Diver Reacts to cave diving line work with a DPV

Our very own intrepid co-host, Woody, volunteered to be the line man during a cave dive inside the Devil's System in Florida. Watch how he handles doing line work while diving with a DPV in high flow!
Original Video by ‪@DiveMonkeyStudios‬: • Ginnie Springs April 4...
Spools (these are NOT affiliate links):
Hollis Primary Reel: www.hollis.com/product/primar...
Apeks Lifeline Spool: us.apeksdiving.com/en/dive/sp...
AMX Teknology Spool: www.paragondivestore.com/coll...
Dive Rite Cookie Spool: www.diverite.com/products/ree...
──────────────────────
BECOME A MEMBER!
Join here and get access to perks:
/ @divetalk
──────────────────────
Join us on Facebook: / divetalk
Follow us on Twitter: / divetalkmedia
Talk with us on discord: discord.link/divetalk
SWAG: shopdivetalk.com/
Our Gear: kit.co/divetalk/dive-gear

[@eliz_scubavn]

Never knew that I’d find reels and lines so interesting. Also appreciated the intro explanation on the different equipment, that was actually really cool!

[@DIVETALK]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gotahgemini6415]

I don't know why but this actually made me want to learn to dive, maybe because the cave looked so big and not tight. Thanks for the commentary :D

[@rainmetal]

I've been binge-watching your guys's dive talks for the last few weeks. In my humble opinion this is one of your best videos. Love ya guys. Safe adventures to you both. 🇺🇲

[@Ryan-rc3kq]

You guys have got the coolest friends. So jealous watching this.

[@pabloibarra7406]

Love this kind of video: caves, material, technics, proc, etc. Lots of comments of your own dives. Bravooo!!!!

[@billendres3115]

As always such an informative and fun video. Love your sence of humor Gus, keep up the great work! 🍻

[@cliffmillerslandlockedexpl5421]

Very cool! Awesome explanation of different spools.

[@AlottaBoulchit]

One thing that really fascinates me is how the water looks on the roof of the cave when there's little air pocket spots. I never really thought about there being air spots in underwater caves as I always imagined they'd just fill up entirely at some point. The coolest thing about them is how they look from below like pooled up spots of a thick, shiny liquid. Like mercury or something. Thanks for always sharing such cool content with us! ❤️

[@AlottaBoulchit]

@S. M. oh yes!! That was so cool to see!!

[@Yggdrasil42]

Yeah it does look cool. And reflects the light beautifully. Only caves that are just around the water level will have air pockets. Many Mexican caves are just a few meters below the surface so they'll have some chambers that are partially filled. Caves that are deeper might have temporary air pockets from the divers exhaled air but that air will usually escape to the surface over time through little cracks in the rocks. So caves that have been submerged for a long time will be full of water.

[@jaketschida7016]

Thank you for the lesson! The two of you have opened my eyes to cave diving to a point now were I want to find and do a guided cave dive tour!

[@DIVETALK]

Get the training, don't go into a cave without it.

[@jaketschida7016]

@@DIVETALK I totally agree! Sorry I worded statement wrong. I should have said to take the class and go in with something experienced!

[@Yggdrasil42]

14:23 Wait a minute. That breadclip is directionless! We'd prefer an arrow or rem here instead of a cookie to indicate the direction of the exit.

[@tokyovigilante100]

100% correct. There was no exit reference using the “bread clip” on one of the jumps. Super scary. I was not taught like this .

[@Yggdrasil42]

I love that scooter clip off method Woody uses. Less risk of damaging the cave. Planning to do my Cave DPV course next year so I'll ask for tips.

[@_wegota2319_]

This is so interesting. Thanks for sharing this, Gus. I don't think I could ever cave dive, as I have panic attacks. But it's nice to see and learn about. I can still have fun in open water though :)

[@blakepetersdiving]

Great video Gus! Woody, you’re a master!

[@lydialeigh4]

Thanks for talking about the different reels, Gus! It is helpful to see them in sequence and hear what/how they are used. And Woody did a great job laying the line at Ginny. Perfect trim all the way through too. Impressive!

