Caverns & Caves in Ireland

[ardhill]

I have just spent a couple of days with Martyn Farr on the very technical cavern course. Well it's a start and it was great fun.

So, apart from Cong, which is 5 hours drive away from me, where else is there to cave/cavern dive in Ireland? Preferably somewhere closer to Belfast than Cong. Anywhere down the East coast? Anywhere in Ireland at all that isn't miles away?

Thanks

[Stephen McMullan]

Fermanagh? Marble Arch system? There's some info in Farr's book - The Darkness Beckons but I'll leave the details to folk who actually know something about cave diving

[ardhill]

Fermanagh? Marble Arch system? There's some info in Farr's book - The Darkness Beckons but I'll leave the details to folk who actually know something about cave diving

Fermanagh yes, I just have to do a bit of exploring to discover where

Marble Arch - as far as I know is off limits as it is a show cave system. I suppose I could climb out of a sump, look at the tourists and ask if this is Tasmania

[arturconrad]

You need to start with Irish sump index. The only thing is I'm not sure if there's any place suitable for cavern diving in Fermanagh- i.e. back mounted single tank plus pony, max 50m of penetration. I think most of sites down there would be typical british sump diving- lot of tough caving before getting to the water. I believe that the best place for practicing after cavern course is Hell complex in Doolin when sea conditions are right. I wouldn't bother about remote distance - it's just an irish excuse - you are lucky that you live in such a small country Last summer I managed to visit Green Holes over 30 times and each time it took me 6h to get there on the bus from Dublin. But good luck in Fermanagh anyway, I'd say the best way to go is to contact some local or even UK caving clubs and see if they have any informations or even cave diving members.

cheers

artur

[ardhill]

Thanks Artur

I have since gotten a text version of the Irish Sump Index (no drawings), so I will be reading up on that.

Small country? My car sounded a bit suspect by the time it reached Cong, it drove home sounding worse, and it now off the road Apparently I have destroyed the bearings in the turbo. The last quote for a replacement the turbo specialist got was December.  I am hoping he can do better than that. I don't fancy that bus idea.

If it's Doolin, I can maybe get some local assistance, if he is available and willing. And Cong is closer to Doolin, so I have an idea of a few places there.

But the Fermanagh sumps can't be that bad to get to can they?

[arturconrad]

Hi Paul (?)


I have since gotten a text version of the Irish Sump Index (no drawings), so I will be reading up on that.

If you decide for something give me a shout , I''ll scan and send relevant drawings to you

Small country? My car sounded a bit suspect by the time it reached Cong, it drove home sounding worse, and it now off the road Apparently I have destroyed the bearings in the turbo. The last quote for a replacement the turbo specialist got was December. hoping he can do better than that.


I can't really relate to your pain as I usually used rent or company cars- no mercy...and no remorse...

I don't fancy that bus idea.

I understand, I really do, certain degree of madness is needed for that...

If it's Doolin, I can maybe get some local assistance, if he is available and willing. And Cong is closer to Doolin, so I have an idea of a few places there.

Yeah, Doolin is great but right conditions are very rare down there. Actually the fact that I menaged to do 30 dives in Green Holes last year doesn't mean anything - it's simply because there was no way I wasn't getting into the water after 6h of traveling on the bus) But usually I'm watching Doolin's conditions on weekly basis so I'll be giving you a shout once I see some hope on the horizon...


But the Fermanagh sumps can't be that bad to get to can they?


Well...I don't want to put you off but you might be surprised how easily 50m of carrying the gear through cave passage can kill your back...and enthusiasm...

Good Luck
and sorry if I wasn't too supportive...

artur

[ardhill]

Thanks Artur

and sorry if I wasn't too supportive...

Supportive- you could have been more supportive if you had carried my kit for me to the Lost World, a short 250m walk...

