After numerous trips back to the pool at Kangkwakdi this year, and several failed attempts to pass the restriction, at the end of June I was able to get back in the cave, and extend the line.
I planned to spend whatever time it would take to clear the entrance and pass the restriction...and armed with buckets, bags, and some local assistants we loaded the cows as usual and set off. Yet again I was left slack jawed as my helpers carried sets of double tanks barefoot through the jungle, up and down rocky hills.
Once at the site it was clear the viz was low, and on entering the passage I was happy to find my original line to follow. At the restriction I was met by a tangle of line, wrapped around tree branches and rocks...and became less optimistic about my chances of penetrating further. However it turned out that although the old line had been broken, probably during the heavy rains, the restriction was now cleared of sand and debris and I could quite happily pass. I tied off new line and moved ahead, anticipating some exciting new discoveries.
After about 20m I found the old line still tied off further into the cave, and was able to stow my new line and continue following the original line I had laid. This speeded my progress in the low visibility. I swam, and swam, and swam, amazed at how far I had travelled on the first dive I did and laid line there...with the low viz I wasn’t able to see as much as before, and ducked under low ceilings, and turned corners I didn’t really remember turning before. After a while I came to the end of my old line, and turn pressure. I took out my fresh line and made a solid tie off, and locked the reel there, ready to lay it out on my second dive.
After cruising back slowly and enjoy the feeling of exiting after a successful dive, I calmly surfaced and let the surface guys know that things were good and we would be hanging around a bit longer. They had meanwhile setup a couple of hammocks and cleared the area so we could enjoy the jungle during the waiting time. Tins of tuna were brought out, along with rice and some chicken. One of the local farmers had hacked into a tree root, and was collecting the sap and adding it some drinking water. “It make you ‘strong’” he said indicating below my waist...
After resting I was keen to get back and extend the line; A quick change of the tanks and off I went, leaving a deco bottle of 100% oxygen at 6m on my way past. I scooted in along the previously laid line, and soon came to the reel I had left there just a few hours before...unlocked it and off I went.
I managed to lay around another 200m of line to the previous 150m, and then the cave started to rise up from 20m and gave me the feeling of coming to the end, or the surface. I had already discussed at length with the locals if there were any other pools around, so I was confident that I would not find myself surfacing in the jungle nearby to where I started.
I did surface though...following the sandy slope upwards, and squeezing myself between a narrow corridor of cave rock, I soon came to the surface of an underground chamber. There was clearly some flow of water pushing me around and I had to hang onto the wall as I tied off my line, and tried not to get dragged away...The roof raised about 2m above my head and there was plenty of room to look around, and plenty of air.
For safety’s sake I didn’t remove my reg...on covering my light is was clear there was no route to daylight, and I was still completely underground. Not bats, no spiders, probably metres of rock between me and the jungle. The source of the water flow was pretty clear though...behind me as I surfaced was a small waterfall. A very nice sight, and enhanced by the fact that I could pretty much know that no other human has ever seen this waterfall before.
As the clock was ticking, I took a few moments to enjoy the sight and then turned for home...a gentle swim with a nice feeling of discovery, but a sad feeling that the cave didnt have more passageways, and would not lead to more discoveries...
Back in May Simon Coulson from the UK was visiting Dumaguete. Simon is a climbing Instructor, and brought much of his gear on the trip to make sure if he had a chance to climb he could. Of course we got to talking about caves, and I mentioned to him about the pit where I had been told there could be a cave at the bottom...but I couldn’t get in to check due to the 60m vertical drop to the bottom.
Always up for a challenge Simon offered to help get me down to the bottom to check the cave, and then send down the gear if it was worth diving.
Long story short we found a spring, but just a trickle, and certainly no diveable caves...we also found lots of bats, and a number of animal carcasses, which made the smell at the bottom of the pit close to unbearable.
An exciting and strenuous day, but unfortunately no submerged passage. Thanks to Simon for his help in putting this one to bed.
After Ashley Mills finally made it to Dumaguete for his technical diving class in December, through the Thai airport troubles, he thought the next trip would be easier. Unfortunately he and Sam Peterson were struck again by transport troubles and canceled ferries...but they still managed to get to the bar in time for a few beers, and a chat over what the next week held.
Ash had come back to freshen up his skills and generally enjoy some more tech dives; Sam had come on down to complete his Rescue class with Pedro at Atlantis. Both of them were prepared for a good time, and some social activities as well.
Ash arrived while Mahen[see below] was still in town on his extended trip; and together they were able to go through some scenario dives with 2 deco bottles, and a lot of problem solving to keep them on their toes. Mike T joined the group to help with videoing, have a look at some of the footage of Ash and Mahen going through the motions below.
Scenario dive as a pair. Solve problems as they come at you...in this case lost mask - maintain contact and reference with the line and good buoyancy and trim
Mahen persuaded Ash that the Coconut drift dive at Apo Island was a great one, and they ended up diving that site 3 times during the trip, a big Giant Trevally came by to say hi on all the dives, and there was also the schools of jacks and the great boulders to enjoy as they were whipped past in the current. They guys also dropped on Chapel Deep, Rock Point West at 45m, and the Cogon drift as well...a lot of great tech dives.
Relaxing in the evening gave lots of time for chatting about dive stories, and everyone is now planning to visit Mahen and dive the HMS Hermes! Below you can see us all enjoying the Atlantis beach bar for some after dive drinks and snacks...
Mahen Perera, Mike Taylor, Matt Reed, Ashley Mills, Sam Peterson
Sam decided that everyone needed new personalities and the resulting edit gave us all a good laugh...
The last night was also the excuse to celebrate Ash's 40th birthday which was to come a few days later...Atmosphere resort became the venue for snorkel tests, celebrations, and of course some swimming in their pool by the bar later on in the evening...
After resting I was keen to get back and extend the line; A quick change of the tanks and off I went, leaving a deco bottle of 100% oxygen at 6m on my way past. I scooted in along the previously laid line, and soon came to the reel I had left there just a few hours before...unlocked it and off I went.
