I think there’s been a big trend in expeditions that are geared towards
expeditions that are geared towards
expeditions that are geared towards science that’s also geared towards
science that’s also geared towards
science that’s also geared towards conservation I can rationalize you know
conservation I can rationalize you know
conservation I can rationalize you know why take risk for scientific reasons for
why take risk for scientific reasons for
why take risk for scientific reasons for conservation reasons but I would be
conservation reasons but I would be
conservation reasons but I would be lying to you it’s just amazing to get
lying to you it’s just amazing to get
lying to you it’s just amazing to get into these places I’d regularly get
into these places I’d regularly get
into these places I’d regularly get asked or some of these trips what why do
asked or some of these trips what why do
asked or some of these trips what why do you keep going on these sorts of
you keep going on these sorts of
you keep going on these sorts of expeditions why you keep going on them
expeditions why you keep going on them
expeditions why you keep going on them and it’s cliche but this is why are we
and it’s cliche but this is why are we
and it’s cliche but this is why are we going and we go to these amazing places
going and we go to these amazing places
going and we go to these amazing places from a aesthetic and cultural standpoint
from a aesthetic and cultural standpoint
from a aesthetic and cultural standpoint and I got to go all around the world I
and I got to go all around the world I
and I got to go all around the world I used to work as in commercial diving so
used to work as in commercial diving so
used to work as in commercial diving so I was sent to remote areas it’s sort of
I was sent to remote areas it’s sort of
I was sent to remote areas it’s sort of my specialty it’s just you realize that
my specialty it’s just you realize that
my specialty it’s just you realize that we’re living in a different kind of
we’re living in a different kind of
we’re living in a different kind of world and you’re just drawn in to them
world and you’re just drawn in to them
world and you’re just drawn in to them and then all of a sudden you’re jerked
and then all of a sudden you’re jerked
and then all of a sudden you’re jerked out of that world and you end up you
out of that world and you end up you
out of that world and you end up you know like this and the iron give this
know like this and the iron give this
know like this and the iron give this this particular accident which is I had
this particular accident which is I had
this particular accident which is I had been diving all day and one of the
been diving all day and one of the
been diving all day and one of the deepest known caves in the world 663
deepest known caves in the world 663
deepest known caves in the world 663 feet deep and we were doing what
feet deep and we were doing what
feet deep and we were doing what objectively is pretty risky diving and
objectively is pretty risky diving and
objectively is pretty risky diving and after three days of working in this hole
after three days of working in this hole
after three days of working in this hole in the Bahamas I climbed up on the roof
in the Bahamas I climbed up on the roof
in the Bahamas I climbed up on the roof of a three-story building to take a
of a three-story building to take a
of a three-story building to take a picture of a rare tree that was blooming
picture of a rare tree that was blooming
picture of a rare tree that was blooming and I fell off the roof so you know our
and I fell off the roof so you know our
and I fell off the roof so you know our objective versus subjective risk
objective versus subjective risk
objective versus subjective risk assessment is not you know not so great
assessment is not you know not so great
assessment is not you know not so great in the beginning I was motivated by
in the beginning I was motivated by
in the beginning I was motivated by adventure I wasn’t motivated by these
adventure I wasn’t motivated by these
adventure I wasn’t motivated by these more rational excuses and I was never
more rational excuses and I was never
more rational excuses and I was never kind of analytically motivated as a
kind of analytically motivated as a
kind of analytically motivated as a child you can see I think that’s my high
child you can see I think that’s my high
child you can see I think that’s my high school report card yeah so my analytical
school report card yeah so my analytical
school report card yeah so my analytical skills were somewhat under
skills were somewhat under
skills were somewhat under underdeveloped to put it nicely
underdeveloped to put it nicely
underdeveloped to put it nicely it’s today alright there’s some kids in
it’s today alright there’s some kids in
it’s today alright there’s some kids in the audience hey come talk to me after
the audience hey come talk to me after
the audience hey come talk to me after but I was motivated by other things and
actually that’s that’s the real cover
actually that’s that’s the real cover from 2015 issue that I just found out
from 2015 issue that I just found out
from 2015 issue that I just found out before the show that was one of the
