Hi

[Helena]

Hi, my name is Hel and I'm a certified cave diver / NAUI SCUBA Instructor currently living in southern Illinois. It's actually been a while since I've been able to do any diving but as the subject has taken over my MFA thesis I thought I should get back into the swing of things research wise at least.

EDIT: I read the announcement post and thought I should actually say a little bit more.

I've always loved caves--I went with my grandparents to one of those huge touristy cave places out in Montana. It was so long ago I don't even remember the name of them. All I can recall is the dark and the cold and the thought 'this is so friggin cool'. But as we lived on the coast of North Carolina, SCUBA diving was the hobby of choice. My father had been diving since he was a kid, my mother learned in college and so it was kindof a family requirement. But during my Junior year of high school my parents called to say that they'd met these cave divers during a conference who offered to teach us in Florida the next summer. Was I interested?

Hell yes.

My grandmother still has not forgiven my father.

Although since we lived in NC we still spent most of our time wreck diving. I also started teaching and so the only time we could make it down to Luraville was during various long weekends while I was at college. We did take one trip down to the Riviera Maya and I took video of a bunch of caves although since I had bought the lighting system with open water diving in mind most of my video is a little dark. It helps though when people ask 'Why in the hell do you do this...'

Anyway, that's me. And as I said before lately cave diving has dominated all my poems and I've started to realize that while I'm really good at the technical aspect of diving I know precious, precious little about caves. Hence the reason I'm here, to listen and to learn.

*waves*

[graveleye]

Hey Helena, welcome to the forum!

[Jimmy Nelson]

Hi Helena!
Welcome to CaveChat!! . . because . .

[adleedy]

welcome to the forum helena

[Squirrel Girl]

Hey Hel--we've got an opposite life. I started out dry caving in Iowa, lived in NC for a while, became a certified diver/cave diver and am trying to spend more time U/W.

Welcome, and have fun. Depending on where in Illinois you are, you can go caving in Missouri or Kentucky/Indiana. Just a few hours drive.

[Illinois Caver]

Good Evening Helena,

So what do you consider "Southern Illinois?" The general rule of thumb by Chicago standards is south of I-80. Seriously though, I suspect you are in Little Egypt Grotto territory based in Carbondale. If you are a bit north of there, you are welcome to swing by the Near Normal Grotto based in Bloomington, IL. We don't have much caves in Central Illinois, but we aim to get to places that do!

Our next meeting is our annual Christmas party, which will be the second Friday of December.

There is some good caving in Illinois especially down south. Though the NFS is implementing restrictions in caves on their properties through the winter months due to bat hibernation.

Welcome to the Corn Desert!!

-Troy

[Helena]

Thanks guys!

IC: Yup, Carbondale. I'm in grad school at SIU.