A fine day's cave diving

Yesterday, Scubajim, MarcG, Mrs. Caveman and the Caveman himself went for a bit of cave diving in the Ottawa River, a few kilometers downstream from Pembroke. After our plans to shore dive another cave were changed due to unforeseen circumstances, we found ourselves renting a boat from a nice gentleman running a small resort a short distance away. Getting 4 divers, 8 steel cylinders and sundry cave gear into the aluminum runabout was a small feat of logistics, but Scubajim, keen as ever to explore new caves, got us organised and out on the water faster than you can do a GUE-approved S-drill. Using a map of the area that Scubajim obtained via one of his many connections, we puttered to a heavily wooded and uninhabited island's south shore and began looking for the tell-tale surface disturbance of an underwater cave resurgence. Lo-and-behold, within less than 10 minutes we had found the entrance to the cave in a sink hole less than 20 feet from shore.

Tying the boat to shore, we quickly jumped into the water and clipped on our cylinders, sidemount style. For Mrs Caveman, MarcG and me, it was our first time with our new helmets. Very chic and un-DIR. But the sidemount configuration felt good. Stable, lean and entirely appropriate for the cave.

Scubajim and Marc headed out first, with the Mrs and me following a few minutes later. The cave, lined by explorers more than 10 years ago, proved to be larger than we expected. Certainly larger than the shore-accessible cave a kilometer or so south of where we were. The visibility being what it was - Ottawa river water is very tannic - we saw little of the cave once beyond the dull red glow of the entrance sinkhole. Our lights, strong as laser beams from a Death Star in the clear Florida cave waters, were anemic light swords in that water. We could either see the line, or see the cave wall/ceiling, not both. The Mrs and I ended our first dive after 40 minutes and about 500 feet penetration.

A short surface interval later, we returned to the cave and this time, we took a right at a t-junction about 300ft in. This led to a narrow tunnel which we could actual see and appreciate in all its limestone glory. The very silty floor was a challenge, but one we thoroughly enjoyed. We found the end of the line, broken, and turned around.

Back on the mainline, we headed deeper into the cave, meeting Scubajim who was on his way out after a very deep and long penetration. About 500ft from the entrance, the cave made a dog leg and dropped 10ft into a rocky tube with the most heartbreakingly beautiful and fragile rock formations. I can well imagine that the Devil's system in Florida was this beautiful before countless generations of cave divers broke, eroded and generally trampled all over the cave. Using the thick manila rope that did double duty as cave line to pull myself along, I made sure not to touch anything. The shape of the cave and the flow turned our breath exhalations into a rumble that resembled thunder - or the sounds of a cave-in. The area is geologically active, witnessed by a resurgence in this same system that was filled in by a seismically-induced collapse a few years ago. After about 400 feet of this, I decided that the rumbling was getting the better of my comfort and we turned around, letting the flow push us back out.

We met a magnificent three-feet long sturgeon hundreds of feet inside the cave, as well as many catfish and other bottom dwellers.

In short order, Mrs Caveman and I emerged above the sink and rejoined Scubajim and MarcG who were waiting for us. In no time at all, we were out of our rigs, in the boat and heading back to shore.

I cannot wait to dive this cave again.

By the way, although this cave, except for the side passages, was diveable with backmounted cylinders, it would have been a pain in the proverbial to haul 100pound sets in and out of an aluminum skiff. Doing it sidemount was the only logical way.

For Scubajim's story and his pictures of the dive, check out his blog. He took the picture at the top of this entry.