Ox Bel Ha - Apr 20, 2007 update
Dive Team: Danny, Alex & Franco
Surface support: Sam Meacham & Dominique Rissolo
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Move safeties further in on the Arizona line.
Photograph bones
Explore near the entrance of Gemini.
Summary of results: Moved safeties ok.
Photographed bones in Arizona.
Explored section of cave upstream Gemini going SW/W for 550’.
Possible follow up: More documentation of bones.
Line name: Desilusion
Passage width (meters): 5
Passage Height (meters): 10
Passage Shape: Canyons
Fauna: Shrimps - Isopods
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Brown & cream– Organic & Clay
Infill: Swiss cheese
Water: Excellent
Additional Comments: Equipment and Survey: 3 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 11h25
Time out: 15h30
Total run time: 185 minutes
Max Depth: 74 ft
Av Depth: 45 ft
Divers: Danny, Franco & Alex
Dive Team: Fred & Chris
Surface support: Sam Meacham & Dominique Rissolo
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Push SW lead in Arizona going towards the SKBR
Summary of results: Connected “super dome loop
Checked out SM#YC06 but no go Laid line going SW/W/NW for 903ft from SM#005GEM / end of “cream” line.
Possible follow up: This is a complex area of cave with numerous tannic domes that need further exploring.
Comments/observation: The team found leaves in numerous domes from ceiling cracks. Water temp @ 40ft is 82F and temp @ 60ft is 80F. Microfossils lying on sediment at dome?
Line name: Mandarin duck
Passage width (meters): 2
Passage Height (meters): 5
Passage Shape: Bedding plane- Dome
Fauna: Shrimps & Remepedia
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Brown & Red – Organic & Clay
Infill: Breakdown
Water: Slightly tannic. Halocline in mid-passage @ 55 ft
Additional Comments:
Equipment and Survey: 4 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 2
Time in: 12h00
Time out: 17h00
Total run time: 300 minutes
Max Depth: 76 ft
Av Depth: 55 ft
Divers: Fred & Chris
Ox Bel Ha - April 21, 2007 update
Dive Team: Danny & Chris
Surface support: Sam Meacheam & Dominique Rissolo
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Double check possible leads off the South Park & Norwegian lines
Summary of results: Checked out leads all the way to the Arizona connection line but no success
The team found passage near beginning of South Park for 875ft of cave ending in small area.
Line name: Crumbs
Passage width (meters): 5
Passage Height (meters): 5
Passage Shape: Canyons - Undercut floor
Fauna: Shrimps
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: White - Organic & Clay
Infill: Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: Excellent – Halocline at 55 ft -
Additional Comments: none
Equipment and Survey: 3 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 10h35
Time out: 13h30
Total run time: 175 minutes
Max Depth: 69 ft
Av Depth: 55 ft
Divers: Danny & Chris
Dive Team: Fred & Alex
Surface support: Sam Meacham & Dominique Rissolo
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Explore from Gemini going back towards Arizona.
Summary of results: Established shorter route to Gemini 1
No route found deep on S side of collapse.
Possible follow up: Shallow side of the Cenote needs to be checked as flow is present.
Line name: Gemstone – shortcut between the 2 Gemini -
Passage width (meters): 3
Passage Height (meters): 5
Passage Shape: Canyons
Fauna: Shrimps - Isopods
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: White
Infill: Swiss cheese
Water: Excellent
Additional Comments: none
Equipment and Survey: 2 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% O2
Dive log: Dive # 2
Time in: 10h35
Time out: 12h00
Total run time: 115 minutes
Max Depth: 45 ft
Av Depth: 30 ft
Divers: Fred & Alex
Dive Team: Fred & Alex
Surface support: Sam Meacham & Dominique Rissolo
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Move equipment from Gemini back to Yax Chen main entrance
Summary of results: All went well. Fast ride back!
Equipment and Survey: 1 x EAN 32 stage, 7 x empty stages and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 3
Time in: 14h20
Time out: 15h40
Total run time: 80 minutes
Max Depth: 40 ft
Av Depth: 35 ft
Divers: Fred & Alex
Dive Team: Chris & Danny
Surface support: Sam Meacham & Dominique Rissolo
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Move equipment from Gemini back to Yax Chen main entrance
Summary of results: All went well. Fast ride back!
