The Most DANGEROUS Dive Site In Texas | Cave Exploring Gone Wrong

[@ScaryInteresting]

Big thanks to Tiffany for reminding me to cover Jacob's Well. It's been on the list for a while. Have a great week everyone!

[@tswaggcodes5]

We weren’t meant to be down there. It easily turns fatal no matter who you are

[@toriskylar337]

I absolutely love your content. You never disappoint.

[@tiffanybrown7147]

Amazing story telling as always. Thank you for covering this one!

[@williamalbaugh6176]

I've had terrible weeks. But I do enjoy the videos

[@fourpointthreefive]

​@@tiffanybrown7147 yay Tiffany! 😊❤🎉

[@_Shadoh_]

You couldn't pay me enough money to ever go cave-diving. Baffling that so many people do it voluntarily.

[@shirleysmith6131]

Risking life for nothing. I wouldn't do it either.

[@ktmsports]

​@@shirleysmith6131risking life for the thrill !! You should try it

[@NoraNoel]

I am petrified of both caves and deep water. I can't imagine EVER doing that.

[@IdonthaveatwittersoFoff.]

No.

[@desertmike680]

Same here. No thanks!

[@angelofmusic1992]

I thought cave diving was bad enough, but diving through holes so small you have to take off your tanks? Jeez, that’s just a whole new level of crazy.

[@cringer8107]

@RealSweetKid yea its pretty „common“

[@kenthompson5723]

A big majority of cavers, and cave divers, consist of people who are young, usually under the age of 30 to 35. They have never been close to death in their short lives, and believe they'll live forever. This sense of invincibility I think is what drives them to pursue such dangerous actions.

[@marhawkman303]

@@liam4686 some caves actually have installed systems to use air pipes. but that's a lot of time and money, and only for popular dive spots.

[@j.vi-geant6784]

Personally I think that's just stupid . (Stupid is when you know better and do whatever it is anyway, ignorant is when you don't know it was wrong in the first place).

[@snakekingblues3017]

I get why people do this but still WHY!!!! lol

[@jahcode6132]

Knowing that a search and rescue expert, following protocols, with backup divers assisting him, almost died simply by poking his head through the opening to check for bodies with 10 minutes of air, it makes what the two guys that went missing did that much more insane.

[@Batmann_]

Sounded like the rescue diver panicked and got lucky.

[@Histerhull]

@@Batmann_I don’t blame him, drowning would not be a fun way to go out

[@Batmann_]

@@Histerhull Yeah, I don't really blame any of these guys for panicking (like the little KZbin keyboard warriors do). Some of these places would be scary AF if things started to go wrong (or even before then, lol). It can be fairly anxiety inducing just watching/listening to the stories.

[@Histerhull]

@@Batmann_ yea, I can barely go down ten feet before my ears drums start to hurt, can amazing going down 200 feet with limited air in a squeezing through a tunnel

[@NJbldragon]

Saying 'you can't stop us' from voluntarily swimming into the underwater death cave is the most Texas thing I've heard.

[@RissaFirecat]

Exactly! Stupid is as stupid does...

[@MC-tm2uy]

Texans doing dumb Texan sh*t

[@JP-xd6fm]

They all died because they didn't bring a gun with them!

[@brentx1940]

​@J P your right they could have fired a shot right in the mouth and would have got a shit ton of air bubbles 🫧 down to the lungs 🫁

[@grmpEqweer]

Like that drunk guy who was told not to jump into the water where the 13-foot alligator had taken to hanging out. He said, "F••k that alligator!" He jumped in the water, and was...pretty immediately grabbed and k1lled by that 13-foot alligator. First alligator death in Texas in 50 years. RIP.

[@murygordyH]

Props for pioneering the genre of anti-tourism videos

[@larapalma3744]

Lmao 🤣

[@jake12466]

​@@josephsmith2417 **what's

[@karuscuvic]

​@@josephsmith2417🤨

[@dhirajgawande007]

😂😂

[@jordan11752]

This channel turned me off of mountaineering real quick

[@FirinMahLazer1]

I feel worse for Joe in the first story than I do for Mark or Kent. It has to be such an awful feeling not being able to get your friend's attention and watching them do something stupid and reckless and then turn around knowing they aren't coming back.

[@ajamessssss]

Exactly. Glad he didn't follow them out of peer pressure.

[@mish375]

Joe was the only smart one of the group. Be like Joe and choose common sense. It will save your life.

[@rumpelstiltkinn]

I feel worse for the families of Mark and Kent.

[@semoneg2826]

​@@rumpelstiltkinn Hummm

[@gergyta9211]

@@rumpelstiltkinnfacts, they had kids and managed to raise them dumb enough to do this shit

[@doodlesquatch277]

When I'm on my death bed thinking about my life I'll say "At least I did one thing right..I never went cave diving."

[@josephberard1227]

😂

[@hithattersam9878]

😂😅

[@zsomborszarka2616]

The thing i fear the most: Cave diving. The thing i want to try before i die: Cave diving. Important detail: cave diving not being the last thing i did.

[@forrestegan]

And I’ll be able to say I’ve been cave diving and loved it. 😁 I just knew when to say enough is enough. If you follow the rules/training it can be pretty safe…most incidents occur when somebody starts ignoring the rules/training.

[@danteprice1874]

On God

[@cathrinekruger5499]

My dad is a professional wreck diver and when HE tells me that cave diving isnt worth the insane risk; i believe him!

[@ghost-facedhindu4275]

My buddy is a dive welder and says the same thing. "Screw caves."

[@TommyG_0311]

It's very telling when other professional divers are saying cave diving is insane 😂

[@rainbowraver666]

​@@TommyG_0311 not really, because they aren't certified to cave dive, so yeah for them it IS extremely risky, it doesn't matter how experienced you are at any other kind of diving, cave diving requires a ton of very specific training for very specific skills

[@TommyG_0311]

@Elizabeth T that's true.

[@sicksalt7765]

@@rainbowraver666 It doesn't really matter how experienced you are at cave diving, either. It's an insane hobby/profession, and other divers will obviously have a better understanding of HOW insane than someone who doesn't dive. Honestly they might have a clearer view than some of the guys who love (and die) cave diving.

[@dwayneroberts6616]

Ed Sorenson is the most incredible Cave diver in the world to me. The man has rescued and retrieved more cave divers in conditions that panic even the most skilled divers. He's who they call when other rescue divers will go no further. Definitely a super human and a real American hero.

[@slipperybone]

Because he respects every single cave and is well aware of the dangers of cave diving and knows that each cave is completely different from the other. He isn't cocky and overconfident like the people here in the comments claiming cave diving is absolutely safe if you are a certified diver and follow the guidelines. Well, certified divers who follow the guidelines have also died horrible deaths so claiming such a thing on a platform where people might get influenced is very irresponsible.