before the show that was one of the
before the show that was one of the top-selling off-the-shelf covers my only
top-selling off-the-shelf covers my only
top-selling off-the-shelf covers my only explanation is I think the stoners must
explanation is I think the stoners must
explanation is I think the stoners must have kept buying it over oh I didn’t
have kept buying it over oh I didn’t
have kept buying it over oh I didn’t remember that they bought it but anyway
remember that they bought it but anyway
remember that they bought it but anyway but I was I was very much motivated by
but I was I was very much motivated by
but I was I was very much motivated by the ocean and surfing and I actually
the ocean and surfing and I actually
the ocean and surfing and I actually tried to get into the Navy and the Coast
tried to get into the Navy and the Coast
tried to get into the Navy and the Coast Guard and I kept doing the psychological
Guard and I kept doing the psychological
Guard and I kept doing the psychological test and it’s a unfit for a vertical
test and it’s a unfit for a vertical
test and it’s a unfit for a vertical chain of command it’s like kind of stuck
chain of command it’s like kind of stuck
chain of command it’s like kind of stuck in my head but I did end up going to
in my head but I did end up going to
in my head but I did end up going to school in California on an off fit and
school in California on an off fit and
school in California on an off fit and UC Santa Barbara mostly motivated by the
UC Santa Barbara mostly motivated by the
UC Santa Barbara mostly motivated by the surfing but I was really into the ocean
surfing but I was really into the ocean
surfing but I was really into the ocean and anything to do with adventure I
and anything to do with adventure I
and anything to do with adventure I ended up getting jobs in the film
ended up getting jobs in the film
ended up getting jobs in the film industry doing stunts and coordinating
industry doing stunts and coordinating
industry doing stunts and coordinating stunts and and that you know I found out
stunts and and that you know I found out
stunts and and that you know I found out oh wow you can make a living off of
oh wow you can make a living off of
oh wow you can make a living off of adventure but it was once I started
adventure but it was once I started
adventure but it was once I started getting into the diving that’s what
getting into the diving that’s what
getting into the diving that’s what opened up really the world of science to
opened up really the world of science to
opened up really the world of science to me you go into this insignificant tiny
me you go into this insignificant tiny
me you go into this insignificant tiny little muddy hole and you realize
little muddy hole and you realize
little muddy hole and you realize beneath my feet is this whole other
beneath my feet is this whole other
beneath my feet is this whole other world that’s unexplored and kind of my
world that’s unexplored and kind of my
world that’s unexplored and kind of my realization of this and the increase in
realization of this and the increase in
realization of this and the increase in some of my diving skills coincided with
some of my diving skills coincided with
some of my diving skills coincided with me with meeting West Skiles and he
me with meeting West Skiles and he
me with meeting West Skiles and he really guided me as a mentor as a friend
really guided me as a mentor as a friend
really guided me as a mentor as a friend when I was 19 years old into what the
when I was 19 years old into what the
when I was 19 years old into what the the world of professional diving was
the world of professional diving was
the world of professional diving was like and he was the photographer on our
like and he was the photographer on our
like and he was the photographer on our expedition to the blue holes of the
expedition to the blue holes of the
expedition to the blue holes of the Bahamas that was a cover story in August
Bahamas that was a cover story in August
Bahamas that was a cover story in August of 2010 and that’s a shot you can see
of 2010 and that’s a shot you can see
of 2010 and that’s a shot you can see there’s four divers in that picture
there’s four divers in that picture
there’s four divers in that picture actually and Wes in this tragic irony he
actually and Wes in this tragic irony he
actually and Wes in this tragic irony he died just a few days before the magazine
died just a few days before the magazine
died just a few days before the magazine with his cover shot came out and it was
with his cover shot came out and it was
with his cover shot came out and it was devastating to all of us but it’s to me
devastating to all of us but it’s to me
devastating to all of us but it’s to me being up here is very much also telling
being up here is very much also telling
being up here is very much also telling my friends stories and it’s not just Wes
my friends stories and it’s not just Wes
my friends stories and it’s not just Wes who passed away in expedition related
who passed away in expedition related
who passed away in expedition related activities it hits
activities it hits
activities it hits the home as well this was from one of my
the home as well this was from one of my