Equipment and Survey: 1 x EAN 32 stage, 8 x empty stages and 3 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 4
Time in: 14h30
Time out: 15h40
Total run time: 70 minutes
Max Depth: 40 ft
Av Depth: 35 ft
Divers: Danny & Chris
Ox Bel Ha - May 16, 2007 update
Dive Team: Franco & Chris
Surface support: Sam Meacham
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Check SW leads off the South Park after Cenote Far
Summary of results: The team went from the end of Danny and per’s line laid 3 years ago and added 800ft. This line finishes in a tannic dome.
Line name is Jamaica.
Explored other side of the cave from previously laid line. This line loops back to Cenote Far for a total of 837ft.
Line name: Jamaica & Horchata
Passage width (meters): 3
Passage Height (meters): 2
Passage Shape: Canyons - Domes
Fauna: Shrimps - Amphipod
Speleothems: No
Sediment: White & Brown - Organic & Clay
Infill: Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: Excellent -
Additional Comments: /
Equipment and Survey: 4 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 10h40
Time out: 14h50
Total run time: 250 minutes
Max Depth: 52 ft
Av Depth: 40 ft
Divers: Franco & Chris
Dive Team: Fred & Alex
Surface support: Sam Meacheam
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Check leads to the S & SE from ML upstream between Gemini & South Park.
Summary of results: This is a good size tunnel running off the M/L in a SW heading.
Line laid that dive total 1,500ft
Line name: Sunshine & Mis
Passage width (meters): 4
Passage Height (meters): 4
Passage Shape: Canyons – Domes
Fauna: Shrimps
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: White and brown – Organic & Clay -
Infill: Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: Excellent – Halocline @49ft
Additional Comments: /
Equipment and Survey: 2 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 2
Time in: 15h30
Time out: 17h00
Total run time: 90 minutes
Max Depth: 48 ft
Av Depth: 43 ft
Divers: Fred & Alex
Ox Bel Ha - May 17, 2007 update
Dive Team: Franco & Chris
Surface support: Sam Meacham
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Check S leads after Cenote Far
Summary of results: Team went further upstream than previous day and found interesting cave running SE then S for a total of 1,166ft. The cave finished in a small silty area. The ceiling is nicely carved out in bed rock.
In the same area of cave another lead is running NW. This passage is still open and flow is noticeable. Line laid 300ft. Team connected newly laid line with Danny and Per’s.
Line name: Azamat, Bilo & Conector
Passage width (meters):m2
Passage Height (meters):m2
Passage Shape:mCanyons – Domes – Phreatic tubes
Fauna:mShrimps – Amphipod - Remepedia
Speleothems:mYes
Sediment:mRed & Brown – Clay -mInfill:
Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: Excellent –
Additional Comments:mLots of fossils- Nice decorated area at 60ft
Equipment and Survey: 4 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 10h20
Time out: 14h50
Total run time: 270 minutes
Max Depth: 69 ft
Av Depth: 50 ft
Divers: Franco & Chris
Dive Team: Fred & Alex
Surface support: Sam Meacham
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Continue the exploration of Mis line
Summary of results: Connected Mis line to South Park
Added another 3 lines for a total of 1,200ft
Line name: Rainbow, Bronx & East Cut
Passage width (meters): 3
Passage Height (meters): 3
Passage Shape: Canyons – Bedding Plane
Fauna: Shrimps –
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Grey & Brown – Organic & Clay -
Infill: Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: Excellent – Halocline at 49 ft
Additional Comments: /
Equipment and Survey: 4 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 2
Time in: 10h45
Time out: 13h45
Total run time: 180 minutes
Max Depth: 50 ft
Av Depth: 45 ft
Divers: Fred & Alex
Ox Bel Ha - May 18, 2007 update
Dive Team: Fred, Sam & Chris
Surface support: Franco Attolini
Dive site Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Go to east cut line and explore deeper lead previously scooted by Fred.