[@FordRangerClassics]

​@@slipperybonehe has a very strong sense of not wanting to die. That can be a really valuable tool. Tbh almost all of these stories are basically, didn't want to live enough/not die bad enough, or something. I mean, not for nothing, but is like a spare tank dropped off somewhere strategically too much to ask for? Or maybe some has a little emergency "fresh air". The guy who spent 60 hours in a CO2 filled cave could have used a few fresh breaths. Even like 12/g CO2/ inhaler sized

[@4for4phillylang]

He rescued more people in 2012 (4) then in the entire history of cave diving (3)…i origionally planned on saying he’s recovered alot of bodies and only rescued a handful but i realized that me even thinking that is garbage. Everytime myman puts his suit on hes literally risking his own life to either save another or at the very least hes giving the divers family alot less pain to deal with n get to say goodbye to their loved ones instead of being left alone in the depths of the earth. So props to mr sorenson n unprops to me for being a ahole. Lol

[@Littlestraincloud]

The fact that Don survived everything he went through is a miracle. The fact that divers still wanted to go through with that after everything, is stupid as hell.

[@blaznskais2048]

To be fair the same could be said of many human achievements. I can’t imagine how many people died trying to climb Mt Everest before it was finally accomplished. Or sail across the ocean before someone finally did it. Most of human discovery/ accomplishment really comes down to this human desire to be the first or one of the few.

[@adamfrbs9259]

He was an instructor....he most likely created that by talking about the cave to his students....who in turn were young and foolish and fearless still, so they went in.

[@Littlestraincloud]

@@adamfrbs9259 you are making the same argument that people make against comprehensive sexual education. That people will behave dangerously if you show them where the danger is. I don’t agree. I think the role of the instructor is to be truthful and emphasize where the danger is. The decisions made after that are the results of who made them. Not the fault of the teachers for giving them answers and a choice.

[@adamfrbs9259]

@Littlestraincloud not blaming him, just saying he created it by informing them of it. Their choice to go there. However, it could be said that without a heroin dealer around, people don't do heroin.

[@Mantis_Toboggan_TrashMan]

Jesus Christ his stomach literally exploded like a balloon. I can't even imagine the pain he must have felt. Cave diving is amazing. I'd do it. I'm not at all being sarcastic; I mean it, some people just can't understand it. Not just cave diving, but exploring caves in general. Why wouldn't you want to explore a cave? There are risks in anything you do in life. I plan on taking classes to start diving.

[@troyvita255]

I did my scuba training at the San Marcos dive shop in Texas, the closest dive shop to Jacob’s Well and the home base/rental spot for many dives there. In the training classroom there was a display case full of equipment recovered from dead divers and plaques with their names. Really made me take the safety power points seriously

[@kellylantz4559]

When did you get your cert? I got mine there as well and my OW 2 and AI Cert. Honestly, I didn't even know Jacob's Well was there back then. They have closed it off and on over the years. It might have been closed when I was going through there.

[@troyvita255]

@@kellylantz4559 this was recently in 2019. I never did a dive at Jacob’s Well but I swam and cliff jumped there. Now it’s closed because the creek around the hole has been dried up for the past couple years. Kinda sad

[@helensmith7357]

Just reading this gives me a small panic attack, causing shortness of breath. I have snorkeled in open water, near reefs, and that was beautiful and enough for me.

[@maddieb.4282]

@@helensmith7357seriously? If you’re so sensitive maybe you shouldn’t be watching these videos, I worry about you

[@MrArkaneMage]

dumb question but... why dont they take an extra container with air and store it in e.g. chamber 2? a lot of similar stuff is done e.g. in Sweden in the wild with shelters being placed at certain points so this should be an option nowadays?

[@lonestarace5351]

@Scaryinteresting In 1973 or 74, I was a junior in HS, and a licenced NAUI diver. Don Dibble mentioned at 6:58 in this video had been my scuba instructor. Me and a few others from Trident Dive Shop in San Antonio, including Tom the owner, went for a night dive at Jacobs Well on a week night. Towards the end of everybodies dive in the cave, Don Patton, one of the other divers we were with, but not my partner, got his second second stage tangled on the safety line that went from top too bottom of the cave. He ran out of air and drowned at the same time his partner ran out of air too. This happen at 20' from the surface at the bottom of the 1st chamber. His partner went to the surface to get help. He found and told Tom, the owner of Trident what was going on. Tom jumped in without a tank and/or regulator and found Don's lifeless body. Me and my partner happen to be coming up from below and came upon the body at the same time that Tom did. Tom was yanking on Don's now drowned body, but he wasn't going anywhere. I could see why. Don's extra 2nd stage (required for cave diving) was tangled in the rope that went for the surface to the bottom of the cave. I had a large scuba knife strapped to my leg so I quickly cut the rope and Tom hauled drowned Don to the surface. One of the other divers with us and already at the surface was a Dentist and knew how to give mouth to mouth resuscitation. He did and Don spit up a little blood but started breathing and came back to life. Tom drove him as fast as he dare to Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio where there was a decompression chamber just in case he had an air embolism. It was late at night and calling LEO-FAST to get a helicoper pickup wouldn't have worked. They never would have found us. As it turned out Don didn't have an air embolism and was fine. That night I went to the slit at the bottom but wasn't tempted to venture thru it. I never dove there again. Too small and confining for my taste.

[@Beastlypelican45]

Jesus Christ

[@sillyguy]

the idea of another “large chamber” being the best thing you could find at the end is the most insane reward ever.

[@chriswhite2151]

Really! Just go to a theater and buy a ticket, walk in, and Boom! Look, a large chamber!!!

[@SombraCheeks]

what if its the chamber of secrets tho

[@roguewasbanned4746]

Having idiots that will brave the unknown is evolutionarily important for us

[@xy4489]

The real reward are the girls, obviously.

[@vermithraxplays1615]

@@roguewasbanned4746 yeah. cept these blokes ain't vasco dagama or some such person. what are they gonna do? build atlantis in there?

[@williamyarrington3823]

I just got my first diving cert, and they really drill into you the importance of having a dive plan. The fact that guy in the first story just yeeted into that small opening is just unbelievable.

[@mikeyo1O1]

I've been recreational diving a few times, but to anyone who's never done it, there is an elevated sense terror you feel that's hard to describe. Panic is like ..right there with you the whole time, and it's your job to manage that shit. Couldn't imagine goin out like that.

[@tomcads1604]

@@mikeyo1O1 if you're feeling panicked, you're probably diving outside of your limits/skills. Just take it easy until you feel comfortable doing whatever gives you that feeling

[@williamyarrington3823]

I think a little bit of buried lizard-brain fear can be okay. It's def a spectrum, but best to avoid anything that gets into the "panic" territory. The whole time I'm diving I'm definitely aware that I'm not supposed to be there, that humans simply aren't supposed to just hang out in these places - there is an inherent fear that comes with that, it's even part of the appeal for me.

[@slamdunktiger]

Sounds like /r/wallstreetbets Oh look! MONEY! YOLO! *post loss porn, then delete account* *cry quietly in fetal position, move home and work minimum wage*

[@a.nobodys.nobody]

Some people just jump off buildings

[@OlOleander]

Wild to me that when a Don sealed the cave that claimed two of his friends and almost his own life, some dipstick would come along, unseal the cave, and leave a smug little note saying more or less "you can't stop me from killing myself" as if those deaths meant nothing.

