Although the Poseidon Discovery Rebreather is designed as a recreational rebreather, it is making deep strides underground. The United States Deep Caving Team, led by Dr. Bill Stone, is utilizing the rebreather in the "J2 Expedition" in central Mexico. The team hopes to reach points deeper in the earth than humankind has ever been. A rotating team is spending three months laying miles of rope to reach the point where they must penetrate a series of short sumps to continue forward. The lightweight Poseidon Rebreather is extremely beneficial for these short runs underwater since it will not need to be carried out for refilling. A small cache of tanks can be ferried to the subterranean camps to enable a series of dives for a small team of explorers.
News from the team reached us today from Michael Pugliese. He reports, "I personally reached a depth of -1100m and spent 10 consecutive days underground with Bill, Vickie, and 2 others shuttling dive gear to camp III."
The current surface team reports today that, "Wednesday preliminary dives yielded information on an upper lead on the far side of sump II. This lead is said to be extensive, and large open borehole. It is probable that this allows a bypass of sump III. 9mm line and communication was successfully rigged through sump II yesterday and camp 4 has been established on a sandy spot on the far side."
If you are wondering whether the team is worried about the flu that is currently ravaging Mexico, they reported that the team was hit by a bad virus a couple of weeks ago, but all members are healthy and flu-free now! Jill Heinerth
Yes, that is vertical depth from the entrance of the cave, but entails a much greater penetration. In dry caving, the Holy Grail is depth inside the planet, like an up-side-down Everest. There are short underwater sumps involved in the total penetration but all are shallow.
Posted by: Jill | 29 April 2009 at 08:38 PM
1100M, that must not be depth of water but total depth underground?
Posted by: Travis | 29 April 2009 at 10:51 AM