UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast!

Drmike · 30th July 2007, 10:52

Just back from a trip to the UK where I had the chance to dive Wookey hole and cave Swildons hole in the company of Duncan Price.

At Wookey we dived as far as sump 22 then caved the short distance to sump 23. At Swildons we caved to sump 1 which we crossed by free diving and caved as far as sump 2.

Viz wasn't too bad in Wookey around 1m mostly and water not too cold. A helmet is a MUST I think I banged my head at least a dozen times. As Duncan mentioned to me in this type of tight cave/sumps people don't dive with their heads up (as you normally would in big caves/OW) I dived sidemount using an armadillo (from Golem gear) although drysuit inflation alone was all that was probably needed.

I liked having my lights on my helmet as it kept my hands free.
Duncan used his incredibly light chest mounted rebreather - which I really liked.

Caving in Swildons was a blast! I loved every second of it and couldn't wait to get back in there. We had to freedive sump 1 which was fun although duncan kindly led the way and cleared all the nasty froth away.

I really enjoyed Swildons after which I immediately went out and made the guy at BAT products very happy (spending a shed load on climbing/caving gear)

One of the reasons I came to the UK was to learn a little about dry caving and sump diving techniques to help me explore some of the dry/wet caves we have recently found in SE Asia. Things like the wearing of Wellington boots (with fins on top) to enable caving between sumps. It was a great introduction to this type of caving and I learnt a great deal. Just signed up for a climbing course to learn about rope work as well as that's going to be needed. In the meantime Ive been plowing through a copy of 'Alpine Caving Techniques' which is an excellent book

For those who are interested some pics here:-

Drmike : photos : Wookey and Swildons hole - UK caving - powered by SmugMug

Duncan really looked after me and is a terrific bloke

I'm already thinking about the next visit. This time ill bring the RAT and Id like to try to take a look at the end of Wookey and Swildons

***caveseeker7*** · 30th July 2007, 11:06

Very cool, Mike, thanks.

***Decodiver*** · 30th July 2007, 11:25

Very cool.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Burrendive · 30th July 2007, 12:04

G'day Drmike,
Good to hear the ropework was fun. Now that I've landed in Singapore might get chance to meet up. My dive gear and my SRT gear is in transit to cover all possibilities of adventure. If you need a hand on the SRT side let me know, mind you the Apline Caving Techniques book is very good, but do carry a knife when on rope. I know several people

while training on SRT that had to cut the rope to get out of a tangle.
Slan
John

Drmike · 30th July 2007, 12:18

Quote: (Originally Posted by Burrendive)

G'day Drmike,
Good to hear the ropework was fun. Now that I've landed in Singapore might get chance to meet up. My dive gear and my SRT gear is in transit to cover all possibilities of adventure. If you need a hand on the SRT side let me know, mind you the Apline Caving Techniques book is very good, but do carry a knife when on rope. I know several people

while training on SRT that had to cut the rope to get out of a tangle.
Slan
John

Hey John,

Yeh theres a couple of quarrys in Singapore where one can climb/practice. Lets hook up for a beer when your settled

Duncan Price · 30th July 2007, 12:33

Mike

Glad you got home safely with all your purchases. It was good to have you to visit.

Just to add detail to Mike's report:

Saturday 21 July: Mike and I dived Wookey Hole entering at the resurgence and diving up through the show cave following the course of the river as far as Chamber 20 (via the Deep Route) returning (via the Shallow Route). Dive time 1 hour or so. I used my chest mount rebreather with Dave Sutton's O2 add and Dave Mager's HUD - this is covered elsewhere. Mike was treated to a stroll up to the Hunter's Lodge Inn with Bob navigating. I think he enjoyed the walk...

Sunday 22 July: Wookey Hole again - we dived from the end of the show cave (Chamber 9) to Chamber 22 and got out of the water for a wander around. The water in the next (static sump) was up several metres above normal. The vis. on both days was pretty poor and Mike did admirably well.

Wednesday 25 July: Swildon's Hole - Antoinette and I took Mike to Sump 2 and back. En route we had to descend a 20' ladder climb and free dive Sump 1 - only short. Mike is a natural climber and had no difficulty. We went shopping afterwards, not only did Mike blow his wad on SRT gear but he also helped me get a new refrigerator and take the old one to the dump. We polished off the day with an ascent of Glastonbury Tor with Antoinette and Harriet plus assorted new age types. Mike was game enough to join in with their chanting.

Mike actually went back down Swildon's Hole on Thursday solo as far as the 20' climb which is quite an achievement in route finding and confidence.

Next time you are over we'll take you sumping.

Drmike · 30th July 2007, 12:47

Thanks for adding the details Duncan -I never can remember such things. Ill cut and paste into my site if I may.

Cheers again
Mike

dantheman · 30th July 2007, 14:13

Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike)

Just signed up for a climbing course to learn about rope work as well as that's going to be needed.

You'll learn good stuff, I'm sure, but be aware that caving rope work
is often more than subtly different from climbing ropework.

I used to teach rock climbing and when we'd get someone with a caving
background, they'd inevitably remark "you guys do things backwards!"

