Goodenough Spring Exploration Project Dive Report
Submitted By: Mike Gault
Saturday July 17, 2004
Dive 1
Dive report to accompany Rick Aurich’s Trip Report posted July 19th.
DIVE 1:
I approached this dive with the same attitude I approached previous dives at Goodenough. There were objectives, but I approached them knowing that there was no pressure. Anything I did not accomplish on this dive could be attempted on a subsequent dive. My primary objective was to see if I could pass the restriction. I planned to turn my dive upon reaching tank turn pressure or about 30 minutes, whichever came first. If unable to pass the restriction I would try to assist Chuck in getting the safety bottle pushed/pulled through. Although I didn’t really dwell on the thought, I was aware this would likely be my best shot at passing the restriction. To optimize chances of passing the restriction a wet suit with sidemount bottles seems to be the best approach. On previous dives I had tried diving wet and sidemounts, but not in combination. This day I would try my sidemount rig with my wet suit. This combined with Chuck’s report that the restriction had been blown open slightly by last summer’s flood waters had me believing I might have a small chance of actually making it through. Additionally, I made some changes to my stage regs in preparation for this dive. On my prior sidemount trip I had problems with my regulators free flowing in the fire hydrant tunnel. The purge buttons on my sidemount 2nd stage regs are larger than the backmount regs I had used on prior dives. I swapped out the 2nd stages only.
For gasses I used sidemount 108s with 14/50 trimix. I would use a travel/deco bottle of21/25 trimix in an aluminum 80 stage, 50% nitrox and oxygen in aluminum 40s for deco. Gregg Tatum staged my oxygen and 50% bottles for me during the set up dive. My plan was to drop the 21/25 stage before entering the Fire Hydrant tunnel by clipping it off at the switchback T. This would allow me to conserve gas in my sidemounts and slightly minimize my inert gas loading. On one of my dives in June this year I tried dropping my travel stage closer to the restriction, but now I believe the extra drag caused by taking a stage in the Fire Hydrant Tunnel outweighs the benefit of breathing the travel bottle the additional short distance. Also, it is much easier to maintain a reasonable breathing pattern dropping the bottle at the T since this is a relatively calm spot in the cave.
As Chuck, Rick and I began our descent I soon began to appreciate Gregg’s help even more. This began as the smoothest descent I have made in Goodenough. Not having to handle and stage the deco bottles was very convenient. I was able to drop quickly. Around 60’ I passed an abrupt thermocline and became chilled. I knew this would not last long since I would soon be at the cave entrance where I would hit the constant 80+degree water temperature. As we passed this cold zone I promised myself I would limit my bottom time so that I would not be forced to spend too much time decompressing in the cold water range of about 60’-120’.
The descent went smoothly all the way to about 150’ where Rick and I dropped our travel bottles. We turned and I followed Rick through the fire hydrant tunnel. I waited close behind Rick as he pulled himself up to the restriction piton to make an attempt at passing. After a quick attempt, Rick dropped back to let me have a shot at it. I had been waiting on the floor hanging on to the original Laird line. After Rick passed by I switched to the knotted pull line that Chuck ran through the restriction a couple summers ago. Initially my heart began to sink as I pulled myself to the part of the restriction I have visited several times before. The crack still looked very small and my arms were already straining to pull myself against the flow. This was starting to feel like another routine trip to the restriction piton. I slowed my effort and began a more methodical approach. In the past my tendency was to cause my breathing rate to increase by struggling to reach the restriction. As I paused to control my breathing and I looked to the left. It appeared the restriction was a little larger on the left-hand side. If I was able to shuffle over to the left hand side of the tunnel I might easily be able to pass through. The crack wasn’t much bigger than before, but even the small change seemed large in contrast to what I had witnessed in years past. The best analogy I can imagine relates to my days of playing baseball. On occasion when I was at the plate a pitcher would throw “my pitch”. The ball was the same size as always and I didn’t know if I would have a base hit, but it certainly appeared big and exactly what I was hoping for. Using the slack available in Chuck’s pull line I was able to shift over to the left-hand side of the tunnel and began pulling myself through. I was amazed at how things changed once I passed the critical point. I popped through the hole with what seemed like ease compared to the many times I fought the flow from the other side.
My immediate reaction was to proceed forward a little and move into the slightly larger area where I expected the flow to be lesser. I paused for a moment to check my gas supply and breathing rate. Both were looking better than I expected them to be at this point. I quickly made my way the short distance to the piton anchoring the knotted pull line. I made a quick inspection and it seemed to still be placed solid. I was tempted to begin following Chuck’s line a short distance, but I was reminded that I promised myself I would remember the cold water zone I would have to pass through on my way back to the surface. I took a quick look around the room and noticed where the passage continued downward. I moved over a few feet to take a look down the passage and saw a fissure crack. At this point I knew I had accomplished something that was years in the making and my run time was just approaching 20 minutes. If I turned here I could get out with minimal deco still having accomplished my goal. I made my way a short distance over to the restriction. Passing back through went fairly smooth and I quickly returned to the Fire Hydrant Tunnel. The flow immediately began flapping me around like a rag doll. The other side of the restriction had been peaceful in comparison. Chuck was immediately on top of me asking if I was OK. I passed the OK sign back to him and began slowly working my way out of the tunnel.
As I was backing up I noticed Chuck tying his reel to his stage bottle. I was still a little ahead of schedule and now at a shallower depth so I decided to stay and help Chuck. After a quick attempt we decided to defer that task until later. Rick came down to take another shot at the restriction, so I moved back to the calm area around the T and switched to my travel/deco bottle. After another quick attempt Chuck and Rick returned to the T. Chuck handed me a note indicating he wanted to check out the flowstone room. By now I was finished and was ready to begin my final ascent. I wrote a note back to Chuck telling him I was ready to ascend. He acknowledged and I began my trip back to the surface. I was a little chilled passing through the cold water zone but the stops were short so I managed well. I will take more thermal protection on the next dive. My 3mmsuit with hooded vest was adequate for this dive, but a thicker suit will be needed for longer deco.
This was quite a different accomplishment than anything I’ve done in diving. It took years of work by several divers to set things up for my passing through the restriction. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Chuck to pass through his first couple of times. It’s still no easy feat to get through the restriction, but it is certainly easier than having to dig through the gravel dam without the aid of a pull line anchored on the wall beyond the restriction. Not to mention the psychological difference of knowing that someone has been beyond and returned more than once before as opposed to being on the other side of the restriction and having little idea what it will be like getting back since no one has done so before.