My Diving Experiences

Dive site is near Platteville, WI. Right where WI, IL, and IA meet. The mine entrance is at the far end of the pond, 25ft deep.

We went no deeper than 70ft. The mine has been explored to 110ft deep a half mile back. We only went in about 500ft for class. We actually did a circuit on the last dive. Went in a circle. You use markers on the guidelines.

I was shocked when instructor said I was doing pretty well at the end of the first day. Said I showed improvement each day and my diving was really changed at the end of the course. I know what I need to work on.

I now have access to the mine to dive whenever the instructor is there, which is pretty often this winter as she will be teaching a lot. More people with $$ for cave classes since they’re not doing travel and more are interested in local diving. I have a few people to dive with already. They are really experienced but don’t mind helping the newbies get experience.

I’m seriously considering doing my full cave class next fall. That means more complex navigation, etc. For intro to cave you’re redirected to main guideline only and only 1/6 of your tanks.


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A local diver I know who is part of the group from the old dive shop, but as a gay libertarian doesn’t agree with the owner’s politics, told me that whenever I had something major happen diving-wise, to make the FB post shareable and he would share it on HIS FB page, so He Who Shall Not Be Named, and others associated with that dive shop, would see it.

He did that with my passing intro to cave. He said getting a cave cert from X (gal instructor’s name) is not easy. He said I’m also just about the toughest and most stubborn diver he knows (and that’s saying something). As he told me privately, success is the best revenge. :D

Good for you, Tradd. Adventures await!!!

That looks like a pretty area, Tradd.

Rosa, it’s very pretty. No facilities, though. We walked a bit down a path and peed behind the trees. :D

A buddy I’d dive with at the local quarry now considers me “too dangerous” to dive with since I got my cave cert.

Ironically, I’m even safer to dive with since I got my cave cert. You can’t be a dangerous diver and get your cave cert. The training is far beyond what the average recreational diver gets.

Oh, well, their loss.

Very impressive and congrats on passing the cave class.

Your dive buddy is stupid because cave divers need more skills.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

Your dive buddy is stupid because cave divers need more skills.

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Bingo! She has about 30 dives or so. I told her with that attitude, I wouldn’t be diving with her anymore. I tried to tell her about how intensive the training is, but it went in one ear and out the other.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tradd

A buddy I’d dive with at the local quarry now considers me “too dangerous” to dive with since I got my cave cert.

Ironically, I’m even safer to dive with since I got my cave cert. You can’t be a dangerous diver and get your cave cert. The training is far beyond what the average recreational diver gets.

Oh, well, their loss.

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Oh come now, you know that is bad ass. That they consider you dangerous. That is a brag!


That reminds me, my nephew named one of his children a common modern first name with a middle name of “ Danger.” Very odd, since my nephew and wife are about as Standard issue white-bread as you can get.

so Tradd, change your middle name legally to “Danger.” Ha ha