Montola Mine April 2022

On the last day of diving in Montola Mine in Finland, I decided to shoot a film instead of stills. This is the outcome of that dive. We did parts of the 48m level down to the ladders at 60m and some cool stuff shallower too. This video is shot on the Nikon Z9 prior to the amazing firmware update 2.0 that was released in mid-April.

[@jussiuusipaavalniemi4451]

Some comments ask about the history of the place. This abandoned limestone and dolomite mine is located in the central Finland. I was operational 1909-1976. And as like most mines, they fill with water naturally after pumps are stopped. I think it takes couple of years to fill somewhat small mines. Water quality is so good that mine has been used as water intake for tap and drinking water (you can always drink tap water in Finland ;). Not fully sure why operations stopped, maybe just because deep mining is expensive (deep in those days). There's at least 140m depth levels.

[@tdplk2987]

Not sure what is better, the steady cam clear water views or the audio of just the whirring scooters and no breathing sounds. Superb! #goals

[@stevenburton4966]

that is an amazing dive spot! underwater trees? unreal!

[@JB-xi2yv]

With videos like these it's easy to become enamored with diving. It's like you are flying into and around the past and the water surrounds everything, like it's in slow motion.

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

Fantastic footage. I can't get past how claustrophobic the whole experience would feel to me.

[@breakfast4]

I had to go into a bigger room just to watch this. 😃

[@pan6593]

I am truly grateful for the imagery. I was diving and always aspired to do cave, but never did. Awesome I can get a glimpse of what I once hoped to.

[@donnakawana]

Did it fill slowly over time cuz the saw horse still standing blew me away... That was cool I have seen some beautiful caves... But this is beautiful in a hole different way... I'm gobstopped 😲🤯.... Thanks for sharing your life with us ✌🏼💗😊❣️

[@Thomas-ow2bm]

Looks legit. One of the first watchable diving videos I've seen on KZbin. Nikon z9 does a nice job.

[@camdenlane5627]

see this is the only type of cave diving I understand really. I wanna see the cool old wreckage of a mine 120 feet deep. that's awesome.

[@Flyingjaffacake]

This is STUNNING

[@Jennifer.335]

When moving from one "room" to the next (like at 3:15), you can see how completely pitch black it is down there the second the light begins to move away. How absolutely horrifying it would be to have your lights fail in such a place!!! ☠ Unimaginable terror!!!

[@tomtom4405]

WOW!! such clear filming. The Vis is fantastic, it's like you are hanging in space. Also so pleased to hear original sound not music. Thank you for posting, enjoyed it so much. It's a dream of mine to dive Croesor Slate quarry one day (but I am nowhere near that level... yet... ;) ) Keep exploring!

[@janne6973]

This captures the views so amazingly well. First video that showcases the beauty you can see here while diving here irl! Fantastic job, thanks for this!

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

Thank you Janne! Amazing mine

[@charlesg7926]

It’s beautiful but shouldn’t you guys be running a line, to make absolutely sure that you don’t get lost?

[@ShaneJonesWTF]

Great cave diving skills seen in this video! And amazing footage! So beautiful!

[@ØŃTHĘRÙŃ710]

Wow amazing videos god bless all the divers your work including you Alex keep up the great work 🙏🏽🔥🏆

[@ace1776]

The water is so clear in some parts that people just seem to be gliding in air. And it looked like the camera was creeping through a foggy forest toward the end. Really cool.

[@BrentDives]

I'm in love with this video. I find myself coming back to watch it over and over.

[@shkolarac]

Footages are unreal. So good. Like some eeare videogame on another worl, yet tribute to all the hard work previously done there under. Thank you for experience 😊

[@hernancortes6575]

Exceptional footage

[@Faithk1776]

This is absolutely beautiful footage of your dive😲

[@skyllexmontage9160]

Amazing! I would like the see a full equipment video. Seems very interesting to me. Great job done👍

[@andrewmason8691]

Incredible footage and performance of the Z9.

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

Yes, I’m also impressed and it will be even greater after firmware 2.0 next week

[@FreddyNietzsche.]

Some fantastic video there, well done.. I must try one of those scooters one day...

[@MikeStar2000]

Just plain amazing! That gave me goosebumps

[@OverHand]

so beautiful.Fantastic place

[@Mickaless84]

Looks and sounds so peaceful down there beautiful

[@davestadnik8739]

Wow what an amazing dive incredible 😍💯

[@risingsun33]

I have no idea who you are and I don't know what career you have, but it's safe to say you should have another in film. This video would look great in an Imax theater. If you normally take stills, please quit. Stick to film. Just awesome work.

