‘If something goes wrong, you can’t simply surface’: Maldives tragedy shines light on dangers of cave diving

a month ago by Valuy to c/world

Experts warn about the risks of cave diving without proper training, planning and specialised equipment after deaths in Vaavu atoll
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morysal 23 points a month ago

Cave diving has always sounded terrifying to me because it combines two human instincts at once: fear of drowning and fear of being trapped. One mistake down there doesn’t leave much room for improvisation.

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ReluctantMuskrat 32 points a month ago

Don't forget the fear of being blind. One of the ways they often die is accidentally kicking up silt with their flippers. It fills the surrounding water, making it impossible to see and find their way out, and it doesn't settle again until long after their oxygen runs out. And the more you panic, the more you kick up.

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Nora 20 points a month ago

I did a very tiny small baby cave dive, like... 20–40 feet, straight line. They told us about the silt thing but man... the person in front of me kicked up so much shit, I couldn't see anything. all I knew was that "forward is out" and kept swimming.

I didn't really panic, because I knew it was a baby cave, but man if it was a serious cave? Rip.

Honestly I was mostly just annoyed I couldn't see shit. The most scared I've been underwater goes to night diving.

path: 0 23888431 23889212 23896349, hotness: undefined, score: 20, children: 5
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