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RB - Workshop and Training

 

Team: Roland Kring, Peter Gärtner, Manu Schoch, Stefan Bayha, Tim Löffler, Oli Kurtz,  Marc Grosse, Tobi Ziegler, Tibor Czuppon, Manuel Fiore, Fred Petzinger, Günther Kirschner, Michael Winter

 

After we had already met on the weekend of January 8th - 10th at Lake Constance to plan our activities for the year 2010, now point no.1, a RB workshop with practical training was on the agenda.

The goal was not only to work out a common standard for our RB divers, but also to introduce and train the OC-ers in the world of gyro diving. Not to forget the fun factor, which is very important for us : )
The training should have a workshop character - therefore not only Peter as "workshop leader", but also all participants had prepared themselves with a contribution to the workshop, which they then also presented themselves.

 

Day 1

We met on Saturday 5.2 in Böblingen, where Peter organized a training room for us. Although some had a very long journey, we could start punctually at 9:30 with the first point of the agenda:

General HELLO, the last meeting was not long ago, but still there was a lot to talk about!

After we had quickly agreed on the key points for today, in order to be on time in the evening at the swimming pool for the practical part of the weekend, Tobi Z. and Peter already started with the workshop. Of course, the gyroscopes also have a history, which was first discussed in detail.

A current long-running issue in the field of technical diving is the discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the different RB concepts such as PSCR, MCCR, ECCR, etc., which was also not to be missed in our workshop. Here it should be said that the PSCR is still the standard in Team CAVEBASE.

The structure and functionality of the PSCR was next on the list. Here, in addition to the different PSCR types, the possible errors were discussed in detail. In addition to the errors and their causes, the focus was also clearly on the avoidance or early detection of defects. Which checks are necessary to ensure the function of the rebreather (during assembly, in the water, what can I recognize as an OC-ler). Roland and Peter gave us checklists, which we defined as standard for our team.

Since we are in the lucky position to have an almost complete doctor in our ranks, we got another excursion into the topics of physiology and medicine. We then went into more detail on the points of hypercapnia and hypoxia during the training.

 

 

Before we left for the swimming pool, Roland gave us a practical introduction to assembling a PSCR.

In Water Session → Connections Stefan has, we were allowed to use the pool in Bietigheim the whole evening alone and undisturbed. From 7pm we were allowed to carry our equipment to the water and started with the assembly. Many thanks again to the TSC Bietigheim!

In the indoor pool, everyone first went through the checklists and procedures. An experienced RB diver was always assigned an OC or RB beginner. The procedures were then demonstrated and explained to this person in presentation quality. So everybody benefited equally from the first part of the pool session - some learned something new, others could work on fine tuning their skills.
In the second part, the hypoxia and hypercapnia test had to be completed. For one or the other there was certainly an eye opener for the symptoms. Both tests were performed in mild forms in order to be able to "enjoy" the symptoms nicely one after the other. Especially after the hypoxia test, the blue lips and plate-sized pupils were clearly visible. But in water, with hypoxia, the symptoms are not easily recognizable in themselves, so some, after an appropriate break, repeated the test. Now, with sharpened senses, however, everyone noticed the symptoms in themselves.

The relatively mild hypercapnia test was also an experience: it is almost unbelievable how easily one can overbreathe the box and how quickly breathing then gets out of control.
It was a reassuring feeling during both tests to have had a paramedic and an almost fully trained doctor with intensive care experience with me! Because despite the fact that all tests were performed with the greatest possible safety and only under double direct supervision, every organism reacts differently. And so we could be sure that we had done everything humanly possible to prevent accidents.

These tests should actually be mandatory for every PSCR diver - after all, it is hypoxia that poses the greatest danger in the unit. Nevertheless, it is strongly advised against imitation without the supervision of people who know what they are doing!
Finally, there was the opportunity for some still-OC-ers to infect themselves with the RB virus - happy faces were the result. Actually mean - the RB taster dive has something of anfixen!

After a successful, very interesting and exhausting day with, here I can speak only for myself, brilliant impressions, we had only one common goal → food intake :-)

After the common meal at the Schotten we split up, a part went with Stefan and the rest to Manu and Peter who granted us asylum in your witch cottage (thanks again to you two!!!). There we let the day end until the early morning hours.

 

 

Day 2

Since we still had some program planned for Sunday, we started the day with an extensive WEISSWERSCHD BREAKFAST at Manu and Peter. Almost on time at 9 am the first sausage landed in the pot and we could start with the program around 10:30 am.

In addition to the remaining equipment topics such as hose routing, mouthpiece, general configuration and the switch block, we conducted a risk analysis led by Peter in connection with the debriefing of the IW session - probably none of the participants would have expected the clarity of the result.