--dan

***caveseeker7*** · 30th July 2007, 14:27

Quote: (Originally Posted by dantheman)

I used to teach rock climbing and when we'd get someone with a caving
background, they'd inevitably remark "you guys do things backwards!"

You climb up rocks and mountains, they climb down caves and holes?

dantheman · 30th July 2007, 15:04

Quote: (Originally Posted by caveseeker7)

You climb up rocks and mountains, they climb down caves and holes?

What goes down (up) must come up (down) . . . ?

--dan

30th July 2007, 11:06	#2 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,552	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Very cool, Mike, thanks. __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
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30th July 2007, 11:25	#3 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,194	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Very cool. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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30th July 2007, 12:04	#4 (permalink)
Burrendive New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 9	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! G'day Drmike, Good to hear the ropework was fun. Now that I've landed in Singapore might get chance to meet up. My dive gear and my SRT gear is in transit to cover all possibilities of adventure. If you need a hand on the SRT side let me know, mind you the Apline Caving Techniques book is very good, but do carry a knife when on rope. I know several people while training on SRT that had to cut the rope to get out of a tangle. Slan John
(Offline)

30th July 2007, 12:18	#5 (permalink)
Drmike RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,378	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Quote: (Originally Posted by Burrendive) G'day Drmike, Good to hear the ropework was fun. Now that I've landed in Singapore might get chance to meet up. My dive gear and my SRT gear is in transit to cover all possibilities of adventure. If you need a hand on the SRT side let me know, mind you the Apline Caving Techniques book is very good, but do carry a knife when on rope. I know several people while training on SRT that had to cut the rope to get out of a tangle. Slan John Hey John, Yeh theres a couple of quarrys in Singapore where one can climb/practice. Lets hook up for a beer when your settled __________________ Cave diving is a sport Wreck diving is a sport Diving in general is a sport 'Rebreather diving' is not a sport its the delusional obsession with a highly dangerous and often inappropriate piece of equipment
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30th July 2007, 12:33	#6 (permalink)
Duncan Price Sump Monster Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Wells, Somerset, UK Posts: 335	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Mike Glad you got home safely with all your purchases. It was good to have you to visit. Just to add detail to Mike's report: Saturday 21 July: Mike and I dived Wookey Hole entering at the resurgence and diving up through the show cave following the course of the river as far as Chamber 20 (via the Deep Route) returning (via the Shallow Route). Dive time 1 hour or so. I used my chest mount rebreather with Dave Sutton's O2 add and Dave Mager's HUD - this is covered elsewhere. Mike was treated to a stroll up to the Hunter's Lodge Inn with Bob navigating. I think he enjoyed the walk... Sunday 22 July: Wookey Hole again - we dived from the end of the show cave (Chamber 9) to Chamber 22 and got out of the water for a wander around. The water in the next (static sump) was up several metres above normal. The vis. on both days was pretty poor and Mike did admirably well. Wednesday 25 July: Swildon's Hole - Antoinette and I took Mike to Sump 2 and back. En route we had to descend a 20' ladder climb and free dive Sump 1 - only short. Mike is a natural climber and had no difficulty. We went shopping afterwards, not only did Mike blow his wad on SRT gear but he also helped me get a new refrigerator and take the old one to the dump. We polished off the day with an ascent of Glastonbury Tor with Antoinette and Harriet plus assorted new age types. Mike was game enough to join in with their chanting. Mike actually went back down Swildon's Hole on Thursday solo as far as the 20' climb which is quite an achievement in route finding and confidence. Next time you are over we'll take you sumping.
(Offline)

30th July 2007, 12:47	#7 (permalink)
Drmike RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,378	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Thanks for adding the details Duncan -I never can remember such things. Ill cut and paste into my site if I may. Cheers again Mike __________________ Cave diving is a sport Wreck diving is a sport Diving in general is a sport 'Rebreather diving' is not a sport its the delusional obsession with a highly dangerous and often inappropriate piece of equipment
(Offline)

30th July 2007, 14:13	#8 (permalink)
dantheman Emoticonoclast Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss rEvo Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Join Date: May 2005 Location: NorthEast USA Posts: 397	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Quote: (Originally Posted by Drmike) Just signed up for a climbing course to learn about rope work as well as that's going to be needed. You'll learn good stuff, I'm sure, but be aware that caving rope work is often more than subtly different from climbing ropework. I used to teach rock climbing and when we'd get someone with a caving background, they'd inevitably remark "you guys do things backwards!" --dan
(Offline)

30th July 2007, 14:27	#9 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,552	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Quote: (Originally Posted by dantheman) I used to teach rock climbing and when we'd get someone with a caving background, they'd inevitably remark "you guys do things backwards!" You climb up rocks and mountains, they climb down caves and holes? __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
(Offline)

30th July 2007, 15:04	#10 (permalink)
dantheman Emoticonoclast Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss rEvo Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Join Date: May 2005 Location: NorthEast USA Posts: 397	Re: UK caving with Duncan Price - what a blast! Quote: (Originally Posted by caveseeker7) You climb up rocks and mountains, they climb down caves and holes? What goes down (up) must come up (down) . . . ? --dan
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