the home as well this was from one of my little boys names Lincoln and this was
little boys names Lincoln and this was
little boys names Lincoln and this was in kindergarten that’s not his
in kindergarten that’s not his
in kindergarten that’s not his handwriting it’s like a free association
handwriting it’s like a free association
handwriting it’s like a free association I guess so when he came up with sad it
I guess so when he came up with sad it
I guess so when he came up with sad it kind of rubs your nose in it you know it
kind of rubs your nose in it you know it
kind of rubs your nose in it you know it hits home and it’s just this battle in
hits home and it’s just this battle in
hits home and it’s just this battle in my own brain of what’s worth it what’s
my own brain of what’s worth it what’s
my own brain of what’s worth it what’s not and every once in a while it just
not and every once in a while it just
not and every once in a while it just gets too much and at some point you know
gets too much and at some point you know
gets too much and at some point you know 20 years ago I went back to school
20 years ago I went back to school
20 years ago I went back to school because I felt like okay I need
because I felt like okay I need
because I felt like okay I need something a more substantial career I’m
something a more substantial career I’m
something a more substantial career I’m very interested in the science this mix
very interested in the science this mix
very interested in the science this mix of ecology along with with human
of ecology along with with human
of ecology along with with human behavior and that’s how I ended up in an
behavior and that’s how I ended up in an
behavior and that’s how I ended up in an environmental anthropology and I was I
environmental anthropology and I was I
environmental anthropology and I was I was only in school for less than two
was only in school for less than two
was only in school for less than two semesters when I get this letter in the
semesters when I get this letter in the
semesters when I get this letter in the mail from some of you may know dr. bill
mail from some of you may know dr. bill
mail from some of you may know dr. bill stone he’s an explorer and an innovator
stone he’s an explorer and an innovator
stone he’s an explorer and an innovator inviting me to join the United States
inviting me to join the United States
inviting me to join the United States deep caving team and this is where we
deep caving team and this is where we
deep caving team and this is where we went
went
went so with southern Mexico in Oaxaca in the
so with southern Mexico in Oaxaca in the
so with southern Mexico in Oaxaca in the what’s called the WA plateau and we all
what’s called the WA plateau and we all
what’s called the WA plateau and we all drove there independently and we’re set
drove there independently and we’re set
drove there independently and we’re set to meet at a certain date it was pre GPS
to meet at a certain date it was pre GPS
to meet at a certain date it was pre GPS so actually that’s the map that we were
so actually that’s the map that we were
so actually that’s the map that we were given and saying where to go you know
given and saying where to go you know
given and saying where to go you know don’t be late
don’t be late
don’t be late bring your money but you know we’re
bring your money but you know we’re
bring your money but you know we’re driving through the lowland jungle and
driving through the lowland jungle and
driving through the lowland jungle and you come around the corner and this is
you come around the corner and this is
you come around the corner and this is what you see this massively this
what you see this massively this
what you see this massively this uplifted limestone plateau and the cave
uplifted limestone plateau and the cave
uplifted limestone plateau and the cave entrance we were going to work on was at
entrance we were going to work on was at
entrance we were going to work on was at the top of this plateau and that’s the
the top of this plateau and that’s the
the top of this plateau and that’s the view from the cave entrance in the mouth
view from the cave entrance in the mouth
view from the cave entrance in the mouth of the cave is quite small but it
of the cave is quite small but it
of the cave is quite small but it creates a giant microclimate because of
creates a giant microclimate because of
creates a giant microclimate because of different temperatures and pressures
different temperatures and pressures
different temperatures and pressures this is the entrance so you drop down I
this is the entrance so you drop down I
this is the entrance so you drop down I don’t think you can see the person and
don’t think you can see the person and
don’t think you can see the person and so here’s the the cave system so you
so here’s the the cave system so you
so here’s the the cave system so you have the jungle drop I just mentioned
have the jungle drop I just mentioned
have the jungle drop I just mentioned you start doing day trips where you’re
you start doing day trips where you’re
you start doing day trips where you’re dropping all the equipment you’re
dropping all the equipment you’re
dropping all the equipment you’re dragging everything by rope it’s a very
dragging everything by rope it’s a very
dragging everything by rope it’s a very vertical cave and when you have enough
vertical cave and when you have enough
vertical cave and when you have enough equipment at the depot you stop making
equipment at the depot you stop making
equipment at the depot you stop making day trips and you start living
day trips and you start living
day trips and you start living underground so camp 3 was our main base
underground so camp 3 was our main base
underground so camp 3 was our main base camp Camp fives where we would start the
camp Camp fives where we would start the
camp Camp fives where we would start the diving but you could only send two
diving but you could only send two
diving but you could only send two people at a time to camp five because
people at a time to camp five because
people at a time to camp five because the area is really small and you’re
the area is really small and you’re
the area is really small and you’re hanging over the water so most of the
hanging over the water so most of the
hanging over the water so most of the activity was at Camp three and you’re
activity was at Camp three and you’re
activity was at Camp three and you’re going down and down and you know some of
going down and down and you know some of
going down and down and you know some of these drops are a few hundred meters
these drops are a few hundred meters
these drops are a few hundred meters really you’re can
really you’re can
really you’re can I into the dark and you’re stuck with
I into the dark and you’re stuck with
I into the dark and you’re stuck with people some of whom you really love and
people some of whom you really love and
people some of whom you really love and some of whom well you know and then from
some of whom well you know and then from
some of whom well you know and then from there you really keep going down and
there you really keep going down and
there you really keep going down and keep going down and you go through these
keep going down and you go through these
keep going down and you go through these canyons that are just amazing of
canyons that are just amazing of
canyons that are just amazing of crystal-clear water you get to roaring
crystal-clear water you get to roaring
crystal-clear water you get to roaring waterfalls and you can’t even hear
waterfalls and you can’t even hear
waterfalls and you can’t even hear yourself think
yourself think
yourself think and in fact camp five was at one of
and in fact camp five was at one of
and in fact camp five was at one of these roaring waterfalls and so we used
these roaring waterfalls and so we used
these roaring waterfalls and so we used to wear balaclavas and earplugs and I
to wear balaclavas and earplugs and I
to wear balaclavas and earplugs and I ended up down at camp five with my very
ended up down at camp five with my very
ended up down at camp five with my very good friend Ian Roland and he he and I
good friend Ian Roland and he he and I
good friend Ian Roland and he he and I were kind of the team pranksters so Ian
were kind of the team pranksters so Ian
were kind of the team pranksters so Ian and I really teamed up and we were the
and I really teamed up and we were the
and I really teamed up and we were the two youngest and we really got along
two youngest and we really got along
two youngest and we really got along very well so when we were down there was
very well so when we were down there was
very well so when we were down there was our turn we were lower on the totem pole
our turn we were lower on the totem pole
our turn we were lower on the totem pole to to get a chance to dive and the other
to to get a chance to dive and the other
to to get a chance to dive and the other team the other team members hadn’t had
team the other team members hadn’t had
team the other team members hadn’t had luck at cracking the sump cracking this
luck at cracking the sump cracking this
luck at cracking the sump cracking this underwater passageway is full of some
underwater passageway is full of some
underwater passageway is full of some tight restrictions and you can’t see
tight restrictions and you can’t see
tight restrictions and you can’t see more than about really about what’s in
more than about really about what’s in
more than about really about what’s in front of your hand and so I got to die
front of your hand and so I got to die
front of your hand and so I got to die first and I went on this is this gives
first and I went on this is this gives
first and I went on this is this gives you a good sense of the machine it’s too
you a good sense of the machine it’s too
you a good sense of the machine it’s too redundant rebreathers that you’re
redundant rebreathers that you’re
redundant rebreathers that you’re wearing on your back there’s about ten
wearing on your back there’s about ten
wearing on your back there’s about ten valves that you’re constantly changing
valves that you’re constantly changing
valves that you’re constantly changing there’s two computers that you’re
there’s two computers that you’re
there’s two computers that you’re constantly monitoring and changing so
constantly monitoring and changing so
constantly monitoring and changing so it’s a it was a complex very
it’s a it was a complex very
it’s a it was a complex very experimental system at the time and then
experimental system at the time and then
experimental system at the time and then you’re also doing all the cave diving
you’re also doing all the cave diving
you’re also doing all the cave diving which is running a constant guideline
which is running a constant guideline
which is running a constant guideline tons of other caving related equipment
tons of other caving related equipment
tons of other caving related equipment so Ian and I were down there and it was
so Ian and I were down there and it was
so Ian and I were down there and it was really the probably at that time was the
really the probably at that time was the
really the probably at that time was the most fun I’d ever had in my life
most fun I’d ever had in my life
most fun I’d ever had in my life everything was going like clockwork we’d
everything was going like clockwork we’d
everything was going like clockwork we’d been working together for two or three
been working together for two or three
been working together for two or three months we traded jokes we didn’t even
months we traded jokes we didn’t even
months we traded jokes we didn’t even have to finish each other’s sentences I
have to finish each other’s sentences I
have to finish each other’s sentences I mean we were quite close and I made it
mean we were quite close and I made it
mean we were quite close and I made it pretty far on the first dive I got
pretty far on the first dive I got
pretty far on the first dive I got through what had been apparently
through what had been apparently
through what had been apparently stopping people and made it far came
stopping people and made it far came
stopping people and made it far came back excited we fixed up the rebreather
back excited we fixed up the rebreather
back excited we fixed up the rebreather because we were sharing one rebreather
because we were sharing one rebreather
because we were sharing one rebreather and then Ian took off and he made it a
and then Ian took off and he made it a
and then Ian took off and he made it a little bit further and he said I think
little bit further and he said I think
little bit further and he said I think it might be sloping up and then came
it might be sloping up and then came
it might be sloping up and then came back and then I went and I actually made
back and then I went and I actually made
back and then I went and I actually made it all the way through the something
it all the way through the something
it all the way through the something came up into a big air bail with a big
came up into a big air bail with a big
came up into a big air bail with a big giant sandbar
giant sandbar
giant sandbar and I literally felt like I was on
and I literally felt like I was on
and I literally felt like I was on another planet it had this otherworldly
another planet it had this otherworldly
another planet it had this otherworldly feeling this otherworldly silence
feeling this otherworldly silence
feeling this otherworldly silence and I was so excited and Ian was a
and I was so excited and Ian was a
and I was so excited and Ian was a better driver than me so I wanted to get
better driver than me so I wanted to get
better driver than me so I wanted to get back it was a little less than a half a
back it was a little less than a half a
back it was a little less than a half a mile swim back so I made it back to camp
mile swim back so I made it back to camp
mile swim back so I made it back to camp five and this is it we did it
five and this is it we did it
five and this is it we did it and Ian took off on the next dive and he
and Ian took off on the next dive and he
and Ian took off on the next dive and he took off I remember he had his helmet he
took off I remember he had his helmet he
took off I remember he had his helmet he had his kids teddy bear taped onto his
had his kids teddy bear taped onto his
had his kids teddy bear taped onto his helmet or tie wrapped onto his helmet
helmet or tie wrapped onto his helmet
helmet or tie wrapped onto his helmet and you know we had it said if he’s not
and you know we had it said if he’s not
and you know we had it said if he’s not back in six hours you know the literally
back in six hours you know the literally
back in six hours you know the literally the words were called the cavalry and
the words were called the cavalry and
the words were called the cavalry and two hours go by I was expecting him at
two hours go by I was expecting him at
two hours go by I was expecting him at about three or four hours five hours six
about three or four hours five hours six
about three or four hours five hours six hours and no Ian so I you know I left
hours and no Ian so I you know I left
hours and no Ian so I you know I left the pot of hot pot of tea alight a
the pot of hot pot of tea alight a
the pot of hot pot of tea alight a pulley system so you could get yourself
pulley system so you could get yourself
pulley system so you could get yourself out of the water and I headed back a few
out of the water and I headed back a few
out of the water and I headed back a few hours up to Camp three I got there at
hours up to Camp three I got there at
hours up to Camp three I got there at about 1:00 in the morning and woke
about 1:00 in the morning and woke
about 1:00 in the morning and woke everyone up and said we have to go on a
everyone up and said we have to go on a
everyone up and said we have to go on a rescue and Ian was probably one of the
rescue and Ian was probably one of the
rescue and Ian was probably one of the most experienced with this machine and
most experienced with this machine and
most experienced with this machine and but he also was a diabetic so there was
but he also was a diabetic so there was
but he also was a diabetic so there was a question in my mind was he having some
a question in my mind was he having some
a question in my mind was he having some kind of diabetic incident and I got into
kind of diabetic incident and I got into
kind of diabetic incident and I got into quite a fight with a team but to make a
quite a fight with a team but to make a
quite a fight with a team but to make a very very long horrific story short I
very very long horrific story short I
very very long horrific story short I ended up going back down making the dive
ended up going back down making the dive
ended up going back down making the dive and found Ian on the other side of the
and found Ian on the other side of the
and found Ian on the other side of the sandbar back in the water where he had
sandbar back in the water where he had
sandbar back in the water where he had started diving again with a cave diving
started diving again with a cave diving
started diving again with a cave diving real with a line in his hand and I found
real with a line in his hand and I found
real with a line in his hand and I found him at the bottom with just the reel
him at the bottom with just the reel
him at the bottom with just the reel right out of his hand very peacefully so
right out of his hand very peacefully so
right out of his hand very peacefully so it was you know all of a sudden to go
it was you know all of a sudden to go
it was you know all of a sudden to go from the highest high to the lowest low
from the highest high to the lowest low
from the highest high to the lowest low you can imagine in about the lowest
you can imagine in about the lowest
you can imagine in about the lowest point you can ever imagine literally was
point you can ever imagine literally was
point you can ever imagine literally was was devastating and you have to block
was devastating and you have to block
was devastating and you have to block that out of your mind and I made the my
that out of your mind and I made the my
that out of your mind and I made the my way back to camp five where Bill was
way back to camp five where Bill was
way back to camp five where Bill was waiting for me and it took six days to
waiting for me and it took six days to
waiting for me and it took six days to get Ian’s back out to the surface and it
get Ian’s back out to the surface and it
get Ian’s back out to the surface and it ended up I was ended up being
ended up I was ended up being
ended up I was ended up being underground for 21 days and that’s what
underground for 21 days and that’s what
underground for 21 days and that’s what it looks like after 21 days underground
it looks like after 21 days underground
it looks like after 21 days underground but when we came out and we came out
but when we came out and we came out
but when we came out and we came out with Ian’s
with Ian’s
with Ian’s the Mazatec village and I’ll never
the Mazatec village and I’ll never
the Mazatec village and I’ll never forget this and I’m still forever
forget this and I’m still forever
forget this and I’m still forever grateful
grateful
grateful they had carved out steps in the
they had carved out steps in the
they had carved out steps in the cornfields and the whole village came in
cornfields and the whole village came in
cornfields and the whole village came in accompanied us out and we went right
accompanied us out and we went right
accompanied us out and we went right into the local small Cathedral where we
into the local small Cathedral where we
into the local small Cathedral where we it was a really a combination of an
it was a really a combination of an
it was a really a combination of an indigenous religion along with
indigenous religion along with
indigenous religion along with Catholicism and had an extremely moving
Catholicism and had an extremely moving
Catholicism and had an extremely moving ceremony right there and it was bottom
ceremony right there and it was bottom
ceremony right there and it was bottom out to tell you how it was get the idea
out to tell you how it was get the idea
out to tell you how it was get the idea but for me I was I don’t even know I
but for me I was I don’t even know I
but for me I was I don’t even know I hadn’t slept for days and days and ended
hadn’t slept for days and days and ended
hadn’t slept for days and days and ended up the National Geographic film team
up the National Geographic film team
up the National Geographic film team with my friend Wes had just gotten down
with my friend Wes had just gotten down
with my friend Wes had just gotten down there a couple days before and somehow
there a couple days before and somehow
there a couple days before and somehow we decided to go back into the cave for
we decided to go back into the cave for
we decided to go back into the cave for a few days and just kind of try to get a
