I wrote at the time:
I intended not to do the free dives, I did not bring any of the gear (mask, hood, neoprene etc) so...
I did not do the free dives, had you going for a moment there eh? All the others did, mad sods! They
all told me how wonderful it was afterwards. May have a go next time if I practice from the other
side first, maybe next time I pop down Swinsto or Simpson.
My trip out was interesting, I left my batteries at home so was on my back up ones which were
rubbish and failing. No problem I thought, I will turn on my backup light on. It wasn't there. The
cable tie had broke and the light had gone bye bye, quite where I do not know. Typical, the one time
I actually need it... With fading light, I managed to get the lower pitches de-rigged before I could
not see anything. The big pitch was very drippy and spray lashed, but was thankfully lit. Met Mike
at the bridge and headed out.
I learned to not assume the backup batteries that have been in my camera box for a year will still be
okay, blooming Duracell rubbish.
Mike wrote at the time:
Almost certainly the historic first Black Rose trip to feature three Chrisses, we met in Kingsdale on a
wet Saturday morning armed with SRT gear, neoprene and diving masks (except Chris Sharman
who is double ‘ard and just faced the cold water with his bare eyes) and headed up to the
magnificent shaft of Rowten Pot, which was first descended in 1897 – unbelievable!
Mike jumped straight into the 20m Eyehole pitch, swiftly rigged via a couple of early re-belays to
the large platform overlooking the Main Shaft. At this point we turned our lights on for the
spectacular 45m deep pitch, again utilising some hanging re-belays, to land in the plunge pool of a
very impressive waterfall. Skirting round to the right, we entered a dry passage that led, via some
easy free-climbs, to the 3rd pitch: wet, but only 7m. A short traverse around the left wall avoids the
next 10m waterfall and we descended the dry final pitch.
I thought the only way on to the start of the sumps was through a duck, but no sooner had I plunged
through this than Alex’s cheeky grin emerged from a completely dry bypass. Anyway, shouldn’t
grumble, as we were now confronted with the first sump. Alex heroically offered to de-rig the pot
and leave Mike and us three Chrises to swim our way out. Hoods and masks on, and deep breaths
practised, Sharman dived straight into the 27 foot sump, followed by Mike, then Chris Kelly and
then me. The visibility was only enough to see the diving line, which was quite close to the roof of
the sump, so while I initially started the free dive on my front, I soon turned round and pulled
myself along on my back. I wasn’t aware of any shortness of breath and the sump was over sooner
than expected, finishing in a large airbell, with plenty of room to stand up in the thigh-deep water.
Chris Sharman had already left this airbell, but Mike and Chris K were waiting and, realistically,
four of us would have fitted in quite easily.
The next sump was a mere 12 feet, so without apprehension I launched myself in, through the
sump, past the airbell and banged my head on the far side a few times before realising that I needed
to retreat a little for a breather. The woops of laughter from our Barrow friends helped guide me to
the airbell, a little smaller than the first. The final sump is a doddle at 6 feet, and we were into the
deep, wide canal in Rowten Passage. Following the flow of water this reaches the very familiar
territory of Master Junction and a little further on, the short Roof Tunnel Pitch dragged us away
from the very tempting looking sump just beyond. Out Valley Entrance and into a downpour, where
Mike boldly offered to go and help out Alex. Our shared first name may have been a factor here, but
as one we three that remained informed the de-rigging team that we would meet them in the pub.
The Marton Arms to be precise, where discussions mainly centred around other free diving trips to
be done in the future.
