Don Shirley in Boesmansgat

[@stonedalldayjedi533]

This is beautiful and breath taking. I've been reading more about this cave and what happened here. The videos on KZbin don't compare to the articles written. I even drew the cave out myself to get a real sense of how large it is. To think Don spent 12 hours in there, vomiting with vertigo suspended in a void terrified me. When I read the messages you sent him saying he'd better hang in their or else really showed me your strength and sense of humor. You really are extremely impressive people. Especially the test he had done to confirm what might have happened down there to his friend.

[@divershirleys]

Don's determination was astounding, but it never crossed his mind that he would not come out. And my exact words to him was "You had better come out alive or I will kill you!" :-) It was censored in the book. :-). I think when put into serious situations, most people gain extra strength to get through it - not just us. Thanks for your good words. xx

[@zakaria600]

Only the legends dive there. 💪 and you guys are.

[@chrisp2249]

beautiful cave in the middle of nowhere. fascinating how deep and interconnected all these caves are.

[@itsmac9931]

Don slept on my dads couch for two days back in 1997 I would've been one years old! My name is Kai and his name is Colin Jones, he has a website called deepbluediver, I'd love to know if he still remembers him and me and my dad just want to say we absolutely love the documentary and just find everything fascinating emotional and just brilliant. Colin still dives today and we both send our love to the family I'd love for you to let me know you're all okay from kai Colin's now 25 year old son 😅

[@divershirleys]

Hi Kai, Andre here.. of course Don remembers Colin. Not so sure about you though.. :-) They are also FB friends ;-) Glad you enjoyed the doc. Did you see the movie yet? "Dave not coming back".

[@itsmac9931]

@@divershirleys Hi Andre, I did watch the film ! Alot of times I must say. Really inspiring.. Great work. Take care anyway I'm sure dad will be in touch soon to say hello again 👍

[@commissary4196]

Some great shots.

[@johnfleming1438]

This is a beautiful video❤️

[@divershirleys]

Thank you John. It is an extract of the movie "Dave not coming back".

[@daveturton1784]

I would love to dive here, it on my to do list.

[@Laura-vo1wi]

but there is a possibility you won't make it

[@thedude4795]

@@Laura-vo1wi The two deaths where from accidents that are unlikely to happen, so no, not a very high possibility. Probably 1/10'000

[@genekelly8467]

Still don't get it..it is just a deep hole filled with water.

[@antwan6294]

Even though it was sad and tragic, I loved the film "Dave not coming back"! 😢 I, too, love to dive, and the water is like a second home to me. I've always wondered what it would be like to do the deeper dives as the deepest I've ever been was around 43 meters, and that was on a drift/wall dive in Honduras. Is don still teaching? @The Shirleys

[@divershirleys]

Yes, Don never stopped teaching or diving.

[@maosung5219]

Awesome

[@jimmipage9987]

I can only imagine what this place must mean to Don now...

[@divershirleys]

It still means the same as always - a great site to dive in. And Don still dives there every opportunity he gets.

[@jimmipage9987]

@@divershirleys I am an American cave diver. I lost my friend in a rebreather accident in Mexico. When I dive our favorite cave by myself now, I think of my friends last moments alive and it hurts.

[@divershirleys]

@@jimmipage9987 I am sorry you lost your friend. Think of the good times you had in the cave rather than his last moments? I imagine it is a peaceful way to go, and relatively quickly - rather than a long drawn-out illness or such.

[@BarrywHiteFTW]

@@jimmipage9987 Did they recover them?

[@jimmipage9987]

@@BarrywHiteFTW Dave Shaw’s body and Deon Dryer’s body floated to the roof of the cavern on the day after Dave’s fatal dive.

[@Atlan]

Hello : ) I don't know if the channel owner could answer me this, but whenever I see videos of this cave, it's actually really hard to get an idea of how wide or how it looks because of all the darkness. How big or powerful would a flashlight need to be to reach the bottom from a reasonable depth?

[@divershirleys]

To date there is not a light strong enough to see to the bottom. As a reference, if you put the Eiffel Tower in the hole, the tip will only just clear the water.

[@MagnetarRising]

Is this after Dave's accident??

[@divershirleys]

Yes, we still often dive in Boesmansgat. This footage was made during the movie making of "Dave not coming back".

[@MagnetarRising]

@@divershirleys I wasnt sure if Don would ever be able to dive deep again on account of the medical problems.. Said it took a year to recover and still has issues.. Glad to hear he is still able to do it!!

[@divershirleys]

@@MagnetarRising No keeping him out of water.🤣 He was back into diving half a year later albeit shallow depths, and full decompression another half year later. Diving as per before the accident full time and all the time now.