Building on this, we looked again at our procedures and checklists and fine-tuned them.

The discussion about bailout planning and decompression in the RB with Roland formed the conclusion of the official program.

The end of the exhausting, instructive and nevertheless extremely fun workshop around 3:00 p.m. was the feedback round, which of course could not be missed.

 

Conclusion

In addition to all the content-related issues that have increased the effectiveness and safety of the team, it has once again become clear: diving has to be fun! Otherwise, the motivation and commitment of each individual cannot be kept at a level that requires the implementation of complex cave diving projects. And the fun, that much is certain, did not come too short! We are looking forward to implementing what we have learned together as soon as winter has turned its back on Europe!


With this in mind,

Your Cavebase

 

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Molnar Janos

 

Team: Peter Gärtner & Manu Schoch, Clemens Schützenhofer, Oliver Ferner-Prantner, Jozsef Spanyol

 

A long awaited dream, the beta dive of the Molnar Janos in Budapest came true. We followed an invitation from Clemenzo from Team DIR-Austria. Clemenzo has very good contacts to Jozsef Spanyol, one of the exploration divers in the Molnar Janos, and had taken care of the organization in Budapest.

The first common meeting point with our Austrian friends was in Vienna, at the DIR-Austria headquarters. From here the trip continued together to Budapest. Luckily, because the maps of our navigation system ended in Austria. After a total of 10 hours of driving, we had a beer at the hotel and then it was off to the nest. The next day was going to be exciting.

The next morning we were picked up after breakfast at the hotel by Joszef and drove together across the city to Molnar Janos, which is located directly opposite a subway stop.

 

a

 

The entrance is completely hidden behind a huge iron gate. No one would suspect that behind these walls black frogmen disappear into the warm waters of underground passages.
There was already a lot of activity on site, with several groups preparing to dive and sorting their junk. First we got a detailed tour of the location including the private termal pool. Additionally we got the initiation into the secret of the famous "Rubberboat-riding". On the premises there are still the remains of an old Turkish bath, which is also used as a changing room.

We had planned an extended dive to get acquainted and possibly take pictures, planned 3 - 4 hours. We were all divers with rebreathers (type: AH1 and RB 100). Our dive should lead us once across a large part of the system.

We calmly assembled our equipment, launched scooters and stages and descended the steps already known from many pictures into the water. The entrance is very narrow, more like a vertical chasm and went down to 4m. The passage continued narrow and somewhat labyrinthine until the first larger room at 14m. Then our medium complex plan began. 

Ahead ... 6m gas drop ... back ... pick up scooter ... right away .... Drop 21m of gas ... back and then left. Anyway, something like this ............

After that, the actual dive began. We glided through the toasty warm water (18°C at 50m and 28°C at 6m), what a difference to our last dives in German waters. The passages between the subsystems were scootered, but the majority of the dive we explored on foot. Unfortunately, we had some bad luck and our visit collided with intensive excavation work. As a result, visibility was mostly poor at under 5m. The excavations are supposed to create a connection between the different passage systems. It was a bit better in the 50m chamber and in the northeastern part of the system, where visibility of 10 - 15m awaited us.

It was a great and eventful day, this dive has been on top of the wish list for a very long time. Together we let the evening end with delicious "running Sushi buffet".
On Sunday morning we started again on our 10 hour journey home. This long trip for a single dive had been totally worth it and was the perfect distraction before Manu's written state exam (which took place the next day).
Next time we will take 1-2 days more time to explore the city of Budapest as well.

Thanks again to Clemenzo, Jozsef and Oliver for this unforgettable experience.


In this sense,

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Christine Pit

 

Originally we wanted to start again in November to the Lot: Enjoying some sun and photographing was the actual plan. But in the Lot there was plenty of rain, as Oli and Tim - they were there live - told us. So we changed our plans at the height of Besancon, briefly stocked up on cheese, wine and baguettes and then headed back towards Germany.

In order not to have to drive completely unfulfilled things home, have called with Oliver Hecht and a visit with him and in the mine Christine clarified. Fortunately, a vacation apartment was free and Oliver was so spontaneous to allow us to dive at such short notice. When we arrived at the accommodation in the evening, the key was in the door, as previously discussed, and we could settle in. Not much later Oliver also came by and we discussed the diving procedure with him. Since we are both Cave 2 certified, nothing stood in the way of a nice dive the next day in the Christine! So the romantic stove was fired up, some cooking was done, the feet were put up and, a bit exhausted from the trip, we quickly fell asleep.
The next morning after breakfast we met with Oliver and he showed us the way to the pit. Fortunately, we were the only divers here that day and so we were able to use the rodeo tables for ourselves.