[@DIVETALK]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jamesyoung8360]

Great job gus I would never fast forward a dive talk video loved it great job woody

[@helene6295]

Have been naughty in the past andi dveda few caves but with certified mates last time I got tangled in the lines they should make the cord thicker be easier to cut 🙄

[@pamelanelson36]

Nice overview of the different spools.

[@DIVETALK]

Glad you liked it!

[@scottcovell802]

Excellent info,SEMPER FI.

[@MopH3ad]

This is awsum, I wish I had half the skill this man has.

[@sandygrogg1203]

Nice work, Woody❤

[@AndrewGilbert-iz1zz]

Super interesting, really want to learn cave cert.

[@JETGuitars]

Gotta say, Bentley Boi made it look like how it **should** be done.

[@YukonSeanHolland]

Video to short! But awesome!! Good job Woody! That DPV stowing definitely was impressive, wow! @RiverMalisha and I have decided that is our next goal! DPV Training! You and Gus inspire us :)

[@DIVETALK]

Awesome thank you!

[@stevedenruyter4902]

Awesome video, this shows how hard work cave diving can be. The trick with the dpv is using a bungee loop on the tip somewhere and use a double ender to clip it. Do make sure it’s switched off, you don’t want to have a runaway dpv like that 😂😂😂 not in a cave, open water is a fun thing. I would have loved to see using arrows also when making jumps, or thigh into the arrow. The jump with no arrow and only cooking, I would have put one to make sure the line stays firmly connected to the main line. Cool video loved it.

[@dgebersole]

Gus -- you didn't mention my amazing lighting for Bryan in the video! :) :)

[@DIVETALK]

DAMN IT!

[@dgebersole]

@@DIVETALK HaHa!!! All kidding aside, Woody did a great job with the reel work and Bryan's filming was fantastic.

[@CubanazoJB]

I want to take a course in Lightning and Videography in Caves !! 😄

[@ABN6565]

Top O' the morning to you and Woody!!! 👍

[@joseeweaver3556]

Not only safe but fun too.

[@EJFXxx]

rumour has it Woody is actually having octopus tentacles surgically attached

[@user-ih2wm2nm3y]

Woody, nice trim while deploying your spools

[@VashStarwind]

Might get one of those cookie spools just for camping instuff, always a pain to keep 550 cord organized

[@Mattipedersen]

I'm sure you've already covered the "Plura Cave Disaster", at some point in the past. However, I'd like to suggest that you check out the documentary that covers the recovery of the two Finnish divers who lost their lives, as a result of this incident. The documentary is called "Diving into the Unknown". If anything, perhaps you and some of your fans might be interested in checking it out. You can actually rent it on YT, I believe.

[@frankvaldor7131]

14:11 Coming back in no vis how would you know which way to go, left or right? In my point of view, there is no indication of direction as the cookie ("bread clip") is non-directional by definition. I would have placed an additional cookie on the exit side of that jump. Just my $0.02 worth...

[@lingen2193]

You probably have a ton of videos waiting to react to, but this might be interesting as it covers typical European cave exploration. It's a German team exploring a French cave with an absolutely insane depth profile that requires extensive support and logistics for the push divers - and the entrance is so remote, they had to install a ropeway to get all the equipment in place: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ7agGaHd9p4gZo

[@lingen2193]

@@elephantprotector I'd really like to know more about the technical aspects of their dive, like which gases they used, which rebreathers and maybe even bailout rebreathers they used.

[@rickimcvey1013]

Hi Gus, great video, but i’m hoping you can clarify something on the last jump he made at 14:12. Is it just the angle they are filming from, or has he attached his jump line to a non directional marker, instead of to the side of it, meaning it doesn’t actually tell him anything about the exit? I watched him retrieve the jump line and it looks the same in that part of the video too. Hope it’s just the camera angle, otherwise I wouldn’t want to come to that in zero vis or even clear vis on a long complex dive 😬😱

[@TomaszKochanowicz]

Hi Ricki, very valid comment. I noticed this same. I do not have an idea how you can find exit using your hands. Even with camera angle this is still bread clip. Not an arrow or REM.