[@JayCee_64]

I just reached the 17-minute mark of this video and I'm having a hard time continuing. The idea of swimming through something the diameter of an MRI machine is giving me anxiety. It takes someone with cast iron nerves to do this. And for all you cave/wreck/scuba divers out there: may your bubbles be many and your troubles be few. Stay safe in your endeavors.

[@Mo_Taser]

I was a commercial diver for 20 years until I was sidelined by a car accident. I've worked underwater in overhead environments but nothing like that. I'd never do that shit either. 😂

[@brigingthemap]

​@@Mo_Taserwow. Great.. One of Dump Trucks fell inside the water body under our stone mines n that time I realized the work of Commercial Divers

[@Mo_Taser]

@@brigingthemap Sounds like something I might have been able to assist with.

[@brigingthemap]

@@Mo_Taser Yes some very brave man when deep under water and hooked up some heavy cables to eventually pull out the dump truck.. Commercial Divers a brave people in deed.. Respect for you sir

[@Mo_Taser]

@@brigingthemap 👍

[@kirilshahamov9392]

Honestly, sometimes I am surprised by the stupidity of some people's decisions.

[@tacitus_]

What's the difference between stupidity and bravery?

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

@@tacitus_ Honest calculation and REAL risk assessment... ;o)

[@donnydogpiss4533]

Nothing about any of this kind of shit surprises me anymore. In fact, whenever I think I've reached the perceived limits of human stupidity, I have to remind myself that it almost certainly goes further.

[@michaelsurratt1864]

@@tacitus_ well ideally if you're being brave it's for helping someone save their life or making a lot of money or scientific investigation basically anything else but what they were doing here

[@cactuscosyusa]

I agree, people are supposed to learn from their experiences or from the experience of others.

[@jaden6640]

Cave diving has the worst reward to danger ratio of any activity on earth. Imagine risking your life to see a dark underwater room with nothing in it.

[@semoneg2826]

Mud and silt along with no oxygen lurks in it 😊😊

[@planexshifter]

If we didn’t have people like this, we wouldn’t know as much as we do. 🫡 I salute those who push us all forward.

[@vozanderson8665]

"the action is the juice" -some dead guy

[@douglasgonzalez5412]

​@@semoneg2826 There's oxygen... In water form lol. H2O

[@LuizAlexPhoenix]

​@@planexshifter I mean, if we find anything of value it would be cool. Maybe engineers and hydrobotanists could check it out. But going into a cave and disobeying your instructor without proper equipment is evil. You are risking their life too, since they will go down there for you.

[@CYMotorsport]

9:40 this expansion of his stomach actually serves as an effective, albeit morbid, explanation of the dangers of diving and pressure to a layman

[@ScaryInteresting]

I hadn't thought about that, but you're absolutely right

[@TheFapFactory]

No shit

[@ehtikhet]

Delta p strikes again!

[@pavel0mg]

If I ever take up diving remind me to practice my earth shaking belches. For survival!

[@thekingsson1757]

@@TheFapFactory lol right

[@Jagrofes]

That first story with Kent and Mark is a real “Play stupid games, Win stupid Prizes” moment. Just suddenly deviating from your dive plan to go deeper into a cave while low on air is just… why…

[@heinzriemann3213]

That's the OG YOLO.

[@thegracklepeck]

Oh definitely. You stick to your plan and you stage tanks, etc. You do not just go explore something like that last second. It is dangerous and incredibly stupid.

[@BigMacOrange]

Did they end up recovering there body's?

[@b.f.3636]

@@BigMacOrangeno

[@Saiege]

​@@BigMacOrangesacrificed to the cave devil

[@Mara-d2x]

"You can't keep us out!" Congratulations on your posthumous Dawin Awards. Great video!

[@gwennorthcutt421]

"this wont stop me because i cant read!"

[@alfredstimoli2590]

Imagine if it read "You can't keep us in."

[@nollienick1121]

@@alfredstimoli2590 fill it in.

[@unhelpfulmarinebiologist]

This episode was so good but SO frustrating. People just keep making the same mistakes, thinking nothing bad will happen to them. Kudos on your visual narration because I could picture everything while just listening as I moved around the house.

[@CaroleneGabrail]

Agreed. The narrator did a real nice job. But same--VERY frustrating to hear the repeated mistakes by seasoned, educated, trained divers

[@Wong-Jack-Man]

Right this is why as others suggested you may be in an hypnotized state from lack of proper air mixture and disorientation which is going to affect judgement.

[@TheodoreBrosevelt]

​@@Wong-Jack-Man a safety line would help

[@coasterthekid8867]

The thing is, so many more people make these mistakes, and nothing bad happens to them, you just only hear about the ones where something goes wrong.

[@jeremysmith4620]

I found myself actually saying, "oh, no," about 30 times while watching this video. During one of the first recovery attempts, where the gentleman ended up swallowing air, I was just saying, "oh, no," for 3 minutes straight. Every sentence just seemed more and more doomed. I can't imagine the pain that man went through. It may sound crazy to those that have never experienced it, but a significant amount of gas getting trapped in the stomach or intestines is one of the single most painful thinks a human being can experience. I can't imagine how strong and resilient the man going through that was to not just double over and scream underwater.

[@PkGregor]

I had the opposite effect, for unintuitive reasons: When the narrator started to talk about details only that diver could know, I started to be relieved, because I knew that he lived to tell the tale.

[@syntheticat-3]

Joe's dive companions wordlessly deciding, in tandem, to remove their tanks and go through the squeeze really reminded me of the Enigma of Amigara Fault. I know people bring up that short story all the time and I try not to compare real-life disasters with horror fiction because I do find it tasteless, but it's probably such an effective horror story *Because* it taps into whatever impulse was working in these divers.

[@Numquamnonparatus320]

That's my hole! It was made for me!

[@miimows]

YES

[@StarfayeArt]

Immediately read this for the first time when I saw your comment and am throughly horrified. It’s the call of the void represented im SHUDDERING

[@nickkohlmann]

Will I regret asking what you're referencing?

[@SoftServe33]

I went to read it because of you and I don’t know if I’ve ever been so thoroughly freaked out by literature. Now I am not pleased about being in my house all alone right now

[@InedibleMuffin]

What scares me so much about cave diving, alongside the claustrophobia and risk of drowning, is the necessity to prioritize yourself first. You're on limited air, and if you turn back to search for someone, you put yourself in danger. You know full well that if something happens, your team mates may have to abandon you for the sake of their own survival. Or your team mate may be missing but you need to return to the surface lest you risk drowning, the whole time thinking about how the conversation you had with them at the surface an hour ago would be the last time you ever talked to them. Absolutely gut wrenching.

[@Sahdirah]

Exactly. The knowledge that you *mathematically cannot save someone* is awful.

