| The Devil's Crack Exploration 500'/150m |
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The Devil's Crack - 500'/150m RSE team uses X-Scooter and X-View Camera to explore this cave system in Red Sea, Egypt Objective:
The Red Sea Explorers Team decided to pick up and push the survey of a cave at Ras Mohamad, dubbed the "Devil's Eye", explored by a previous team of divers. After 4 days of exploration the team reached a maximum surveyed depth of 130 meters and laid 120 meters of penetration line. The survey stopped in an area (point D on the map) where the cave opened up and seemed to be an endless void. The results were published and the cave was dubbed "The Wakulla of the Red Sea". After data and footage collected during an initial survey dive by the Red Sea Explorers team; Faisal Khalaf and Mo Hammoud (Mario), it is considered that the name "Wakulla" was misused as the cave was in fact a crack in the reef structure which would soon "wall out". We set out to prove that with the right tools, training and experience we could reach the end of the current line, cross the "void" and find the end of the cave or crack. The Team Team 1 Push Diver - Rob Calkins Push Video Diver – Mario In-water Support – Alex, Ismail, David Smith Surface Support – Andrew Georgitsis Surface manager – Faisal Khalaf
Team 2 Push Diver – Andrew Georgitsis Push Video Diver – Faisal Khalaf In-water Support – Alex, David Smith Surface Support – Rob Calkins Surface manager – Mario
Planning Reviewing the map and data from the initial survey dive, we felt the dive was going to max out at 500'/150m, so the gas planning, deco planning, equipment management would all need to meet these requirements. Also, the dive was a combination of an Ocean Tech Dive and a Deep Cave Dive. An ocean tech dive is an extremely variable environment and significantly more complex than a closed stable environment found in inland cave diving. Consequently this was a great opportunity in doing a single dive and dive plan, conducting both a deep ocean tech dive and a deep exploration cave dive. However with our experience in penetrating and exploring deep wrecks we felt that not much would change in the planning phase. The plan was to carry all of our gases to the entrance of the cave, drop the deco gas and then penetrate carrying only our bottom gases. Upon exiting the cave we would then retrieve our deco stages and proceed to do openwater deco, while meeting support divers to assist if we had any issues. Equipment, Support & Gas Cave Dive - Segment Back Gas Twin AL80's/11L to 3000psi/220 bars with 8/80 Stage Al80's/11L to 3000psi/220 bars with 8/80 Depth 500'/150m Average = 370'/110m Max Depth PPO2 = 1.28 Max Depth END = 73'/22m SAC = 0.6cft/min / 18l Stage DCR = 300psi/20 bars per minute Backgas DCR = 150psi/10bars per minute Gas rules 1/3'rd's- 1 * AL80/11L stage in. Backgas bailout (2 AL80/11l tanks) Anticipated bottom time 10 mins in 10 mins out or 20 min runtime
Propulsion X-Scooter Std Sirrea Total Burntime 45min – 60 min 15 min in/15min out/ 15 min in reserve Travel speed 150'/45m per min. Anticipated distance to travel 400'/120m to the end of the line 3–4 mins Available exploration 1000'/330m (6min * Travel speed) Bailout – 1 extra X-Scooter per team + towing procedures Data Collection X-View Camera System by Dive Xtras Small compact, low drag, capable of the depths Lighting 1 primary 21w Salvo HID 1 video light 21w Salvo HID with flood 2 backups
Ocean & Deco Part 370'/110m – 20min SAC = 0.5 cft/15L 20'/6m O2 100% – 50 min Tank Al40/6L DCR = 0.8cft / 20L Gas Consumed = 28 cft/ 840L
70'/21m Nitrox 50/25 – 50 min Tank Al80/11L Average depth 50'/15m DCR = 1.25cft/40L per min Gas Consumed = 67.5cft/1800L
120'/36m Helitrox 35/30 – 25 min - AL Tank Al80/11L Average depth 100'/30m DCR = 2cft/60L per min Gas Consumed = 50cft/1500L
190'/57m Helitrox 21/35 – 12 min – Al80/11L Tank Al80/11L Average depth 140'/39m DCR = 2.6cft/80L per min Gas Consumed = 31.5cft/960L
Bottom Gas Transition us from Surface to Cave entrance and Cave entrance to first deco bottle Tank Al80/11L
Descent – 8 min to scooter from Jackfish Alley wall to Cave entrance Average depth 200'/60m DCR = 4.2cft/140L per min Gas Consumed = 34cft/1120L
Ascent – 8 min of deep stops from 270'/81m – 190'/57m Average depth 230'/69m DCR = 4 cft/120L Gas Consumed = 32cft/960L
Support Team 3 Divers will meet us at 36m at 40 mins run. Twin Al80's/11L – 25/25 Extra Deco Gas – Nitrox 50 and O2
Dives Video and survey (Follow along with the dives by using the map we have provided and the video's. The detail dive report is match with simple letters on both the Map and Video to. help you follow along.