Summary of results: Explore an 80ft section of cave in SW. This passage is big running right below the existing FW tunnel.
Total cave explored 800ft
Line name: Under the Hill
Passage width (meters): 3
Passage Height (meters): 4
Passage Shape: Phreatic tube
Fauna: Remepedia
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Brown - Clay
Infill: Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: Excellent -
Additional Comments: /
Equipment and Survey: 2 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 12h20
Time out: 13h50
Total run time: 90 minutes
Max Depth: 80 ft
Av Depth: 55 ft
Divers: Fred, Sam & Chris
Ox Bel Ha - May 19, 2007 update
Dive Team: Fred, Sam & Chris
Surface support: Franco Attolini
Dive site
Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Continue exploration from “Under the Hill” line.
Summary of results: Deeper area continued NW until too small to fit through.
Total line laid 586ft
Possible follow up: There are several more leads to follow in this section of cave.
Line name: Tomba
Passage width (meters): 2
Passage Height (meters): 5
Passage Shape: Bedding plane - Canyons
Fauna: Shrimp - Remepedia - Crayfish
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Brown & cream - Organic & Clay
Infill: Swiss cheese & Breakdown
Water: The silt from the previous day of exploration was ahead of the team when they started exploring. If there’s flow is the SW lense, then it is coming from the SE.
Additional Comments: /
Equipment and Survey: 3 x 30/30 stages, 1 x 40cf stage w/ 100% and 2 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 10h30
Time out: 12h40
Total run time: 140 minutes
Max Depth: 83 ft
Av Depth: 65 ft
Divers: Fred, Sam & Chris
Dive Team: Fred & Franco
Surface support: Sam Meacheam
Dive site
Name: Sistema Ox Bel Ha from base camp at Cenote Gemini
Conditions: Excellent water conditions throughout the cave and basin.
Dive Objectives: Clean up dive.
Summary of results: All equipment back to Yax Chen main entrance
Equipment: 1 x EAN 32 stage, 3 empty stages and 4 x 33amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 2
Time in: 13h30
Time out: 14h40
Total run time: 70 minutes
Max Depth: 50 ft
Av Depth:30 ft
Divers: Franco & Fred
Ox Bel Ha - June 05, 2007 update
Dive Team: Fred & Chris
Surface support: Franco Attolini
Dive site Name: Yax Chen
Coordinate: WGS84 UTM 451245 2226084
Conditions: The water clarity in the Yax Chen basin wasn’t exceptionally brilliant. There was heavy rain earlier on for a few days. This has affected the visibility tremendously especially downstream from the Yax Chen basin.
Dive Objectives: Take GPS reading of Cenote Rojo
Go back to the section of cave previously explored by Danny & Chris. Line name “freak” to push through restriction and further exploration.
Summary of results: GPS reading taken of Cenote Rojo OK. The team extended the line to the cenote surface. Data taken on the way back.
The cave opened up past restriction. This is an interesting cave, low ceiling, restrictive and silty. Added 700ft at the end of “Freak”.
Possible follow up: The end of the line is open but v small in catacombs like passageways.
Main lead is off the freshly laid line running NW. There’s more exploration to do in the area.
Future exploration will need to start from Cenote Rojo. This would be more practical, in order to avoid v silty downstream with scooters and multiple bottles.
Comments/observation: The passage is at 50ft and flow is perceptible. This area could potentially break into larger cave conduits. It would be best to start next dives in that area from Cenote Rojo. The scooter ride downstream YC with gear is not easy with the thick organic silt covering the bottom floor.
Line name: Croc & Sigue
Passage width (meters): 2
Passage Height (meters):
2
Passage Shape:
Phreatic tube – canyons – flat ceiling
Fauna: Isopod - shrimp
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Red & Brown – organic -
Infill: Breakdown
Water: Slightly tannic – Halocline mid passage at 42 ft -
Additional Comments: Fossils in abundance
Equipment and Survey: 4 x EAN 32 stages and 1 x 33amp + 1 x 24amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 11h45
Time out: 15h22
Total run time: 217 minutes
Max Depth: 54 ft
Av Depth: 45 ft
Divers: Fred & Chris
Team: Sam & Franco
Objectives: Jungle hike to locate Cenote Rojo
Jungle hike to locate Cenote Perla
Summary of results:The team located both Cenotes ok. GPS coordinates were taken of Cenote Perla and other interesting cave features in the area.