[@adalEun]

which begs the question; why the f would you even require a team anyways if theyre not gonna help you 😂

[@adalEun]

@@Sahdirahpretty much defeats the purpose of a team!

[@dragonbrother7831]

@@adalEun Lights to guide the other. Backup air supply if yours malfunctions. You're *generally* more careful if you're also caring for someone else. Carry extra equipment. Yadayada

[@adalEun]

@@dragonbrother7831 yeah none of that helped the guys that died tho /:

[@MrChopsticktech]

There should be a 'Dive at your own risk and no one will risk their lives trying to retrieve your dead body' sign and policy

[@garrettwright7557]

There is at every cave diving place in the US

[@TheFapFactory]

@@garrettwright7557 obviously not

[@heehoopeanut420]

​@@TheFapFactory no shit

[@MaiXoxo3]

Fr....it's costly and risky for safety ppls

[@John_Fx]

There is. here is a picture: external-preview.redd.it/oj6eomeHTk2CnmjkIhfu1FAo3XpICRGfW59WEjJBR_c.jpg?auto=webp&s=7ce63717520c16b95ffd80fa9f4aa06a78cf0cdf

[@PastarocketS-sb7nk]

Years ago i had a friend who invited me to go cave diving in Northern Florida. He had just graduated college and belonged to the diving club at school. I had just ended a 5 year relationship with my girlfriend and wasn't mentally able to join him. He borrowed a set of high pressure steel tanks from a friend of ours and off he went. A few days later I got a call from our mutual friend that had loaned him his steel tanks. He had passed away. When the entire club had made their way back to an entrance, but before they started to ascend the guide did a head count and he wasn't there. He sent everyone up and went back to look for him. He looked as long as he could, but no sign of him. He went to the surface and called a rescue in Tallahassee to head over. They searched until early morning with rebreathers until finally finding him a couple of miles from where he was last seen. I felt and still feel terrible. I keep thinking if had gone to be his dive buddy would he still be alive, or maybe I would've died along side him. 😪🙏

[@BlackCeII]

It's not your fault. You would have died too. Sorry for your loss

[@Pherim_]

He would not, dont blame yourself, going with him would only kill you too

[@ArtistCreek]

You would have died with him. It's sad but not going saved your life.

[@GrislyAtoms12]

Don't blame yourself, you did nothing wrong. Your head wasn't in the right place, and so it would have been extremely wreckless of you to try something like that while dealing with the breakup.

[@nolsee1176]

You’re the only channel on KZbin with this type of content that has a balance of good voiceover, sticking to the facts, and a fitting creepy ambience. Subbed. 🙏

[@soltersortna]

And a proper respect for the stories of real peoples deaths, which is rare in the staggering deluge of very unprofessional true crime/ disaster videos and podcasts since covid.

[@nolsee1176]

@@soltersortna Agreed. These are humbling stories and he treats them as such.

[@Nunya-gk9fr]

Uhhh mr ballen?

[@araceliiniguez6716]

I agree 👍

[@jakehinton732]

My friend do you not partake in the strange, dark and mysterious? Mr.Ballen is also one of the best in this genre of videos.

[@TheTexas1994]

When he showed the map of the third and fourth chamber my first thought was "fuck everything about that"

[@pranc236]

Me too. That is a big nope

[@LightinDarkest]

Lolol

[@taipoxin]

I've been to Jacobs well about ten years ago when it was still enjoyable and not closed off to the public. It's a pleasure to experience just at the surface and admire and respect it's depths. It's astounding to me however that there are 'expert' divers who would descend into the well but not use safety lines. Like, that's an absolute safety must in my mind. Especially when you consider that there's a lot of silt that can easily blur your vision. You really need something you can rely on to guide you back up to the top in the event things go bad.

[@tomcads1604]

Being a diver myself, I really can't see myself going into a cave that has any part narrower than at least the size of a car. It's just so easy to get stuck in squeezes doing regular spelunking, but doing those with a respirator your mouth and a tank in you hand just seems insane

[@paikoateacat]

I'm genuinely impressed that you can still be a diver after watching things like this. I know you have to be really stupid to get into a situation like this (which I highly doubt you'd ever get yourself into a situation like that) but don't you ever feel like maybe it's not worth the risk? What's it like? What was the riskiest situation you have ever been in?

[@DrewishAF]

Thank God that Don was able to recover from everything and his surgeries. That's absolutely insane man.

[@An.Unsought.Thought]

Thank the surgeon.

[@BongoBaggins]

​@@An.Unsought.ThoughtYep. God put him in there. Science got him out

[@mysticdevils]

and the fact that he STILL went back down there to close it off only for someone to remove it is absolutely crazy

[@AwokenEntertainment]

the more I listen to these cave-diving accidents, the more I'd rather leave any sort of cave-diving expierences to KZbin

[@nickkohlmann]

Actually opposite for me. Before those videos I never ever thought about it, by now I feel like if I ever got into diving, I would like to explore some ***as safe as possible, easily accessible*** caves too. As is, I probably will never get into diving based on me not being a good swimmer and having a couple bad experiences with swimming in general tho, so this is all fictional. What I did so far however was explore vast mines going as deep as 800m, that was very cool while also a bit scary.

[@princessmarlena1359]

🪧☠️ “STOP! Prevent your death! Go no farther! Fact: More than 300 divers, including open water scuba instructors, have died in caves just like this one. Fact: You needed training to dive. You need cave training and cave equipment to cave dive. Fact: Without cave training and equipment, divers can die here. Fact: It CAN happen to YOU! There’s nothing in this cave worth dying for! Do not go beyond this point.”

[@ReverendBen]

"This sign can't stop me cos I can't read!"

[@tacitus_]

Not a single one of them was prepared to conquer the challenges of nature, BUT I AM. YOU CAN'T STOP ME FROM DROWNING IN THERE.

[@MrUranium238]

Next time , just send in a drone

[@thedude9933]

drowning in a cave exploring still beats communism

[@keyki9832]

@@MrUranium238 seriously we have the technology it’s not worth a human life imo

[@j0dor]

There's nothing quite like a caving/diving story to make me feel good about my life choices.

[@kenthompson5723]

I have done some caving, though no diving. Even dry caving can be extremely dangerous. More than a few cavers have died, most of them under the age of 30.

[@HisameArtwork]

@@kenthompson5723 well no shit, after 30 you knees hurt to much or you know better or they died.

[@ruaranihi]

😂

[@sophie4636]

Big search and recovery operations really show humanity at its best. For people to put so much heart, soul, effort, and resources plus risk their lives to hopefully find a lost person or at worst, retrieve a body, truly demonstrates the value we place on each other. The respect we show to our dead by trying so hard to bring them home, is what makes us truly human ❤

[@riverblackwood7554]

maybe it's just because i watch a lot of these videos and am super claustrophobic, but i have no idea what would ever possess someone to dive into a dark cave and swim around when it seems like there's an 85% chance you're just gonna die in there. call me crazy

[@fatpinkteddy]

Agree

[@bucketofsunshine6366]

Nope, they're the crazy ones

[@BushidoBoyd]

It’s the thrill and the risk that makes it worthwhile for them. Also seeing something that no human has seen before. They know they’re risking their lives I just think they underestimate how easy it is to silt out or make a small but fatal mistake

[@jabberwocky8021]

@@BushidoBoyd They want to see rocks that no human being has seen before. Oh joy.