Dive 1. Rob Calkins and Mario. On the surface we find some minor issues with bubble checks, but soon get them sorted out. Initial descend goes smooth and Mario leads Rob to the cave entrance in 7 mins. They drop their Deco stage bottles at the cave entrance, switch to their deep stage and begin penetration at point A. They drop from 270'/81m to 320'/95m into the first large room. They pick up the previous explorers line and begin to hammer down on the trigger. Through the first major restriction (point B) into the second large room. Following the line the scooter through the room to the second restriction (point C) where Rob Calkins calls the dive on time. 8 mins. They turn and head back ensure the line is secure and begin their deep stops inside the cave. Exiting, picking up their deco bottles and beginning the next 110min of deco. Because the bottom time was short by a few minutes and their average was only 330'/100m for 18 min they were able to adjust the deco on the fly. Using ratio deco principles they did 2.2 * bottom for O2 = 40 min, Nitrox 50/25 = 40min, Helitrox 35/30 = 20min, Helitrox 21/35 = 10 min Dive 2 Andrew Georgitsis and Faisal Khalaf More surface problems including an spg hose that needed to be replaced. But once everything was squared away, Faisal led the descent to the cave entrance. We leave the bottle not at the entrance but a little further out giving us a cleaner drop. Enter the cave (at point A) and hammer down on the trigger. We pass into the first room, an impressive sized room and crack goes my bottom stage SPG. No issues as gas was not expanding. I inform my buddy and take the lead. The line disappears down into the restriction. I push forward leading the way as Faisal tries to video and keep up. We pass through the first restriction (point B) and into the 330'/100m area. Another impressive size room, but no time to stop and smell the roses. The back of the cave is calling. I see the line pass down into the second vertical restriction (passed point c). I turn and hammer down into the restriction and go from 330'/100m to 400'/120m. I see the end of the line tied in. Runtime to the end of the existing line 5 min. Time to begin exploring new cave. I see the "Void" as reported by the early team. Lets go. Point E. I hammer down and wind through a large crack at a max depth of 420'/130m. I have cave floor below me at 500'/150m and cave roof at 400'/120m. This makes this crack 100'/30m tall, 330'/100m long and 6'/2m wide.
All of a sudden I see the wall. End of the cave. NO. It can't be. I am just starting to have fun. I look up, I look down, I turn and explore around but see no visible leads. Time to turn. Faisal video's the area that we now call "Devil's Crack" and off we go. Time for deep stops. This cave profile is great because it gives you a nice deep stop profile, it takes you a few minutes to scooter back through the Devils Crack and then up the vertical restriction to the 330'/100m room. Continue to move along the line for a minute before you pass through the second restriction into the large room at the entrance. Slow deep stop ascent until you exit the Devil's Eye at 270'/81m and you return to the daylight zone. We managed to round trip this cave on our al80/11L stage bottle only switching to the backgas during the deep stops very close to the entrance of the cave. Very very sweet dive. Impressions from other team members: Faisal Khalaf: Diving the cave at Ras Mohamad has been a great experience for me both on the personal and the professional levels. It has been a very self satisfying event that demanded that I pull together all my experience and personal stamina in order to make this project come together. When the decision was made to go ahead with pushing this cave I felt that all my efforts in the past 10-15 years were being put to the test.
For many years we have been making big dives here and there and the odd project on some deep wreck or shallow cave. Only this was different this dive required that I use every skill I have developed, worked on and trained for. From the open water environment to the overhead all the way to the darkness of a cave, I had to be on the top of my game in order for this to run flawlessly. It suddenly all made sense, the endless hours in the water, the repetition of all the skills, the drive to push myself to perfect my skills and keep them up to par.
