In 2017 we supported the United Deep Cave Diving Team with some TS-sidemount systems for their further pushes in the “Cheve” cave system (Mexico). They used the system to dive in  multiple siphons and they were very happy with the strong material and the modularity of the system. Bill Stone himself wrote us a letter with some kind words about the sidemount system.

60 cavers from 8 countries. Several tons of gear and food. More than 3 kilometers of ropes. Sistema Cheve – an amazing cave in the mexican Sierra Juarez mountains, with hydrologically proven denivelation of 2597m (so far, the deepest cave in the world- Verevkina, is “only” 2204m deep). During the 3-month long USDCT expedition in 2003, Rick Stanton and Jason Mallison reached depth of 1484m, after sump 2- finishing in huge breakdown closing the passage.

Since then, no one has returned to this system, due in large part to the logistical challenges. During the spring of 2017 there was another big expedition. Preparation required 2 years – Bill Stone and USDCT. The goal was to establish a long-term camp 4, after sump one, and aid-climbing all coming in 1km long section between both sumps waterfalls, along with investigation of breakdown after sump 2.

We used TS- system both for close-circuit backmount “cargo” transport dives, as well as open circuit sidemount camp 4 team replacements.  Executive expedition summary:

http://usdct.org/Sistema_Cheve_2017_Executive_Summary_Bill_Stone.pdf