Caving in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu (OFD), South Wales

Following three days of excellent caving in South Wales, here are photographs of caver Neil Montgomery in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu, taken on the third day.

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Taxi

This rusty taxi has been underwater in a freshwater lake for the past five years. I photographed it recently while diving at Wraysbury dive center, near London. The visibility was quite good that day and as the sun came out, it reflected off the headlights giving the impression the head lights were switched on....

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Cavers

Caving can be a challenge, crawling through tight passages, climbing up walls of mud and traversing gaps in the rock. These images show cavers in OFD, Brecon, South Wales.

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Neil Montgomery clinging onto 'Poached Egg', so called because if you fall off - that's what you'll look like...





Nick Moulton negotiating 'the Cork Screw'







Andrew Hammond climbing up the 'The Cork Screw'

Freediving - static breath holding

Ever tried holding your breath to see how long you can hold it for? The freedivers seen here are lying face down in Iron Monger Row swimming pool, London and are completely relaxed and calm, while another diver stands nearby watching over them. Breath holding is a competition sport, called 'static apnea', and these divers were breath holding for 2 - 4 minutes, the current record is over ten minutes.

Static apnea can also be used as preparation for freediving - the art of swimming underwater on a single breath.

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