[@AbbieTheStarWarsStory]

Hi I don’t know if you guys will see this I have been a certified diver for 5 months so I’m a relatively new to diving but I love to watch your guys diving videos it has helped me understand diving more I can’t wait to be able to get on a livestream next time you guys do one I remember watching one of your guys videos it was really easy for me to understand and again I love your videos hope you guys have a good day ❤❤❤

[@DIVETALK]

Congrats!

[@AbbieTheStarWarsStory]

Thank you for replying to me

[@amazingjewell]

You should do a video over your first cave dive how was it where was it

[@grmasdfII]

"Don't worry, this is not a training video..." why would that worry me, though? Sounds interesting :>

[@TheTemporalLobe]

Hi, a quick question from a recreational (non-cave) diver: @14:20 the line seems to be attached not next to, but directly to the cookie. How would you know at which direction is the exit if you had to depend on the cookie in case of a silt-out?

[@DIVETALK]

I know it looks like directly attached but remember there are other people in the team that will set their cookies on the exit side. When you come out there will be a few cookies on the exit side and none on the other side.

[@G.Sharb1]

Pretty sure they’re using the knot as a reference. Take a left @ the knot. Edit: didn’t see they replied until after i made my comment

[@user-yp6qp2kf2z]

@@DIVETALK ahhh ok i had the same question. We were trained to sign ourselves, but of course with many divers at the same time ...

[@iwrotethis1678]

I did not know you can see other videos if we members

[@thegamerboneless2864]

I don’t like the cookie reels, and with a dry suit forget about, tiny suckers lucky to find them and your hand is right on top of it 😂 😂 I have lost feeling my hands from work I assume, when I was younger. So I hate little things with little detail.😅

[@rungethomas1]

sorry, question : what kind of side mount harness you use? there are a lot to chose from

[@DavidMaruca_]

Woody and Gus use the Katana2 and one of the newer XDeep models. Check their about page to find links to their gear.

[@bryancoiffman5330]

Gus! Any thoughts on GUE?

[@ProBroDougB]

What head mounted light is Woody using.

[@DIVETALK]

OrcaTorch D630

[@tokyovigilante100]

No cookie on the exit side of the cave. I would never use a broken line tie repair as a reference but to each their own!

[@DIVETALK]

Nobody used that broken line repair as a reference

[@dgebersole]

It is not shown on the video because Bryan was just filming Woody, but both Bryan and I had cookies on the exit side of the jump which were placed after Woody placed the jump and were picked up before Woody picked up his cookie

[@rilesidedivers]

@@dgebersole Yeah using the members marker is "OK" if that member is always with you, but really, if they had buddy separation and that user removed their cookie to let their buddy know they have left the cave (or it fell off or someone else knocked it off), then there would be no direction for Woody in 0 viz. Not sure why REMs are not being used here which are directional, personal and nice to tie into then the buddy can use a cookie or REM on the exit side so everyone has a reference. Seems a little unsafe and not how I was taught but each to their own I guess.

[@mikeckwan]

14:15 You mentioned the line has snapped at some point and been fixed. How common is this? What is the procedure if this happens... this is the equivalent of a lost line situation? Pretty scary.

[@DIVETALK]

I've only seen it in ocean caves because of the salt water eating the line up, but extremely rare in fresh water caves although I know it can happen, and that's why we learn how to fix it during our cave diving class.

[@richpitty]

Maybe a stupid question here but do the main lines ever disintegrate and need to be replaced? I can’t imagine they last forever but maybe they do

[@Yggdrasil42]

Yes they wear from use and from damage by salt water and sea life. Line used in fresh water lasts longer. Line in training caves wears quickly. When divers notice line is becoming fragile they either put in new line on a dedicated dive or they notify the local line committee who will get a volunteer to do it. Some line committees have a budget for buying new line due to sponsorship or donations.

[@craiglowe5412]

Question, after woody unlocked the spool and Gus mentioned the knot repair on the line woody sets a jump line and Gus says it has no arrow. Just a bread snap SO coming back to that line how do you know which way to go with no arrow just a bread snap ?

