It was time. We wanted to push the main line to the Sweet Passage ... about 2600' (800m). In preparation we asked for diluent fills to 30% helium and ended up with a 20/37 mix (20% O2, 37% He). This was a bit rich, but we worked out that the helium would only double our decompression time to about 15min for an 80min dive. Although the max depth of Jackson Blue is only about 28m, you still get "narked" to a level of 3 shots of whiskey, and although we hadn't noticed being narked, our memories of different areas of the cave differed and were a little bit vague. Helium would solve this problem, and for a dive to 800m penetration, why not?
The helium worked brilliantly. We reeled in and then scootered to just beyond the third T where the main line splits into the lower and upper route. There, at the rocky section before the chimney down to the trash room, we clipped off our scooters. At this point the dive time was just 26min, we had made good time. I was leading this dive, and as I swam down into the trash room I couldn't believe the difference to the last time we'd been here: the chimney wasn't as tight; it was crystal clear how the line from the lower route joined the line from the upper route; the floor didn't even look as silty, in fact the room was huge with plenty of space. We got familiar with the tie-offs and then continued deeper into the cave along the main line. Just after the trash room, there is a huge passage with tall ceilings and nice topography. In fact, after that chimney the route didn't get narrow again, and while I was swimming up ahead of Kev, I kept thinking how he'd be cursing that we were swimming this section instead of scootering.
We made the 90 degree left around the Elbow on the map, and swam on until about 100' after the 2600' marker to 2700' (820m). We were just in front of another massive room where the line dipped right when we hit 42min and it was time to turn the dive. Sweet passage really is sweet :) This was a beautiful dive! The way back was more beautiful than the way in because I was behind Kevin and could swim above him and see his light reflections as well as mine. It was awesome, and no problems with the machines. I also had my heated vest at 60% from where we clipped off the scooters and 100% on the way back, and it managed to keep the freezing shakes away. Woooohooooo :) Total dive time 86min, max TTS 13min.
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