[@manawa3832]

There are many perfectly safe submerged caves. After diving many of them you start to get the impression that it's not so bad. As with everything, the few bad apples ruin perceptions and if this channel was only telling horror stories of planes falling out of the sky, then you would think how could anyone ever go flying?

[@bucketofsunshine6366]

I'm terrified of deep drop-offs in the water, never mind cave diving, so I’d be staying far away from Jacob's Well. I'm not a full-on thalassaphobe, but any place where the depth drops off steeply into darkness like that is a big NOPE.

[@absinthealice]

Understandable. I can't bring myself to swim anywhere I am not able to see the bottom. Absolutely terrifying to me.

[@jkennaw4314]

Same here. I'm thalassophobic through and through, and drop offs are my ultimate fear after slipping and "falling" off one in Lake Mead. This 2:39 gave me full body chills. No way I could stand there like that, even though they're not even in the water

[@JayCee_64]

I'm with you there, Bucket of Sunshine. The water needs to be shallow enough for me to stand up with my head well clear of the water. If not, I'll just Nope on back to shore.

[@NicCageForPresident2024]

That's how I feel we have a lake near me the water is always pretty warm even in the fall and early spring back in the 90s there was stories of the sea monster. They say it has a cave system that connects to the Puget Sound either way it's pretty shallow and goes out pretty evenly then suddenly drops like it's a crater. I can never swim out in the middle of this Lake it's too creepy when you get fish that are nibbling at your toes if those are even fish.

[@manawa3832]

Same I would rather literally jump off a cliff where I can see the bottom than go down or even float above a massive dark underwater trench.

[@michael_mackley]

This cave reminds me of the mouse trap that lures the mice in because of their insatiable curiosity, but prevents them from escaping because the exit only opens one way.

[@Augustbeauty69]

There's a common theme here.... "We aren't finding/rescuing the people we lost a week ago, let's send someone else down to see what we can see..."

[@pakde8002]

I think there shouldn't be any attempt to rescue or recover anyone who goes to places where people can easily meet their end for the sake of thrill seeking. Why should anyone put their life at risk for that? I mean if like minded thrill seekers want to go for it at their own expense then by all means go for it but don't tie up professional rescue workers paid for by the rest of us.

[@Augustbeauty69]

@@pakde8002 it does seem like a waste of effort since almost everyone ends up dead trying to recover the dead.

[@David-ud9ju]

@@pakde8002 Same could be said for poeple who get stuck on mountains. The majority of people who are helped by the regular emergency services could have avoided the situation if they used their brain more but we still help them.

[@lalalili2982]

@@David-ud9ju At least have them pay for their own rescue. And that should include a high hazard pay to the volunteers.

[@elviscopado6911]

@@pakde8002 so if you get in the car and drive, knowing that it can result in an accident and possibly death, and then end up in an accident, needing to be rescued, should you then not be rescued , because you chose to drive in a car, despite knowing the dangers...

[@MattWinans]

This is the best account of the fateful events of Jacob's Well that I've yet encountered. The maps, diagrams, and animations added a lot! Kudos!

[@whoismewhosisyou]

try fatal breakdown. much better

[@alxfort39]

"You cant keep us out" well how did that work out for you? They were trying yo save lives not be a downer.

[@maxwellschmid588]

I think that people who intentionally disregard safety measures and openly disrespect rescue workers efforts should not be rescued or recovered. There's no reason that other people should risk their lives for you when you will fully and recklessly made your decision. I think that that kind of behavior is beyond being an adrenaline junkie or explorer mentality, at that point you are just selfish and suicidal.

[@B727X]

@@maxwellschmid588 if it's a huge breast to the rescuers lives like agree with you if it's not that it's just punishing someone for thrill seeking

[@zuttoaragi8349]

​@@B727X And why's that a bad thing? If you do something IMMENSELY stupid for the "thrill of it" you should be made to wallow in it. It's not my fault and it's not a rescue professional's fault you're an idiot.

[@nolsee1176]

@@B727X a huge breast, hahahaha. That really made me cackle

[@Mr.MFuckingYTchangedmyname]

Just to be Devil's Advocate for a moment, I can see why they'd be pissed off if someone decided to gate off the opening. It's not as if an amateur is going to stumble upon it, only those knowing all the risks would go in. I'd make the decision, thank-you-very-much, not you, with your gate. Which, of course, would be the decision to stay well away, I'm not totally stupid. Others who did decide to take the risk...well, so long as they accept they are on their own once they go in, that's up to them. In any case, what's more of a spur for any danger sportsman than something put in place to stop them doing it? Just makes them more determined to get in!

[@citizensnips7949]

Cave diving is a very stupid hobby. If you do anything wrong, you are dead. If you do everything right, you might still be dead. If everything went well and you didn't die, you're rewarded for your enormous effort and risk with a view of mud at the bottom of a hole.

[@MaiXoxo3]

They enjoy working for free lol

[@LyraLyraPantsOnFyra]

I'd recommend watching DiveTalk on KZbin it's a couple of cave certified divers who regularly cave dive who like to react to these sorts of videos from an insider perspective. Really interesting stuff. Both presenters are really nice guys too.

[@xy4489]

@@LyraLyraPantsOnFyra The guy in the pink hat is insufferable. The other guy is indeed great.

[@Lavrec]

Yeah its like drunk driving with your eyes closed. Reward is not dying in a car crash. Pretty big risk for pretty stupid reward

[@ajamessssss]

So true. No idea why people takes this much risk to see mud.

[@MARZINBARZ]

As I sit here in my kitchen doing the only extreme sport I deem worthy of conquering (stuffing my breakfast cereal down as quickly as possible so I can relax before work) I suddenly find myself grateful for never being the thrill seeking type.

[@tccdlinux1471]

EXCELLENT!!! I had been a open water instructor about a year when a divemaster friend and I made the dive. This was about a year and a half after Don Dibble got hurt. I knew Don and he was an excellent diver and instructor. I had been cave diving before so we had backup lights and a lead rope. Just as you said got to the narrow opening I took my tank off to squeeze in. Immediately the gravel started to shift down as my body blocked the flow and it silted. I got the heck out. I have been in many caves and wrecks since and over 40 years later that place still gives me chills. Dangerous is an understatement.

[@pinkpugginz]

Scary!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing. Your body was screaming to not go 😂

[@nekonomicon2983]

You have to either be incredibly brave or incredibly stupid to go to a place where the few people that did go explore didn't return.

[@tomfuelery2905]

There is a thin line between the two. They crossed it.

[@somethingpd1959]

Its more a concept similar to mountain climbing. You succeed where others fail.

[@BodyAndSol96]

incredibly stupid, as there was no real reason to go there at all.