[@Yggdrasil42]

Gus replied that each team member will place a marker so there will be other markers pointing to the exit. But in my opinion as a cave diver Woody should've used an arrow or a REM instead of a cookie/breadclip. You don't want to depend on others markers for your own navigation. These are things that should be discussed within a team before they dive together since there are clearly multiple ways of doing it.

[@psiman84]

What happens if you encounter a broken main line or your line breaks?

[@DIVETALK]

You fix it

[@amatije]

Such a great video. People wouldn't get lost so many times while diving if they had and follow a system like this, especially when they are not familiar with the cave.

[@Yggdrasil42]

This is THE common practice while cave diving. Making a jump without a spool (even a tiny one) is very much frowned upon.

[@dubs08r6]

My favorite video of 2022 is the bad rescue diver teacher pick me i need a new computer please

[@danmackenzie6807]

Is Woody using his light without a goodman handle? Does it not play nicely with the DPV?

[@DIVETALK]

Yes because he has it attached to his helmet

[@BRIDGETTWC]

Hi 👋 GUYS 👋 👦

[@joseeweaver3556]

Gus have been able to locate orange bread clips yet?

[@DIVETALK]

Not yet!

[@joseeweaver3556]

@@DIVETALK I'll try to hook you up with that if you give me a little time I will send you a dozen of them I just need a little time.

[@DIVETALK]

@@joseeweaver3556 that would be awesome. Thank you.

[@joseeweaver3556]

@@DIVETALK no problem

[@joseeweaver3556]

@@s.m.1328 I'm waiting on the clips and I'll paint 6 of them orange and 6 neon orange I'll also give woody some, r,e yes positive generous kind hearted people are fantastic love it.

[@roylovett4052]

Is their ever a problem with people leaving old lines. And what can be done about it.

[@DIVETALK]

Not really...people don't want to leave expensive gear behind. The permanent lines that are there are super important for navigation but people don't leave lines unless there is an incident. For example, on a loss line procedure you leave your line behind and go get it later when visibility is clear, or if you lose a buddy and fail to find him/her, you leave jumps in...but this doesn't happen very often and when it does divers go back in at a later date to retrieve their line. Sometimes what happens is that if a team is diving the same system 3 days in a row for example, they will set the primary on Day 1 and won't remove it until Day 3....that doesn't bother me at all.

[@Yggdrasil42]

Some cave systems have line teams of volunteers from the area that know the caves very well. For example in the famous systems around Tulum, Mexico, there's a well organized team who dictate how system arrows are set up, review and improve locations and marking of jumps for safety, replace damaged line and they'll periodically clean out leftover markers and such after they're quite sure they're not in active use.

[@roylovett4052]

@@Yggdrasil42 thank you for that info. When I first started watching cave diving one of the worries I've often thought about is someone cutting the line thinking it was old

[@cyana5867]

What does DPV stand for?

[@Yggdrasil42]

Diver Propulsion Vehicle

[@cyana5867]

@@Yggdrasil42 Thank you

[@rabbithohl2162]

This may be off topic for the video, but how do you feel about dive shops burning the film from a mask when you buy it? Is this still a legitimate practice?

[@Yggdrasil42]

I've personally done it with half a dozen masks without issue. Most dive shops will recommend scrubbing with toothpaste instead though.

[@DIVETALK]

If the dive shop does it then they are guarantying that if they mess up they have to give you a new mask so I think it's okay. I personally like to scrub mine and not use fire.

[@playmaka2007]

Great video! The music on the video is a little distracting while listening to your narration though.

[@DIVETALK]

Understood...that music is on the source video so I couldn't remove it

[@feat.shanika]

Hello 👋

[@DIVETALK]

Hello 👋

[@SunnyRain0614]

Are you guys aware that there is a huge treasure being hunted as we speak. If I had the funds to afford to go, I"d be gone. I don't understand why experienced divers are not out there making it happen.