a few days and just kind of try to get a
a few days and just kind of try to get a grip on things we got caught in a flash
grip on things we got caught in a flash
grip on things we got caught in a flash flood and ended up getting trapped for
flood and ended up getting trapped for
flood and ended up getting trapped for four days it ripped all of our rigging
four days it ripped all of our rigging
four days it ripped all of our rigging out we ended up having to ration food
out we ended up having to ration food
out we ended up having to ration food and lighting stuff by the way if you
and lighting stuff by the way if you
and lighting stuff by the way if you ever are short on things and after rash
ever are short on things and after rash
ever are short on things and after rash and don’t tell anyone you’re rationing
and don’t tell anyone you’re rationing
and don’t tell anyone you’re rationing it just it’s like creates instant
it just it’s like creates instant
it just it’s like creates instant hoarders but you know we got out of
hoarders but you know we got out of
hoarders but you know we got out of there and at the end of that I was
there and at the end of that I was
there and at the end of that I was really I was done and I left the
really I was done and I left the
really I was done and I left the expedition and Bill was very gracious
expedition and Bill was very gracious
expedition and Bill was very gracious and in that in fact most of the
and in that in fact most of the
and in that in fact most of the expedition was gone but bill and Barbara
expedition was gone but bill and Barbara
expedition was gone but bill and Barbara Hammond who was one of the leaders on
Hammond who was one of the leaders on
Hammond who was one of the leaders on the expedition she and Bill decided to
the expedition she and Bill decided to
the expedition she and Bill decided to go on and they did what was in my
go on and they did what was in my
go on and they did what was in my opinion one of the most audacious
opinion one of the most audacious
opinion one of the most audacious exploration feats so Ian and I had
exploration feats so Ian and I had
exploration feats so Ian and I had stopped at that deepest point they went
stopped at that deepest point they went
stopped at that deepest point they went by themselves all the way to that
by themselves all the way to that
by themselves all the way to that furthest point which at the time was the
furthest point which at the time was the
furthest point which at the time was the deepest point known and there was no
deepest point known and there was no
deepest point known and there was no chance of anyone ever rescuing them and
chance of anyone ever rescuing them and
chance of anyone ever rescuing them and that’s them at the the deepest point
that’s them at the the deepest point
that’s them at the the deepest point right there and this was in the 1995
right there and this was in the 1995
right there and this was in the 1995 issue in National Geographic and here’s
issue in National Geographic and here’s
issue in National Geographic and here’s a picture of my friend Ian and you know
a picture of my friend Ian and you know
a picture of my friend Ian and you know I kept in touch with his family over the
I kept in touch with his family over the
I kept in touch with his family over the years and his wife remarried someone
years and his wife remarried someone
years and his wife remarried someone from the same Mountain Rescue team but
from the same Mountain Rescue team but
from the same Mountain Rescue team but this is that his two-year-old Connor now
this is that his two-year-old Connor now
this is that his two-year-old Connor now who’s become a British cave or a very
who’s become a British cave or a very
who’s become a British cave or a very well known British cave ER and we hadn’t
well known British cave ER and we hadn’t
well known British cave ER and we hadn’t met
met
met for he’s now 24 years old and he came to
for he’s now 24 years old and he came to
for he’s now 24 years old and he came to Florida two weeks ago so we spent 10
Florida two weeks ago so we spent 10
Florida two weeks ago so we spent 10 days together traveling around Florida
days together traveling around Florida
days together traveling around Florida diving together so I mean it’s hard is
diving together so I mean it’s hard is
diving together so I mean it’s hard is for me to tell this story it’s kind of
for me to tell this story it’s kind of
for me to tell this story it’s kind of in a strange way it’s come full circle
in a strange way it’s come full circle
in a strange way it’s come full circle and it was we had a really great great
and it was we had a really great great
and it was we had a really great great time together we’re heading down to
time together we’re heading down to
time together we’re heading down to explore an underwater cave and then all
explore an underwater cave and then all
explore an underwater cave and then all of a sudden it just started raining down
of a sudden it just started raining down
of a sudden it just started raining down on top of me my initial reaction was to
on top of me my initial reaction was to
on top of me my initial reaction was to just scream in my own head
”
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