The Fun and Dangers of Downtime - Spencer Hurst

At certain water levels, it is possible to jump into certain eddy lines and use their swirling currents to be sucked underwater for several seconds. Provided one is wearing a suitable life jacket and helmet, this activity can be completely harmless and foolproof. We did this often at the summer camp that I and several other of my fellow Keeners have attended in the past, Falling Creek. On the Pigeon River, there exists such an eddy line that, if jumped into at the right time, would elicit downtimes of up to thirty seconds. The currents on the Ottawa, however, are much stronger than those on the Dirty Bird. Yesterday, as part of Big Water Bacon Beatdown Thursday, our coach Stephen allowed us to plunge our bodies into the seam of an eddy in a rapid called Brain Douche and be sucked down far before being shot back up in massive boils of water far downstream. This eddy line in particular has very large whirlpools which transport water very deep. We all had fun yesterday being twirled around underwater before being shot back up. I had several ~twenty second rides, and was stoked to ride the eddy currents back up to go for one last plunge. I tried to jump right in the hole at the top of the eddy, but I missed and landed just below it. I swam into the green of the hole, and instantly felt myself being sucked down by my legs. My life jacket was no match for the sheer power of the Ottawa. I opened my eyes, and saw the water around becoming darker and darker. On previous rides, I had been able to see the rapids above me, but this time all I could see was dark brown murk. Suddenly, everything became still. I had reached the Black Room, a pocket of still water far deep under the rest of the swiftly moving current. On my descent, I had to equalize my ears about four times. After about twenty seconds, I felt like I wanted to come up, so I started swimming straight up, but it seemed I could not break through the underwater line between the calm and moving water. For the next twenty seconds, I swam vigorously upwards, but at some points, it seemed I was only plunging deeper and I had to equalize my ears even more. Finally, after about 40 seconds, I felt an upsurge of water and I burst through the surface. During this dive, I was more frightened than I was when dropping into Phil's hole without a paddle earlier in the day. At no point was I really in any danger, but I was scared that I would not be able to burst back up after traveling about 150 feet underwater. Stephen came to make sure I was alright as my ride was far longer than anyone else's. He showed me how no matter what, after that point I reached, the water inevitably shoots back up swiftly, so my 40 second downtime was the maximum one could possibly have to endure at this water level. My friend Graham remarked to me when I swam back to the top that right as I went underwater, he saw the largest whirlpool he had seen that day open up right where I was. Getting downtime is incredibly fun, especially when one has 20 second rides, but the longer time actually scared me underwater. This is why this can only be practiced in places and at water levels that are absolutely known to shoot back up within a reasonable time. Being stuck underwater is obviously incredibly dangerous, so all research and precautions must be taken to prevent rides that are too long. Out coaches know from their vast experience of the Ottawa that Brain Douche at the current water level is completely safe, but at higher water levels it may not be. Despite the frightening ride, getting downtime is still a very fun side activity while kayaking in my mind; I wish I was recording on my GoPro at the time.