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Many people have asked me about whether they need a specific card for CCR Cave at local dive sites. I recently sat down with Rose Meadows, cave diving instructor and Manager of
Ginnie Springs. Rose indicated that they do NOT require a CCR Cave card for entry at Ginnie Springs. They DO ask cavers to indicate that they are using a rebreather for their dives and present proof of rebreather certification when checking in. Why, you might ask? It turns out that it is all about accounting. Not the numbers type, but accounting for late divers. When you show a CCR and Cave card, they will write CCR on your car pass and wristband. If you are overdue, this will help them decide whether it is time to worry or not. Believe it or not, they get an awful lot of calls from family and spouses, worried about their loved one who has not come home after a cave dive. Additionally, this will ensure that all divers using CCRs at Ginnie are trained and qualified in their use. With second generation rebreather sales growing on sites like eBay, it is reasonable to assume that there are a people who choose to take on rebreather diving without proper instruction. So, on your next visit to North Florida, bring all your cards and let them know that you are trained and prepared to safely cave dive with your CCR. --Jill Heinerth
We had an enormous reaction to the sad photos of Richard (Harry) Harris and his melted Land Rover and rebreather. I recently asked Harry to bring us up to date on the state of rebreather caving down under. We get scant news from the other side of the world, and there are some epic dives that are being conducted in Australia and New Zealand. In the following article, Harry gives us the scoop, including his recent record-breaking dive at the well-known Cocklebiddy Cave. --Jill
No doubt you all hear plenty about what’s happening on the Florida and Mexico cave scene, but the invitation from Jill to give you the good oil on the Australian and NZ cave diving turf was too good to pass up! As the owner of the smoking remains of the Mk15.5 you saw recently featured on this site, I’ll be spending a few weeks out of the water whilst I re-accumulate some kit! If I can’t get under the water, I am nearly as happy writing about it…
The continent of Australia is not much smaller than North America and about as diverse from a climactic and geological point of view. What this means is we have access to many, many separate karst and cave areas from the icy southern island of Tasmania to the tropical north of Western Australia. And the best part? Much of the cave bearing country is extremely remote, inaccessible and therefore unexplored! The same goes for our Kiwi buddies to the east, whose amazing DEEP caves are slowly revealing themselves to local and overseas cavers. So stick with me while I give you a quick “who’s who” and “where’s where” of Australian and NZ cave diving: CLICK BELOW TO CONTINUE
Continue reading "Aussie update…what’s going on down under?" »
