Report of the Push Divers
EOL
At the beginning of the project the team of the push divers consisted of 2 men, Max and Fabi. Already at the first dive we managed to dive to the EOL in the Salle Chaotique within 70 minutes. Only finding the continuation 100m after the Swiss bell took us some time, because we did not find the continuation in the silty area right away. Only after some searching did we find the continuation, which went vertically upwards from the obstruction. By reaching the Salle Chaotique with the first dive of the second project we had already surpassed the results of the previous project in the Castor (http://cavebase.de/index.php/de/projekte/2018/8-portfolio/166-source-du-castor-juni-2018) by far. However, since we did not have the necessary equipment for an exit with us, we left it at a short "Guckerle" and made our way back. The weather-related cancellation of the last project in mind, we wanted to take advantage of the prevailing good conditions this year. On the way back we had a critical situation when the propeller of Max's scooter got tangled in a loose line end. Thanks to the proplock on the Suex XK1, Max was able to release the scooter from the line without losing much time and continue his way out of the cave. This clearly shows that poor line management is a safety hazard in the cave. The team had started to fix the line chaos in the Castor in the first project, but had to justify themselves afterwards because we had removed (loose) line from the cave and would have destroyed survey work of other divers. Therefore we had to promise to leave the line situation as we found it in order to get the diving permit. Here you have to ask yourself if the line chaos, which certainly no longer serves anyone as a survey line, is worth the safety risk. Especially since it should not be the last time that a team member got tangled in loose lines....
With our goals exceeded, back on land, preparations for the second day started right away. After Frank Vasseur had once again confirmed to us in the run-up to the project that the ambient air in the Salle Chaotique is toxic, the planned exploration of the dry passage and the search for a continuation was correspondingly more challenging. In addition to the diving equipment, the prevailing ambient air requires additional breathing air for the exploration. Due to the high demands, we decided in the evening team pre-discussion to add Olli as a third diver to the push team. This means that we have to move even more equipment to the back, but there would be two people on site if something should happen to a diver on the surface.
The discovery of Sump 2
The second day was spent exploring the dry passage. Equipped with one sandbag per diver, over which a 40cft oxygen tank could be carried on the back in the dry passage (additionally the finis were attached to the first stage with long hoses, so that each diver always had an eye on his residual pressure) as well as an extendable ladder, three of us made our way to the Salle Chaotique, hoping to explore regions that had never been entered before.
After an unspectacular and clearly shorter dive we reached the Salle Chaotique after 45 minutes and started with the exhausting exit, which should become the rule in the following days. Take off all equipment, leave the water one after the other and change from the RB to the OC regulator in the sandbag. From now on, the time was ticking. We had calculated that the 7l bottle should last us about 50 minutes. It was important not to move too fast, so as not to fall into air hunger and possibly feel the urge to take the regulator out of the mouth. One disadvantage of OC regulators is that, despite venturi and maximum air delivery, they never replace free breathing when the volume of breath is large. In addition, there is the strenuous movement over boulders and the risk of injuring oneself on sharp rocks and sharp edges or damaging the diving suits.
But the effort was to be rewarded! We managed to climb over the rock barrier and found a way to advance further into the postsiphon. After about 10min of climbing we came to a ledge behind which the beautiful, very clear L-shaped S2 opened up. We screamed like little kids, "IT'S GOING ON!!!" With this euphoria and still great respect for our surroundings, we marveled at the clear water of Sump 2.
After S2 was actually found, we still had enough time to set up 4 measuring points and to measure the Salle Chaotique as well as to analyze the existing air via the gas analyzers we had brought with us: This consisted of 14.7% oxygen and over 5% CO2. Unfortunately, the measuring device only went up to 5%, so that it can be assumed that the CO2 content is above this and in any case extremely lethal. In order not to be absolutely focused on Sump 2 and perhaps to find further undiscovered passages, we looked closely at all the walls and ceiling. Except for a small passageway leading off to the west from the roughly north - south running hall, we could not find anything. Since Olli was standing closest to this passageway, he called attention to himself and disappeared into it:
"The passage had a small entrance, where I had to bend down, then there was a dead end on the right after 2m and 90 degrees to the left the passage continued, I followed it. After 90 degrees to the right and to the left of 10m length each with an ascending, rocky-sandy underground, I also came to an end here. Here I was in an approx. 20m high room, which had an area of 8x8m. When I think of this picture today, and in addition the Salle de Chaotique with its nave-like shape, this part reminds me of the bell tower of the Salle de Chaotique."
Knowing that the cave continues in Sump 2, it was back to the team to report and prepare together for the third day of first diving.
Sump 2 first dive
While planning for the dive of the newly discovered Sump 2, we decided to extend the Push Team with Steffen B. by a fourth diver, so that the Push Group consisted of two teams with two divers each. Team 1 - Max and Fabi - were to perform the initial dive while Team 2 - Olli and Steffen B. - provided surface support in the Salle Chaotique. While team 1 was to overcome the dry spot with the RBs to dive into Sump 2 afterwards, the task of team 2 was to transport the bailout bottles for the divers.
The pre-dive to the Salle Chaotique had become almost routine on the third day. Steffen B and Olli were the first to leave the water and quickly started their tasks as support: Setting up the ladder for an easy entry and exit of the push divers, transporting the bailout tanks and securing the two divers who have to overcome the dry passage with heavy RB. Breathing from the regulator, the warm air in the dry passage and the thick dry suits, designed for cold water, demand everything from the two. But for a possible first dive of Sump 2, the two gladly accept the strain.
Max and Fabi followed the support on the strenuous way towards Sump 2.
