Hi Guys

here is a copy of the report that was placed on the CDG newsletter that myself and John Carter have been working on over the past few months.

We have not quite finished the survey map yet although a lot is now complete and pretty accurate.
We anticipate at least another 2/3 dives to get it all finished but as you can appreciate progress is slow carrying kit up there and actually performing safe dives laying line and also taking countless compass bearings.

Things are being named due to what we find



Paul

Rhiwbach Slate Mine, Cwm Penmachno, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, SH 747471
24.12.16
DIVERS: Paul Marvin, John Carter.
Support: Sue Marvin.

Follow up dive to previous visit (see July 2016 No. 200 CDG newsletter ). Intention, further route finding towards surface sump pools (see survey) thereby creating a traverse. Divers entered from dive base 1 and followed previously laid route into kettle passage at a constant depth of 15m. Tied into line and headed at a rough perpendicular to try and find any ongoing passage (an old abandonment plan suggested there would be, and a quick recce dive in July confirmed a 'black void'). Passageway soon came into view. 130m of new line put into (what is apparent now on the survey), a wide chamber containing various artefacts ie kettle, shovels, bottles, boxes ect, including a small slate 'caban' (or hut). The chamber also contained a small short side passage that leads back to dive base 1 (the main working pit 30m deep containing A frame 'blondins'). The old abandonment plan on the CAL website has taken some time in making sense of as it doesn't differentiate with dry and lower flooded levels, and cannot be always taken as actual. However, the dives to date have now started to make sense of it all and an underwater survey produced. Ongoing passage leading to the bottom of a collapsed incline and heading towards sump pools 2 and 3 is the next objective. Divers experienced 6m viz on the way in, zero in places on exit. Previous visits have noted that dive base 1 visibility is affected by rain fall. Whereas sump pools 2 and 3 are not. Both divers used a pair of 7 litre cylinders.

🔗111309[linkphoto]111309[/linkphoto][/link]

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Paul, good stuff!
Trying to get my orientation - is your 'dive base 1' on the shore where we (G-B) land our visitprs after the boat trip?
Cheers, Clive

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Paul, good stuff!
Trying to get my orientation - is your 'dive base 1' on the shore where we (G-B) land our visitprs after the boat trip?
Cheers, Clive

Hi Clive, dive base 1 is where customers get into the boat

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Yes Dive base 1 is over the chain on that beach like area you will see one of our lines to your right, to give you a bit more of a clue poof box passage (named because I put a belay on it and it went poof into powder) is situated 45-50 mts down the adit more or less where the cart is when you walk in ( I know it gets moved up and down a bit )

So the large pool does extend under you feet quite some way, dont forget this is a team effort I cant take all of any praise.

You can read our first report on the CAL website if you are interested.

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....poof box passage....

....(named because I put a belay on it and it went poof into powder)....

😮 PHEW !! For one moment there I thought..... :surrender:

:angel:

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:lol:

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Dive base 1. It does indeed extend under ones feet and becomes a true overhead environment very quickly. We swim a good way after entering DB1 before turning into poofbox. Im Pauls non female 'other half'. But this has no bearing on the naming of passages and features. ;D

the survey posted above shows the relation of whats where. Its taken a lot of scrutiny of the old abandonment plan, combined with a fair whack of Pauls effort to get to where we are.

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Good work ;D

Now you need to drive a de - watering level in there so we can all go and see it ;D;D;D:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

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