Sensitized by Oliver again, we entered the water with extreme caution, so as not to spoil our own visibility. After the obligatory check, we slid down the brake hill and let the slate corridor have its effect on us: Although the visibility was good at about 10m, the dark slate seems to virtually suck up the light. Together with the not very large dimensions of the corridors and squat ceilings of this mine, a slightly oppressive atmosphere results. And even though the rebreathers release much less gas into the water compared to the open unit, this was enough to further cloud the view by perlocation: a fine white haze descended from the ceiling. Therefore, we proceeded as follows for our photo session: In front Peter swam as photographer, behind him Manu as model. If an interesting spot came into view, Peter swam around it in the bottom, already showing Manu how she should position herself, and then photographing her after a 180° turn.

But after only a few photos at one point the view clouded and we had to go further. Also nice to see were stratifications created by floating layers of dust in the water. The artifacts left behind by the miners, such as pipes, signs, and tools, give the mine a haunted feel. In some cases, details are so well preserved that you can still see the nail trim of the soles in the boot prints in the clay!

On our first visit to the Christine, we took our time looking around the first sole, but didn't dive down the 2nd brake hill, preferring to follow the tracks on the first sole quite a bit further. The next time we will take the deeper part.

 



After a hearty dinner - Peter was the maitre de cuisine that evening - and a glass of French red wine and cheese, we still reviewed the photos and made a first selection.

The next morning started with bad news: Peter had been a bit careless with the protection of the ears: in any case, no pressure compensation was possible. So we had to cancel the planned dive in the Willingen pit and went straight home.


In this sense,

Your Cavebase

Read Time: 10 mins

 

Photo course with JP Bresser

 

After having tried for some time to capture the impressions of our cave dives on pictures without success, we spontaneously decided to take up JP Bresser's offer and let him introduce us to the world of underwater photography.

We were accommodated in the Moulin de Lantouy in the old mill house and shared the idyllic property exclusively with cave divers: course participants of a Cave 1 course with Tom Karch. and a group of cave diving Northern Lights. Since the cave diving scene is small, we met many old acquaintances there. For ourselves it was the first time we could enjoy the charm of this old mill.

 

Day 1: Ressel, photo actual state

The meeting point this morning was directly at the Ressel and the day started bright and early with an introduction of the participants and their equipment on the bank of the Cele. Then the concept of this workshop was introduced: For each day JP would formulate a different task that we should solve photographically. The three best photos of each photographer were then to be discussed together in the evening. The focus was set on something different for each day - in the beginning the optimization of the equipment should be in the foreground, towards the end more the improvement of the image composition. Whereby the topics flowed into each other and were discussed according to the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. In addition to the in-water sessions, there were 1 - 2 units scheduled each day in which we were taught the theory of the day's topic in a lively manner.

The task for the 1st day sounded simple: Make a picture with which you can explain the fascination of cave diving to a non cave diver. After a good hour of diving, the groups met again at the shore and after a break they went back into the water, this time with reversed roles; the photographers of the first dive became the models and vice versa. The second dive was followed by the occupancy of our accommodations, the compressor was fired up, the pictures downloaded. JP and AM had the chef's hat on that evening and conjured up extremely tasty duck breast with pasta and salad. After the opulent meal we met in the living room and everyone presented their three best pictures. This selection was discussed by all together and already here it became clear that the starting conditions for the course were very different: Igor and Matej had clearly shot the best pictures, we (Manu and Peter) and Cas were still struggling with the equipment.



Day 2: Ressel, Covershot

Since it had gotten quite late the previous evening, we started the day relaxed and after breakfast, the first thing we did in the house was optimize the equipment. It's really incredible how easy you can make your life with the right tricks!

After the equipment tinkering lesson, we again went to the Ressel, where all hell had broken loose in the meantime: There were certainly 10 vehicles on the side of the road. The task for the second day was: Take a cover shot that would fit on the cover of a diving magazine. JP explained to us what was important (e.g. enough space for title and headlines) and we could think about where we wanted to take our cover shot and brief the model accordingly.
Since we had agreed to pass on the chef's hats to a different nation each evening, Igor and Matej from Slovenia prepared dinner. Besides the delicious vegetable pasta, the dessert also remained in memory: a Slovenian cake speciality (name unfortunately forgotten): Extremely delicious, but: A moment on your lips, a lifetime on your hips... Pure sin! J

 