Max was the first to descend into Sump 2. Because of the high effort we decided that Fabi should wait a short time, Max should get an overview in Sump 2 and only take the very exhausting way if Sump 2 has the necessary potential. While Fabi waited for Max's go, Olli and Steffen B went back to their RBs to wait there in the loop for the first team and not to waste the breathing gas in the available scuba tanks unnecessarily.
Arrived in S2 Max describes the experience as follows:
"You dive down in the L-shaped pool and there is a passage to the right after about 15m at a depth of 7m which keeps rising and leads to the surface. The wall and bottom are very slippery here and I had to get out of the water to attach the deep off. I dived back into the distribution hall and dived the passage away to the left, this first dropped to 10m and then slowly rose again, this longer passage also leads back to the surface and ends in a small lake where you can stand. I attached the tie off to a rock at the bottom and walked all corners of the lake. Here you could hear very clear rushing water. In a crevice at the end it seemed to go on extensively. Maybe there is another S3 coming here. The crevice goes vertically up and is difficult to climb. The gas here is the same as in the postsiphon after S1. I made my way back and discovered a single column with a passage behind it. I reattached my reel and followed the passage until I encountered my own line again. So I had dived a loop. Because of the shape of the siphon, we christened it Donut Sump."
A short time after Max surfaced, Max and Fabi were back at Olli and Steffen B. Arriving, Max announced to the support with a beaming face, "The hammer, over 100m of new caveline laid. But unfortunately it doesn't really go on at first sight."
With the successful first dive of the Donut Sump, we headed back to the rest of the team to celebrate the success and prepare for the last day of diving. Because even though we succeeded in the initial dive, we had not managed to document the sump. In addition, we also wanted to do air measurements in the other Sump 2 sites and again systematically search for a possible continuation.
The second dive of the Donut Sump (Sump 2)
For the second dive of the Donut Sump we decided to swap the role of the two two teams and so Steffen B. and Olli had the chance to dive. However, the arm cuff of Fabi's suit tore while putting it on, so he was out for the dive due to lack of a replacement. Therefore we decided, similar to yesterday, to dive the short donut sump 2 with only one diver, Olli, while Max and Steffen ensured the surface support between the two sumps.
So the three of us made our way to the Donut Sump. Accustomed to the course of the cave, the three of us reached the Salle Chaotique after only 30 minutes. After we were meanwhile attuned, the preparation went like clockwork and everyone followed his predefined tasks. Olli, today's push diver, described his the dive from the time he surfaced in the Salle Chaotique as follows:
"Not a word fell. Steffen prepared his SCOBA (Self Contained Overwater Breathing Aparatus), put it on, secured the ladder for me and climbed with me over the boulders to siphon 2. Standing on top we relaxed for the time being. On the loop of the rebreather it was a completely new experience to be able to breathe so relaxed in the toxic area. I checked again my film equipment for function. I got a GoPro equipped with light and arm especially for the obligatory paralence. So there was quasi a backup videography of the Donut Sumps. Steffen and I looked at each other, stood up and I climbed down the ladder secured by Steffen. In the pool I put on the bailout stage, checked everything again thoroughly and gave Steffen the OK sign. The tension, on what awaited me, was calmed only by my even stronger concentration. After I had switched on the GoPro it went off slowly. I enjoyed every fin stroke into the new unknown. As a well-known push diver once said, "The water is crystal clear!"
I followed the main line to the right into the western corridor of the Donut Sump and found a corridor about 3m wide and 2m high and a main line that was second to none in the whole Castor. This was so tight that it resonated when tightened and released. Clean work of the first diver! After about 10 minutes I saw the cross passage on the left and the line, which was attached as a T to the main line. To provide a clear picture for the following divers, I also took Arrows and Cookies. For this purpose, I attached an Arrow to the main line in front of the T. When setting it I had my problems, because the main line was so incredibly tense. Afterwards I continued along the main line to the EOL. A slope led to the western end of Donut Sump. There I put down fins and bailout stage, set a team cookie at the EOL, and got out the gauges. Due to the solo dive, I neglected to determine distances. Sitting down I checked O2 and CO2 content of the air. Again, below 15% O2 and >5% CO2. After repacking everything, I explored the dry area as best I could. Clay on the ground pulled my rockboots off. Furthermore I noticed the sounds of a rushing waterfall. Unfortunately, this was very difficult to locate.
I put on fins and bailoutstage and dived through the impressive clear water at the T to the right through the cross passage. Again and again I looked for continuing corridors, which ended either completely or in not surmountable restrictions in all directions. At the column, at the end of the line of the cross passage, I saw already the east running passage of the 2nd siphon. I set an Arrow on the line of the eastern corridor towards the exit in the north to signal the Jump. I then turned right to the "EOL East." Again, I set the Team Cookie, measured the air values, and explored this dry section to the extent of my ability. Always looking for continuing passages and maybe sometime Sump 3. I noticed again the sounds of the waterfall that could not be located, only now much quieter. Presumably there is a connection between the two dry parts EAST and WEST at the end of the Donut Sump. Unfortunately, my curiosity was not rewarded and I continued my dive in the eastern passage. Several small outgoing passages piqued my interest, but with no further possibilities. When I got to the beginning of the eastern corridor, I recognized a jump here as well, since the line was not connected to the main line. In the corner of my eye I saw that Max was already waiting for me above the ladder. Perfect timing! :-) I put an arrow pointing to the right on the main line and followed it towards Max.
On surfacing I gave him the OK sign, he climbed down to me and we clapped for the success of the whole team! I helped him pack the bailout stage into the sling bag and we made our way back through the Salle Chaotique over the big entanglement rocks one last time."
Reunited with the three of us at Sump 1, we gathered up the gear we had brought and headed back to the rest of the team to celebrate the discovery and documentation of the Donut Sump!
All information about the Source du Castor and the detailed description of the Salle Chaotique as well as Sump 2 we have summarized in the following article: Click here!
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