12MB PDF - Association for Mexican Cave Studies

Talus summit at the beginning of Anthodite Hall.The main chamber is to the left. (Bill Stone)water was very clear at this point Icould see a good twenty meters downand still no bottom. Thirty-fivemeters in I rechecked the pressuregauge. Below 2000 and dropping.Enough to go maybe another ten meterssafely. I hung motionless,playing the twin beams of the electricacross the vista. The ceilingwas dropping rapidly and there wasno indication that the trend wassoon to change. I was far beyondanything we could safely free dive,which would have been the requisitefor any serious push on our part.I took one last look at the bottom~f San Agust1n, then turned and gavethree yanks on the line. There wasa momentary pause and the line wentslack. A tinge of fear shot throughmy mind. The way out was murked up.Did they get the signal? Eut thenthe line suddenly snapped straight.I relaxed for the ride out.Back at the side passage we werepreparing to coil the rope when Stevecast over his shoulder, "There's asump up this passage you may want tolook at before undoing your kit."Hal and I swam to the end and sureenough a black opening led off belowthe surface of the pool. Iturned the air on and dropped under,this time crawling along the ceilingupside down. Eight meters later Icaught a reflection and headed up.Upstream passage! Returning I gavea tank to Hal and we both wentthrough. Together we saw a goodhundred meters of watery passage beforeit swung to the left and divedback into the main sump level. 'VJithall the "down" leads exhausted itseemed our climbing gear was aboutto get a work out.46