The success of the project gave meaning to all this. It was like a receiving a small personal trophy from not from some person or agency but rather from myself to myself. I suddenly no longer cared for the minute details, now the actions and the facts held all the answers. This is something no one can give you and no one can take away.
On the professional level, both for me and for my partners, this dive and the entire week leading up to it has been an encompassment of all our dreams and ambitions from the moment we started the Red Sea Explorers Project. The gear and that we put on the boat, the systems we put in place and all our efforts came together to serve a purpose. A purpose separating us from the rest of the operators out there by showing that the spirit of exploration that we based the business around was alive and well. We now know that our credo to redefine Red Sea Diving is healthy and will continue to prove itself as we move forward in applying our dreams.
Thanks for all that have supported me throughout the development of Red Sea Explorers, especially my family and partners who have believed in my vision and its application. I hope that we are always able to bring something new to the table and always live up the expectations of those that trust and believe in our dreams. Finally, the crew of the MV Tala and the entire Red Sea Explorers team, they have been the back bone that made all this possible. To them I give all my respect and full credit.
Mo Hammoud: “Nothing beats it, the spine chills, the adrenaline, the rock formations, the depth, the team, the gases , the gear and to top it all off, the scootering, a scene out of Star Wars was my initial impression while zooming through the crack's narrow walls. I can't imagine the dive being as fun and as safely executed without the use of a dpv, one that is as powerful and as maneuverable as the x-scooter“.
Having been diving Ras Mohammed for over 10 years, I thought I had seen it all, especially Shark/Jolande and Jackfish Alley. When I heard of the cave a month prior to the execution of the project, emotions ran high and I felt as though I had reached the ultimate in my diving career, the grand prize has arrived knocking at my door. My first dive on the cave instantly reminded me of my early days of cave obsession. At the time I had not had any formal cave training, I would enter my backyard cave system hanging by a string. This time however, the dive experience that had led me back to one of my most favored dive sites knew otherwise.
The weeks that followed involved research and preparation, with such a dive, as with all dives, there is no room for error, except this time there really was no room for error, not in a cave at a 100+ meters. However, without a doubt if it had not been for the unified team efforts this dive would not have left the boat, but it did and we smoked it. Can't wait for the next one.. Andrew Georgitsis The Devil's Cave Dawn breaks. I find the M/V Tala crew already up for a 1/2 hour preparing the boat to move to Jack Fish Alley, a famous dive site for snorkels and diver alike. Although we are not going recreational diving or snorkel at this site, it will make for some fantastic DECO entertainment. J Watching hundreds of snorkels and divers enjoy the sights at this world class reef. The night before the dive the team had got together to identify the objectives, teams and sequence of the day. Team 1, was Rob Calkins and “Mario”. Team 2, Foxman and I. Team 1 will splash in at 8:00 am and be done approximately at 11:00 am. Team 2, will splash in at 2:00pm and be done by 5:00 pm. So, it is now 6:00am and there is a lot to prep prior to Team 1 splash down. -- Finalizing the mixes, bottles and logistics is an important part of the preparation. Each diver we use 6 stages, backgas and 2 scooters, plus the X-View and lighting. Plus the tanks for the surface support, in-water support and so on, all need direction and final preparations.
8:30am team 1 is finally in and ready for the descent. During final flow checks, Mario discovers one of his second stages is free flowing. As I am the in-water surface support, I remove the bottle and pass it to the zodiac. Faisal, who is surface support and manger, promptly exchanges the second stage and return the bottle to me. I then reattach it to Mario, who then conducts a final flow check. Down they go. Keep in mind the backgas and deep stages are mixed for the anticipated 500’/150m cave dive so it is 8/80. They need to descend on a transitional gas. We used the 270’/81m deco bottle of 15/55 as the descend gas. (For a full report and logic behind our gas choices please see the official RSE report and video on www.redseaexplorers.com ) Now we wait……. 28 minutes later we see the first bag is up with the deep stages. They are out of the cave. Cheers from the boat and now its the two hour decompression. At 40 minutes, the deep in-water support crew are in and down to meet the divers. They shoot video, clean up empty deco bottles and most importantly bring back the goods J The X-view footage. Most other camera housings cannot handle this depth, but the X-view on the X-Scooter is capable to 600’/170m.