[@DIVETALK]

There's treasure everywhere

[@ftothel794]

I am a huge fan of your channel and you videos. Most importantly, I am a huge fan of the emphasis you guys place on adherence to the rules. Therefore, I must respectfully disagree with tying a jump line directly onto a cookie, without using an arrow. I am confident we all have heard the sentence "a procedure is only effective if it is performed correctly every single time" and this time, it was not. 14:13 "there is no arrow" 14:54 -- you get back to the main line and need to make a directional decision. Should I go left or right?

[@DIVETALK]

Are you a cave diver? If so, what "procedure" do you use? Because when it comes to jumps there is literally no single "procedure", I even said it on the video that cookies and other markers are used differently around the world and even from team to team. So when you say "you didn't follow procedure" when in fact there is no universal procedure to follow it just sounds ignorant. It would be like telling someone they didn't follow proper procedure when selecting snacks for the movie theater...there is no single accepted "procedure", not everyone eats popcorn. And of course, I understand that cave diving is more dangerous than going to the movie theater so I'm not comparing apples to apples, but the point is, in this specific case you are commenting on, there is no "universal procedure" or "standard method" to follow or to violate.

[@ftothel794]

@@DIVETALK I am a multi-stage cave diver. The procedure I use is to tie a jump line to an arrow and place cookies on the exit side of the arrow unless I tie to the end of the main line - in which case there will be no directional decision to be made since the line only goes to one direction. Referring to someone as ignorant lies between name-calling and "ad hominem" in my opinion but that's fine.

[@KB-gd6fc]

@@DIVETALK so let's say you make it back in zero vis to where you tied in the jump and need to make a decision, how do you decide without an arrow and cookie at the jump?

[@DIVETALK]

@@KB-gd6fc unless you are diving solo there will be other cookies there, but if somehow you get there and your jump is tied to the cookie and there is no way to know where to go, just pick one direction on the main line and go, inside a Spring is pretty simple, go with the flow, and if there is no flow try to remember which way is the exit, if you can't and make the wrong turn you will find an arrow pointing you towards the exit within 99 feet (most likely less than that since there is a cave arrow every 100 ft) and that means about a minute wasted in that highly unlikely scenario. I understand that to non-cave divers tying into the cookie may sound like life or death, but it really is not a big deal at all.

[@KB-gd6fc]

@@DIVETALK I'm actually a cave diver. But thanks. Gus, why are you so unbelievably dismissive of any input from people who aren't members of your circle? Even now your response to my very simple question came across very condescending and dismissive.

[@onearmedwolf6512]

Why in the hell would anyone wanna skip the intro? No sir

[@js4120]

this is getting almost as bad as gun channels for me. every video has somthing new i want to buy

[@joseeweaver3556]

Agree I want all kinds of stuff too

[@js4120]

@@joseeweaver3556 i just bought a spool but 2 is 1

[@joseeweaver3556]

@@js4120 yes there's so much I want too the good news is that your off to a good start

[@ryanbeck8004]

Dude isn’t it!!

[@Apollo55_]

Video Uploaded: 4 Hours ago This comment uploaded: 14 hours ago Me: ? ? ? ? ? ?

[@carioca602]

Hey Gus, brother, I love you to death, but you need to change the background music on these videos. I can't speak for anybody else but to me it sounds a lot like '70s and '80s porn music. Just so you know, I went to a lot of trouble to verify this information. For the purposes of research only of course!?! 🤣

[@DIVETALK]

The background music was chosen by the creator of the video I'm reacting to. I did not add any music to the video.

[@scubacro5758]

7:35 video starts

[@DIVETALK]

I literally added a note at the beginning of the video telling people to fast forward to 7:33 if they wanted to skip the intro

[@scubacro5758]

@@DIVETALK I didn't see that haha, but good video

[@nesanesa333]

🤗🐠🐠🤗

[@ashes_to_ashes97]

I love your guys' videos! I've been down sick with Bronchitis and your videos were the only thing keeping me going!! Learning about the different reels and how you're supposed to lay line is truly fascinating! Sadly I'm not a diver, but I would love to one day try diving! Also Gus, I love your intros!! Also, I know nothing about laying line, but watching Woody lay line is awesome! You both are just amazing!❤💙