| Note: If you are aware of any diving that was done at Goodenough Springs prior to 1995, or in parallel to diving as described below, please contact us so that we can better describe the history of the exploration of Goodenough Springs. gsep@goodenoughsprings.org |
In 1995, R.D. Milhollin was attempting to penetrate the cave with Dr. Ise Kalsi, but when she bowed out, he asked for assistance from Robert Laird. During their early exploration, Millhollin and Laird encountered extremely strong outflow and smooth walls, so even getting to the main room took enormous effort. After a couple of visits, they managed to get a few feet into the aptly named Fire Hydrant Tunnel (FHT) but the force of the water was so great, it would rip the mask off if you turned the wrong way. With the strong flow, smooth walls, and loose gravel on the floor of the tunnel, they were unsure how to continue the exploration.
In 1996, Milhollin and Laird made several trips to Goodenough. While sitting in a Del Rio welding shop, waiting for a helium fill, Laird spied a discarded iron pipe, about 8 inches in diameter and 12 inches long, which was affectionately named the “pig.” It was very thick, very heavy, and Laird got the idea of “planting it” into the gravel at the bottom of the FHT. Without a lift bag, it was a chore getting the pig down to the cave, but they managed. A very thick rope was tied to the pig, and it was then hauled to the entrance of the tunnel. Laird, having removed his fins and deflated his wings completely, wedged himself as best he could, then heaved the pig forward 6-8 inches and then forced it into the gravel. Once secure, he hauled himself up that 6-8 inches, lodged himself again, and repeated the action.
He inched down the tunnel until about halfway to the restriction. Exhausted and unable to lodge himself any longer, he looked around and spied a crack along the right-side wall, running toward the restriction. He launched himself to the crack and forced his hand into the crack, wedging it there. He then proceeded to pull himself along the crack toward the restriction. Laird managed to get to the restriction but found there wasn’t any projection to tie the rope to, so he hung there, flapping in the strong flow like a flag in the wind, then with his last erg of energy, peeked around the restriction, then let go. In seconds, he floated down the 72-foot tunnel, and out into the main room. But the effort was a success, for having the pig and rope in place allowed future divers a way to gain access into the tunnel fairly easily.
Historical note: the pig and original rope remained in the Fire Hydrant Tunnel for at least 10 years.
Later in 1996 and 1997, Laird and Kurt Olsen also explored the main room, the room and spaces in the back of the main room and encountered the mud and clay in the back which made a detailed exploration of that area very difficult; even with the best technique, a silt-out was assured. Also, further attempts were made at penetrating the restriction at the end of the FHT, but the high flow and lack of access due to the gravel dam made it impossible. There were even a few dives involving digging and moving the gravel, but it was too big a task at such a depth. Attempts were made to measure the flow of the water using ping-pong balls, place pitons in cracks, and secure the lines in the cave. At every turn, the cave seemed to just “chew them up and spit them out” [Laird] The amount of mixed gases consumed and effort required made even the simplest tasks monumental.
The following summary was written by Robert Laird in 1996:
Goodenough is either a ” fault cave” or a ” joint-plane cave” having a significant vertical profile, with smooth walls of hard chert, large (marble- to lemon-size) gravel throughout, but primarily concentrated at the end of the Fire Hydrant tunnel (152ffw), with extremely strong outflow. This is a deep and very dangerous dive and should be attempted only by experienced cave divers with trimix certification. Viz in the lake is near zero, deco needs to be done in lake water (cold in winter, 55-65F). The water temperature inside the cave is about 85°F year-round (one of the most surprising features of Goodenough). More often than not, water clarity inside the cave is poor, < 25 feet, but it has been known to be crystal. The end of the Fire Hydrant tunnel represents an extreme restriction, possibly passable by only side-mount or no-mount, but may present digging opportunities. Some divers have seen this restriction more open at times. Tunnels towards the rear of the main room in the cave may be passable by side-mount or no-mount.
Laird’s rough sketch of the cave, done in 1996, is shown below. Later, when a formal survey was created, the sketch was found to be remarkably accurate.
Note: all depths noted in the drawings and description above were based on observed data from a dive computer, valid at the current lake level at the time of the dive (approx 1070 ft MSL).
Annotated dive profiles from Laird’s Aqualand watch, 3 dives over 2 days