Faisal and I, now hover around the 40”/120cm flat screen LCD TV Screen in the M/V Tala Salon and inspect the footage. Great penetration, they followed the line down in to the cave from the entrance at 270/81m and then on down into the first room, then push through the restriction in the second room and stop at the final last vertical restriction at 360’/110m. They had pushed passed the initial RSE survey and given us a deeper look into this cave and what to expect. Deco was smooth and Mario introduced himself to several of the Snorkels and Divers J
3:00pm we are now dressed and ready. We splash in, Faisal with all 6 stages, I choose the smoother approach, J I jump in with 2 stages and they hand me down my cluster of 4 stages (all stages are 80’s/11L). They then hand me my X-Scooter. I connect it to my front crotch D-Ring. I conduct my final bubble checks and flow checks and find my SPG hose on the bottom stage leaking profusely and Faisal’s left post leaking. So, we fix the issues, Rob C takes some final pictures and we are off. The initial descent goes smooth, we hit 220’/66m and start following along the reef progressively getting deeper, looking for the cave entrance. Finally there it is, we drop the deco bottles (A cluster of 4 Al80’s/11L), outside the cave, as we are returning to this point.
We push into the cave passing the warning sign. The entrance and initial room is very impressive. A large cavern area shaped like a crack, with a smallish entrance and I notice two sources of blue light. I have seen this before (Dos Ojos). Maybe that’s why they call it the “Devil Eye”. So we descend down the guideline and follow it into the first hallway, through the restriction. I hear a severe popping sound. I have heard this before, normally from gear imploding, but what was it this time. I signal Faisal attention, I then check my valves, lights, gauges, pressure gauges. Ok, found it, it was the deep stage pressure gauge. It imploded at 315’/95m. No gas leak, no problem.
Ok, let’s push on, into a 330’/100m crack/hallway. I am now leading the dive, Faisal filming behind me, so it is real important not to bang around the cave destroying the cave and visibility. We hit the second restriction where the previous team turned. We pushed on, turning down the vertical restriction and find the end of the line at 430’/130m. Great, time to break open “NEW” cave and push beyond their point of furthest exploration. I look at my runtime and “wow” 4 min to the end of the line. Keep in mind; we are on X-Scooters, so we cover a lot of ground quickly. J So let’s go.
A quick ok from Faisal and we push horizontally at 430’/130m. I hit the trigger in this area the previous explorers call “The Void”. This is certainly a large “crack shape” room. We scooter length wise across this room, it makes a few small turns (S-Shaped) and takes another 2 min (300’/100m in length) and we wall out. I look around, the bottom is 500’/150m and the roof is 400’/120m. The width is 7’- 12’/2m-4m and nowhere to go. L So, ultimately, I believe this area previously called the “Void” is 100’/30m in height, width 7’- 12’/2m-4m and 330’/100m in length with a small S turn. We called it “Devil’s Crack”. Although it is time to turn, I am very disappointed. I absolutely love this place, a place which no man has ever been. I just want to stay and play, but we have to go, we turn the dive. I look at Faisal and ask “What’s for dinner?” We are 2.5 hrs away from home, time to roll, and need something to look forward to.
We head out following the line back to the vertical restriction and then up the crack into the 330’/100m section where we start our deep stops. We go through the horizontal room and then on up to the first restriction into the entrance. We started our deep stops at 300’/90m, inside the cave, following them up and out of the cave at 270’/81m. We send up the empty deep stages. Pickup the deco bottles, switch to 270’/81m and then up to the 190’/57m where we send up the empty 270’/81m bottle, and then up to 120’/36m, where we meet the support divers. Big smiles. We give them a quick report and hand them the X-View for the Surface support to review our findings.
As we proceed on up to 70’/21m and then up to 20’/6m we spend the time entertaining ourselves. Writing notes back and fourth, looking at the fantastic coral reefs just watching time go by. The in water support guys did a fantastic job of keeping us occupied during the last 100 minutes. Our deco profiles for both team was very clean. We based it on an averaged of 330’/110m for 22min. Using ratio deco we do 50min O2, 50min Nitrox 50/25, 25min 35/30, 12min 21/35, 8 min 15/55. After a longish deco we finally board the boat and the crew, support and staffs are excited and congratulatory at the day’s success. Truth be told without these guys Fasial and I could not enjoy a day like this. So they truly are the ones to thank. |
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