Day 3: Doux de Coly, diving team with scooters

Today we left earlier than the previous two days, as we had a longer drive ahead of us. JP had already organized a permit for diving in the Coly in advance and had also brought the key for the grid. After a good hour of driving and collecting lost sheep, we were able to comfortably prepare our equipment and set about implementing the day's task: Photographing and guiding 2 models with scooters. AM and JP made themselves available to us as models and brought their scooters into the water. We determined the order of the photo sessions of the individual photographers and coordinated the respective sessions with the models. Unfortunately, we both had to fight a bit with the camera on this day, so that only one picture came out at all, which is also not the ripper. As unfortunate as that was, we learned a lot about the camera that day in the evening at the kitchen table... J

That evening it was our turn to cook. We had promised Swabian cuisine and had already prepared everything for the Swabian potato salad the night before. In addition we had Maultaschen and, who liked it, onions on top. Even though the surprise was big at first, everyone wanted to try the "real" Swabian version of the dish: First potato salad in the soup plate, then the Maultaschen with the broth on top, plus onions and seasoned with vinegar to taste. Skepticism gave way to voracious silence. And the Swabian virus was planted... For dessert we had "organized" fresh figs, which we served together with goat cheese. The evening was again used for picture discussion and went into the night.

 



Day 4 Landenouse, divers at work

Since we had it from our accommodation only 7 minutes to the Landenouse, we could start a little more comfortably than the days before into the day. The task for the day was to photograph a diver at work. Thanks to Matej's and Igor's rope skills, the equipment was quickly in the pool and the teams were ready to go. Since the visibility was not very good, the task suited us very well. In the break between dives an advance team of a German cave diving group came by, but they decided against entering the Landenouse as well. Together with us 7 divers it would have become simply too full. Thanks for the consideration!

In the evening Cas and Sophie spoiled our palate with chicken and vegetable pan (NO HERINGS!). Finishing off the treats were the finest French cheese and fruit. The evening session after dinner was all about digital image editing through Photoshop. Again, it's amazing how much you can get out of it with a few mouse clicks and how fine the line is between good and too much.

 

Summary

The photo workshop at JP was absolutely worth the money, everyone agreed. We learned a lot as photography beginners. Since the learning curve was extremely steep, we saved quite a bit of time that would have been needed to learn from mistakes. Also the pictures of the "professionals" Igor and Matej have become quite a bit better.

Besides the content of the course, it was fun to see how incredibly quickly strangers became a group with a common goal: To improve photography. And also, once again, one of the main advantages of diving according to the DIR principle has become apparent: In principle, strangers can immediately complete cave dives with each other with complex tasks, since procedures and equipment are standardized and thus there is no unnecessary friction loss.

Vacation diving days 30.09. - 04.10.2009

The other workshop participants unfortunately had to go home again, we had a few days left for diving and taking pictures.

 

Day 5 Cabouy, Traverse Cabouy to Poumayssen

Together with JP and Annmarie we drove to Cabouy to do some scootering. The visibility was excellent, as we had been told several times. Our goal was the traverse Cabouy to Poumayssen (and back). The line situation was very good, we had it a bit more chaotic in memory. Noticeable were the many T's and jumps up to Poumayssen. During this Tg's Peter almost swallowed the bite nipple of his mouthpiece. But why do you have a spare mouthpiece with you? So g'schwind changed underwater. 

For a change we treated ourselves in the evening to a trip to Cajarc and found a nice restaurant in the old town directly on the market square to have dinner.


Day 6 Ressel, photos again

Much to our delight, JP had offered us to jump into the water with his camera and apply and deepen what we had learned so far. For us this was a very good repetition. And clearly ... we still have to practice a lot. The Ressel was best suited for this. This was the best way to compare our progress. We had set ourselves some goals: Again pictures with working equipment, with scooter, change between model and photographer, so that everyone has done everything. We were able to use the evening in our kitchen with last cooking together to show a few pictures and ask last questions. That's what I call a pleasant working atmosphere. With this we ended a very pleasant and stimulating week full of images in digital and emotional form.

 



Day 7 Ressel, Deep loop

On the last diving day of this French tour we had planned the Deep Loop in the Ressel. To get the best parking place we started very early in the morning. This week we made the experience that after 10:00 no parking place was available. But this time we were lucky, we were all alone with all our stuff. In peace we prepared everything. We set up the gyros, launched the scooters and threw what felt like 20 stages ;-) into the river.
The visibility was in the front part only 3-5m, from the shaft then about 7m and then in the deep part from the 3.T about 15-20m. We had already looked 2x at the deeper part in the Ressel this year. So far, however, always on the main line. At the 4th T we then turned into the loop. Interesting was the change of the rock formations, not as in the front part large plates with smoothly polished walls. Here, the rock looked like pitted and pitted with bizarre formations. Next time we must definitely take the photo camera.

