Well, its fairly simple..
|
|
Yes, people get lost because they're stupid.. Then they run out of air because they panic, generally kick up a ton of silt and lose all visibility - again, because they're stupid.. If you follow the rules of cave diving, you REALLY hafta be stupid to die in a cave.. but it happens ALL the time.. Every time we go cave diving, our guide in Mexico tells us the death count for each cave since we were there last..
So, let me explain what happens and why people are stupid and die.. Cave systems can be fairly easy to navigate, but can also become extremely difficult to navigate.. you go down one path, which can turn into 5 different paths, you turn around to leave and then are confronted with 3 paths on the way back that you didn't notice going in.. In addition, caves are fresh water systems.. THE CLEAREST water you will EVER see.. so clear you forget you're under water sometimes.. BUT.. the caves are connected to the ocean and salt water does back up into the cave system..
Why is that a problem? Well, when fresh water mixes with salt water, it forms a halocline.. When you dive through a halocline - an this is the best way I know to describe it - it looks like you're looking through a camera lens and then you COMPLETLY defocus the camera.. depending on the strength of the halocline, it can be just a mild annoyance, but it can also get so bad you cannot even see your hand in front of your face - its THAT out of focus.. and haloclines can be small/short or large/long.. sometimes you can swim around them or grin and bear it by going through it.. but you could potentially get lost due to a halocline or even knock yourself out on a stalactite.. So, how do you keep that from happening?
Well, you tie a line to something at the opening of the cave and run that line your entire dive, off a reel attached to your vest or belt.. Every now and then you put a "cookie" or directional marker on the line that points in the direction of the closest exit - where you can surface.. YOU STICK TO THE LINE LIKE GLUE and don't ever leave the line to go 5 feet to explore something.. you ALWAYS run a line to wherever you go.. You don't run a line or you leave your line - you're gonna get lost, panic, run out of air and somebody till hafta turn off their TV and come drag your body out of the cave..
So why else do people get lost? Other cave divers, who have mapped the cave you're entering, are familiar with the cave layout and they go to extreme lengths to spare you the agony of dying.. How so? They attach BIG metal signs blocking passageways where you could get lost.. They generally have a huge STOP sign on them.. My favorite has the Grim Reaper with bodies of divers at his feet.. it says, "PREVENT YOUR OWN DEATH! DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER UNLESS CAVE CERTIFED"..
Pretty easy to NOT die, huh? Yet, STUPID tourists.. and even worse - STUPID DIVER TOURISTS laugh at those signs, enter the passage way, then go home in a box.. the CRAPPY thing is that they often close the caves for LONG periods because people die in them..
This is a line with a directional marker tied to it.. I have a necklace i wear every day of a silver directional marker.. Everyone thinks I'm wearing an "S"..
Here are the two signs I see on every dive.. I just took these pics off the net.. People actually DISREGARD these signs.. and then die..
Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2023 06:56AM by sstrams.
So, let me explain what happens and why people are stupid and die.. Cave systems can be fairly easy to navigate, but can also become extremely difficult to navigate.. you go down one path, which can turn into 5 different paths, you turn around to leave and then are confronted with 3 paths on the way back that you didn't notice going in.. In addition, caves are fresh water systems.. THE CLEAREST water you will EVER see.. so clear you forget you're under water sometimes.. BUT.. the caves are connected to the ocean and salt water does back up into the cave system..
Why is that a problem? Well, when fresh water mixes with salt water, it forms a halocline.. When you dive through a halocline - an this is the best way I know to describe it - it looks like you're looking through a camera lens and then you COMPLETLY defocus the camera.. depending on the strength of the halocline, it can be just a mild annoyance, but it can also get so bad you cannot even see your hand in front of your face - its THAT out of focus.. and haloclines can be small/short or large/long.. sometimes you can swim around them or grin and bear it by going through it.. but you could potentially get lost due to a halocline or even knock yourself out on a stalactite.. So, how do you keep that from happening?
Well, you tie a line to something at the opening of the cave and run that line your entire dive, off a reel attached to your vest or belt.. Every now and then you put a "cookie" or directional marker on the line that points in the direction of the closest exit - where you can surface.. YOU STICK TO THE LINE LIKE GLUE and don't ever leave the line to go 5 feet to explore something.. you ALWAYS run a line to wherever you go.. You don't run a line or you leave your line - you're gonna get lost, panic, run out of air and somebody till hafta turn off their TV and come drag your body out of the cave..
So why else do people get lost? Other cave divers, who have mapped the cave you're entering, are familiar with the cave layout and they go to extreme lengths to spare you the agony of dying.. How so? They attach BIG metal signs blocking passageways where you could get lost.. They generally have a huge STOP sign on them.. My favorite has the Grim Reaper with bodies of divers at his feet.. it says, "PREVENT YOUR OWN DEATH! DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER UNLESS CAVE CERTIFED"..
Pretty easy to NOT die, huh? Yet, STUPID tourists.. and even worse - STUPID DIVER TOURISTS laugh at those signs, enter the passage way, then go home in a box.. the CRAPPY thing is that they often close the caves for LONG periods because people die in them..
This is a line with a directional marker tied to it.. I have a necklace i wear every day of a silver directional marker.. Everyone thinks I'm wearing an "S"..
Here are the two signs I see on every dive.. I just took these pics off the net.. People actually DISREGARD these signs.. and then die..
Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2023 06:56AM by sstrams.
