Cave Diving - Mapping Cenote Dos Palmas

I am thrilled to announce that as of January 2022, I have completed the Dos Palmas map! The project required over 70 sketching dives to map a total of 11,431 meters / 37,503 feet of underwater cave passages, including 4376 meters / 14,356 feet of newly explored cave. With average dive times of 180 - 200 minutes, that translates to over 220 hours of work, not including resurvey, exploration, or drafting.
The map will be available at the following dive shops:
Third Dimension Diving: www.thirddimen...
Protec Dive Centers: protecdivecent...
Under The Jungle: www.undertheju...
Underworld Tulum: underworldtulu...
Cenote Dos Palmas is a classic example of Yucatan Peninsula cave diving. A labyrinth of decorated cave passages, shallow depths, and pristine visibility make it one of the most popular entrances to the Dos Ojos section of Sistema Sac Actun.
Read more on the project here: www.surveydown...

[@alexanderbrockmann1070]

Saw you in Dive Talk, very cool work! I am no cave diver, but could you please explain to me, why you would go Sidemount OC instead of CCR? I would consider CCR to be ideal for the long work in the cave. Greetings from Germany! :)

[@surveydown]

Thanks! OC vs CCR is a common question, and in my specific case, it really comes down to depth. I am working in shallow caves and while I could dive longer on a CCR, I don't actually want to dive longer than 4 hours unless it is necessary. Here is my answer to a similar question from the Dive Talk video that explains further: "The majority of the caves here in the Riviera Maya are in the 20-45 ft average depth range, and so open circuit is by far the more popular choice for cave diving. In Dos Palmas I was usually working between 15-30 ft of depth, and was able to happily dive for 3-4 hours on open circuit, and while I could have dived longer on a rebreather, there was probably only 10 dives throughout the entire project where I would have actually stayed an extra hour... sketching can be significantly more mentally exhausting than regular cave diving so, I am usually ready to leave around the 3.5 hour mark anyway. Also, in those depth ranges my cost per dive on a rebreather would be about 3x the price of open circuit (sorb and O2 are expensive!). With that said, once you hit an average depth range of around 60+ ft, rebreathers become more efficient and I would seriously consider one for mapping. Fortunately for me, most of my projects are shallow!" Cheers

[@Taytates-lr6kg]

I just watched the dive talk video..absolutely fascinating what Rory does..filmed so well..

[@e.l.2734]

I cannot believe I only found this channel because of them because it's so amazing, but then again they too do a great job digging out the interesting stuff.

[@jamgroup744]

Me as well from DIVE TALK....such a nice job, big respect Rory

[@breakerwave31]

Yep. Video on Dive Talk brought me. Badass stuff Rory. Rock on dude!

[@ajdog1]

Here from the Dive Talk video as well. These videos are stunning!

[@olgabukaa8530]

also came here from the Dive Talk, this is amazing work. subbed!

[@impossivel2006]

Dive Talk got me here. This is so cool.

[@Texas_Made6990]

Hey 👋 me 2

[@Cloudroth]

Dive Talk brought me here 🙏

[@MrGrant1996]

Blow this man’s channel up dive talk!

[@Stratocaster42]

So glad that Gus and Woody had you on their show! Your work is beautiful and the videos are filmed absolutely perfectly! Wonderful :)

[@Ryan-rc3kq]

Dude. I just saw you on dive talk. Your work and technique are amazing. Would love to see more content on this channel! Keep being awesome.

[@surveydown]

Thank you! I will definitely be posting regularly once I start my next mapping project to document the full process!

[@childpredatormissile]

@@surveydown looking forward to it! You content is amazing!!

[@rjhollinger]

Awesome video and really great insight into how caves are mapped out. Hope to see some more content in the future!

[@chadspencer3]

Dive talk was right you are awesome

[@HollowTips92]

Man that dive talk video was incredible

[@ReticentSparrow]

Came here from Dive Talk. Keep up the good work.

[@catshortcake]

Here from dive talk! Gus and woody are such kind amazing people! So thankful they showed off your amazing hard work.

[@charliewatts6895]

Same here. Just came over from Dive Talk, and I have subscribed.

