Mine Lamotte tomorrow, short notice, I knw

[steve2281]

All you need is a $20 and a day off work.(cave card of some type). If you've never dived it, just show up and we'll show you around.8:00 or there about.

[steve2281]

Changing conditions at our planned dive site left us with our dive gear loaded and no where to dive; we decided to try Mine LaMotte. It had been a couple of months since we last dived the mine. We arrived and found the water level very low; entry thru the Batcave was not possible and thru the main entrance very challenging.

We considered a double stage marathon dive to the Control Room, but for no specific reason decided we just weren't up to it; we settled on a single stage dive to explore and get bearings on one of the jumps far down the Hall Rd.

We made entry at the main entrance after removing stages and crawling over some rocks. We dropped on the main line and found about 5' vis. As we made our way, the water progressively got colder and the vis improved; by the time the temp was 47* the vis was 40'. We took the long path to the Hall Rd, joined that line in 22 minutes, and dropped the stages at 29. The vis on this side continued to improve to an unbelievable 50' or better as we marked the line six times navigating the T's. We made our planned jump at 53 minutes and took bearings and swim times to add this line to our map. We had thought that this line would circle back to the mainline; it did not and ended after two hundred feet with two more jumps in sight.

A bit confused and recognizing no landmarks, we turned the dive at 58 minutes and began retracing our path. The return swim was most remarkable as the great vis allowed us to swim 15-20' above the floor of the mine. Although I had made this swim 20 or more times, my previous experiences had not given a clue to the size of the rooms in this area. It's really amazing to me that the ceiling doesn't just fall in; I guess they knew what they were doing. The cold began taking it's toll, and by the time I pulled the last three line markers, my fingers were not able to clip them back on my lighthead. Max dept 48', dive time 111 minutes, penetration estimated 2400'.

We warmed on the SI and decided on short 2nd dive. Again, entering and the main entrance, we took the same path until we arrived at the old elevator where we took the lower line at the fourth T. We rarely dive this area; it has a spider web of lines that we have yet to unravel and always has the worse vis in the mine with that "smoke on water appearence". We turned the dive at a familar spot and enjoyed the vis on the return trip after leaving the lower area. Max dept 58', dive time 55 min, penetration approx 900', vis 5-40', water temp 47-52.

[do it easy]

Steve, do you wear dry gloves?

Although I suspect that you were diving wet.

[steve2281]

Steve, do you wear dry gloves?

Although I suspect that you were diving wet.

Just wet gloves; usually 5mm with a couple fingers on each hand partially cut out; sometimes without the fingers cutout.

[SLIM]

Steve I have started using these gloves and they are in the 2-3mm thikness, I have not had to cut the fingers out and can operate all my snaps and everytig with great dexterity and they seem to keep my hands and fingers warmer then 5 mm gloves.

GLACIER GLOVE - Original Cold Weather Gloves (http://www.glacierglove.com/)

Give them a try, you might like, cost is like $19.00 and shipping so still less then 25.

SLIM

[Wkndbum]

Steve I have started using these gloves and they are in the 2-3mm thikness, I have not had to cut the fingers out and can operate all my snaps and everytig with great dexterity and they seem to keep my hands and fingers warmer then 5 mm gloves.

GLACIER GLOVE - Original Cold Weather Gloves (http://www.glacierglove.com/)

Give them a try, you might like, cost is like $19.00 and shipping so still less then 25.

SLIM

Which model do you use? The "ice bay" ?

Terry

[theskull]

Steve I have started using these gloves and they are in the 2-3mm thikness, I have not had to cut the fingers out and can operate all my snaps and everytig with great dexterity and they seem to keep my hands and fingers warmer then 5 mm gloves.

GLACIER GLOVE - Original Cold Weather Gloves (http://www.glacierglove.com/)

Give them a try, you might like, cost is like $19.00 and shipping so still less then 25.

SLIM

Worth a try! What size do you wear? And what size normal wet glove do you wear?

theskull

[SLIM]

Wear the Ice Bay. I normally wear a size XL in most all other gloves and got the same from them.

SLIM

[steve2281]

Thanks, Slim. I think I'll give those a try.

[SLIM]

Steve, even FW used a set up here this summer and he liked them. I was turned on to them from a cave buddy down in AR area and once I tried them I have not turned back.

SLIM

[steve2281]

I got mine ordered. I had them billed to you, Slim.

[SLIM]

Thanks bud. I can't wait for them to arive here. You C since you had them billed to me, al things will be shipped to me. Guess I will just have to use them to test them until I get the chance to send them off to you.