-> I once made the traverse from Peacock Slough (sp?) to Pothole Sink
-> with some relatively inexperienced cavers.  I was running the reel so
-> I was the last man out on the return.  Suddenly, TOTAL WIPEOUT!  I
-> couldn't see diddly squat.... even using my massive cave light (you
-> know, the kind where you don't dare shine it on someones arm or leg
-> for fear it'll slice it off).
Don't know the location, but I get the idea.  I believe the saying is
been there, done that.
-> Since I wasn't absolutely sure of my companions, I just settled down
-> onto the bottom and waited for things to clear......very black.....a
-> black you could touch and feel.  My thinking at the time was that if
-> the cloud enveloped them up ahead and someone panicked, then they
-> could fight among themselves and I'd recover the bodies later.  At
-> least I wouldn't be one of them.
Good decision on all counts.  If you have the air to spare, it's the
best decision you can make, good buddies or not.
-> What a great bunch of guys!  After everything cleared enough to move
-> on, I came on out.  "Oh", one said, "I wondered where you were".  Now
-> you know why I didn't bust my butt to watch out for anyone but
-> myself.  Being reel man is an advantage at times.
Being reel man is always an advantage.  I don't do serious cave diving,
but I have been known to get out of sight of the exit.  Even with the
limits I apply to myself, I always have either a fixed or personal line
in my hand.  If I can't see my wife (my present buddy), my other hand
has a hold on her.  She needs to know I'm there.  She may not need
the reassurance that I'm there, but I need for her to have it.
I'm very careful about silt out and have never caused one myself. I
have, however, been there when someone else did. Black you can touch is
a good description.  In my case, I was also last man out and was in a
passage narrow enough that my buddy ahead could not get past me (or
visa versa) without my knowledge.  As it turns out, since he kicked the
silt in my face, he could see fine. Interestingly enough, he didn't
look back (sound a little like your experience?).  I simply followed
the line out.
I still dive with my friend....and I still depend entirely on myself to
ensure my safety.  My buddy is there only when something so unexpected
and so overwhelming happens to prevent me from looking after myself.  I
also expect those who dive with me to look after themselves.  That
doesn't mean that I don't watch out for them (particulary my much less
experienced wife), it just means that I don't expect to HAVE to do
something they should have done for themselves. Works for me.
-> Somehow, I never found time in my busy schedule to dive with those
-> guys again.
Understandable.
-> LB> Your husband is probably right.  As near as I can tell women are
-> all LB> strange, well, lets say different.  There's no predicting
-> what the LB> differences will be, only that they'll be there.  Yea
-> for differences.
-> I work with women all night long (I'm a 3rd shift RN) and I'll be
-> damned if I can understand 'em.  Strange creatures, women.
Strange but wonderful.  My best friend is a woman (wife).  They are
paticularly valuable since they often offer a different perspective (and
visa versa).
Lee
--- PCBoard (R) v15.22/M 2
---------------