[@PeopleTheWe]

Well well well Gus and Woody have once again opened our eyes to a bright new underwater mapping world. This time. Team Dive Talk member here and want to say wow. These are not just maps! You have a Keen eye for cave flow and a masters in geometry. So let me call them art. Here’s why. You can totally see character and style in your mapping and topography. What amazes me is I imagine mapping a underwater system is difficult enough but then you add on top of it cave diving as well as cave exploring to a level only a few can reach. I’m happy to have found your page

[@surveydown]

Thank you! I do try to consider the flow when drawing the passage walls - it's particularly helpful with accuracy in the curves.

[@marior.2236]

Great job Rory, thanks to dive talk guys to promoting such good stuff

[@singingsam40]

I unfortunately can't be a diver (medical reasons), but am subscribed to Dive Talk, where I found your interview. Your work is beautiful and I hope to see much more on here.

[@surveydown]

Thank you!

[@kirkdean4116]

The level and variety of skill on display in this video is truly remarkable! Great work and presentation!

[@jesussuarez2506]

From dive talk to this amazing channel, love it, I’m not a cave diver yet, but I will , I can’t wait!. Following your work now, one word: Amazing!

[@atlsmostblunted1]

Amazing!!!! Dive talk brought me here. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@valentinbrunet109]

I love how you look so passionate about your work, the video itself is stunning and it's a shame you don't have more audience at the moment. I look forward to see your upcoming projects !

[@drakcheslav]

Dude, amazing effort. Great job!

[@surveydown]

Thanks!

[@zoyalis1487]

So I just subbed after seeing you on Dive Talk with Woody and Gus. The work you and your wife does sound incredible. More videos please. 😂♥️

[@surveydown]

Thank you!

[@punkrocksmidge]

Woody and Gus sent me! This is SO fascinating - subbed :)

[@PuddingXXL]

I was sent here by dive talk. An endorsement by them is as good as a call by the president for me! Awesome video Rory!

[@Tsuki17]

Here from Dive Talk and I'm SPEECHLESS. You're a master artist and your work and attention to detail is absolutely incredible. Beautiful work 💖💖💖

[@primordialwolf5236]

WOLFPACK APPROVED ...KEEP UP THE AMAZING WORK...

[@Dandeb19]

Dive talk featured you. Your art is impeccably stunning...

[@steveorygins6252]

Dive talk sent me! Absolutely amazing!

[@Ken-vl4wk]

Dive Talk brought me here. Amazing job, Rory!

[@nonchiii4548]

I came here from the Dive Talk Video. Your work is amazing.

[@keatongilmer6797]

Please make more videos!!! I love your content man! I wish I could be just half as good as you are at driving! 🙏🏻👍🏻😊

[@Dustinmikl]

Rory, truly truly amazing work! You are an incredible individual and the spirit of your work and wanting to make it available to the diving community for free speaks volumes about your character. Also your wife's cinematography is absolutely stunning huge props to her as well! Take care and much love from Minnesota.

[@surveydown]

Thank you! I will pass your compliments to Natalie!

[@houseofoddity]

I’m blown away with your expertise and skill. What a wonderful thing to complete. Breath taking mate 💯

[@JM-hf9bl]

There's some really nice people doing awesome stuff. Cheers!

[@trevorduncan9580]

INCREDIBLE work. Also the cinematography in this video is incredible. What a beautiful cave... Great work!!! Hope you continue to get more and more exposure! Just wanted to say HI as well. Shout out from Dive talk :)

[@nesanesa333]

Dive talk too 🤗🍀🤗

[@apurwasharma3582]

More videos please. I loved the videos. It's calming yet fun at the same time.

[@lydialeigh4]

Get ready Rory, you are gonna blow up! Just saw your mapping video on Dive Talk and smiled all the way through it. Your skills are amazing, the videography is really well done - and the fact you share the maps for free is very cool! Just subscribed to your channel! 🤙

[@miguelgarcia2480]

Came from Dive Talk. Wow, just WOW.

[@texasbrushman2049]

Saw you on Dive Talk!!! You are AMAZING!!! VIVA MEXICO

[@Loralanthalas]

I absolutely love going it this area. Thank you so much for spending the time to map these cenotes. I hope you get to continue in this area for as long as you want. They are all over. ❤

[@briank5486]

pure bliss!!! thanks woody and gus!