 

 

 

Profile of our dive through the Deep Loop.Used gases in the rebreather: 15/55, 35/35, 50/25 and oxygen.

In the evening the smell of a curry wafted through the mill and we had enough diners at the table.


Day 8: Comb Negre without diving

The last day was used for scouting another cave. We made our way to Comb Negre. The entrance is at the river bank of the Dordogne. The way there goes through the river, so we first had to take off our shoes and socks and reached the cave entrance only wading knee-deep: From the river you can already see several small tube-shaped openings. The entrance is small and the cave consists of a string of diving and dry sections. One thing is clear: we'll have to pass by there with small equipment! 

The rest of the day was used for packing. A few good friends from Pirna had also arrived in the meantime. What a HELLO!!! In the evening we had a barbecue.


In this sense,

Your Cavebase

 

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Walchensee, Cavebase meeting

 

Participants: Roland, Robin, Marc, Arne, Peter, Manu, Stefan, Tim, Jacqueline, Zoé, Antje, Albert

On 27.06. Tim and Robin came to Roland around 14:00 o'clock to give a "briefing" or rebreather training for Tim in the Starnberger See.

We were in the water with EAN50 at the Wasserwacht in Allmanshausen in the Starnberger See for a few hours and then met up with Marc, Antje and Arne at the Kochelsee. In an economy at the Kochelsee again what decent meal and immediately further to the Walchensee to our accommodation. As always when we are at the Walchensee, we are accommodated with Conny.

The next morning we went after a breakfast in our pension to the dive site, gallery. Dives in the different buddy teams between 70m and 133m were planned and executed.

Manu and Peter, each with RB80 on the way, planned about 70m for 20min. Roland (RB80), Marc (RB80), Arne (RB80), Tim (OC) and Albert (OC) wanted to go to the car wreck at 95m to make some bottom time. Stefan and Robin, each with RB80, dived to 133m. Unfortunately, Albert's cuff leaked (tore!?) on the descent and he had to abort. Tim surfaced together with Albert, while the rest of the car wreck group continued their descent.

The dives all worked very well, as planned. On Sunday Arne, Marc, Stefan and Roland went to the gallery again. The rest of the group had, due to the partly very long journey, already said goodbye after breakfast and are already on the road again.

Here is a summary of the 133m dive of Robin and Stefan:

Robin and I planned a 133m rebreather dive which we successfully accomplished in the course of the Cavebase meeting at the gallery. The plan was to arrive at Walchensee early Saturday morning to get a good parking place. With this starting situation we would have it much easier with the heavy rebreathers to start and end the dive comfortably, since we would save ourselves longer walking distances. Fortunately this wish was fulfilled and we were able to park in a top location. Immediately we started to deposit the stages and heating tanks in the water. This allowed us to put on the equipment directly in the water. However, the large pile should later prove to be a disadvantage.

First, however, we began to assemble the rebreathers and carefully check their functionality. After all the preparations in bright sunshine, a lot of sweat and good mood by all participants, Robin and I started our dive before the rest of the crew. The reason was that not everyone would find room at the same time at the big pile of stages. So we were the first to go into the water. One by one we took up the needed stages. But then came the shock. My bottom mix stage was not to be found. After two more times of searching and circulating all the stages, it was clear. She was definitely not in the crowd. The idea quickly arose that it must have come loose and come to rest at the foot of the steep face on the slag heap. This possibility was seized and it was begun to slide at the wall into the depth. After a short time the stage was actually in sight, thank God in only 12m depth. Luck had! Now the actual dive could begin as planned.

No sooner said than done. The dive led us down the steep scree slope, past the wrecked car and then past the garden fence at the right angle to a tree that had fallen into the water. After a short unspectacular bottom time we started the ascent. The first stop was at 108m. Here it was impressive to see Roland, Arne and Marc arriving at the car. After a short pack dive around the car at about 95m the three left us to start their deco. From this point on a "lonely" dive started for Robin and me. And so it happened that we approached meter by meter towards the surface with longer and longer decompression times. The waiting time was only interrupted when Robin noticed at 60m that his heater had stopped working. However, the heater is just a piece of equipment that is supposed to make the dive time more comfortable. Such dives can be done without a heater and do not require one. So for the rest of the dive Robin had to do without the comfort. The rest of the dive was not worth mentioning. However, we had on 6m surprising and not agreed visit of support divers who took the gases for the deep part of the dive. So the rest of the 6m stop could be done with relatively little material on the body.

Thanks to the support!


In this sense,

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