazing viz, warm water and close escapes where you can joke in the pub after-i do understand how it is risky but as i said above my main reason for wanting to do it is pass sumps in my way. Exploring new cave will come very later but it is always good to think/dream about when bored at work or tinking of the next trip abroad digging or exploring non-diver systems.
Peter-there is a limit o the beer buying-i do need to know the person slightly
Cheers
I can completely relate to this. Part of the enjoyment of caving is wondering where a passage goes and then being able to find out. I also don't find anything unusual or wrong about the additional adrenelin buzz that comes with diving in an overhead environment provided it is tempered with a respect for the inherent risks of the situation. The last cave dive I did was an hour long dive in a very attractive cave in the Yucatan (Cenote Azul I think - but can't quite remember). I do remember that at the turn around point (half an hour swim in and the same back out) it really felt like a long way back out.
In the UK, I've dived in Little Neath River Cave. We entered through Bridge cave, through the sump into Little Neath, then through the next three sumps into the new world series. I was quite astonished at how the cave is capable of regenerating itself with few visitors. Past the sumps in little neath there are some really nice mud banks and barely any footprints.
