Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Blog Post: First PB SWC Seminar - and the new secci discs!

Project Baseline South Wales Caves has had something of a whirlwind last 48 hours!
We hosted our first online seminar and were proud to welcome half a dozen attendees. Vanessa Belz was able to join us from the States and kick of introductions.
The object of the seminar was to give visiting divers, cavers and walkers a better and more concise guide to what we would like them to do when they visit the sites and stations. 
This covered how and where to take the 'stake in the sand' photos and how to record visibiity measurements (ongoing) and temperature readings.
The seminar was well received and we are very excited that several attendees would be visiting Porth yr Ogof this coming weekend to try it out for themselves.

To view the slides and information therein, here is the link to the presentation:


PB SWC Seminar #1 23rd February 2015

We have also just received some secci discs so that we can really get down to the nitty gritty of getting some accurate visibility readings.
Visibility is always a guesstimate and depends on so many factors:
The lights the diver is using; where the lights are mounted; the brightness of the lights; any silt or mud previously stirred up; other divers in the sump etc.
We have some anecdotal visibility measurements already but would now like to begin measuring it more accurately.

We'll be putting up a special Blog post and also running a brief seminar once the secci disc is installed, to explain to divers how to take the readings.



Metrosigns website


We would like to thank Metrosigns for providing us with over a dozen hard wearing secci discs which will enable the project to continue for a very long time!




Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Data: Porth Yr Ogof. 10/02/2015. Michael Thomas. Dived.

Your name: Michael Thomas Observation date: 10/2/2015
Site Visited Porth yr Ogof

Church Sinks Observations
The river water was Sinking into the river bed
Church sinks flora:
Church sinks fauna: Trout
Church sinks water temperature: 4.c
General Church Sinks observations:

Top Entrance Observations
Accessible by walking up the riverbed?: Yes
Top Entrance Flora:
Top Entrance fauna:
Top Entrance water temperature: 4.c
Top Entrance general observations:
Dives done into Top Entrance?: No

Top Entrance Dive Log
Top Underwater Visibility:
Top Water flow:
Tope entrance underwater fauna:
Top Entrance other observations:

Tradesman's Entrance Observations
Tradesman's flora:
Tradesman's fauna:
Tradesman's water temperature: 4.c
Tradesman's water level:
Did you dive at Tradesman's Entrance?: Yes


Tradesman's underwater visibility: 4-5m
Tradesman's water flow: Medium
Tradesman's underwater fauna: Trout 10- 12 pigmentation high 2-3 bullheads
Tradesman's general observations: Line in reasonable condition buts lots of natural debris hanging on line belays


Main Entrance Observations
Main Entrance flora:
Main Entrance fauna:
Main Entrance water temperature:
Main Entrance general observations:

Resurgence Observations
Resurgence flora:
Resurgence fauna:
Resurgence water temperature:
General resurgence observations:

Little Neath River Cave Observations
LNRC Observations:

Final Observations
General Observations:

Monday, February 9, 2015

Data: Porth Yr Ogof. 07/02/2015. Tony Seddon. Dived.

Your name: ADS Observation date: 07/02/15
Site Visited Porth yr Ogof

Church Sinks Observations
The river water was Flowing under the bridge
Church sinks flora: None seen it was 21.00
Church sinks fauna: N/a
Church sinks water temperature: N/a
General Church Sinks observations: N/a

Top Entrance Observations
Accessible by walking up the riverbed?:
Top Entrance Flora: None, see below
Top Entrance fauna: As above.
Top Entrance water temperature: As above
Top Entrance general observations: Visited top entrance but actually entered and exited via Tradesman's
Dives done into Top Entrance?: No

Top Entrance Dive Log
Top Underwater Visibility:
Top Water flow:
Tope entrance underwater fauna:
Top Entrance other observations:

Tradesman's Entrance Observations
Tradesman's flora: None, it was 21.00
Tradesman's fauna: Trout (pale but stippled); bullheads
Tradesman's water temperature: Cool - cold
Tradesman's water level: 20cm below the step
Did you dive at Tradesman's Entrance?: Yes


Tradesman's underwater visibility: Good
Tradesman's water flow: Medium/ high
Tradesman's underwater fauna: Probably four / five trout, large pale and stippled Two bullheads, smallish.
Tradesman's general observations: Line generally good


Main Entrance Observations
Main Entrance flora:
Main Entrance fauna:
Main Entrance water temperature:
Main Entrance general observations:

Resurgence Observations
Resurgence flora:
Resurgence fauna:
Resurgence water temperature:
General resurgence observations:

Little Neath River Cave Observations
LNRC Observations:

Final Observations
General Observations: N/a

Data: Porth Yr Ogof. 08/01/2015. Michael Waterworth. Not Dived.

Your name: Michael Waterworth Observation date: 08/01/2015
Site Visited Porth yr Ogof

Church Sinks Observations
The river water was Flowing under the bridge
Church sinks flora:
Church sinks fauna:
Church sinks water temperature:
General Church Sinks observations:

Top Entrance Observations
Accessible by walking up the riverbed?: Yes
Top Entrance Flora:
Top Entrance fauna:
Top Entrance water temperature:
Top Entrance general observations:
Dives done into Top Entrance?: No

Top Entrance Dive Log
Top Underwater Visibility:
Top Water flow:
Tope entrance underwater fauna:
Top Entrance other observations:

Tradesman's Entrance Observations
Tradesman's flora:
Tradesman's fauna:
Tradesman's water temperature:
Tradesman's water level:
Did you dive at Tradesman's Entrance?: No


Tradesman's underwater visibility:
Tradesman's water flow:
Tradesman's underwater fauna:
Tradesman's general observations:


Main Entrance Observations
Main Entrance flora:
Main Entrance fauna: 1ft long fish swimming deeper inside mouth of cave
Main Entrance water temperature: Cold
Main Entrance general observations: Closed at the stile because of dangerous rock fall

Resurgence Observations
Resurgence flora:
Resurgence fauna:
Resurgence water temperature:
General resurgence observations:

Little Neath River Cave Observations
LNRC Observations:

Final Observations
General Observations: