RBD on 11/4/05

[DeepDiverBob]

The web page is showing the flow rate to be at 12. Is that when it would look like ole faithful?

[juls64]

Now it says 13.

[DeepDiverBob]

I am almost bored enought to drive down there and take a look at that, and take pictures.

Almost.

[SLIM]

That aint nothing. I will have to dig out some of my photos I have on a Power Point that shows it in a flood stage and is way higher then what the guage shows. Remember that guage reading is not very accurate. If you know where the guage is located at it can be affected bye the creek and not the spring. It can fool you. I have dove when it said it was a 15 and the spring was not flowing much and then when it has said it was a 5 the soring was pumping.


SLIM

[DeepDiverBob]

I would really like tosee those pictures if you can dig them out.

[steve2281]

I would really like tosee those pictures if you can dig them out.

Here's a couple of pics if I can make these links work:

http://www.ocda.org/images/2001conf/P1010051.JPG

http://www.ocda.org/images/2001conf/P1010057.JPG

Makes you want to just dive in, huh??

[scububa]

Just got back. We dove the cavern on Friday. Got in the water about 1:00. My daughter and I practiced running the reel and did a lights out drill. Water was flowing more than when we did class dives, but not so strong that you couldn't fin to the opening. Flow was not very noticable after moving in 20 ft. Vis was as good if not better than the class dives.

We even went over to check Bennet Springs this morning, but six divers had already been in for the day. It was sort of on the way home.

We stayed at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in the Outpost cabins. We got caught in the Saturday night weather on the road (hiway 42) and it got pretty hairy. Hail beat the tar out of my truck. We thought the windows were going to break. No where to run, no where to hide.

Jim

[juls64]

Just got back. We dove the cavern on Friday. Got in the water about 1:00. My daughter and I practiced running the reel and did a lights out drill. Water was flowing more than when we did class dives, but not so strong that you couldn't fin to the opening. Flow was not very noticable after moving in 20 ft. Vis was as good if not better than the class dives.

We even went over to check Bennet Springs this morning, but six divers had already been in for the day. It was sort of on the way home.

We stayed at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in the Outpost cabins. We got caught in the Saturday night weather on the road (hiway 42) and it got pretty hairy. Hail beat the tar out of my truck. We thought the windows were going to break. No where to run, no where to hide.

Jim

Glad you got to dive Jim. Where is Bennet Springs? I haven't heard of that one yet. The weather was something. No hail up here, but it really poured last night. Both my kids were out on the road and I sat up worrying until I knew they were both home or somewhere safe. Hope your truck wasn't damaged.

Julie

[SLIM]

Those Pics that Steve gave a link to are some good ones. Mine arn't that bad but I have seen it like that. Just did not have a camera with me.

Bennet Springs is North of Lebanon MO on HWY 64. It is only a Cavern Dive and is open ony a few short months out of the year and a set amount can dive a day. You have to sign in and out at the Visitor Center. It has a Fish Hatchery and is known for its trout fishing during the Trout season.


SLIM

[juls64]

Bennet Springs is North of Lebanon MO on HWY 64. It is only a Cavern Dive and is open ony a few short months out of the year and a set amount can dive a day.
SLIM

Only a Cavern Dive is good, cause I am only Cavern certified. I need to know where to go practice. That is sort of the other side of Missouri, isn't it?

[SLIM]

Would not call it the other side of MO but is about 45 minutes at the most from RBD. Lebanon is 30 minutes form RBD and then about another 15 minutes north to Bennet Spring State park.

SLIM

[DeepDiverBob]

Is it worth seeing, or too big of a hassle? Is there a link for it?

I was at Rolla today diving my doubles, working on valve shut downs. Right side and isolater I dont seem to have much trouble with. Left one is still giving me some problems. I might be making a pool appointment to keep working on that.

[SLIM]

Just keep practiceing, and remember that moving the tanks 1/4 inch up or down can make a differnace, and the kind of vave knobs can also.

With a Dry Suit, once you get in the water, be sure to stretch out spead-eagle so that you can get better flexability and less chance of suit binding.

SLIM

[scububa]

It is about another half hour or so down (southwest) on I-44 from Waynesville. From reading, Bennett Springs is about 85 feet max depth and nearly the same back at a 45 degree angle. At that point it reduces to a restriction and they are not interested in anyone trying to open it up. The naturalist there said a group dug around trying to open it and were prepared to write an article. The article was nixed and they supposedly aren't allowed to dive there any more. I understand there have been some grates installed. The State Park Policy is 6 divers max per day. Two minimum with a surface support person. The posted range is Dec1 until the opening of trout season Mar1. There seems to be times when Nov is opened per the discussion I had there, but the policy is written Dec1.

edit - just noticed SLIM had answered most of this already.

Only a Cavern Dive is good, cause I am only Cavern certified. I need to know where to go practice. That is sort of the other side of Missouri, isn't it?

[theskull]

Is it worth seeing, or too big of a hassle? Is there a link for it?

I was at Rolla today diving my doubles, working on valve shut downs. Right side and isolater I dont seem to have much trouble with. Left one is still giving me some problems. I might be making a pool appointment to keep working on that.

Left side is harder for most of us right-handers. So glad we don't have to shut the isolator with the left hand as part of the required drill!!!

SLIM's suggestions are excellent. Also, if your harness isn't too tight you can shift the whole rig a little toward the left before you reach back. Then when you reach back, grab anything you can get hold of and use that as leverage to work your hand onto the knob.

If you really want to solve the problem, do 2 things:
1. Do some stretching and flexibility exercises for the shoulders every single day. Ideally, start taking a Yoga class.
2. Do the valve shutdown drill on every dive you make in doubles until it is no longer difficult. Then do it at least once on every dive weekend. You don't have to do the full drill--but at least reach back and grab each knob and give it a twist or 2 to prove to yourself that you could have done the complete drill.

theskull