History of Karst Diving

Poseidon MK VI Discovery - rebreather instructor course

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:02:42 -0500

The new Poseidon MK6 Discovery is a fully automatic closed circuit rebreather. It is designed primarily for recreational diving. The unit is said to be the breakthrough in rebreather technology. Poseidon has made it smaller, safer and easier to use. Now non-technical divers can also enjoy the silent underwater world - without bubbles - and can stay at least three times longer than with ordinary scuba gear.

August 2009 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Course Instructed by: Paul Heinerth

Paul Heinerth lead the recent Poseidon MK6 Discovery Rebreather Instructor course in Puerto Vallarta. I was asked to document the course with video and photos, and was happy to meet and work with Paul. Since the students were already at instructor level, this course was merely a cross-over to the new MK6 unit.

Altogether there were nine units used for the course. It was the first time since the launch of the MK6 Discovery that so many have been in operation simultaneously. I was amazed by its compact size, weighing close to that of a single scuba tank. I followed the group from the classroom to the pool, taking pictures and filming the setup of the units step-by-step. The last day they did two dives in the ocean. I had my doubles with 36% Nitrox just to be as close as possible to the group´s profile.

By chance we ran into a good friend, Roberto Chavez, who lives in Puerto Vallarta. He was on his boat with his family ready to go diving. After I was done taking pictures and video, he left me one of his DPVs to explore the dive sites.

The trip was a very good experience for me, and I learnt a lot from Paul and the other instructors who attended the course. Due to the technical nature of rebreathers I have never really considered switching to closed circuit. Cave diving with cameras and lights requires a lot of attention and task-loading is one of the most important things to be aware of while diving in the cave environment. I have become accustomed to using my lungs to adjust and change my buoyancy in the water while operating my cameras. With a rebreather this could prove to be more difficult. I still think that this unit, with all its automated systems, could be ideal for underwater photographers and video operators, in open water diving. With triple the amount of bottom time, light-weight design and no bubbles, I will definitely try it out in the ocean.

Written by: Pietro Donaggio
Edited by: Angela Finch

Pietro Donaggio Bittner

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 18:32:57 -0500

As a child growing up in Chile I spent long summers in the north of the country, near a city called Iquique. My friends, brother and cousins and I spent hours in the water - I loved staying under, holding my breath for as long as I could.
I remember the first time I scuba dived. It was with my father and I must have been about 10 years old. It was an incredible sensation - the bubbles, the sound of my breathing and of course not having to come up for air so often. We spear fished a lot as we grew older and diving became second nature. I knew that my life will always be centered around water.
I attended college, jumping from course to course, finding it impossible to envision myself working in an office or even in the city. I close friend introduced me to photography and film. He was doing a course at the film institute in Santiago. It wasn´t long until I joined him. I had found something I really enjoyed doing. Some years later, unable to settle and eager to see the world, I left Chile and moved to Miami, Florida. Speaking virtually no english I found work at the marina, servicing and maintaining boats. I literally spent hours underwater. It was a liberating experience and I enjoyed the independence. Systematically I completed my PADI instructor course. I had spent over two and a half years in Miami when I decided to go to Mexico.
The first time I saw double tanks I knew I wanted to cave dive. I spent three years working in Mexico. I did my full cave course with Kate Lewis. At that time, without a car, going cave diving was a little difficult. I didn´t do many cave dives, but I was working as a underwater photographer and videographer for many different dive centers. I returned to Chile for two years. Although there were many career path ahead of me, I really missed the caves. I traveled a lot during that time, and spent a few months traveling and diving in places like Hawaii, Tahiti and Easter Island. Benjamin, a sports photographer and really close friend, who still lives in Hawaii, showed me some tricks in photography. I was hooked. I ended up back in Mexico - determined to specialize in underwater photography in the caves.
One of the first things I did when I returned was cave dive as often as possible. I bought a truck and dived several times a week, after work, with close friends. I bought my first SLR Digital camera, a Nikon D100 and started shooting every time I was in the caves. Getting good pictures very much depends on my dive team. It requires a lot of patience and setting up the lights and strobes and at the same time, making it safe for everyone. I could not have taken the pictures I have without the help and assistance of friends.
After years of drowned cameras, flooded strobes, leaking housings, faulty gear and a grey cloud following me where I went - I managed to get some good shots. I gained valuable experience, not something you learn from people or read in books. The experience of the moment. Those moments that will last forever if you capture them just right. Photography is a great passion of mine. I hope to never lose it and am always looking for the next great picture!
Since starting Karst Diving, I have been focussing a lot of my efforts in underwater video - specifically in the caves. Cave diving is notoriously considered a dangerous sport, with many hindrances and technicalities to consider. Caves are devoid of light. Any video or camera will simply not prove effective without the necessary light and lighting techniques. Due to this factor, taking pictures and filming inside the caves is very difficult without assistance. Now, with some help, I am able to capture much better images. Technology is improving so much that we can hardly keep up. Fortunately, cameras, housings and lenses are becoming so much more affordable. With HD (high definition) everywhere, it is an exciting time to work in underwater video.
I am continuously looking for better ways to film and shoot and am always working on essential cave diving skills and techniques to improve my images. When work and time permits, I love to go cave diving and very rarely leave my camera behind.

Angela Finch

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 15:57:04 -0500

One episode of Planet Earth literally changed my life. In September 2006 I was all set to start four years at university in London, but due to some setbacks I could not attend. With some time and savings at hand I jumped on a plane and headed for the Riviera Maya. With only two weeks notice I had my bags packed, my C-Card ready and my guidebook leading the way. I didn´t know a soul and not a word of spanish. All I wanted to do was dive these cenotes.

I literally spent two weeks diving cenotes. The light of Chac Mool, the formations of Dos Ojos, the mystery of Angelita and the halocline of Tajmaha - I couldn´t get enough.

The day I arrived home in London it was raining. Not that you don´t become accustomed to it, but on that particular day it was just enough to tip the scales. I knew I was going back.

Three months later I arrived on New Year´s Eve. I had no set plan, except that I wanted to cave dive and learn as much as I could about this area. A few months later, completely hooked on diving , Mexico and its cenotes I decided to stay for a while longer.

After a fortune spent on my IDC and far too many hours in the pool, I started work as a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor at one of the resorts. While clocking dives and fighting off ear infections my desire to cave dive became stronger and stronger. One thing led to another and I met Pietro, a cave diver, then working at ProTec. His photographs of the caves drew me in, feeding my appetite for the caves.

He took me to cenotes I had never even heard of. I wasn´t certified to cave dive then so it was just the frustration I needed to start my courses. After I got my cavern certification, I later completed my Intro to Cave course with Pietro. The myth is true - your partner will always be your most difficult student and your worst nightmare in teaching. It took us a bit longer but I got me certification. And off we went cave diving!

I often wondered if I would panic or feel some kind of claustrophobia inside the cave, but still now I have never felt anything remotely like that. Many people, non-divers normally, ask me why I like to cave dive so much. The answers lie in defying the laws that limit our abilities.

I completed my Full Cave course in 2008, diving as often as life and work permits. In between the diving, Pietro and I started a company, working in cavern and cave diving tours, instructing Open Water courses, teaching Cave Diving, making underwater videos and focussing as much time and effort as possible, filming cave dives. I have learnt not only to dive in difficult and almost-impossible places but to manage cumbersome lighting and video equipment. The challenge continues as we venture deeper and further - diving, filming and sharing this place with the world.