[@zuttoaragi8349]

Stupid. There's nothing to gain here besides "My balls are bigger because I went further than anyone else and survived".

[@a.nobodys.nobody]

It's just stupid

[@ereynoldful3974]

I'm just so impressed and happy to see that you called it by its true name , a karst window. Here in North Florida we have the Floridian Aquifer, it has karst windows, springs, sinks, swallets , etc...but a karst window is my favorite feature of our hydrogeology.

[@bluchismoon]

Whoever left that message to the poor rescue diver was really just going for their Darwin Award.

[@XneverstopfightingX]

It wasn’t his call to restrict people from a place he doesn’t own. Silly, stupid, or suicidal other divers have the right to explore. If we shut down ever corner of the planet where someone has died we would have to change planets. Let people know the risks so they can make their own pseudo-educated decision.

[@Aletheia-Media]

​@@XneverstopfightingX what a ridiculous statement to make.

[@XneverstopfightingX]

@@Aletheia-Media I'm sorry that PERSONAL responsibility sounds ridiculous to you.

[@shiroamakusa8075]

@@XneverstopfightingX What an idiotic attitude to have. I bet it's comforting for those who are left behind that you can tell them that their loved ones perished because "responsibility". Next time your house burns, put the fire out yourself so you can learn from the experience.

[@Aletheia-Media]

@@XneverstopfightingX it's very much their call to stop people from doing dumb shit.

[@Davysprocket213]

I’m not a diver, but I can imagine the temptation to discover the secrets of these chambers. It seems that the beauty and mystery are what make this such a death trap.

[@nicolcacola]

​@e-w-4174 Men sailed seas they thought were full of monsters and oceans that they could fall of the edge of...this is human nature for some.

[@dantastic7]

@e-w-4174 Spoken like someone who will never find the treasure

[@Kanbei11]

Just like KZbin commenters there's always someone that wants to be able to say first

[@mightymattmma]

It's just a bunch of rocks dude. There's no mystery at all.

[@Guiltless765]

​@@mightymattmma Exactly

[@anevenbluerjay]

11:57 better than "you can't keep us in", I guess

[@sharonsomers]

I will never understand in a million years the mentality of anyone that would willingly go into such a place. There's not enough money in the world that get me in any underwater cave. Nope, never, ever. Insanity to me, sheer insanity.

[@tomfuelery2905]

That's because you're not as stupid as they are.

[@jase123111]

Totally agree. It's not even like there is anything worthwhile to get out of it. There are no beautiful coral reefs full of fish, no glittering crystals or beautiful rock formations, no gold or gems, not even nice clean water. Night as well go diving in a drainage pipe.

[@andrewdinns1746]

Read some about trauma and what people do to cope with it. First read: The Body Keeps the Score. Next read books by Alice Miller.

[@TheseEyesSeeDarknessClearly7]

It’s the sense of wonder. Personally, I would also like to explore that place, but the fear of death keeps me away. It’s just that some people’s sense of wonder is stronger than their fear of death

[@sharonsomers]

@@TheseEyesSeeDarknessClearly7 Well I hope they all felt it was worth it in their final minutes when they knew they were trapped and done for. My common sense is stronger than my sense of curiosity. Would sure be a horrible way to die. I understand your point, I just cannot relate to it on any level myself.

[@roadboat9216]

As a Scuba instructor that has done thousands of dives, including a good number of cavern dives in central/north FL, I made a decision NOT to peruse cave diving. Cave diving is when you completely loose the light or glow of day. If you cave dive without cave diving specialized training and equipment, you a in extreme danger of dying. This has been proven over and over again. And even with the gear and training, you are clearly taking on more risk than recreational diving. A good bit more. I just wasn’t worth the effort, money and risk to me. I will continue to enjoy the occasional cavern dive.

[@C_H_U_]

Would you argue if the caves were lit, the mortality rate would be lower?

[@MsJubjubbird]

what would get me about cave diving is there are moments when there is no surface. Open water you have the opportunity to ascend any time. Not viable when it's just water and concrete

[@dashhound5216]

The narration and voice inflection is perfect in this video. Thank you for doing such a great job narrating and putting the video together

[@John_McDonnell_76]

Legend has it, if you keep swimming thru the entire cave, you’ll eventually reach the 36th Chamber, where members of Wu Tang will greet you.

[@BklynBabe]

Wu Tang Clan ain't nothing to eff with! ✌🏾

[@SurplusMarket]

Lived in San Marcos right next to here, so had plenty of opportunities to go see Jacob’s Well in person, and let me tell you it’s as beautiful as it is intimidating. Knowing the history of death surrounding it, it’s especially spooky going there at sundown knowing that it’s basically a tomb.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

Dive Talk did a discussion on Jacob's Well. They said it really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be and almost all the deaths were caused by inexperienced people that were not certified for cave diving and had no business being there. They said the pros dive that cave all the time and they have it largely mapped out and there are something around 60 chambers.

[@chaotixthefox]

Guess they overlooked the case covered at the end of the video where a pro died while making 0 errors. After the cave was sealed by a proper grate in the main chamber following yet another death a team was granted explicit permission to explore the cave and mapped out many rooms, which then paved the way for more progress. Advancing technology as the years rolled by also helped.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

@@chaotixthefox They were just going off of their own personal experience diving that particular location and are aware of the history of the location that they have dived several times.

[@CloudsAndCoffins]

As someone who's grown up a few minutes for the super famous Ginnie Springs in Florida, one of the most dangerous and sought after underwater caves to explore in all the world, I've seen my fair share of dead divers. In fact, it feels like they pull a body out on a weekly biases. It's become so expected for someone to die in the caves and that's sickening. Yet the next day carries on like nothing happened and you watch 300 more divers descend into the depths. I don't get this sport, I never will. It makes me sick to my stomach. Even thinking about how insanely dangerous body recovery is...cave diving has got the last thing you will ever catch me doing.

[@LoveCaveDiving]

"It feels like they pull a body out on a weekly biases."

[@-notapplicable-5666]

@@LoveCaveDiving ^^^^ This comment is soooo extra.

[@maddieb.4282]

@@LoveCaveDivinghow are their feelings wrong?

[@LoveCaveDiving]

@@maddieb.4282 cloudsandcoffins4276 said "feels like they pull a body out on a weekly basis". (Ginnie Springs) 28 have died "*over the years*" That's like over 40 years. I have more fingers on my right hand than divers that have died in that cave this year. He can "feel" all he wants.

[@johnstreet797]

there is nothing wrong with the sport. the problem is with people

[@dreamcaught3876]

sad to hear about wayne, at least with most diving tragedies you can see how they were stupid or made a bad decision at some point but he was safe, just something happened that was out of his control and we’ll never know

[@maxhonneger2761]

Yeah. That sort of thing happens a lot in these places.

[@bushi6489]

I do wanna theorize tho, like what could have happened? Maybe he was tangled in the mainline or the silt made it so it was impossible to know where to swim to get out of chamber 4

[@Rock-Bottem1982]

"Play stupid games, win stupid prizes."

