Martyn Farr Portland
The Darkness Beckons
Farr Talk in Portland

Over 40 people turned up on Saturday Feb. 12, 2005, for an MDD/DGD sponsored lecture delivered by renown cave explorer, cave diver, photographer and author Martyn Farr on "Darkness Beckons"  -- covering the history of global cave diving from the very day it started up till now. In the words of a participant 'it was fascinating to say the least'.



as is anything among friends, continued until midnight and for some of the more dedicated -- even up to the early hours of the morning of Sunday.

Martyn has asked us to thank everyone who attended the lecture and to say that it was an immensely friendly crowd and yes, he is still not fully convinced the those across the pond know better...

In all this whole event was a great success for the club, an opportunity to share with others and to meet each other and Mr. Farr...

Martyn Farr's lecture not only covered the whole history of international cave diving with spell-binding photographs of the past and present, but also offered an in-depth view into the development of diving equipment from its crawling stages of hard hat helmets and led boots to the newer and better technologies of today.

A great deal of explanation was offered on the differences of approaches towards the sport and exploration on either side of the ocean and what makes British Cave Diving, the landmark of cave explorations throughout the world, so special. 

Saddening memories of those lost, some of Martyn's own past project friends such as Palmer and Parker, were complemented by thoughts and hopes of a safer and better future for the cave diving community in whole with more understanding of the environment, the equipment, gases and techniques.

The experience was so thrilling and Martyn's clear and knowing explanations so hypnotising to many that after an unexpectedly long session of Q&A's following the lecture itself, we had to finally break up the crowd to continue "off stage" and get some liquid action and grub into our systems and allow Martyn some time to sooth his throat.

Fortunately there was enough interest in Martyn's many published works and the author himself spent  ages after his lecture signing books for the audience.

Thankfully Aqua had put on a splendid open buffet that was not only absolutely tasty but could have probably fed a whole army for the pennies they charged as a favour to the club so after a swift go at the food... and another... we filled ourselves and were lured into the hotel's bar where discussions, occasionally a bit slurry but all fun

[Click HERE to get your own copy of The Darkness Beckons]

Izzy's Notes:

We started the day with Martyn and Helen's arrival at Aqua and a brief photo-excursion into a local reef cave system referred to as the Grove Cave. Setting off together with Martyn, Liisa and Helen, we arrived at the cave early afternoon and went in. Martyn was pretty much his usual photo-explorer self and wanted to get as many shots as possible in the most daring situations his subjects would be willing to find themselves. Hence Helen was the first to back off from traversing a rift with the whole of the island underneath and far down beyond her...  and in a few minutes, after three goes... I decided I did not "quite" like the idea of becoming a model with no foot holds "right at the edge of the drop as it looks good there."

Together, I think, we sort of made him regret our presence there and after a bit of deliberation I had in my hand Martyn's camera looking through his viewfinder as he actually went to the very edge hopping over the rocks as if there was nothing to it, turning his back to the sea, and giving a real good pose and shot. If it never comes out I'm sure he'll have my head for it...

I've always loved to cave with Martyn and Helen, and this was absolutely no exception to that. There were not many highlights but for seeing an ammonite gigantus split in half when the island broke up quite some time ago and a brief detour we had at the very end. "I just HATE spiders" I was telling them leading the way to the exit and recalling the summer days where one of the outlying passages was like a scene out of 'Indiana Jones.' So there, I take the wrong turn, ask the others to stop, start squeezing in moaning "I don't remember it being so tight" and finally getting myself stuck. Half joking I shout out "bring the olive oil" as I hear Martyn find the RIGHT way out and declare himself the star of the day, see a bit of a genuine worry in Liisa's eyes and... yes... a great big spider with a great big red torso run down my left cheek and arm towards my leg and heading straight into my boot... Now, THAT was enough to make me remember this day. As always... Thanks Martyn!...

 

Cave Trip: Martyn Farr and Helen, Liisa Wallace & Izzy

Martyn Farr is a leading Cave Diving Instructor from Intro. Cavern to Full Cave.
To learn more about his courses and published works visit www.farrworld.co.uk