[@orangeowl2819]

Just saw you on DiveTalk 🥰🧡 I am going to have fun watching your subs go up and up and up! You are incredibly talented. 😁 I’m thrilled Gus and Woody discovered you and your channel. Thank you for sharing your world with us.

[@jamielll3869]

you found your happy place that brings you joy, good job .

[@shaneb3149]

Another one from Dive Talk here, beautiful work, so happy to have found these videos!

[@dr4d1s]

Thanks for coming on Dive Talk and telling us about what you do! It would be really interesting to hear more about how you found that passage to the tunnels that no one knew were there. Your content is top notch and the cinematography is outstanding. It's every bit as good as Blue World and maybe even just a tad better. lol Keep up the great work, you are truly a master at what you do!

[@stubbyhawk1]

Gus and Woody have shared you with the world, I hope you get the subs and recognition you deserve! Beautiful, amazing work! I will try and find ways to support your work financially, and I sincerely hope that the rest of Dive Talk Nation does as well!

[@AllynHin]

Gus and Woody sent me. Beautiful work. New subscriber.

[@DarkKoffee]

I just finished watching you on Dive Talk and it completely blew my mind! Your work is amazing and your cave diving skills is unbelievably incredible!! Thanks so much for all the hard work and please keep on uploading!! BIG thumbs up 👍👍

[@luisbaldas2118]

Here from gus and woody 👍👍💪🏻 great job Rory!

[@user-jg9rp5qf4g]

Also here from Dive Talk. This is super impressive! Gosh.

[@PIERCINGSbyCODY]

Just saw you on DIVE TALK, great stuff!!

[@BlakePierantoni]

Dude, your work is amazing. The videos are great and your maps are high quality.

[@PNWwonder]

Found you via Dive Talk! Your skills are awesome and impressive! Thanks for sharing it with the world. You were so humble in the interview with Gus and Woody. Unbelievable in a greedy world that you give your maps for free. I am not a diver and have no plans of becoming one but I enjoy watching you cave divers do what you do. I look forward to binge watching all your videos.

[@surveydown]

Thank you! I will be posting more regularly when my next project begins :)

[@PNWwonder]

@@surveydown I look forward to it!

[@Ken-vl4wk]

You will become a diver, Amber.

[@savitiusdive2246]

Dive Talk! WOW, this is some pretty serious work here.

[@BRIDGETTWC]

Came here from Dive talk..amazing video

[@LokleyTheo]

All three videos are great, looking forward for new ones!

[@bobthealmightybread]

Dive Talk Family!!

[@N1pp4l03]

Came here after watching the dive talk video. Keen to see more from you Rory! Subscribed 😁

[@Chogogo717]

Hey Roy, just got sent here after seeing you in Dive Talk. Awesome awesome work!!! You answered so many questions I had. Keep it up. Subscribed.

[@surveydown]

I am happy to answer more questions if anyone has any!

[@patrickseymour6938]

@@surveydown Amazing work, Rory! I am a fairly new diver, but plan on cave diving at some point. Most cave divers I’ve seen use a rebreather. Is there a reason you prefer the traditional open circuit system instead of rebreathers? Thanks

[@surveydown]

​@@patrickseymour6938 The main reason is that I don't own one! Rebreathers are realistically out of budget for me, and I have so far had the privilege of working in mostly shallow caves so I am able to dive on affordable nitrox, making rebreathers actually about 3x more expensive per dive once you consider the cost of sorb and O2. For divers working in caves with an average depth of 70+ feet, rebreathers are definitely the better tool for the job.

[@Nikolai18A]

@@surveydown Is there sonar adar mapping tech? If so, is it the prohibitively expensive cost, or the less artistic aspect that is least appealing?

[@surveydown]

@@Nikolai18A A bit of both! I honestly just enjoy the simple method of drawing in the cave - its sort of my relaxing, artistic hobby :) Checkout the Sunfish: sunfishinc.com/ It was made in collaboration with NASA for the purpose of exploring the ocean on one of Saturn's moons, Europa - but they tested it by mapping a part of the Peacock Springs cave system because why not!

[@tibux]

Amazing job!! Happy bubbles!!

[@jodinicholas890]

Your work is incredible. I know it will save lives. Thank you! I hope you teach Woody and Gus how to map caves. Please keep posting videos of your work adventures. We will watch.

