Hi Guys just looking at some photos in here, how difficult is it to get our dive kit to the waters edge and can it be dived.

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You will need Sherpa's. 7 (I think) ladders down, 1 small on up in a small-ish space to get to water. The top ladder is fine, if a little springy, with a person going down it, no idea with a person *and* a tank or 2. The part that would really worry me is the chain between the 2nd and third lasser of the "triple ladders".

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Hi Guys just looking at some photos in here, how difficult is it to get our dive kit to the waters edge and can it be dived.

Helping hand here if you need it. :thumbup:

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It's probably fairly easy to lower bottles and the like down the awkward sections if they had a bit of padding. I think one concern would be the ease of stirring up the mud and the visibility heading towards zero.

When the miraculous water draining event occurred a couple of years ago which allowed access to the last working face, the mud on the floor was about 8"-10" thick in a lot of places. If great care isn't taken when moving then this will cause a few problems 🙂

Notwithstanding the above, it would be cool so see what was below the areas which didn't drain during the above event. I'm happy to give a hand & it's got to be easier than moving the kit for the divers in Cwmorthin about 5-6 years ago.

Dave

The part that would really worry me is the chain between the 2nd and third lasser of the "triple ladders".

I may be mistaken, but can't you get to the water without going down those?

Near the entrance somewhere, don't you cross a rail bar over a hole with a couple of ladders going down on the right hand side of the passage?

If i'm not wrong, it's fairly easy to get to the water there. I think it's the top of an incline

The water level is very high as of tonight (6th Feb 2013) and is a good 60 feet above the floor of the flooded level (there being at least one other floor underneath which has a divers line (assuming it is still there) down an incline).

The main flooded level extends a little less than a mile but with the water so high, I think it will probably extend all the way back to the terminus (when it drained there was evidence (debris) at the far end suggesting the water did reach that far).

The level below that I have no clue about as it has always been underwater since the mine closed.

😉

Ian

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The part that would really worry me is the chain between the 2nd and third lasser of the "triple ladders".

I may be mistaken, but can't you get to the water without going down those?

Near the entrance somewhere, don't you cross a rail bar over a hole with a couple of ladders going down on the right hand side of the passage?

If i'm not wrong, it's fairly easy to get to the water there. I think it's the top of an incline

I think you are on about the "Mousehole". I think the main incline is through there. I have no idea if you could get dive kit down there, I have never ventured that way. Maybe Ian knows?

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There is a flooded incline through the mousehole (as you call it) but that it not the main way down, nor is it the incline with the divers line attached.

You could get the kit down but it will be an arse and you will need to rig it for SRT.

There is water down there .... I don't know where it leads though ....

🙂

Ian

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I *thought* I'd seen everything in Hendre that didn't require going through there.

Where is the incline than?

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The incline below the mousehole is incredibly muddy and there'd be no way to avoid wading in through the mud, so visibility would be zero before you even started.
There's a nice rat skeleton to see though. 🙂

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This is getting more and more intriguing, mud and silt are always a divers problem that is why we adopt a different fin kick and lay line. Our kit well mine anyway weighs about 90kg and that is on top of my body weight so theses ladders ??? 😢

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You should be fine on the ladders - one gets a little narrow but you can lower your kit past it.

The "wormhole" leading to the muddy water will be problematical. (you will need to rig it for SRT)

🙂

Ian

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Thanks for that what would you say the total distance is from car to water ?

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If you park by the pub (you need the landlord permission to park ON the pub car park - a Mr Tomos), there is flat walk of aeound300 yards, then a short steep uphill (50 yards) (assuming you find the path).

First ladder 30 feet, 50 yards into mine, 2nd ladder 10 feet (and a little squeezy but ok). Third ladder almost immediately and drops 30 feet, 50 yards walk, another ladder 10 feet, short, roped assisted "slope" (not an incline), ladder 10 feet.

Then, immediately, a series of three ladders together (60-80 feet in total).

At the base of the ladder, ignore the water in front of you under the broken bridge and go into the tunnel underneath the ladders.

30 yards then (keep right) two holes down to the water (the second on is better).

The water level is currently near the top of these but in dry weather it drains down about 60 feet. At the moment, you will need to "dive down" this flooded slope about 50 feet to find the level.

When you hit the level, going left takes you to the next incline down (which had a divers line) and going right takes you to the elusive workings we saw briefly when the whole level drained.

🙂

Ian

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Mr Tomos has been fine about us using his car park if we phone and ask in advance. A contribution to the pub charity box is appreciated - envelope through door if pub shut.
:thumbsup: