Rob Shackleton 1975

These accounts are a transcription from Rob Shackleton's diving log book. The occasional word is added in brackets to enable the reader to make sense of the notes. It describes dives done initially by Rob Shackleton (RS) and subsequently with the help of Julian Griffiths (JG). - Rob Shackleton. October 2000.

1. Saturday 5th July 1975 RS

Dived to the airbell (Lake I) along the old line and (then) followed Alf Latham's line for about 50 feet or so to where it was tied off to a boulder. Tied the line onto the end of A.L.'s line and proceeded to search the right hand wall - no way on was located. A thorough search of the left hand wall is needed.

2. Sunday 3rd August 1975 RS

A heavy Ulstron line was laid, base fed, along the left hand wall of the sump. No way on at all was located in the left hand wall, which was solid for about 100 feet to a section of boulders.

A further 60 feet of line was laid and then tied off at 10 feet depth to a flake. Proceeding back along the line, it was found to have pulled out of the side. The line needs weighting. 550 feet line reel was (then) taken into the sump and tied on. Approx. 200 feet was reeled out in an area of complicated fallen flakes and boulders. About 100 feet of this was heading straight into the hill and then the direction became lost in the complications. The line was cut and tied off to a flake. A return was made having used in all about 20 cubic feet of air.

First entered the sump with 3 belay loops and moored the line about 10 feet in, 100 feet in, on the Ulstron line and 100 feet further on along the thin line. A further 100 feet or so to the end of the line.
Second dive: About 20 feet from the tie-off point a gap between boulders was investigated and found to lead on to a large silt floored bedding after 50 feet. A further 100 feet were reeled out in this until the way again appeared lost.

4. Sunday 10th August 1975 RS

Dived in to the end of the line and attempted to push a route direct into the hill at (compass bearing) 100 degrees. Came to a flooded bedding plane which closed down, retreated back 30 feet and tied off to a flake. Came out feeling disappointed.
N.B. two lines laid at 260 feet past the last belay. Left is easier route past awkward boulder.

5. Saturday 23rd August 1975 RS

A dive to check lines after recent heavy flooding. Visibility approx. 1 foot. All lines and belays OK. The boulder area does not appear to have changed significantly although large areas of new silt banks have been deposited by the floods.

Rob Shackelton at Black Keld

Photo: Julian Griffiths

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6. Sunday 24th August 1975 RS

A dive to search the roof of the sump beyond the boulders. Visibility 1 foot to 18 inches. Further progress beyond the previous limit was impossible because of bad visibility so a short search of the roof for 50 feet or so beyond the boulders was made. No alternative way on upwards was found in this area. Search terminated due to bad visibility.

7. Monday 25th August 1975 RS

Tourist dive to the airbell. Explored upwards of 100 feet of passage going off from the airbell (Lake I), of which no mention has been made in Northern Caves. I wonder whether anyone has bothered to make a sketch of this before, or has even bothered to climb out of the water at the airbell to explore this. Most curious!!

8. Saturday 6th September 1975 RS

An attempt to add more line. I dived in to the boulder area, but the visibility was in my opinion too poor to allow progress so I came back out again at once. I hope the visibility will clear again soon as I am becoming a little discouraged at the lack of progress.

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