[@karlomiguelperez4450]

"You cant keep us out" Go ahead and stack yourselves at the bottom of the 4th chamber then

[@zuttoaragi8349]

I don't care about that. I care about the rescue professionals that have to put _their_ lives in danger to rescue their stupid asses or recover their bodies.

[@reganmccarthy8409]

Man, I scuba dive, open water, and I’ve always loved it. I did once go into a small cave, it was only probably about 10m below the surface and was really just a hole inside of a big block of reef, it had a wide entrance and another way out in the other side but even THAT was enough for me to think there’s no way in hell I’d ever go into a cave such as this. The thought of getting lost, or trapped in a dark labyrinth underwater is one of the most horrifying things I can imagine, and it’s really sad to think about people who have died doing so and what their final moments must’ve been like. RIP to all those who have perished in caves. If there’s any silver lining I hope it’s that many of their deaths atleast go as a warning to others not to go in the same way.

[@T-P5]

Wayne’s cause of death being unknown took the story to a new level. He could of had a heart attack down there but the timing makes him basically the cherry on top of this legendary cave diving story.

[@tonylego2364]

A lot of folks who wrote obituaries to him mentioned the 7th and 8th chamber as well. There is definitely more unspoken passages yet to be mapped. But by chamber 6, you are at the limit for equipment and I can't fathom how reckless you have to be to try

[@chaotixthefox]

​@@tonylego2364Actually, the Jacob's Well Exploration Project has gone well beyond the 6th chamber, mapping 4500 feet of the main conduit, and 1500 feet of the branch conduit.

[@Pbairsoftman]

@@tonylego2364this is not true, they went waaaaaay beyond what was known as the 6th chamber back in the mid 2000’s. Frankly, this is a story about people who had no idea what they were doing as they were simply too early in the game to know

[@vaszgul736]

If removing a stop sign gets you charged with murder should someone die in that intersection, shouldn't removing safety precautions such as that gate and thereby leading to the deaths of future divers get whoever removed it charged with murder? Assuming whoever removed it isn't also dead.

[@10thletter40]

It is still very probable the water managed to move the gravel, especially considering one of the guys felt a pretty strong suction when it was blocked. Let's say the grate was blocked by some debris or just that a strong storm came by and dumped excess water.

[@googleoogle]

I know! For someone who went through such a horrible thing and went way out of his way to make sure that it can never happen to anyone else again, to see it destroyed and a message amounting to "na na loser" must just have been soul crushing. He was doing the right thing. On my island we have a cave subject to flooding thats locked with a gate and you have to sign a waiver to access it, if anyone messed with it you bet there'd be consequences. It's not a challenge, it's just a potential tomb.

[@mansnothot1284]

@@10thletter40 That theory does not explain the note left there that said "you can't keep us out" though.

[@10thletter40]

@@mansnothot1284 Could have also been someone who saw it open and then wanted to leave a spoopy note

[@David-ud9ju]

@@googleoogle It wasn't his place to make that decision for other people though.

[@NeverEvenThere]

I will never understand why anyone would ever bother risking their life to recover a fucking corpse, easily one of the stupidest reasons to die.

[@mikea5745]

Because no one wants corpses floating around when they're diving. Also I guess families like having the body

[@PkGregor]

@@mikea5745 I think it would be a good idea to have corpses floating around in that cave, it'd act as a deterrent. Edit: And as a landmark. It's a win-win

[@hanslaught2351]

They are risking their lives to explore caves already most of the time for fun, why not spend some of that time helping families recover bodies (or people alive) if you have that skill?

[@NeverEvenThere]

@@hanslaught2351 >why not spend some of that time helping families recover bodies? Did you miss the part where he FUCKING DIED doing that? That's why...

[@ademoss80]

Jacobs Well is about 3 hrs from our house, my old man/I were on a ride & went. Not to go cave diving, but just to cliff jump, swim around and check it out. It was fun, but just looking down there freaked me the hell out. I know a lot of it had to be psychological bc of all the stories Ive seen on KZbin.

[@jadeybabes33]

Did they ever find the first two bodies? I guess they didn't and they are lost down there. Cave diving is seriously the most dangerous and life threatening hobby ever - I wouldn't even put my toe in that water. Awesome video thanks Sean, really informative AND creepy. I love your style.

[@foreverxXweird]

I found this online! “One of their remains was flushed out of the well in 1981 while the other remained in the well until a 2000 recovery mission.”

[@roguewasbanned4746]

@@foreverxXweirdso people were just chilling and exploring while a body was left in the corner lol

[@xy4489]

@@roguewasbanned4746 A dead body is the least dangerous and least scary part of this endeavor.

[@hoosky8459]

I live about half a mile from Jacob’s Well, I have great memories of swimming there in the summers before it was developed. Shame that it’s been so publicized to the point that it’s a pain to actually try to swim there now (prior to the flow stopping earlier). I really hope that when it opens back up that the city and visitors get their head out from their ass.

[@valeriekelly-arn4065]

I unfortunately backed out of a weekend trip to Jacob’s Well with my nephew and his wife. They enjoyed the Well and the quaint sleeping quarters nearby, plus an eerie church on the premises. Sadly, they prohibited swimming in the well a few months later because of all the dangers that came with it. I wish I would’ve visited this natural phenomenon.

[@phoenixkb134]

That spot would be HAUNTED AS HELL NOW. Imagine diving in seeing all these spooky spirits of dead divers beckoning you to follow them through to the 4th chamber...

[@MaiXoxo3]

I think it's more like they cause you to d*e like the 3rd guy that was laying on the safety line

[@daytradersanonymous9955]

And then you wake up cause those don't exist😂

[@justayoutuber1906]

spirits don't exist. grow up

[@alexisjones5509]

​@@justayoutuber1906Shut up.

[@semoneg2826]

True😊

[@terryhughes7349]

I'd be to panicked about limestone collapse and the fact you have to do decompression stops. Stick with an ROV camera on this one.

[@ohhhhdear]

jacob’s well used to be a popular tourist site! i’m a texas native and i’ve been there before. when i was little it was fun to swim and jump into, but now the water is low and murky and you aren’t even allowed or able to get near it. it’s low since the surrounding areas use the aquifer as a resource, so now it has less to maintain. makes me real sad :/

[@somethingpd1959]

"You can't keep us out." Sounds pretty suicidal to me....

[@TenFalconsMusic]

. 🎶All my Ex's drowned in Texas 🎶

[@shirleysmith6131]

All my textes from ex's. Lol.

[@stargazer_stacey7415]

😂

[@candice_ecidnac]

Exes plural not ex's possessive

[@TenFalconsMusic]

@Stargazer_Stacey "...that's why I swim in Tennessee."

[@TenFalconsMusic]

@Shirley Smith Ain't that the truth...😂 Historically speaking, of course.

[@ksoo3790]

"Hopefully, i will see you in the next one." Hey hey hey, wym HOPEFULLY??? 😭😭😭

[@nomdaploom]

The two divers who went into this cave system without a dive line won a gold-plated Darwin Award.