[@surveydown]

Thank you! I am dying to get back to work on mapping but I have a construction project to finish up first - a few more months and I will finally be free to dive again :)

[@jeremybistline3799]

This is next level! Absolutely amazing! Can't wait to see what else you do!!

[@judybassett9390]

I saw this video on Dive Talk and subscribed. You have amazing underwater skills.

[@MC-hammered]

Saw the dive talk video and agree, you are a master! Thank you!

[@tee5210]

Dive talk sent me! Awesome work!

[@babuskarashuka8651]

Absolute talent. You are pioneering the future of cave diving. The way you combine computer software and real life diving is incredible.

[@DeezTweakers]

Here from drive talk. Subbed. Can't wait to see more work from you.

[@TopDesu]

Amazing work!

[@toriedwards126]

Awesome, Awesome , Awesome.. your doing an amazing thing here, truly

[@KBlanca513]

Dive Talk sent me, love this!

[@shawnskiver1341]

Saw you on Dive Talk. Great video simply amazing art work. Great boyancey looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[@VictorNenartavis]

That is unbelievable ! Great work and humble guy ! Brother, God Bless you !!! BIG FAN here.!!!!!!! ( btw, got here from DIVE TALK, GUS and WOODy )

[@richardseville8122]

Really enjoyed watching this

[@Jake-vq5kr]

Found you from the interview on Dive Talk. You should get to travel the world to cave dive and get paid to make these amazing maps! Nice work 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@penelope-oe2vr]

Saw you on dive talk and am absolutely fascinated by this. Can't wait to watch more of your videos. You are insanely talented

[@ReediusMaximus]

Saw you on Dive Talk, bro your maps are beautiful!! Way to go man, for real!!

[@SweetsoutherngalwithMS]

Amazing and beautiful! Awesome work! Watching this video makes me feel right there! I found you on Dive Talk so had to come subscribe!

[@LeCharles07]

I subscribed and rung the bell. You do amazing work and I will certainly be ordering some prints at some point. You bring three of my favorite things together, caves, diving, and hand made maps. Absolutely beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@whattheforkery8504]

Here from dive talk you have some amazing work.

[@benediktbohm6419]

Amazing work! The mapping as well as the video! The music is also verry good and fits the video perfect. Found you because of Dive Talk

[@WhatTheFuzzzzz]

I came via dive talk aswell (like many will i am sure). Amazing can't wait to see all of your content.

[@veronicam1423]

I discovered you through Dive Talk and immediately after came and subscribed! Love your videos. I hope to see more. You’re so talented!

[@marcodarko6929]

Awesome footage.

[@scorpioseason82]

Masterful work!

[@Dj3nlightened]

Got another subscriber coming in from dive talk 🙏🏾. You are amazing man, keep it up !!

[@NateTooke4]

Keep up the amazing work! 😄

[@nesisgontier8841]

hi this is so amazing!!!!, i've always been curious about how people maped these incredible cave systems, thank you for sharing your work and knowledge with us, i'm subscribing, binge watching and staning all of this content!!!, this should have millions of views!.

[@zombieponcho]

Absolutely incredible! Like others, I also saw this via Dive Talk and had to give this a like. Great work, really cool to learn about.

[@shelleraquatics]

I don't dive but I find it fascinating. Recommended by Dive talk. You are a master and I can appreciate your passion. Subbed

[@vladm.2986]

i dont know nothing about diving and never been in such amazing place even tho im mexican ,but you are an amazing dude with a super dedication you put on your projects or missions.

[@jasonbeck1340]

Just seen you on dive talk brother, thought I'd show you some love

[@Mackattack718]

How is this channel not bigger. Dude great work would love to dive with you in the future.

[@pgarland2]

Amazing work, I saw your video on dive talk.

[@kerrytraynor2642]

Dive talk sent me… wow!

[@Okzide.]

So good.

[@dylanmounsey7515]

You seem so diligent I had to subscribe

[@adrianp2227]

Awesome!! Viva Mexico!

[@xhannnnahx]

Liked and subbed from DiveTalk. Amazing work.

[@nicksack5838]

Yes thanks

[@DeltadronesBr]

Outstanding! I can't even take the elevator up. I go by the stairs. It's not for me