Deep Flooded Mine Exploration, first side tunnel spotted on 8/10/14
Posted by Dan Wright on 8/12/2014, 8:15 am
Taking the next step forward in the deep flooded mine exploration, in a concerted effort with two topside support, and support diver, allowed us to safely explore to maximum of 400' on this day. With the newer intel gathered by John Eells, we now had confirmation that the mine had an overhang that prevented a bottom finder going beyond a reading of 325', as I had experienced in two days of topside depth finder surveys. John also constructed a new dive ladder in the Christmas tree design, also aiding us in ease and safety, as well as a new dressing bench provided by myself. We elected to go down one of the two deepest shot lines marked with buoys, and explore from there, in hopes of finding either a side tunnel or a path to a deeper shaft. At 290' my shot line terminated, so I began to run a 200' wreck reel. No sooner than when I arrived down to 315', I found the entrance of a side tunnel, which had either collapsed or was quickly abandoned. Visibility was very good, at one point I even traveled off the line, and could clearly see 20-25'. Risk of silt out is a major hazard, so keep away from the bottom! Water temps never varied from 46 degrees once one descends below 10'. After 20 minutes, I turned the dive, in order to meet my support diver who was to check on me as I ascended. After exchanging OK's with John, he took a few minutes to drop down to his maximum depth. He then passed me again on his ascent up, exchanging OK's. At the buoy, Kevin Eells waited in the inflatable, until I was safely on the surface. Both Kevin and Bernie Chowdhury carried most of the gear out at the end of the day, in order to lessen the chances of a deco hit by the deep divers. Thanks again to DUI Inc, the "Blue Heat" heated undergarment system really shines in this scenario, I was never cold the entire decompression obligation.
Yes, that's the plan, but that tunnel or "drift" as the miners called them, had collapsed. There are many others, I just have to locate and mark them. It's encouraging that we found the first one, we are on the right track.
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