[@DaltonThompson-wl6fs]

I’ve been to the surface of Jacob’s Well before without knowing any of this happened! It won’t be the same if I ever go back. I really enjoy the research that is put into every video on this channel.

[@Jake-pi3yh]

I'm still a fairly new diver and I just don't understand how MULTIPLE experienced divers let themselves run out of air down there. How are you not constantly monitoring that, especially when exploring a new area?

[@jimmymikecallahan8488]

It's called diving beyond your training,experiences and comfort level. People who are freaked out about Being in an overhead environment should not take on cavern and cave diving. If your wants is to run with the big dogs, first learn to pee in the tall grass. Training!

[@Pbairsoftman]

This was 50 years ago, things were a lot different

[@raduorza883]

First of all, thank you for the wonderfully put together content! And I want to see a Dive Talk coverage on this one.

[@devin_s]

I’ve been to Jacob’s Well to swim with some friends before. It’s actually really pretty, but yeah, swimming and jumping over the actual well is pretty unnerving because you literally cannot see the bottom. Pictures don’t do it justice on how deep it looks in person, if anyone’s ever nearby in Tx it’s definitely a place to check out.

[@xy4489]

With a priori knowledge that the current flows upwards, it would be fun to swim there (surface only!). But without that knowledge, I would be too afraid that current might suck me down there, so couldn't jump in (at least not first in line).

[@beekeeper8474]

Man last time I went they really screwed that place up.

[@Saiege]

​@@beekeeper8474how😢

[@weepingbelle4528]

man, its one thing to participate in extreme activities like cave diving, but its totally another beast to do so in a location and manner that keeps killing other people.

[@Tuxedo512]

I'm amazed at the stupidity of some people, someone blocks off the cave because people died there and then some moron comes through removes the gate and then leaves a note that they can't keep them out. 🤦‍♂️

[@zuttoaragi8349]

​@@Zzrdemon6633 There's literally nothing to gain from doing this. No scientific discoveries, no economic windfall, literally just a dick measuring contest.

[@jeffreycarey1680]

@@Zzrdemon6633 This is the speech a child would give before sticking a fork in an electrical outlet. There is value in taking risks but not all risks have value.

[@CW-Design]

@@Zzrdemon6633 there is innovation and then stupidity, this is the latter.

[@HybridMiranda]

This is just one of those situations where I'm flabbergasted that no one's put a camera on a submersible drone and explored that way with some sonar, cameras, lights... a human going down into unknown underwater caves is a literal death wish, as proven here.

[@Dominiv262]

Signal loss

[@alloounou6900]

Why not a wired device on a spool? No signal to lose and you can wind it back to prevent snags.

[@sanjicook08]

​@alloounou6900 too many twists and turns. Easily snag the line and break it, losing the expensive drone in the process.

[@ArtistCreek]

​@sanjicook08 ill take losing the equipment over losing a person

[@nightelfuser]

A drone would work. The signal shouldn't be lost when you put amplifiers along the way. They can be connected via a guide rope.

[@nicholasburgin5359]

I’ve swam here a handful of times and have free dived down the first chamber to the opening of the second. Never had equipment beyond a mask so I never knew how large it was beyond, although everyone who has been knows about the deaths and dangers. Randomly stumbled across this video and it gives me a new perspective on what lies deeper in the cave, crazy

[@retrozombie29]

When it come to channels that cover this subject matter your attention to detail is second to none. Excellent content as always, looking forward to next time.

[@iralangdon]

I love your diving and mountaineering videos. The writing is always clear and serious and the graphics have gotten to be absolutely stunning.

[@Mis7erSeven]

The pull of the unknown can be so strong. Before this video, I didn't even knew that this cave existed. But know, after seing this, I'm feeling very curious about what lies within or even behind the undiscovered parts of it. Totally understand why people want to see this. But I also see why others don't. Being scared of the unknown is a natural feeling as well. But even if for 98% of people the fear is stronger, the minority of people who follow their urge to explore will eventually discover everything. They traveled through any country or landscape in the world, found islands in the middle of the ocean and climbed the highest places on earth.

[@jenniferlonnes7420]

The graphics add greatly to visualizing the story you're telling. Keep doing that. I love this channel.

[@KaptainKopter]

One of the best or scariest cave diving stories I have ever seen on KZbin! I have seen pretty much every one on KZbin but this one made me feel uneasy! Never thought I was claustrophobic until I started watching these cave stories! With or without water these stories are addicting! Can’t imagine taking a breath and not getting any air! That one guy panicked and it actually saved his life! Panicking however usually seals your fate!

[@lemontart_83]

I could never cave dive, it’s crazy that there are people out there that actively put themselves in danger. More power to them for being that brave.

[@runner2008]

This is just as terrifying as the tragic story at the Nutty Putty Cave in Utah. Very scary and so dangerous.

[@lesnyk255]

I was active in scuba for many years, and I'm proud to say that for all that time I was too effing terrified of cave diving to ever consider trying it.

[@markgreiser464]

My Grandfather's Daughter was named Roberta Swicegood. She was a sump Diver for the Smithsonian and was mapping the underground east Coast river system for them, when she broke her Leg , deep underground. her dive partner tried to go back and get her help, but by the time they made it back, she had passed. Always keep these things in mind, when you engage in this activity. Be careful and take care.

[@Scraggledust]

Visited the area. Gorgeous. Went on a guided cave tour. Tubed the river. Watched the massive cloud of bats leave at dusk… nice place to have an interesting vacation! Curiosity kills more then cats! Be safe and vigilant out there❤

[@lauriepenner350]

Cave diving should be treated like climbing Everest, with the understanding that if you die, nobody will be risking their lives to retrieve your body.

[@thedave1771]

I’ve been thinking this as well, I genuinely don’t understand why the public or the government bothers with recovering the carcass. Especially in cases where it was recreational divers that understood the risks. If it’s possible to rescue someone that is potentially still alive, then absolutely, go find them. But why put so much money into getting a dead body out from under the earth, just to then stick it under the earth somewhere else? There’s no ambiguity, there’s no possibility of miraculous survival after the first hour.

[@Wong-Jack-Man]

It’s all the same peas of the pods. The rescuers themselves also see the challenge, thrill, heroism what have you to perform the perilous rescue.

[@stephaniephouotrides2435]

If I'm ever dumb enough to die while cave diving, just leave my body there--recovery is too risky

[@joeymallette]

Texas local here. I'm actually pretty stoked this location made the channel! It's heavily unknown and often thought of as just a fun spot to cliff jump at. Most are unaware of its darker side...

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

I can understand cave diving and find it fascinating! But entering a tiny tunnel without knowing if it even opens to somewhere is just madness i think..

[@Chuck8541]

I’m padi certified, but so thankful I never had the curiosity and desire to do cave diving. The mortality statistics for cave diving, specifically, must be horrifying.

[@MochaMix]

You know it’s gonna be a good video when the ominous cave music starts playing