Sixth Day on the Course:
This should be the last day of the course, but when we get to Chuc Moi Cenote, we hear Matt talking to a friend who asks him what day he is on. He replies that it's the last day, but we may have another day. The nerves come back.
Down to the water, we get in. Andy is team leader and we are doing restriction diving today. We head down the restriction, but we are not sure of our own size this first time down, so it goes bump bump bump down the cave. we have a navigational argument just after this. We were supposed to come to a 90º turn where we would see one of those "pass this and you die signs". We were to tie onto the main line and go past the sign. Because of the Halocline I couldn't see the sign and was convinced we needed to carry on. Matt gave me the international "zip it" sign. I've seen it before so understood straight away.
All went well on the way back, then we were given a drill: touch contact, lights out, no viz swim through a restriction. This means that I am in front, holding the line, protecting my head, Andy holds my shin and pushes me through, with me trying to fin hitting him on the head. Very amusing.
Next dive, we are to find the bedding plane (this is a gap underneath a huge solid rock) and this gap happens to be about a metre from top to bottom. Half-way through, I realise Andy's light is not behind me anymore! I have a lost diver! Matt has stolen him from me. I mark the line to tell me which way is out. I then need to work out how much air I can use to search and still have enough to get out, as well as enough in case Andy is out of air, so I can get him out as well. As I go back, I see Andy and Matt on my right. Matt is pinning Andy in behind a rock and holding his light. I OK'd him with my torch, no response, did it again, no response. Matt wouldn't let him. In my moment of excitement that I had found him I nearly went to swim straight over to him. Then thought "Ooops… Don't leave the line without attaching your own line to it". If we were to lose visibility (a viz out), that would be two people lost, off the line. So I attached my line and was supposed to mark it with the way out. Brain computed this, but hands didn't. Off I went to rescue Andy and put him on my line.
At this point, with all three of us breathing, the dust on the ceiling just came down! Viz out completely, for real this time. Good job I had remembered that line!! We got back to the mainline, but I got my bollocking for not marking it. That was just so stupid and I was so frustrated with myself. But, I do believe we learn from our mistakes.
As we turn to go out, we get a viz out again. Andy and I touch contact and it is so bad that Matt goes touch contact on Andy. But we make it out safely.
When we get to the surface, Matt debriefs us and then says "Do you think you could go out and cave dive on your own?"
Ooh, on one side we think maybe we have passed the course, but you never know with Matt. If we say the wrong thing the course could continue another day!
Well we must have said the right stuff as WE PASSED!!! We are now cave divers. In fact I am a technical cave diver and about to be let out on my own… with a buddy of course!
Earlier in the course Matt had mentioned that my massive torch was for men with small willies (he forgot it is actually Jimmy's torch). Err Matt I don't have a willy so I am allowed a big torch!! But I was struggling with it coz it is so long (hehe) When we got the to car he gave me a present. Jimmy has bought me my own (slightly smaller) torch.
Passing the course and getting a pressie brought me to tears. "Thank you Jimmy. I love you."
Lastly, if you do this course it is fab, but be warned, the first two days, they really try to break you with stress.
Back to DAY SEVEN:
DAY NINE:
Back to the beginning:
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