Imported post
Hi Sam,I have to repeat what has been said above.For those of you who maybe have'nt been diving that long,Hodge used to have the same sort of reputation for being hazardous to divers'health that Dorothea currently has.
There's nothing really dangerous about Hodge as an OW venue.If you don't fall down the ladder,suffer a seizure after carrying your kit from the car or forget it's an altitude dive you should br fine!
Oh,unless a rockfall gets you,if it's not freezing though you should be OK,LOL!
That leaves the tunnels.DON'T venture in there without somebody who has relevant experience/equipment.Period.Those tunnels have killed,they also nearly claimed the life of a Police Diver who was unlucky enough to have to undertake a recovery.
My old man et al. did the orig.surveys/lines back in the 80's,this survey has been seen in recent magazines etc.and the tunnels have again become of interest to the wider diving community.After people insisted on going in and unfortunately not comimg out they were asked to put up signs(some of which may still be there,but many were stolen as souvenirs)warning of the dangers.The situation deteriorated to the point where articles were written on redundancy,OH environments etc and the BSAC manual was amended - due to Hodge's tunnels.
At least one of the moderators here has copies of those articles/survey,all have access.Even better,another of the moderators Andy Hayhurst has recent knowledge/experience of the system,as it has altered due to rockfalls.Aside from this experience he has the ability to teach you how to stay alive in there if you must go in.If your dive partners have the experience,kit and everything else needed to go in then fine,but have they?If you have any doubts,any whatsoever,stay away for Christ's sake and like the man said,speak to Andy or at least someone who know's their stuff.
Take care,Hobby.