Through trees, bushes, across grass cover rocks that try and break your ankle, climbing up over rocks and through a river. I promised to to complain how far it was to the car park from a sea dive again

[arturconrad]

Stop complaining!    At least Martyn showed you the way...Tom and me were looking for this place on our own ( we did the all the courses in South Wales but we just wanted to visit the site) as the only direction we got from him was: 'It's very difficult to find the place' ...it was difficult, especially when you were carrying all the gear with you...

But OK, getting to the Lost World it's a bit tough I agree but I promise you it's only beginning of The Great Cave Diving Adventure... two weeks agoon approach to a dive site I slipped, grabbed the wrong branch which broke off and I fell 3m down on the rocks ( 2x15l twinset that happened to be on my back didn't help at all... I don't know how but I got up unharmed and did 3h dive...

Ehhh...somewhere out there,there must be The Perfect Site...that you can drive to the edge of the water which is warm,crystal clear, with big UNEXPLORED passage goes for kilometers but you do ALL your deco on the way out,plenty of belays points, beautiful formations, press waiting for you at the surface...and then class chicks recognizing you on the street....there must be place like that...

artur

[sisco]

Hey Artur,

Thanks for the info - Im just finished this course with martyn also,
Are there many (any) cave diving clubs in ireland?

Doolin may be the place to start then,
Am looking for a primary reel what do ye guys use?

Cheers,

Ger.

[ardhill]

Artur - I feel better already

Sisco - I have just ordered one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350090645405

[sisco]

thats funny,

i was looking at that exact one just yesterday,

but wanted to see what the "pro's" like artur are using first,

[arturconrad]

Funny enough, Jim and I we were talking about that 'reel' as well - we both liked it and..it's cheap!!!
I have most of my reels from this guy:

http://alpinur.webpark.pl/

click at the picture of the reel on the left hand side and then, to get to details click SZCZEGOLY at the bottom of the screen. You should be able to figure out rest of the things on your own, polish is not so difficult:D

Design has been copied by many esp in  France and Belgium but they all admitt it comes somewhere from poland.
 
Jim is using modified lightweight versions that he built on his own

You can find all the sketches on

http://www.plongeesout.com/

go for :Articles
then :Techniques and materiele
Then: Devidoir Irlandais (strange enough...)

You can get them for 120-145 euro from France ( look at the link Devidoirs Bardes) or from Poland for 50-70euro

cheers

artur

[pat coughlan]

Hi Artur,

I did the Intro course with Martyn as well, it was an excellent course but a bad sinus infection put paid to the diving part of it.  I didnt realise there was such cave diving on my doorstep(well an hour and a half away), it is something I have a real interest in and will do more with martyn next year

Thanks for the info on the reels will make an interesting winter project

Cheers Pat

[sisco]

Thanks for the info Artur,

think ill skip the whole diy thing though looks fairly complicated

[arturconrad]

Hi Guys!

I got in touch with Wojtek Kwidzinski (reel guy) he said he can do anything you want, he has all materials needed (he was short on some aluminium parts recently). Graham suggested to get some order together to reduce shipping cost but it's up to you. He told me he got some email in english yesterday, he thought it was spam and clicked Delete ...in last moment he saw word 'reel' but it was too late, message  was gone. If it was any of you guys please send him that message again or pass it to me ( no fee apply..

I don't think guy makes much money on it but anyway it's a great deal for us here - reels come with PE or PA sinking line which if bought in Western Marine for example would cost you 50-80 euro itself!!! (100m). I remember I payed 250zl for 150m reel which is around 75 euro....so basicaly the reel was for free..

Ok. now I use floating polypropylen line which is way cheaper ( though slightly more difficult to handle , at least at the beginning.. but I can't afford to leave hundreds of metres of PE line in caves.  I think that right now the reel that could accomodate 100m of PE/PA sinking line would be perfect for you. And then, you would be mostly practicing in explored places ( I presume... so you  would reel your line back in most of the time..I guess.

cheers

artur