[@yankeesgirl1988]

I have got to read up on this place…what an incredible video!

[@MrPyrhus]

Pretty amazing.

[@evtyler]

That is one of the coolest dives I've ever seen!

[@Sus_Scuba]

Super cool video. Thanks for sharing

[@serfranklin6022]

Spooky AF, but beautiful and intriguing

[@LeoA05]

Jeez this is crazy it's like this place got flooded out of nowhere! Stunning and terrifying at the same time.

[@grandmadaewood]

The shot at 4:45 is unreal. It feels extraterrestrial.

[@tonyvelasquez6776]

Amazing! Can't wait to get into tech/cave diving!

[@muralidharan6755]

Damn amazing 😍😍😍... Amazing camera quality

[@12lilacbushes]

the water is clear...love this

[@smokeynedith3555]

How did it fill up with water? And when?

[@A21A11A]

Great footage!

[@charlytd1rogue452]

Nice video and equipament!!

[@JURASSICDIVERUK]

Absolutely fantastic video footage!

[@TTSmike]

Very Great Video 🤩

[@sixbells99]

This is some amazing cave diving footage! What a place! Maybe it was out of camera shot but did you guys move away from the line at some points, LOOKS sketchy but amazing. Reading up there has been 3 deaths. The last one was a year ago and I don't know what happened but the person was cave certified, there is gossip about rebreather issues, but nothing clear. Is there much of a flow? What is the risk of silting out in these caves? But thanks again for truly incredible camera work! That place looks amazing but scary, even if considered not that dangerous.

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

Thank you! We stuck to lines the whole dive. We had a couple of jumps layed out. No flow in any of the mines in Europe that I have dived so far. Silting out is always possible, you just need to move with smartness and precision

[@jaycarey3863]

Those divers are great at what they do!! They didn’t kick up silt at all

[@ireshekanayake4844]

Just keep this coming mate. Amazing!!!

[@hariszaine4815]

Brilliant video..Please upload more.

[@Everythingsreel]

Amazing passage 💫✨💫🌹

[@thomas.mancini]

Great!

[@BonesyTucson]

Beautiful!

[@DiveVibe]

Cave footage always looks blown out to me, this looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing! What camera did you use? It's pretty impressive.

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

Nikon Z9 was used for this mine dive!

[@sycbeck652]

@@alex_dawson_photography2880 Might be a silly question but how do you keep it dry and get good shot? Cant imagine you just put a carrier bag around it hahah. Great shots! .

[@zsoltsiro1310]

this mine looks like it was above water (judging by all the woodblocks and ladder we can see) but i cant find anything on google that explains WHY and WHEN did it all went underwater, what happened here?

[@nitrovaari]

Mining ended in 1976 and water pumps were then stopped. Ground water then slowly came in and everything became flooded.

[@zikooopaww]

What a beautiful 🤩 experience, and location but ill keep swimming in my lagoon 🇵🇫🏝😂 im to scared

[@TheLastRoman0000]

Great footage.

[@PKNEXUS]

wow!

[@elcarpinterobelicon]

Sube más contenido porfavor y en tu cuenta de tiktok también, es increíble tu contenido.

[@kungallu2133]

I would definitely love to dive in this place

[@solodupuno6122]

Если бы я мог, я бы этому видео поставил миллион лайков.

[@mytunafish]

I'm curious how we're these caves submerged! And when?

[@LM1526]

Do you know, what was the reason that this big place is now under water?

[@rolandsjegorovs86]

Fascinating footage. Really clear water also. Who can I get in touch with from Finland about diving there? I'm from Latvia but diving here can get old pretty fast and Finland is a country where I'd like to dive more.

[@popindosin228]

4:38 Looks like a scene for horror film

[@MateuszMat.]

I would be afraid that I get lost I will not found my way back

[@douglascummings9905]

Hi thanks for posting, nice shots! Z9 in what housing? Lens? (Focal length) With a WW-1? 4K vs 8K? Iso/SS/Aperture?

[@weisu3048]

Hi Alex, nice Video. Did you use the Z9 to take this footage? Can you share some experience for the lights setting and camera setting? I am rebreather cave diver with the Z9 as well, my Nauticam housing is on the way, cheers.

