Projects > Doux de Coly 04 (June)
Open Circuit to 1600m
Latest update: June 27, 2004
Gertjan and Ward after a support shift in the shaft.
The weekend from the 10th to the 13th of June had been announced as a training weekend for the EKPP members. Weeks in advance Jiles, Wido and myself started preparing and planning for a dive in the deep part, using three stages with bottom gas and three deco gasses.
Sadly however, Jiles dropped out due to work and Wido had to cancel due to health reasons. With mixed feelings I drove to Coly; as ever it would be fun, but "our" dive was cancelled...
I arrived on thursday night, on my way to Coly my team mates already informed me by phone and sms where I would sleep so I would have no problems waking people to ask where and what.
Gertjan, ready for more action in the pool.
On friday 8 o'clock in the morning the briefing was held and teams were put together. Since there were quite a few "Coly newbies" this time, teams were formed with a diver who knew the cave and a newbie. Ward was assigned as my dive partner. During the day, I talked to Alex and Ralph and found out they wanted to do the deep dive on OC as well, but didn't bring the amount of stages needed. Well, since I brought the stages for Wido as well, I had plenty of gas available. Plans were made and we would dive the next day! One of the best examples of how DIR diving can save a dive.
On Saturday, after the morning briefing where everyone has to announce their dive plans, we went to the cave. Reinhard, Michael and Hoffi had to dive first, to video the shaft with as little silt as possible. After they returned, it was our turn. Ward and Fenu brought some deco gasses in and our three man team went in carrying the deep gas while breathing the 36 meter gas: the trimix 35/35. At 6 meter we dropped the oxygen, at 21 meter the trimix 50/25 and then finally at 36 meter we switched to the trimix 17/55 bottom gas. We planned the bottom time to be approximately 60 minutes, as we calculated that would be the time we needed to empty 3 stages. Once we descended the entire shaft and arrived at the bottom, we looked at each other and after signalling OK we hit the trigger of the magnum scooter.
The problem with the Dutch guys is that they don't leave any work for the others :-)
When Ralph signalled it was time for him to switch to his second stage, we all did. After dropping the empty stage with a full one, we continued to scooter into the cave. Hervé asked me to prepare a 1600m line arrow, since after his survey the last distance marking arrow was at 1200 meters. I just had to count the 134 knots on the survey line and then put the arrow down.
After some 60 knots or so I lost track of the number, so the arrow stayed in my pocket. We did pass a white blank arrow, which indicated the end of the survey of last year. A few minutes later we had to turn the dive because we reached the half plus 10 bar of the stage. The way back went smoothly; at the earlier drop point we switched to the last full stage, clipped the two empty ones to the hip and continued. After 80 minutes bottom time we reached our first deep stop. We must have been more relaxed than usual; the gas consumption proved this.
After completing our deco we scootered out the cave and did a slow ascent in the surface pool. When we finally ascended, the bottom timer indicated we had been in the water for nearly four hours, 226 minutes to be precise.
Diner at la Grande Prade. A very relaxing week-end.
All I can say: "What a great dive". I can't wait for the next opportunity.