i was doing my last dive of the introduction to cave class with

johnny richards, my instructor (awesome diver).  things were going

well.  then, on our way out of the Peanut Tunnel, Johnny called for

an air-share drill.

two divers enter Peanut Tunnel.  Johnny and I had just exited

the tunnel at this same spot when he began the drill. note the gold (main) line on the center bottom.

picture by someone else

     we had done this before, and we did it again, smoothly.  and then,

i swallowed some water.

    basically, i rushed a little getting the regulator back in my mouth,

and didn't take the time to manage things.  as i inhaled, i also took in

some water, which immediately started to choke me.

   i began to cough, and i couldn't inhale air.  i desperately needed to

breathe, but somehow, my coughing wouldn't let me inhale.  almost

automatically, i went to my backup regulator and tried breathing off

that one.  nope.  i couldn't inhale.

   i was seriously in need of air.  that's when the thought entered my

mind: you are in a cave, 60 feet under rock, 200 feet from the entrance,

and you can't breathe.

   i'm not sure what i was thinking at that point.  i know that i decided

to get Johny's attention (at least they'll know where to find the body)

and to ask for his help (he's my instructor, maybe he can perform

a miracle).

   he was already coming towards me.  i swam towards him,

giving him the "out of air" sign.  i noticed, with some grim

satisfaction, that both of us were horizontal in the water, and

that no silt was being kicked up.  visibility was beautiful.

  he handed me his primary, and i tried breathing from it.

for some strange reason, i was able to.  i took a frew

breathes, tried to calm myelf down (not exactly easy), and then

switched over to my primary.

diver in Peanut Tunel. note main (gold) line to the left. that means this diver is coming

out of the tunnel.   photo by someone else

  everything was back to normal.  everything but my mind.  i just wanted

out of there. talk about tunnel vision.  all i wanted to do was get out of that cave.

   per the dive plan, i was to lead to the end of the mainline, then

johnny would get in front of me, and i would reel the primary

safety line out.  that was the plan.

   at this point, Johnny came up to me and signaled to leave the reel

in place.  let's worry about it later.  i shook my head. no.  i wanted

to bring the reel in. that was the plan.  johnny said no.  i said no.

i untied the reel and started it reeling my way to the surface.

   after about two minutes, i realized johnny wasn't in front of

me like he was supposed to be.

    i had left my buddy in the cave.

    if i felt bad before, it was nothing compared with the sinking

feeling at the pit of my stomach when i realized what i had

done.  i turned around.  no sign of johnny.

   i knew he was ok (i hoped he was ok), but my failure to keep

track of him floored me.  i recalculated thirds, and went

back in looking for him.  no sign of him.

   after a while, i just gave up and went up to the surface. i

felt sick to my stomach.

    after a little while, johnny came up to the surface from where

he had been hiding.  he didn't say anything.  i finally said,

"that was pretty bad."  "yup," said johnny, in about as neutral

a tone as i've ever heard him use.

   needless to say, we had to do that dive over again before i

could finish the class.