[@P_H_i_Y_E_N]

Năm mới phát tài phát lộc

[@JS-oy6nn]

How long ago was this mine above the water line.? Or what happened.??

[@P_H_i_Y_E_N]

Kênh đầy ý nghĩa mình đã đăng ký kênh ủng hộ bạn rồi đó

[@kylel4527]

I’m super curious to know the story! Looks like a place (including the trees you see at the end), that’s just under water now. What happened?

[@lockyraglus3358]

I just shared this link with dive talk on KZbin

[@yrun989]

Mantul

[@MrHandoverfist]

it looks soooooo creepy and dangerous and deadly....it was very intense to watch...I could not watch more at one time..so paralysing to me.

[@panzertooE-CollartrainingPAGER]

Wow

[@ethanS7349]

Crazy

[@ja5435]

I would love to do some metal detecting

[@P_H_i_Y_E_N]

Ra nhiều video nữa đi bạn

[@DingosDancin]

How was this mine submerged?

[@lindamitchell-fox1926]

I don’t see any guidelines, how did you find your way out with all the different passageways?

[@future2401]

What if your touch stopped working in the midway. My anxiety could never

[@BP-ex4gt]

Omg it’s so clear it doesn’t even look like you’re underwater. Will you be posting more diving videos? Thank you!!

[@Mr.Reality]

kinda wanted to see the top from above.

[@smokeynedith3555]

You gave me a heart but didn't answer my question. Do you know how it filled up with water and, possibly, when?

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

As the mine was abandoned and they shut off the pumps the ground water rises again and floods the mine

[@smokeynedith3555]

@@alex_dawson_photography2880 Oh, okay. Thanks. I was so curious as to what happened. So it was under water to begin with.

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

@@smokeynedith3555 yes most mines are below ground water level and to keep them dry while mining they have huge pumps pumping out all the water while they are active in the mine.

[@trevorjones4178]

Fault line fell

[@ja5435]

Do you guys ever find treasure or gold in deep caves like these

[@ja5435]

What’s up with the old ladders everywhere

[@cincali82]

@DIVE TALK

[@sparksi2519]

2:49 Anyone up for a round of this video game?

[@sauldiaz9805]

👍🤿

[@gypsybackpackers9292]

Looks like a dirty old mine to me

[@nayaleezy]

just one video?? 😞

[@waterlizard9711]

How do you know the way back?

[@lauriewise6271]

Amazing video but no life, no fish.Why

[@Hysteresis11]

I don't see any lines. Seems incredibly foolish.

[@alex_dawson_photography2880]

Sorry to disappoint you but there are lines everywhere that we followed. Maybe you should dive the mine yourself if you are qualified enough?

[@charlesg7926]

@@alex_dawson_photography2880 The mine is beautiful. Are you able to dive it without a certification or is there somebody to catch you? Lol

[@motov8-garage832]

You can see one of the lines starting at 3:00, probably at other times aswell. Just happen to see it after I read this comment. But the comment above me? Are you seriously trying to become a statistic? Lol why would you want to dive somthing uncertified? Like of all things to do uncertified..you would chose under water diving? 🤪😵😄

[@charlesg7926]

@@motov8-garage832 I’ve taken the full cave course and my IQ is 147. I wasn’t able to pass on a technicality (instructor was a turd, and failed bcuz my hips aren’t 100% level bcuz of a nerve in my hip. But I’m able to do frog kick). You should really get all the information before jumping to conclusions. I’ve dived in caves plenty and I do it exactly according to the rules of the cave diving course, always. Have all the right gear including redundant gear and sidemount gear (TDI sidemount certified), follow 5 rules of cave diving, and always have a buddy, always extensively plan my dive, always follow the line, know how to find line in emergency, and I dive within my physical limits (I avoid tight restrictions as my hip isn’t as flexible as some others). I do everything literally exactly the same as certified cave divers do it, the only difference is the instructor was a jerk and wouldn’t give me the card because of my hip. And frankly I think the instructor was bigoted because I’m short (instructor is 6’2 and treated me condescendingly the entire time).

[@charlesg7926]

@@motov8-garage832 also I should reiterate that I am certified for Diving, I have a TDI sidemount cert, along with advanced and rescue diver cert, along with Nitrox cert, along with cavern cert. my full cave instructor was just a duh - yoosh.

[@marktweet7395]

Risk your life for what