Comments/observation: This is a harsh terrain. There are a lot of wetlands in that particular area. Mosquitoes were ferocious that day especially after the first rain of the season.
Ox Bel Ha - June 06, 2007 update
Dive Team: Fred & Chris
Surface support: Franco Attolini
Dive site Name: Cenote Perla in the Ox Bel Ha cave system
Conditions: Water in Cenote was blood red. The cenote is surrounded with mangrove. The viz improved below 6 meters. Flow was noticeable further upstream.
Dive Objectives:
Check out Bernie’s line from the Xux exploration project back in 1999.
If possible push cave towards YC East.
Summary of results: There isn’t much lead going to the SE or SW from there. The team swam 70 minutes upstream. The team notice bigger cave/rooms running to the NE. Most of the leads were accurately marked by Bernie.
The team moved out of Perla to another small crack with clear water this time further downstream and located on rough footpath. Shallow cave with organic silt led the team to a dead end after a 20 minutes swim. This is the end of Bernie’s exploration line.
Possible follow up: There are a few interesting leads to be checked out.
Comments/observation: The walk through wet terrain was hard. Mosquitoes were bad. Poor Franco was surface support all day!
Line name: Croc & Sigue
Passage width (meters): 2
Passage Height (meters): 2
Passage Shape: Phreatic tube – canyons – flat ceiling
Fauna: Isopod - shrimp
Speleothems: Yes
Sediment: Red & Brown – organic -
Infill: Breakdown
Water: Slightly tannic – Halocline mid passage at 42 ft -
Additional Comments: Fossils in abundance
Equipment and Survey: 1 x EAN 32 stage per diver
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 10h30
Time out: 14h00
Total run time: 210 minutes
Max Depth: 55 ft
Av Depth: 35 ft
Divers: Fred & Chris
Dive log: Dive # 2
Time in: 14h45
Time out: 15h50
Total run time: 65 minutes
Max Depth: 30 ft
Av Depth: 25 ft
Divers: Fred & Chris
Ox Bel Ha - June 27, 2007 update
Dive Team: Danny & Franco
Surface support: Fred Devos
Dive site Name: Yax Chen
Coordinate: WGS84 UTM 451245 2226084
Conditions: The water clarity in the Yax Chen basin wasn’t exceptionally brilliant. There was heavy rain earlier on for a few days. This has affected the visibility tremendously especially downstream from the Yax Chen basin.
Dive Objectives: Re-survey old Gary Walten line. This line is supposed to connect Yax Chen East to Ox Bel Ha.
Summary of results: Re-survey completed ok around the L-Shape Cenote. This line confirms the link between OBH and YC east. OBH has now over 100 miles of surveyed cave passageways (539, 080 ft).
Possible follow up: More exploration in the YC area. This is a big cave with interesting features and tremendous potential for future exploration.
Comments/observation: The connection between OBH and YC was done back in 1998 by Gary Walten and re-connected in the last Dec project by Danny, Mark and Beto. This connection re-enforce the fact that good survey is a priority in order to validate any exploration work.
Line name: Connector
Passage width (meters): 2
Passage Height (meters): 2
Passage Shape: Phreatic tube –
Fauna: Isopod - shrimp
Speleothems: No
Sediment: Red & Brown – organic -
Infill: Breakdown
Water: Slightly tannic – Hydrogen sulfide-
Additional Comments: /
Equipment and Survey:2 x EAN 32 stages and 1 x 33amp + 1 x 24amp scooter per diver.
Dive log: Dive # 1
Time in: 10h45
Time out: 12h30
Total run time: 165 minutes
Max Depth: 45 ft
Av Depth: 30 ft
Divers: Danny & Franco
Ox Bel Ha - Apr 20, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - April 21, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - May 16, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - May 17, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - May 18, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - May 19, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - June 05, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - June 06, 2007
Ox Bel Ha - June 27, 2007
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